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So You Think You Can Dance: Top Six Perform

by Michael Pascua, posted Jul 30th 2009 3:03AM
SYTYCD - The top six contestants pose for the camera(S05E20) Nigel Lythgoe finally admitted something about So You Think You Can Dance this year: No one stands out. We only have a few weeks for the next season to start, so we'll see if they could rectify that for season six.

Lil C is our third judge and doesn't bring much to the table. Either he set his expectations too high or the dancers are more mediocre than season's pasts. While the judges continue to lament the lack of character and they pick Jeanette going home, Cat mesmerizes America with a pyramid bracelet. One wrong swing and she'd gouge out Evan's eye.

Group Performances

Guys - "True Romance" – She Wants Revenge (Jazz - Sonya Tayeh) - Sonya wants something very Willy Wonka. Fortunately, she was given three capable dancers. The only reason that Evan stood out to me was that Brandon and Ade kept lifting him. I love that Lil C sounded like some slash fan-fiction fan when he loved the idea of an Ade/Brandon pairing.

Girls"Kick It (Stereoheroes Remix)" - Nina Martine (Jazz - Sonya Tayeh) - I love Sonya more because she referred to Melissa as Buttercup, the Powerpuff Girl. The routine showed strength, but it wasn't as synchronized as the men's performance. The performance picked up at the end and was a strong way to end the show. Oh, and Nigel? Stop staring at Jeanine's breasts.

Couples

Jeanine & Ade

"LoveGame" – Lady Gaga - (Samba - Louis Van Amstel) – Another Lady Gaga song that became a flawed Latin routine. Jeanine got into character, but Ade didn't. The salsa wasn't traditional, but the steps, especially the roll, looked awkward. Nigel mentioned that Ade was too tall for the performance.

"Move (If You Wanna )" - MIMS - (Hip-Hop - Napoleon & Tabitha) – I appreciate that NappyTabs is attempting accessory hip hop routines and the boxes were better than the chain performance. Like last week, Ade did better with his second performance by getting down. He needs the judge's motivation to do well.

Melissa & Evan

"Get Me to the Church on Time" - (Broadway – Tyce DiOrio) – It's nice to see Evan in his genre, but the steps weren't too complicated that Melissa kept up with him. The performance was all about having over the top expressionism, and Evan does that well.

"As Long As I'm Singin'"- Brian Setzer Orchestra - (Quickstep - Louis Van Amstel) – A very bland performance. Louis got desperate to make sure the Quickstep was compelling, and he added in the Charleston and the Lindy Hop. Quickstep will never be appreciated on SYTYCD.

Kayla & Brandon

"All I Want" - Ahn Trio - (Contemporary - Stacy Tookey) – Watching two contemporary dancers execute a choreographer's routine well is great to watch. I know that the judges over-inflate Kayla's talents, but she was great in this routine.

"Dance (Disco Heat)" - Sylvester - (Disco by Doriana Sanchez) – Doriana must be compensating for some weak Disco routines in past seasons by speeding up routines. Speed doesn't equal greatness. I kept seeing Brandon make these faces as if he was going to drop Kayla in lifts. That's not safe at all.

Solos

Kayla "You Found Me" - The Fray - I hate Kayla's taste in music, because it's very recycled. The routine was too fast for the song, as well.
Ade"18th Floor Balcony" - Blue October - Unlike Kayla, Ade took the time to slow down at points.
Melissa "I Put A Spell On You" - Nina Simone - I know that doing all the toe-points in ballet is hard, but it's just not as compelling as the other routines.
Brandon - "O Fortuna" – Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg - Sure it may have been the same routine as the audition, but it's still a standout routine.
Jeanine "Feedback" – Janet Jackson – I love watching the strength of her turns. She doesn't fall out of them as often as Kayla has.
Evan - "The Lady Is a Tramp" - Sammy Davis, Jr. - Another recycled routine; the only difference was that there was no hat.

Summary

In the end, I think that Brandon and Kayla got the good end of the stick with their performances. With only six contestants left, the extreme fans will probably keep Evan around, so I think that I would finally send Melissa and Ade both home.

