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alonewiththemoonA little late this week, work was busy and full of computer issues...
Cat Deely looked so classy both nights. Loved the vaguely Egyptian blue dress from Thursday. Also loved Tyce's comment on Thursday about how the dancers have to be warriors. RAARRR!!!
So, the couples:
Melissa and Ade
Disco: Ade totally loved the nightlife and had to boogie, I thought--but then the guy wears a comb in his 'fro, so I didn't really expect anything different ;-) The lifts were great, he's so strong and Melissa is fearless. I didn't think she really had the disco feel down as well as the judges seemed to think, esp. next to Ade, but she wasn't bad. That slip at the end was very unfortunate and I think it would be fair to blame the shoes. Overall I thought it was very good and exciting, though not exceptional.
Waltz: I think I pretty much agreed with the judges on this one. It was beautiful and had its moments but needed more rise and fall from Ade and more over the top-iness from Melissa--if she had to physically cut loose for disco, she had to emotionally cut loose for this one, and she didn't quite get there for me.
Kayla and Kupono: I love them more and more every week and am sad they will be broken up. I don't know if they will get that much closer to the top as individual dancers, but as partners they had an excellent chemistry and a real willingness to go wherever the choreographer told them to go. Their physical unison has been really impressive as well. Add Mia Michaels to that, and, well. I really felt the addiction routine. It's funny, in a way it was the same story as last week's vampire routine, but far more tragic. I got so wrapped up in the emotion of it that it was only on a second viewing that I really appreciated some of the technical challenges of the routine. Definitely one of my favorite pieces of the season. Also, if I may be objectivist for a moment, Kupono as a dangerous man in eyeliner = HOT. Unfortunately their second dance, the Broadway routine, was pretty safe and by the numbers. Technically they had it, but I'd agree with Nigel that the kind of emotion you'd expect from a West Side Story song was lacking. I might wonder how much direction they got on that from the choreographer, though.
Caitlin and Jason: the thing that sticks out to me the most about their foxtrot was loving the fabric of Caitlin's skirt--it flowed amazingly. Silk satin charmeuse, maybe? Total covet, though in a different color. Anyway, the dancing. They put a lot of effort into it, but I found it a bit lacklustre. I think both of them as performers still don't understand the balance of paying attention to your partner and paying attention to your audience. The audience part comes naturally to both of them, but the attention to each other seems like part of the choreography, not a real artistic/emotional connection. Two days later I don't particularly remember much about their second routine--they were up there, they moved, they were done. I think both of them are a little too inexperienced as performers to really be where they are in the show.
Jeanine and Phillip: well, the Russian folk dance wasn't as disastrous as it could have been. Jeanine I thought handled it very well; if I saw her performing solo and were told she specialized in Russian folklore, I'd believe it. Phillip, as he has been doing for the last few shows, gave it his best, and the choreographer did him some favors by finding some common ground in movement vocabulary, but he was struggling. I also wanted to yell at him to put his shoulders back, because there's nothing like a belted tunic to make a man who slouches look like a potato sack. The jive was a bit better for Phillip, but still not great. Jeanine rocked it though. She is one who may burst forth as a real surprise now that the initial couples segment is done.
Randi and Evan: Randi didn't do too badly with the hip hop, but Evan was not strong. I don't think it was exceptionally challenging as a routine and the music was not at all challenging, handing the beat to them on a platter. The samba, Evan did not have it going on. Randi was decent but needed to cut loose more--though I guess since it was ballroom samba, maybe not. It looked distinctly choreographed and like something the dancers had to get through. Loved the leopard print, though!
Janette and Brandon: does anything really have to be said? I thought both routines were amazing. Brandon was very strong in the tango, but it was Janette who really brought all the intensity. She smouldered her way though that piece, looking every inch the part. And for them to switch from such high passion to the physical comedy of Wade Robson's jazz thief number was impressive. Also, yay to see Wade back! Such a fuss has been made about Brandon all season that I think Janette has been really overlooked. I could see her as a dark horse candidate for the win.
So, this being Friday, the results are known. I was rather shocked that Phillip was out, but not at all surprised that he will be kept on the tour, as people will want to see him. His speech at the end was so gracious, and made me choke up. Caitlin, about time is all I can say, and she's lucky they wanted to keep Phillip around for the tour, otherwise I can't see why the offer would have been made to her. Her solo was aimless and lifeless and tired, to the point where I wondered if she already knew that she was out. Phillip's solo to the Diva song from the Fifth Element though, I didn't want that to stop! Ade was pretty stunning in his solo as well. Looked like he really listened to what he's been told the last couple of weeks about stretching himself and following through.
Kelly Rowland gets a gold star for actually singing live, even if I did largely skip over her performance.
So that's the top 10, and I think most of them are real contenders to make it to the top five. Obviously Brandon's been positioned as a favorite, and the crowd response last night showed that the positioning has worked. I hope some of that was for Janette too. I think Randi, Evan and Jason are about at their current growth limit, but any of the other seven could find themselves at a breakthrough moment during the rest of the competition and come out strong. I'm excited!
.
Cat Deely looked so classy both nights. Loved the vaguely Egyptian blue dress from Thursday. Also loved Tyce's comment on Thursday about how the dancers have to be warriors. RAARRR!!!
