So You Think You Can Dance

[alonewiththemoon]

Man it was so good to finally hear judges knock Lacey and Kameron down a couple of pegs.  Nigel's comments about Lacey were what I've always thought, that obviously she's good but her dancing comes across as an act, not something from the heart.  Plus their hip hop was totally Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, it was painful.  Plus as I forget which judge observed, they didn't have any edges to their dancing, it was all fluid and thus not really hip hop.  No isolations!  I suppose Lacey is still a strong contender for winning, but it's very conceivable that one of the other dancers could develop on past her.

Dominic and Sabra--Sabra is just so sweet, she really is.  She looked like she was having fun out there.  Dominic was dependable, but she way outclassed him.  I think she needs to kick the personality up a notch to win, but she's a pretty strong contender.

Hok and Jaime--I liked this much better than the judges did.  I totally saw what they were going for, the old man inspired by a dancing muse, and found it moving.  Hok certainly looked more comfortable with Broadway style than the ballroom dance styles he's been doing.  Jaime does what she always does.  I think the judges' biggest criticisms should have gone to the choreographer more than the dancers, who did what they were told to do.

Pasha and Sara--their number was fun and I thought they executed it well.  I'm not sure that she can win, but Sara's still my favorite female dancer.  I think it's for two reasons.  One is that as a hip hop dancer she does wonderful isolations and abdominal movements, so I think I see in her what is closest to my own dance style.  The other is that, as Pasha noted, she's strong and not afraid to project that or use it in her dancing.  She's more solidly built than the other female dancers, with real hips and a wider torso than most.  Definitely traits that I admire in a woman!

Neil and Lauren--I've hated all the other Mia Michaels routines this season, but I loved this one, very creative and evocative.  I thought Neil nailed it, really getting into the spirit of it, but Lauren was sloppy.  As her comments revealed, she just didn't get the routine and that showed in her dancing.  I can't say I know quite what it was supposed to be about either, but Neil's controlled strength and precision approach was much better than Lauren's "how can I make myself look sexy in this outfit" approach.  I could see it as sort of Agent Smith 2.0 getting funky in the Matrix, or little nanotechnicians traveling through the Internet--something futuristic and fun.  Clearly something the guy who does the Chewbacca impression could understand.  Lauren obviously hadn't given the meaning a thought--cat burgler meets plumber?  All she's thinking about is the costuming.  Neil's progress the last couple of weeks has been great, not sure if it's enough to win but he'll come out of this a much better dancer.

Danny and Anya--Danny clearly put an effort into connecting with the audience and his partner this week, but it looked forced.  Whenever he was away from Anya, he was back in Dannyworld rather than focusing on her, like a good romantic foxtrot partner ought.  Still, if he can keep this up, it might be enough to boost him to the winner's circle.  Anya continues to do nothing much for me.  She was better at foxtrot than Danny and much better at the whole interaction thing, but even so he still seemed like the better dancer.

I love Wade Robson, his commentary is nearly as good as his choreography :-)

Random side note:  I saw a bit of an interview with Lacey, where she mentioned that she is 19 and already has a busted knee, dance-induced scoliosis and a torn ligament.  Not that I'm happy for her pain, but it made me feel a bit better about my own injuries.  It's not that my body is insufficient, it's that dance is hard and is wearing on the body, and even resilient 19-year-olds who have been training pretty much since they could walk suffer the same kinds of injuries as I do.  On last night's show some of them talked about dancing through the pain and that definitely resonated with me, having been there and done that.

Comments

[atalanta.livejournal.com]

I know, I can't figure out why everyone thinks Lacey & Kameron are so great. He _is_ a heavy uninspired dancer, and she just .. I don't get the appeal.

Sabra is awesome as is Sara, though I didn't like the Pasha/Sara number.

I also disagreed with the judges on Hok & Jaime .. I thought they did a really good job, both of them.

And I thought they were lame for the criticisms of Neil & Lauren. She was clearly a ditz, but he was really good and I liked it way better than all of those other identical emotive Mia Michaels routines. I thought of it as dazed-by-modern-life, sort of.

Danny seemed a little less stiff, but I still don't like those 2.

And yes, Wade is entertaining!

TV!!

[bintblue.livejournal.com]

I am in agreement with you on most everything. Anya should have been cut last week (though I feel for her about dancing on that ankle...I can relate, and ouch). I thought her and Danny's fox trot was weak--the lift the judges loved looke labor intensive and forced to me.

I totally thought 'pop video back-up dancers' during Lacy and Kameron's whole boring dance. After the cool stuff the other hip hop choreographer creates, this was just...snoozesville.

For me it is Sara or Sabra now. I like Dominic, too. And Neil has been making me pay attention the last two weeks. He seems to have pushed past his comfort zone, and it is working. Pasha bugs me...something too smooth and self-assured (in a cocky way) about him.

I really do love this show.