So You Think You Can Dance: Week 5

Everyone who has posted to this blog has valid and great points. I just have one thing to add concerning Danny and his "perceived" arrogance. Let's all stop and think for a minute... do we all really think Danny has issues "connecting with the audience" or were we MADE to think he has these issues? When I think back to the first episodes of the season, the auditions, I remember thinking about what a terrific and flawless dancer he is; I even recall the judges commenting as such. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago when one of the judges suggested that he was "arrogant" that everyone jumped on that band wagon. There was post about the use of the word "musicality" and her point is exactly what I'm trying to say here. One person used it, then everyone else thought it was a great word/idea, so now it's used time and time again on each show. Soooooo, one week it's arrogant, the next week it's musicality, I can't wait to see what it will be next week.

People just don't realize how much their own opinions are infulence by the views of others. The media is notorious for this. At the end of the day we're all free thinking people who should use that gift and form our OWN opinions.

They showcased Benji because he was not only the previous year's winner, but also because he was the choreographer. Note that they mentioned Travis just as much as they mentioned Heidi last week.

Finally Cat Deeley wears a dress that doesn't make me cringe. As for Nigel, he needs to take a break from his "i'm really glad to be a part of something as wonderful as this" speeches. We get it! Its not very polite to praise your own show. Wade should be a permanent judge on the show, he really DOES make a lot of sense...unlike Mary Murphy. What do they serve in those cups anyway? They must be cutting back on the shots because she wasn't as scattered as usual.

I really like the Sabra-Dominic pairing. They dance really well together, especially considering the number of times Dominic seems to have dropped her. Sabra seems to be a really good sport about that. Their off-stage clip was the only clip that didn't seem painfully forced. For a B-boy, dominic is very versatile. I agree with the judges in that these two have grown.

Jaimie is a very lucky girl. Whatever she did to change (i.e. hair style...flirting with Hok) is really working for her. I had no idea she was on the show until last week. She's a really great dancer so I don't know why she didn't stand out before. Hok is really good at what he does...I was a big fan when he auditioned last season but he seems too cocky this season. I didn't like the routine much and haven't really liked most of their couples routines. However, I do think the judges were overly harsh with him. I don't know what Nigel was waiting for but if he didn't get it, he shouldn't be blaming Hok. All he's doing is following the choreography.With that said, his choreographed dances bores me to tears. There's no spark, no personality, no character. Its very different from his dances last season. Even his solo performances this season haven't blown me away. He needs to step it up.

I loved Sara and Pasha's dance. Everything about it was GREAT. It was my favorite routine as well.

I didn't like Neil and Lauren's routine. I may be a bit biased because I think this pair should have been sent home on the week Jesus and his partner got booted. Either way, the routine wasn't too interesting and Lauren is really really really really annoying. The only contestant more annoying than Lauren is Lacey. I bet they're the best of friends. To be fair, I'm sure most of it is for television (the whole be memorable and get the votes act) but they really bug me. By the way, is Lauren's background hip hop? Really? Because even Kameron dances better hip hop.

Anya and Danny are excellent dancers. The only reason they end up in the bottom is because they don't really connect with the audience...or each other. I was really glad to see Danny looking at Anya more during the routine and while talking to the judges because he usually seems disconnected..which comes of as arrogance. Disconnected manner + Dance movements that look easy = Appearance of arrogance = bottom 3. I think its time for them to play to the audience a little (Not as much as some of the other dancers...but a little...enough to bring in the votes) so that they can stick around until the end. Anya and Danny are great dancers.


Kameron really has been a prop since the beginning of the show. Lacey always steals the show because she's a great dancer and hams it up for the camera. I'm really glad Wade mentioned the whole 1 dimensional personality she exhibits. She's really laying it on thick with the "cute-flirty borderline slutty" girl act. She's a great dancer and doesn't need to use gimmicks. The fact that she continues to do so makes me want to vote for her less and less. I don't even want to see her in the top 10 anymore. I think the judges were really really easy on Lacey. Especially Mary Murphy. I'm beginning to think she's dating Benji Schwimmer because of all the favoritism with Lacey. She barely danced during the routine. It was all flirting. I know she has to follow the choreography but the little dancing that she did was average. Nothing to be gushing about. I wish they would be fair when judging her.

