SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Top 10 Performances

Tonight the Top 10 are switching up partners and performing two routines in addition to a solo for each dancer. From what I’ve heard there are a few special moments in tonight’s competition. I for one am looking forward to it.

As always, I blog along as I watch. Feel free to use the comments to join in on the conversation.

If you are on the East Coast and recording SYTYCD tonight, you might want to adjust the end time as the Presidential address is running long, but only by 6 minutes. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want the Fox analyst to sign off from the address by saying…and now, So You Think You Can Dance.

Ok so let’s get things started tonight.  This is the first episode where America decides who goes home. The judges share their critique but it’s all about the votes.

The first couple up tonight is…

Ryan & Noelle | Hip Hop by Tabitha & Napolean
Talk about an office romance.  NappyTabs choreographed a hot routine about a somewhat tawdry workplace affair. Ryan looked especially handsome tonight, and Noelle was very sexy. Ryan was a little stiffer than he should have been for a hip hop routine, but on the whole the routine worked well because the chemistry was there.

The Judges: Nigel noticed the chemistry right away and asked Ryan about how lucky he was [to work with these sexy women]…um Nigel, his wife is on the show. I don’t think he’s going to be answering you.  Mary and Adam both commented on Noelle’s sexiness and the chemistry of the twosome.

[Whoa…no clip packages tonight. Just right into the dance. It feels awkward. I like to know the background on the routine before. I feel it’s much easier to connect to the dance when I know the story.]

Legacy & Ashleigh | Contemporary by Gary Stuart
This was Contemporary? Really? To the untrained eye, it seemed so much like a hip hop number. But I guess maybe it’s because it’s not the Contemporary we are used to be seeing. I must say that this dance didn’t do much for me. It seemed like they were just going from one move to the next. Although Legacy’s headstand at the end was pretty awesome. It was a very physical routine and to that extent I think Legacy and Ashleigh did well. But I can’t say I was touched.

The Judges: Nigel was “the effort…was absolutely fantastic.” He was very excited about Gary’s routine. Mary thought it was terrific and commended the pair on their physicality. Adam said they didn’t look afraid, he just saw attack. Adam loved it too.  Perhaps I need to give this one another look at the end.

Nathan & Kathryn | Broadway by Spencer Liff
Kathryn was channeling classic Hollywood tonight. She looked stunning.  As for Nathan, this season’s punching bag, what we all hoped would happen has – he looks about ten years old now that he’s been split from his former partner Mollee. Both the dancers brought a huge amount of spirit to the routine and it was impossible to not like it.

The Judges: Nigel really liked the style of the routine, but thought the two lacked a little bit of chemistry. Overall he said it was absolutely terrific. Mary said Kathryn made it looked so easy. Adam said the pair did a great job at honoring the history of dance in film.  Adam acknowledged the beating that Nathan has taken and commended him on his job tonight. And oh poor Nathan, he looks like he has no confidence in front of those judges. Poor Nathan.

Jakob & Ellenore | Quickstep by Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
The dreaded Quickstep looked effortless tonight. Mary can talk to technique, but for pure enjoyment these two were off the charts! So adorable. I personally think Jakob and Ellenore are the most technically talented dancers in the competition this season. Lots of fun!

The Judges: Nigel enjoyed the routine and said the two could dance right off to ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Mary said they deserved the trophy. She gave them a yell or two! That’s huge for Quickstep. Adam went on and on about how Jakob was paired with Ash and Ellenore was paired with Ryan, and now these two are dancing together. I knew what he was getting at, but everyone else seemed lost. Cat called it a Jerry Springer show. But The Shankman loved it, so that’s all that matters.

Russell & Mollee | Lyrical Jazz by Mandy Moore
You had me at Mandy Moore. THis was a pleasantly surprising pairing. Much like I saw with Nathan, Mollee has matured not that she has a new partner.  The routine was stark but beautiful. And how about that first big lift? It rivaled Baby and Johnny if I must say so.

The Judges: Nigel noted the growth and maturity in Mollee’s work. And he said he was as proud of Russell as Russell’s dad was. Uncle Nigel was very enthusiastic about the partnership. Mary Murphy screamed her head off (oh wait, that’s not new). Mary said this was her favorite routine so far tonight. The judges have lost it completely. They are down right loopy. Adam praised both dancers enthusiastically.

Ryan and Noelle | Waltz – J.T. Thomas & Tomas Mielnicki
Was it me or did they look completely washed out on the stage? Noelle was gorgeous, but there was something off about Ryan.  I kept noticing his hands. They looked very effeminate tonight. It was a beautiful routine but I didn’t connect with it like I usually do with a really well danced waltz.

The Judges: Nigel called the dance “captivating”. Mary said they mastered both routines tonight. She called Noelle “breathtaking” and “elegant”. She added that Ryan dominated the dance in the right way. Adam said he was hypnotized by the performance.

Legacy and Ashleigh | Hip Hop by Dave Scott
Really Dave Scott? You have Legacy doing a Hip Hop routine and that’s all you are giving us?  Sonya gave us more of his b-boy skills in her pieces last week. Wow. This seemed rather lame. I thought Ash & Legacy danced it well enough I guess, but they are better than what they were given. Wow, I was really looking forward to this one, and it was disappointing all around.

The Judges: “It wasn’t challenging enough for this point in the competition” – Thank you, Adam! The judges weren’t excited at all with this one, but all kept their comments unusually short.  Perhaps they didn’t want to insult the choreographer…I don’t know.  But I think Shankman said it all.

