(S03E22) A quick look at the little weather widget on my desktop tells me that summer is coming to an end next week. If that seems soon to you, I'm guessing you don't live in the greater Seattle area. At any rate, it's fitting that our premature change of season coincides with the ending of the best of the summer reality shows. As Cat said in her introduction, "This is it." We've been watching these kids for weeks now, and it all comes down to one last night, stuffed to the gills with dancing. The show did have its moments of stretching, but the interviews and the looks back at auditions really played well here. Judging everything, Nigel and Mary of course, and they were joined by Dan Karaty. My first snarky thought was that they brought Dan in to judge to keep him from choreographing a number. But that was mean of me, and I have to say, I thought he did a good job in his judge's seat tonight. After the jump, a rundown of all the performances.
The competition kicked off with a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine. It was very fun. It's nice to see the four of them up there together. I thought the choreography slanted toward showcasing the guys, but the whole group looked good in this. Nigel thought it was a great routine that showed that any of them could win it. He said Lacey needs to work with her partner more, Danny has made great strides in his performance, he adores Sabra and she needs to keep doing what she's been doing, and Neil is peaking at the right time. Mary said it is going to come down to the individual numbers. Dan was impressed with how well the group gets along. Song - "Mein Herr" by Liza Minelli
Lacey's solo was next, and I really liked the dance part of it. The stunt where she fell off the stage into the crowd was clever. She does take the prize for the worst wardrobe of the night. The legwarmers and the dress that was two sizes two big just didn't work. If she wanted to dance in her bra, she should just dance in her bra and be done with it. Nigel called her out a bit on her hammieness. Mary thought it was well planned, and praised her again for her work with partners. Dan said that Lacey is a smart dancer because she knows how to work crowds, cameras, and judges. Song - "Technologic" by Daft Punk
Sabra and Neil were the first couple up, and when they drew hip hop with Shane Sparks, I had a bad feeling. It's not that there is anything wrong with hip hop, but it's an iffy proposition for these four dancers. For them, given their abilities, hip hop has the highest potential for going off the rails. I wouldn't say this one was a failure, but it was my least favorite of the night. It came across as so many of the hip hop performances have this season. They just never quite got there. Nigel said it wasn't as funky as he would have liked it, and added that Neil was stiff. Mary called it fun, but said she expected more. Dan said that their earlier hip hop performances were better than this. Song "Whine Up" by Kat DeLuna
Lacey and Danny had a much better draw with Jean-Mark Genereaux and the Viennese waltz. It was fantastic, right from the huge opening lift. I thought this performance really showed how these two have changed. There was no mugging for the camera from Lacey, and if you can somehow find anything arrogant about Danny's performance, then we're seeing two entirely different things. Nigel said it was outstanding and compared it to dancing on ice. Mary complimented how effortless all of the lifts were and gave them a standing ovation. Dan brought up that he expected Danny in the finals from the moment he met him in New York. He called their performance incredible and amazing. Song - "Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne
Neil had the solo spotlight next. It was more of what we have come to expect from Neil. He has a bag of tricks that is endlessly fascinating. And if his flips aren't enough to get your attention, this week he threw in a twist. I have to agree with the judges on how Neil is progressing as the competition goes on. Nigel once again mentioned that Neil is putting it all together at just the right time. Mary agreed, saying that there is now a calmness and a maturity to his dancing. Dan called him dynamic and said he owned the stage. Song - "Gravity" by Shawn McDonald
Sabra and Lacey were up next with a Wade Robson routine. I really didn't get where the judges were coming from with this one, especially given the comments on Danny and Neil's partnership, which we'll get to in a moment. I thought Robson's choreography was very inventive and managed, quite artfully, to give the girls something very intriguing to do while showing off their movement and ability to convey emotions. Different strokes to move the world I guess, but this one really worked for me. Nigel said he didn't get it at all and that this was a tough one at this stage of the competition. Mary didn't think that the choreography showcased either of their abilities. Dan said that there will be people who will love this performance, and those that won't. He thought that their attention to detail was very good. Song - "Koyal (Songbird)" by Nitin Sawhney
Danny had the stage to himself for the next performance. It was really good. As he spun and leaped all the way around the stage it became, once again, apparent that he is the best dancer in the competition. He was, unfortunately, saddled with one of the worst cover songs ever though. Nigel said that Danny is one of the best two dancers ever on the series. Mary called it crazy, and screamed. She said she would never get tired of watching him dance. Dan agreed with the both of them. Song - "We Are The Champions" by Gavin DeGraw