Just a side note...I think its pretty rude for the producers to practically showcase Benji Schwimmer last week and completely ignore Travis Wall this week. They mentioned that he was assisting and that was it. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big benji fan but at least act like Travis made it to the finals.



Couples that SHOULD be in the bottom 3:

Neil and Lauren: Don't know if it was the way the routine was choreographed but they seemed out of sync. Lauren isn't a great dancer...even when she does hip hop which is her specialty (Whats with that whole "I pretend to be asian" comment last week?)

Jamie and HOk: Hok wasn't treated fairly by the judges. Their issues had more to do with the routine/choreographer than the dancer. With that said, he hasn't really blown me away this season...even with the solos. What happened? Jaimie does end each sentence wit

I don't get the love for Lauren & Neil. They were out of synch for quite a bit of their routine. Neil is a much better dancer than she is, and it shows. Sabra & Dominic were my favorite from last night - for their personalities as much as for their dancing. Last night was the first time that I really enjoyed Danny & Anya - they were lovely to watch, and Danny actually had some expression on his face for the first time.

I think Dominic and Sabre are an amazing couple and continue to get better every week. I think Dominic has proved that he can do almost any style of dancing and do it very well. I will be sad to see the two of the split apart.

Your not getting paid because you are pompous and arrogant, and you have way too much free time on your hands. Sounds to me like a wanna be who's all talk while they waste the day in front of the TV. I can hear you now as you watch the show: "I can do better than that. That was all wrong."

For the first time I think Danny connected with his partner - judges have pointed out that Danny seemed to be disconnected from his partner and dancing by himself. Last night was the first time I noticed he connected with Anya and it was lovely to see.

I found it interesting to that no one booed during Wade's comments. I believe that Wade comes across more competent than the other twos judges and everything he said last night just came across as just constructional criticism. Not a hit on their personalities, not on their technique, but something deeper - trying to get at that something that connects the dancers to us, the audience. Don't get me wrong, I love the other two judges, but they come across and more entertaining us than really, really judges - Wade just seemed for serious.

I am finding Lacey's sexpot personae as being trite

I love Sabra and Dominic - I will be sad they are being split up.

Danny is growing on me, especially after last night. Anya - she is OK, I want to see her partner up with someone and do what she does best - Latin American dancing - I think if I saw her doing her forte, I would feel differently about her.

Love Pascha and Sara together - too bad they wont get a chance to grow as a couple.

My favorite routine was Lauren and Neil.

Hok is a favorite - partially because of last years outcome and I do totally enjoy watching Jaimie - she moves so beautifully and her lines are truly long and graceful.

I forgot my apostrophe - "the judges' " is what I meant to say.

The judges big word of the night was "musicality". The first time someone used it, I was like, okay, that was interesting. But then they all used it numerous times. But hey, I'm not a judge, nor a dancer, so they can use whatever word they want, over and over and over again! I enjoyed the show, especially Sabra. She is just a live wire all over that stage. Very entertaining!

Tori, you make a very good point about the choreographers being partly to blame for the perception that Danny is falling back to his more comfortable style. They certainly contribute to it, but I think it is not only the steps he is given, but also the way in which he performs them.

Georgia, I agree with you for the most part. I think where we differ is where you say that Danny's job is to entertain and he's done that very well. I think the personality and entertainment aspect is where he has been lacking, which is what has brought about the opinion that he is somehow arrogant. Contrast that with someone like Dominic, who has clearly won over the audience. That said, you are absolutely correct that this week his showmanship really came out. If he can run with that, he could win this competition. I agree with you about Cat too. She does a great job as the host.