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Dee

The judges are so hard on Evan in just about everything he does and then they go easy on Kayla who has never even had to learn a hip hop routine. Their bias is so transparent while they try to manipulate the voting audience. Evan has an apparent following and the judges just sound mean to him and it backfires and gets him sympathy votes.

Kayla is a one note who's solos are always the same and don't look choregraphed just thrown together. Kayla needs to go.

Jeanine is the most versitile and talented of the girls and I'm happy to see Melissa always on pointe and true to ballet in her solos.

I hope to see Jeanine, Melissa, Evan and Brandon in the finale with Jeanine winning!

July 30 2009 at 7:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Dee's comment
Dtrix10

I have no interest at all in Jeanine.

Brandon has been my favorite since Day 1.

July 30 2009 at 10:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
am_hollitz

Interspersing phrases like, "You danced good", while spewing non-sensical, highfalutin BS is just plain ignorant. Li'l C is NOT a role model. He's a CARICATURE!

I thought Evan would have shone more both in the Broadway routine and the quickstep, but he just looked tired. I chalk it up to the physically demanding schedule the dancers (and crew) must be keeping (because clearly he can dance his own style well--because that's all he dances well.) It's really become an endurance competition, in my opinion.

A lot can be said for being physically strong, however, strength isn't enough. Ade has great physical structure, but there's no personality in his dancing. Like Mary said, Ade makes the routine look effortless, but she neglects to say, "...because you dance like an expressionless automoton." I think Ade will get the boot tonight.

I'm glad I got to see Brandon dance with Kayla; they're two of my favorites this season and I thought it would be hard to choose between them. Problem solved: While Kayla edges Brandon out in technique, Brandon easily surpasses her in the all-around with his personality. Personally, I think Brandon is going to win.

July 30 2009 at 3:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dnclvr50

All of the dancers are excellent. I agree that Evan is the least versitile although very easy to like and the show is about choosing the favorite dancer not necessarily the best dancer.

Brandon is I think, simply spectacular in his genre and has handled all the styles well.

Some people don't like contemporary dancers but they have the strongest technique and range. Professional choreographers want well trained dancers who can bring their vision to life.

July 30 2009 at 3:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Xina

I couldn't agree more! This year has frankly, sucked in my opinion. I am all for a beautiful routine, Tyce's Breast Cancer routine comes to mind...but I LOVE Hip Hop. I like hard hits, precise movements, etc...and this year, we have no one that even comes close to specializing. last year, Twitch was my favorite...we voted for him religiously, and honestly, I think the hip Hop routines are some of the most fun out there.

July 30 2009 at 3:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gina L

Melissa totally threw Evan under the bus last night. Was it just me are did it seem, she couldn't stand Evan?

July 30 2009 at 2:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gina L

The judges have way overrated this season's dancers. Last year was far better. This season's guys I think are very weak.

The disco number was a total mess. It was sloppy, rushed and not danced well at all.

It seems to me that the judges are biased against Evan. There is no way his is as weak as they say he is and still be in the competition.

The show lost the strongest dance when Jeanette went home. Melissa should have gone long before Jeanette or Randi.

July 30 2009 at 2:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
justelise

I'm just gonna come out and say it: I think that this season is possibly the worst season of SYTYCD that I've seen (I only missed the 1st season), and I think the judges are just trying to build up the hype machine by saying it's so awesome. They know they have a new season starting just weeks after the end of our current season, and I think they keep playing clips of the next season, because this season is just not up to snuff. The top four from Season 2 are STILL four of the best dancers to ever be on the show. The entire top 20 of this season pale in comparison to them. With the exception of Janette, Janine, and Evan, this entire top 10 has virtually no personality, and it's becoming more and more mind numbing to watch. The fact that Tony Bellissimo even made it into the top 20 marks this season as the weakest on record.