Danny and Neil met up with Mia Michaels for a contemporary piece. I thought the concept was great, and the two of them performed it very well. My only issue with the whole thing was how different the judges reactions were to this, compared to Lacey and Sabra's performance. They took that one to task for not showcasing their abilities, but here was Mia Michaels with Neil and Danny sitting in chairs for half of their performance. Don't get me wrong, I thought the acting of their parts while they were in the chairs, particularly from Neil, was excellent. I just didn't get how they saw the two pieces so differently. Perhaps they were just that impressed with what went on once the chairs were left behind in the second half and they got to some of the bigger moments. Although, did anyone else thing that Neil missed the move where he was supposed to jump over Danny's shoulders? It was in the preview package, but on stage he went low and to the side. That's possibly not even a mistake though, and the entire performance was very good. Nigel thought it was great, very masculine, and very strong. Mary loved it, adding that it was very believable and showcased their talents. Dan called the athleticism insane. Song - "Are You The One?" by The Presets
Sabra got her shot at a solo next. It was a nice contrast to the testosterone filled lead-in. She's so tiny, and moves so gracefully. This is where she finally won me over, and became the one I want to win it all. Nigel summed it up nicely talking about Sabra's quality that just draws people in. Mary reminded us again that Sabra has only been dancing for four years and called her a miracle. Dan said that early in the competition he thought Dominic was carrying her, but he was wrong. She can stand on her own. Song - "Wonderful World" by James Morrison
Lacey and Neil teamed up for the Lindy hop with Nick Williams. I almost thought they should get hazard pay for this one. It was a very difficult routine. And, that difficulty did show a little bit from time to time. There was nothing huge where you thought, "Well, it's all gone to hell now." But there were a few moments where they were pulled out of the performance to regroup. The good news is that those small mistakes were overshadowed by an array of tricks and the simple fun of such a high energy performance. Nigel said it was excellent for both of them. Mary thought they really pulled it off and gave them a scream. Dan said that was what he was waiting for all night. Song - "Bill's Bounce" by The Big Elliott Swing Orchestra
Sabra and Danny closed out the night with a cha cha. Tony Meredith's partner, Melanie La Patin, stepped out of the background to choreograph the piece. I thought it was the perfect way to end the show. Much like the performance that proceeded it, any questions about pure technique were made up for by the performance of the two dancers. Remember, it's not a contest for America's best dancer, but America's favorite dancer. Nigel thought the two of them worked well together as partners. He thought there was some technique missing, but their performances were superb. Mary also had issues with the technique in the beginning of the performance, but thought the second half was much better. Dan agreed that it picked up as it went on and said that they nailed it. Song - "Gotta Get Down" by Celia Cruz
One other little note before we sum it all up. I thought the interviews with Cat were well done, and it was nice to see each of the dancers in that context. The thing that stood out to me though was the fact that neither Lacey or Neil picked the Mia Michaels piece as their favorite performance. It would seem that the hype surrounding that particular performance has waned considerably.
The big question though, who wins? I'll start that answer by saying I really don't care. There's nobody here that I want to not win. No matter the decision that we end up with, I'll be happy with it. Given everything we have seen this summer from each of these four, I think it's pretty easy to make a case for any of them as the favorite dancer. That being said, I would really like to see Sabra win it. But my pick for who is actually going to win it, is Danny.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-16-2007 @ 7:50AM
Georgia said...
Had we seen Dominic drop Sabra on her head like that during that opening number before? If we did, I missed it. I think if that had been seen, he would have left alot sooner.
I voted for Danny.
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8-16-2007 @ 8:24AM
Mel C. said...
Can there be two winners? Danny and Lacey all the way! I never thought I would say this, but the Viennese Waltz was the best dance of the show. Just amazing.
Sabra is a great dancer, but she does absolutely nothing for me. Honestly, I think it's her size. She has no presence in some of the partner dances.
And Neil is a douche.
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8-16-2007 @ 8:37AM
justelise said...
I think that the Fox mother and cub number last night really didn't have a place in a show this far through the competition. There was no real way to judge the "dancing" in that number at all. Nigel was right. I feel as though it was a disservice to the dancers even though it was interesting to watch and well executed.
At this point in time I would be happy if Danny or Sabra won. Truth be told, Sabra really deserves it. For someone who has had only 4 years of experience to come out and dance better than people who have been doing it since they could walk.. that's saying something about a person's aptitude for it. As long as Lacey and Neil aren't the top two I'll be happy.
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8-16-2007 @ 8:41AM
sarah said...
SABRA! SABRA! SABRA!
i love her. no matter her size, she commands the stage. i dont know what the judges were watching when she danced with Lacey, but i had to say " Wow!" it was beautiful. just because they dont get the message, and i dont see how they could not, doesnt mean they can recognize the beauty in how they danced it. Lacey's solo was very good as well, but im for Sabra all the way. she and Danny do make a good partnership.