So, the couples:
Melissa and Ade
Disco: Ade totally loved the nightlife and had to boogie, I thought--but then the guy wears a comb in his 'fro, so I didn't really expect anything different ;-) The lifts were great, he's so strong and Melissa is fearless. I didn't think she really had the disco feel down as well as the judges seemed to think, esp. next to Ade, but she wasn't bad. That slip at the end was very unfortunate and I think it would be fair to blame the shoes. Overall I thought it was very good and exciting, though not exceptional.
Waltz: I think I pretty much agreed with the judges on this one. It was beautiful and had its moments but needed more rise and fall from Ade and more over the top-iness from Melissa--if she had to physically cut loose for disco, she had to emotionally cut loose for this one, and she didn't quite get there for me.
Kayla and Kupono: I love them more and more every week and am sad they will be broken up. I don't know if they will get that much closer to the top as individual dancers, but as partners they had an excellent chemistry and a real willingness to go wherever the choreographer told them to go. Their physical unison has been really impressive as well. Add Mia Michaels to that, and, well. I really felt the addiction routine. It's funny, in a way it was the same story as last week's vampire routine, but far more tragic. I got so wrapped up in the emotion of it that it was only on a second viewing that I really appreciated some of the technical challenges of the routine. Definitely one of my favorite pieces of the season. Also, if I may be objectivist for a moment, Kupono as a dangerous man in eyeliner = HOT. Unfortunately their second dance, the Broadway routine, was pretty safe and by the numbers. Technically they had it, but I'd agree with Nigel that the kind of emotion you'd expect from a West Side Story song was lacking. I might wonder how much direction they got on that from the choreographer, though.
Caitlin and Jason: the thing that sticks out to me the most about their foxtrot was loving the fabric of Caitlin's skirt--it flowed amazingly. Silk satin charmeuse, maybe? Total covet, though in a different color. Anyway, the dancing. They put a lot of effort into it, but I found it a bit lacklustre. I think both of them as performers still don't understand the balance of paying attention to your partner and paying attention to your audience. The audience part comes naturally to both of them, but the attention to each other seems like part of the choreography, not a real artistic/emotional connection. Two days later I don't particularly remember much about their second routine--they were up there, they moved, they were done. I think both of them are a little too inexperienced as performers to really be where they are in the show.
Jeanine and Phillip: well, the Russian folk dance wasn't as disastrous as it could have been. Jeanine I thought handled it very well; if I saw her performing solo and were told she specialized in Russian folklore, I'd believe it. Phillip, as he has been doing for the last few shows, gave it his best, and the choreographer did him some favors by finding some common ground in movement vocabulary, but he was struggling. I also wanted to yell at him to put his shoulders back, because there's nothing like a belted tunic to make a man who slouches look like a potato sack. The jive was a bit better for Phillip, but still not great. Jeanine rocked it though. She is one who may burst forth as a real surprise now that the initial couples segment is done.
Randi and Evan: Randi didn't do too badly with the hip hop, but Evan was not strong. I don't think it was exceptionally challenging as a routine and the music was not at all challenging, handing the beat to them on a platter. The samba, Evan did not have it going on. Randi was decent but needed to cut loose more--though I guess since it was ballroom samba, maybe not. It looked distinctly choreographed and like something the dancers had to get through. Loved the leopard print, though!
Janette and Brandon: does anything really have to be said? I thought both routines were amazing. Brandon was very strong in the tango, but it was Janette who really brought all the intensity. She smouldered her way though that piece, looking every inch the part. And for them to switch from such high passion to the physical comedy of Wade Robson's jazz thief number was impressive. Also, yay to see Wade back! Such a fuss has been made about Brandon all season that I think Janette has been really overlooked. I could see her as a dark horse candidate for the win.
So, this being Friday, the results are known. I was rather shocked that Phillip was out, but not at all surprised that he will be kept on the tour, as people will want to see him. His speech at the end was so gracious, and made me choke up. Caitlin, about time is all I can say, and she's lucky they wanted to keep Phillip around for the tour, otherwise I can't see why the offer would have been made to her. Her solo was aimless and lifeless and tired, to the point where I wondered if she already knew that she was out. Phillip's solo to the Diva song from the Fifth Element though, I didn't want that to stop! Ade was pretty stunning in his solo as well. Looked like he really listened to what he's been told the last couple of weeks about stretching himself and following through.
Kelly Rowland gets a gold star for actually singing live, even if I did largely skip over her performance.
So that's the top 10, and I think most of them are real contenders to make it to the top five. Obviously Brandon's been positioned as a favorite, and the crowd response last night showed that the positioning has worked. I hope some of that was for Janette too. I think Randi, Evan and Jason are about at their current growth limit, but any of the other seven could find themselves at a breakthrough moment during the rest of the competition and come out strong. I'm excited!
.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 12:38 am (UTC)Caitlin - about time.
But I think they were completely wrong about Philip.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 03:58 am (UTC)I think it was Philip's time to go. As much as he didn't screw up the Jive, he really hasn't shown any indication that he can do other styles from his own. That combined with the feeling I get that Jason might grow a lot now that he'll be paired with someone other than Caitlin, leads me to believe that they made a right choice with him.
The piece from Thursday night was pretty awesome. And, I was tearing up during Kayla and Kupono's Mia Michael's piece. It was amazing...and yeah, he was very hotttt in that make-up.