Kayla's solos all look the same. Ade's solos aren't all that great either. I think the only reason Janette got eliminated was because it's virtually impossible for a dancer who is normally partnered to dance alone, and I think that it has hurt ALL of the Ballroom, Latin, and Salsa dancers we see. Somehow Benjy and Heidi made it work, but they're rare exceptions, and both of them were overflowing with personality.

I also think that some of the dance choices (Russian Folk Dancing?!) were just poor choices, and ultimately sabotaged certain contestants. The judges have had problems with several pieces of choreography this season, and I have no doubt that it helped to shape our top 6, which I'm not satisfied with. When we enter the top 10, the choreographers need to understand that it's not completely about them, because the judges can't alter the fate of dancers who get stuck with lousy routines. They need to think about what they create in terms of how the audience will receive it, and they need to create routines that bring out the best in the dancers.

They also need to permanently remove Lil C from the panel. He doesn't understand any non-urban dance style, and when he shows his ignorance of Ballroom, I'm glad Mary Murphy calls him out. Almost every time he opens his mouth, the remaining panel members disagree with him. At the beginning of the season, he and Mia Michaels tore into Brandon and were completely unfair to him through the auditions and into the beginning of the show. They turned their tune around far too quickly, and I don't think it was voluntary. You don't go from tearing someone down to kissing their butt and telling them how awesome they are overnight, and I think they've OVERCOMPENSATED for it in their critiques since then. Bringing back Shane Sparks and booting Lil C will go a long way to correcting what's going wrong with the show.

July 30 2009 at 12:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to justelise's comment
Erin

I have nothing to add to this. This comment was awesome. "Like" button if this were Facebook.

I have been saying that about Kayla ever since she made the show. Yeah, she has nice lines. So? She has lucked out with partners AND choreographers above and beyond everyone else on the show. I was a big Janette fan. She was SO diverse and was so likeable and fun. Now I'm rooting for Jeanine who has always been my second favorite. She also rocks everything she does and has a fantastic personality, as well.

July 30 2009 at 2:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jessica

I liked Kayla's solo - hers have become so one noted and this one was different than all the ones she has done so far. Janine has the best turns of any female dancer that has been on SYTYCD. They are so controlled and beautifully executed. I'm over Melissa. I think ballet is beautiful but I'm finding I prefer traditional ballet instead of Melissa's style. I want to see turns and leaps and sashaying across the stage!!!! But that's just me.

Wow Brandon, his solo may have been recycled but it was kick ass none the less. I think the less clothes he wears the better his solos - strictly speaking quality of content skill. ;-) Ade was OK in his solo and did well in hip hop. Finally a hip hop from TappyNabs (my nickname for them) that is good. This season has sucked in the hip hop department until last week's Shane Sparks routine, then last night's hip hop routine.

Evan, he has got to go. I loved him in his audition last season because the style was so unique and fun. He was a was a favorite this season. But, outside his genre he really doesn't deliver. He seems stiff, uncomfortable, less personality. The Charleston and Lindy Hops should have been a lot bigger and he just kind of fizzled.

My top four are Brandon, Kayla, Ade and Janine. Though I think Ade and Melissa are going home. After Evan not being in the bottom, I just think he has a bigger fan following than the rest.

July 30 2009 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
justelise

Janette got robbed last week. I just hope we can send Kayla home this week, because she puts me to sleep. Janette should really have Kayla's spot in the top three.

I'm still rooting for Evan and Ade. I'm over Brandon too. I think him doing his audition routine as his solo last night was an act of desperation.

July 30 2009 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

Jeanine is the only dancer I've voted for this year; great dancer, bags and bags of charm and personality; plus quite the good looker. Yes, she's a contemporary dancer, but hasn't had a contemporary routine all season - outside her solos. Hopefully she'll get one next week.

I finally put my finger on why I dislike Melissa: she only has one expression - radiant smile. It seems it's difficult for her to turn it off. I'll grant that it's a beautiful smile, but come on! Take some facial expression lessons from ... sigh, Jeanine:o)

Evan seems to have sent home everyone he's danced with, so hopefully he'll join Melissa on the sidelines this week.

July 30 2009 at 11:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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