(S05E18) While Mia Michaels was a little better during her last guest stint at the judge's table, it was Ellen DeGeneres that excited me the most. I'm a huge fan of DeGeneres, dating back to her stand-up work. And while I think she's hilarious and I love her comedic style, I'm not sure if her presence here made much sense.GROUP
"Let It Rock," Kevin Rudolf f. Lil' Wayne (Contemporary, Travis Wall)
I'm not sure this offered each individual dancer the chance to shine that Travis indicated it would; either that or they were all shining in the same style. Nevertheless, it was a high energy performance. I actually found the lighting on the costumes a bit distracting from the performances, but as it's a group number, I'm not too worried about it.
COUPLES
Janette & Evan
"Move (Metromoney Remix)," CSS (Jazz, Sonya Tayeh)
Sonya is a one of a kind choreographer. I think Janette nailed the quirks of the static poses during the lifts and the attitude of the piece a little better than Evan, but he was solidly in the piece with her.
"Heartless," Kris Allen (Rumba, Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin)
I fully expected Janette to own the sultriness of a rumba, and once again, she was outstanding. I wasn't as sure Evan could find the "voice" he needed, but Tony & Melanie gave them such slow choreography, he just about got away with his discomfort.
Jeanine & Brandon
"May It Be," Hayley Westenra (Waltz, Hunter Johnson)
A little bumpy on the opening lift; we actually saw some fractures in the perfection that is Brandon. While it didn't wow me, you could see the technical skill in both dancers.
"Battlefield," Jordin Sparks (Pop-Jazz, Laurie Ann Gibson)
Brandon was hitting the steps about twice as hard as Jeanine. They were great individually, but I didn't think their performance together was as strong as the judges did.
Melissa & Ade
"Yeah (Gomo Gaza Mi Morena)," Chino Espinoza y Los Dueños Del Son (Cha-Cha, Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin)
I didn't really love this, and I think it's because Melissa wasn't able to look sexy or elegant enough. She's so strong and powerful, she almost looked like she was leading Ade around the stage.
"This Woman's Work," Maxwell (Contemporary, Tyce DiOrio)
I always wonder if these story dances would work as well if they didn't tell us the story beforehand. Regardless, this was absolutely breathtaking. Melissa is such a powerful dancer, it was amazing to see her so vulnerable and "weak," and I fell in love with her all over again. That absolutely brought me to tears, and I don't do that.
Kayla & Jason
"Mr. Monotony," Kim Criswell (Broadway, Tyce DiOrio)
This choreography brought me back to my own dancing days. It was beautifully danced by both partners equally, creating one of the most satisfying dances of the night. Jason was perfectly in control throughout, and Kayla really captured the character Tyce gave her. A tremendous success.
"They're Everywhere," Izza Kizza (Hip-Hop, Shane Sparks)
There were parts where it wasn't as "heavy" as it seemed it should have been, particularly in Jason's arms. It was an enjoyable piece and a lot of fun in that old school style Shane excels at.
SOLOS
Kayla Radomski - "The Moment I Said It," Imogen Heap
It was all about the same thing as we've seen before, but I do like the way Kayla moves.
Jason Glover - "...Slowdance on the Inside," Taking Back Sunday
Tonight was about leaping around and showing us his lines, I guess.
Janette Manrara - "Seduces Me," Celine Dion
Janette finally figured out how to do a solo. She brought a lot of sex appeal and power to that performance.
Ade Obayomi - "Hater," Various Productions Artist
I liked the staccato energy of this solo. It was frenetic energy barely contained and kept you glued just waiting for it to explode.
Melissa Sandvig - "Heads Will Roll," Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I think Melissa could bench press all the other contestants. It creates a bizarre dynamic sometimes; for example, she didn't look graceful or feminine in this solo. She looked powerful and a little intimidating.
Evan Kasprzak - "Old Devil Moon," Jamie Callum
The show needs to put Evan's solo style into a routine. He's just so much fun to watch. Maybe he can come back and choreograph for the show like Travis and some others have.
Jeanine Mason - "Let the Drummer Kick," Citizen Cope
I absolutely loved the reluctant attitude she gave to this solo. A different side of her as a performer, it's diversity within a style that tells a great dancer.
Brandon Bryant - "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That," Robert Randolph & the Family Band
This young man is in this thing to win it. There was so much energy and power in that, and yet it was at the same time so elegant and controlled. Masterful.
SUMMARY
If I have to send a guy and a girl home, for the guys it's probably going to come down to Evan and Jason, and it may be the end for Evan. On the girl's side, I see maybe Janette and Kayla with Janette going?