Nathan and Kathryn | Rhumba by Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Was anyone else really thrown byt the music choice? “Walk on By” for a Samba? The dance didn’t seem to fit with the music for me. Kathryn was great, but Nathan seemed very young. That dance would have looked very different had she danced that with her former partner, Legacy.

The Judges: Nigel said the chemistry wasn’t there, but it danced well with what they were given to do. He did tell Tony & Melanie that there wasn’t enough traditional Samba in the routine. Mary didn’tthink the passion was believable. She found many great things in Kathryn’s performance, but found some rather awkward moments as well. Adam once again tried to somewhat comfort Nathan, but at the same time called his polarizing.

Jakob and Ellenore | Contemporary by Sonya Tayeh
Ummm….are you kidding me? That was SICK! The legs. The lines. The committment. I was expecting big things from this couple and they didn’t disappoint. They made so many other couples tonight look like kids competing on a dance show. I almost want they to dance every week but take them self out of the competition just so the others actually have a chance.

The Judges: Nigel gave us a Mary Murphy scream. Nigel said the pair had “rewritten the rules when it comes to chemistry.” He said this was his favorite routine of this season. Uncle Nigel said it was in a different class. Mary continued the praise. She said they delivered and then some.Adam said that this was a big moment of the show, and that this routine will leave an indelible moment on the audience.  The judges ended with a standing ovation and some crazy proud Mary dancing. Whoa.

Russell and Mollee| Jive by Anya and Pasha
Hi Anya & Pasha! A tough act to follow, but Mollee and Russell really brought it tonight.  Russell was much more committed to finishing even the small moments tonight, but Moelle was once again impressive.  She just didn’t finish all her moves and I found it distracting.

The Judges: Nigel loves these two. I think he’s playing in a SYTYCD fantasy league and he has Russ & Mollee on this team. Mary put them on the hot tamale train.  Adam is feeling so good about this pairing.

In addition to their two routines, each of the dancers performed a solo. Here’s my take on each.

• Mollee (1-866-TEMPO-01)
  I watched a bit of “High School Musical 3” this weekend (what it was on?!) and all I could see was Mollee. She’s in every big musical number. Give it a look and you’ll see her.  As for her solo, I must say that I was very impressed. I’m not Mollee’s biggest fan, but she rocked out that solo and really left that little teenybopper girl behind. Well done.

  [Did anyone else notice that Fox changed the band name from LMFAO to LM*AO? Is the letter ‘F’ banned in the 8 o’clock hour?]

• Russell (1-866-TEMPO-02)
  Our resident Krumper is representing Boston! Aw, I’m getting teary at the pre-vid with Russell’s parents. This kid just killed the stage with his solo. That was so damn sick. I’ve never really liked Krumping on the show, but Russell brings so much musicality to it.  I’d love to see Russ and Twitch choreograph a routine together. That would be amazing.

• Noelle (1-866-TEMPO-03)
  Oh this is bad of me to say, but I think Noelle could leave and I’m not sure I would care.  She’s danced well but she hasn’t left that mark on me yet.  Tonight her solo was joyful but it felt a little desperate to me. She is a beautiful girl though, that can’t be denied.

• Ryan (1-866-TEMPO-04)
  I’m a big fan of Ryan, but not of the solos he’s done to date. I know it’s hard for a ballroom guy to go it alone, but his routines have been borderline cheesy. Tonight his routine looked a little Paso Doble’ish. Again, I was almost squirming a bit, but he’s still one of the best guys in the competition. And dude, that body?

• Kathryn (1-866-TEMPO-05)
  Kathryn’s story of moving our to LA all alone, couple with her mom’s teary video has me fighting back tears. Ok stop, please. I have to watch her dance through these tears. How did the annoying girl that cried in escalating octaves become one of my favorite dancers this season? I didn’t think her routine was anything we hadn’t seen before, but it was good.

• Nathan (1-866-TEMPO-06)
  It seems dance is a big part of Nathan’s family. And oh he had to go and cry…you are killing me. His solo showed us more tonight than we’ve seen in the past few weeks. This kid has it. But I understand if he hasn’t won over a fan base yet.

• Ellenore (1-866-TEMPO-07)
  Love that Ellenore convinced her parents to move to NYC so she could pursue her dream. More tearful parents.  Oh make it stop. I’m never going to be able to sleep tonight.  As for her solo, it was once again very quirky and interesting. Fabulous. You didn’t want to miss a minute. But I will say this…her solos always seem to be of the same theme. I’d like to see her do something a little different next time.

• Legacy (1-866-TEMPO-08)
  As predicted this solo was ridiculous!! And you know what I loved the most about it? He took his spectacular talent as a B-Boy but combined it with what he’s learned from his time on the show. I wish more of the dancers would do this. I could watch this guy dance all day.

• Ashleigh (1-866-TEMPO-09)
  Ash, I love you, but we know that you couldn’t dance for years. One more reminder and it couldn’t come off as a sympathy vote. As for her solo, Ash danced her ass off tonight. That was fantastic!

• Jakob (1-866-TEMPO-10)
  Did you really expect anything less than what Jakob gave us? Come on..that kid is beyond! I just love him to bits!

Who Will Be Dancing For Their Lives?
The competition is so strong that it’s going to be difficult to pick the bottom three guys and girls each week.  It’s a crap shoot, but here’s what I’m thinking.

Guys: Nathan, Ryan, Russell
Girls: Mollee, Noelle, Kathryn

At this point, I think it’s going to be Nathan and Noelle going home.

LOTS of SYTYCD to comment on tonight. What routines were your favorite or least favorite? Who should be in the bottom three tomorrow night?