Georgia, at the end of each show there is a disclaimer that says "portions of this show were pre-recorded." so, the drop happened either in a dress rehearsal right before the show, cause they dont dance each number cold on the stage, or they pre-taped it, fortunately. i dont think any of the shows are live anyways.
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8-16-2007 @ 9:37AM
wk said...
I don't know that I like any of you commenters. I don't know why you all hate Neil! He has the #1 best personality on the show this year! Lacey running a close second. He has the perfect balance of humility and confidence and I LOVE him for that.
His solo was his best to date and I watched it over and over again. I hated that it was only allowed to be such a short piece, I never wanted it to end!
My favorite dance of the evening was the contemporary piece from Mia for Neil and Danny. I was nervous the dance would really make Danny outshine Neil, but I honestly don't feel like either of them stood out as one dancer being better than the other. They were equally amazing. And Neil's portrayal of the character was AMAZING. He really should begin an acting career.
As far as Danny's solo goes, I hated it. I mean, it amazes me that he can spin like that and not get dizzy, but all he did was two really cool spin tricks and 2 or 3 filler moves (that weren't anything special). I know he's a fantastic dancer, but his piece just didn't flow for me.
WAY TO GO NEIL!!!... and Lacey :)
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8-16-2007 @ 10:01AM
Porchland said...
Regarding Dominic dropping Sabra in the Adam Shenkman group dance: I think the group segments at the beginning of the results shows are all taped earlier in the day. The hair, makeup and wardrobe are usually pretty elaborate, and they always come back from the commercials looking completely different.
For that matter, I think the performance show and results show both mix in content that is taped in front of the audience that afternoon and edited together for timing. There are always replays during the judges comments that are very specific to the comments, which would be almost impossible live.
I would have loved seeing Melanie La Patin dance the routine she choreographed last night like she did earlier in the season with Pasha -- especially those areal spilits! (With that hair and makeup, she reminds me of Mimi from "Drew Carey.")
Should win: Sabra, Neil or Danny.
Will win: Lacey.
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8-16-2007 @ 11:10AM
Ryan said...
Personally I thought the best routine belonged to Danny/Lacey with their Viennese Waltz. The best solo came from Neil, because he was the only one to do something sorta different. I thought Danny and Sabra came off the best based on the judges' critique.
So basically? Anyone's game still. Should be an exciting night. Then again I still want Pasha to win. Silly me.
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8-16-2007 @ 11:23AM
thegoddesskiara said...
I don't know why people are hating on Neil either...
I think he's the best dancer aside from maybe Sabra.
I"d be happy if either Sabra or Neil won it. All Danny does is turn in circles and jump around...
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8-16-2007 @ 11:57AM
Tammy said...
After Danny's solo I thought he was the sure winner because he is just amazing. The leaps were perfect and timed so well with the music, the spins were so well controlled. He is much more of a classical dancer and he was dancing in his style. In that style he is excellent and by far a superior dancer to everyone else.
Neil and Sabra are contemporary dancers. That's why Neil's solo is different from Danny's. Neil's last two solos have been excellent, he has matured and he has learned so much control. Out of the four, Neil has really grown th most in this competition.
I thought last night was one of the worst for Sabra. Her solo felt rushed. I thought she was the best in the fox routine than any of the other. But I have seen her do better and finish stronger than she did last night.
Here's the thing about Lacey.... sure she is Benji's sister but Danny is Travis' brother. Big Deal. I didn't realize until last night that Lacey has only danced ONCE in her own genre. She has done so well so far in all of these dances that were outside of her element. I didn't want to rout for Lacey, I didn't want to cheer for her but she won me over with that first Mia Michael's routine that she did with Kameron. I realized she was much better and more versatile than her brother the first few weeks. The solo was her only weak link and she was still good. But when she said the Samba was her favorite because it was the first dance in her field..... that's when it clicked that Lacey should probably win.
Based on last night... Danny is the best dancer but Lacey should win this thing.
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8-16-2007 @ 11:59AM
Tammy said...
BTW.... I actually think anyone in the Top 4 could and should win this so I won't be upset with how it turns out. They are all great dancers in their own way and should have great careers in dance if they want them.
So does it really matter who wins at this point now?
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8-16-2007 @ 12:01PM
Tammy said...
BTW.... I actually think anyone in the Top 4 could and should win this so I won't be upset with how it turns out. They are all great dancers in their own way and should have great careers in dance if they want them.
So does it really matter who wins at this point now?
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8-16-2007 @ 12:01PM
Tammy said...
BTW.... I actually think anyone in the Top 4 could and should win this so I won't be upset with how it turns out. They are all great dancers in their own way and should have great careers in dance if they want them.