Honestly, it's such a tight bunch I wouldn't be surprised to see any of them, though I think Ade and Melissa may have earned a reprieve with their stunning breast cancer dance. Who do you think is heading home?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-23-2009 @ 7:13AM
Charry said...
All the remaining contests have really held their own. At this point it's gonna be sad to see any of them go but 2 of them as to go this week and if I had to guess who it would be, then I would say Melissa & Jason. This show isn't just about dancing it seems, but it's also a popularity contest and it seems Melissa & Jason has a smaller fan base than the others. Evan was the weakest guy I think last night but I think he has a strong fan base.
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7-23-2009 @ 7:54AM
laura said...
I loved ellen on the show, she truly loves to dance and loves music so that makes her a huge fan of SYTYCD and it really showed!
I wasnt expecting alot out of Tyces choreography for melissa and Ade , when he said "breast cancer" I thought "oh no, its going to be a train wreck" but it wasnt, oh boy it wasnt, I cried during after and after that, it was so beautiful and touching and having lost my own father to lung cancer it hit a chord in my heart, and then I had to watch Nigel lose it, which made me lose it even more!
Mia, sigh, the girl hates men. and it shows.
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7-23-2009 @ 7:57AM
Lisa said...
Oh my, 'This woman's work' with Ade & Melissa had me a weepy mess. I would not have been the same with any of the other dancers - Melissa's almost translucent skin and outward frailty masking her inner power and Ade's quiet and awesome strength. Wow, Tyce, wow. Lost my mom to breast cancer so it's not a big leap to tears for me. They also stayed in character to honor the message through the feedback. good on them.
I love Ellen and although oddly placed in this setting she made me laugh out loud on several occasions, so bring her back...we all need laughter.
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7-23-2009 @ 8:57AM
Xina said...
I agree with the comments about Tyce's piece last night. AMAZING! Truly amazing. I am a huge fan of Mia's Mercy piece from last year and the bench piece she did with Travis and Heidi, but I think this one took the cake for me. The trust melissa had in her partner, and the strength Ade had...truly, truly beautiful.
I also liked Shane's piece, not nearly as powerful as Tyce's, but so much fun.
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7-23-2009 @ 9:29AM
Emland said...
Last night was the first time I have ever turned the TV off and gone to bed. I found the whole night a little on the boring side. I'll have to check the DVR for the second dance by Melissa and Ade, though.
I was looking forward to watching Ellen on the show but found her tiresome within the first few minutes. Was the whole cast told to laugh at everything she said no matter how inane and not funny? I would have preferred her doing a stand up routine or parody dance skit rather than the rambling-on she did. She also looks rather gaunt - is she ill?
Hate to see any of them go at this point. They are all marvelous dancers.
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7-23-2009 @ 9:53AM
Xina said...
You should watch the last two dances. The one from Melissa and ADe that Tyce did was amazing. Then Shane Sparks did one that was so much fun. I was bored with the first 6 dances! A first for me on this show, but I am SO glad I stuck it out to watch those last two dances.
7-23-2009 @ 12:34PM
Karen said...
Your comments are right on. I thought Melissa and Ade were horrible in the cha-cha. I kept saying it is too strong and not free enough. I thought for sure they were going to rip Melissa apart on that one.
And Janine and Brandon on Battlefield. I couldn't put my finger on it. They were together but not together is all I could say, but you are right...he was hitting it harder than her even if they were in synch and so it looked like they weren't dancing togather.
And if you are wondering how the Melissa Ade dance went without knowing the story -- it was just OK. We didn't hear the story so after it was over we went back to hear it and watched it again. It was much more powerful knowing the story line, but still good without. The commenter who said it wouldn't have worked with anyone else is right. Maybe Kayla, but the white skin, tiny features really set that story off.
I wasn't a big Jason fan to begin with but like him much better now. I think Evan should go home, but I think he has a bigger fan base. I have no idea on the girls. I would think Melissa, but with all the emotional reaction around the last dance, she may be safe.
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7-23-2009 @ 12:34PM
Tania said...
Those last few dances I must say were the beginning of the show. Starting with Jeanine and Brandon's Battlefield. It finally picked up the show. It wasn't at Shane's caliber of hip-hop but it was straight hip hop and not the lyrical hip-hop that we've been getting from Tabitha and Napoleon. I think bringing in LaurieAnn Gibson was a smart move. A lot of the MTV audiences are very aware of who she is.
I was beginning to think that the only choreographer that can move people with stories was Mia. We may not like her as a judge most times but as a choreographer she takes you on a journey. I was beginning to think that her addicted piece was the emotional rollercoaster of the season. With a close second with Travis Wall's sweet and elegant routine last week.
That said... I think Tyce took the crown for this entire season if not the past 5 seasons the show has been on. I mean absolutely beautiful and moving. To his credit I'm sure he knew he could pull off this piece because Melissa and Ade were reunited so the chemistry and the trust was already formed. I think Melissa is elegant and beautiful but I've never been a huge fan. Ade is very underrated but I see him starting to outshine some of the more overrated dancers.
Jeanine has some of the best solo work that I've seen in all 5 seasons. She truly is a breath of fresh air.
I think Kayla is too overrated. Her solos are practically the same. We get she has perfect lines and yadda yadda yadda. I want to see the passion that the other dancers show. I want to see the growth the show has given these dancers. While she is beautiful and dances well I think she is pretty flat when it comes to how much more the other dancers are excelling.
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7-23-2009 @ 4:03PM
goldengirltdw said...
I think Ade and Melissa were astonishing. I lost my father to cancer and that dance was just jaw dropping. Ade was so powerful and Melissa just trusted Ade so much she threw her body into his with wreckless abandon. It was just spectacular. I believe Ade is the most stunning dancer. WOW
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7-23-2009 @ 4:57PM
Karen said...
Did anyone else notice that Jason and Kayla were the only couple who did not perform a ballroom/latin dance? Totally unfair. And am I the only one who saw Evan lose his balance not once, but twice in the Rumba?
Since Ade and Melissa were in the bottom two last week, let's hope this is NOT a popularity contest and give them the votes that they deserve.
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7-23-2009 @ 4:54PM
am_hollitz said...
Any other dance and Melissa would be the first girl on my list to cut, but the Tyce's Contemporary piece on Breast Cancer hit all the right nerves. Like Mary(?) said a few weeks back, it's not about perfect lines and technique anymore, it's about who you "like" and whether you "connect" with them. Melissa seems completely relateable to the over 30 female demographic which I think is a fairly big demo for this show.
That said, I think Jeanine is going home tonight. From the very beginning all the judges could say was "Wow, you really kept up with Phillip!" Now they're saying "Wow, you really kept up with Brandon!" She's a GREAT dancer, and I liked her solo, but she's just not the powerhouse I'd expect to be crowned the best/favorite dancer, as opposed to Jeanette or Kayla.
As for the guys, Evan's sunk. Even with Mia and Ellen liking his boyish face, he doesn't have the versatility that Brandon has. Every style he dances is like a Gene Kelly interpretation of that dance. He is a great dancer, but not the "best" male dancer--That would be Brandon.
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7-23-2009 @ 11:33PM
Petunia said...
My favorite dancer is Kayla. She can do anything the judges throw out to her and she executes perfectly! I see lots of emotion in her numbers, especially the Addiction piece. That was phenomenal! And last night she had great expression in her hip hop number. Second, I like Jeanine who is also well-trained and can pull off any style. I think Janette is the weakest at this point. To me everything she does looks like salsa. Melissa might save herself with last night's Tyce breast cancer number. As for the guys, Evan should go. I can't wait to see what happens!
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7-23-2009 @ 10:02PM
cait P. said...
I am really disappointed with season.. way to much ballroom. There is a ballroom routine every other dance. While ballroom is very difficult it is not fun to watch and it won't bring in the votes. Maybe last season had more dynamic dancers but I have found this season just a little boring with no real standout routines.
Ade is by far the best male dancers and he deserves to stay. I think they should have a judges save like they do on American Idol.
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7-24-2009 @ 7:32AM
Ballroom Dance said...
So you think you can dance is great show. I am following your blog and have added in my google reader.
Pinky
Ballroom Dance Teacher
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7-27-2009 @ 2:20PM
sammg32 said...
I started watching the show this year. I am completely in love. I am no judge of dancing but I find I am a sucker for jazz routines. I love all the dancers and give them great props. I only disliked one dancer from the top 20. I actually am an Evan fan, maybe cause he is an under dog character in all of this. Also, I love him more after what Nigel said about his eyes. Thank god Ellen and Mia stuck up for him.
I have a questions though? why do the dancers perform the same solo when they are about to be voted off? Also, why are all the dancers in the same personal costumes on Thursday as they were in on Wednesday? Do you think they perform on the same day? I am so confused about this whole thing cause Cat and the judges are in different outfits.
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