So does it really matter who wins at this point now?
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8-16-2007 @ 4:23PM
Erin said...
I would be happy for anyone to win other than Lacey. I really love Danny though.
I used to like Lacey in the beginning, but after showing more and more of her personality I began to be really turned off by her. In the interview, she actually said, "After my brother won last year, it inspired me to try out for the show" or something like that. I do not want someone who says that to win over people who dance because it's their passion and/or life choice.
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8-16-2007 @ 12:24PM
MarcDom7 said...
I don't want to hate on anyone, nor start a discussion, but merely answer why I personally am not big on Neil.
I don't feel a lot of passion in his dancing, and think that continuous smirk he has in most nearly every dance ruins the mood of the piece. Dancing is also acting, and he didn't seem to have much emotional range. The judges have picked on his tricks, and I agree with them. Sometimes his solos don't seem like dance pieces, but almost solely gymnastics (there is a difference) and only recently has he toned it down on the flips that don't tell a story so much as show that he can, indeed, flip.
Dominic had the same problems and went for the same reasons. Neil, I think, survived early on because of "the ladies" voting.
I will say, he has improved, but I thought Pasha was better.
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8-16-2007 @ 12:43PM
Oreo said...
ANyone but Lacey! I hate her, she's a stuck up bitch that thinks she should win because of her brother.
I like Danny and Sabra.
And was was gonig on with Danny, his mom, and Travis? I didn't understand that. Are they adopted brothers?
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8-16-2007 @ 2:20PM
Erica said...
I am surprised more of you didn't comment on the obvious flub by Neil as he "popped" his aerial jump over Danny. Neil was a bit subdued as he stood before the judges, and I think it was because he was expecting them to nail him for the mistake. But just as in figure skating, sometimes a great skater misses a triple or a quad and "pops" it. That's just the way it is. It's the same in gymnastics. I am glad the judges were kind and saw fit to ignore it. This site is evidence that no one seemed to notice the difference (except Brett), even though the previews had it at least twice.
I agree with all of you that I won't be disappointed with anyone's win. When I called in, I noted that Danny's line was never busy. Did any of you notice that?
I loved the fox routine. Maybe you have to be a mom to see the tenderness and playfulness there---which both Lacey and Sabra captured perfectly. I found it deeply moving. But I'm not a judge!
I love this site. Keep it up, Brett. I expect to be with you next summer.
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8-16-2007 @ 2:18PM
Kylie said...
Where would i be able to find the entire show online, i missed it last night on FOX so i didn't know if youtube or anything along those lines had it up yet..help! i haven't missed one episode except last nights!
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8-16-2007 @ 2:23PM
Stan said...
Danny was adopted by Travis' mother, Oreo.
I hope Sabra wins this competition. I can't recall any seriously negative critique of her this whole season. She performs from her heart has mentioned by Nigel and makes you feel the dance. As the competition has gone on, I like Danny more and more...I think now that's he's come out of his shell. Lacey, to me is a reincarnation of her brother. She's a great performer. She knows now to engage a crowd, but next to Sabra you realize a better performer than a dancer. Neil has certainly found his signature in-air kick-spin to work for him. I thought what was funny was when Danny duplicated it...and did it better.
I liked Wade's piece...he certainly favors conceptual dances, but didn't showcase the dancers technical abilities as much as their performance. I thought Sabra engaged it better, though. The Viennese Waltz was beautiful, Mia's contemporary artful, the Lindy Hop was definately a challenge and the cha cha was fun.
For me, I'm happy with either Danny or Sabra.
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8-16-2007 @ 2:43PM
Jen said...
Ok first, Sabra should win. Though, I have a feeling Danny will win - the way the judges praise him so. He's boring to me in my opinion. Yeah sure he's got technical down and yes he IS a great dancer, but he's not my fave. I like Neil and Sabra the most.
Now, what pissed me off was giving Neil and Sabra the hip-hop, while Mr Danny gets to go and do twirly sweepy dancing - stuff he's already good at. Why didn't they give him something more challenging? It wasn't balanced at all. Completely unfair to Neil. The judges have been laying it on thick about how wonderful Danny is the last few weeks.
Frankly it's all a popularity contest at this point - honestly I would have rather seen Sara instead of Lacey in the top 4, but ah well!
Sabra gets my vote.
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8-16-2007 @ 3:07PM
Oreo said...
Thanks Stan, I turned away from the TV for a second and went "What? What about Travis and Danny?"
That's very cool they both dance.
And like someone else said earlier with Lacey going back to dance ebcause of her brother's win, I think that shows perfectly why should can't be the winner, she did it for the fame and not for the fun of dancing.
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