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rabid1stWell, that was a pretty good show! Let's see how I ranked those dancer...and what I thought of the new elimination policy.
First things first, the new elimination policy sort of sucks, because there was no chance to look back at a favorite. On the other hand, it is awesome not to have to watch those long filler shows full of performances by people I don't care to hear or see. On the other, other hand, it is a sad day when we no longer have filler episodes to fill with the awesome dancers that need more exposure on TV, specialists who we loved from the auditions for example...and ballet troupes that can be showcased. Finally, on my last hand, I ponder the format staying at 2 hours so that we have a decent chance for dance offs and clip shows as we move forward...because honestly the dancers did have a long intro this time and were pretty lucky to get it.
Okay...to the performances...
Cole & Lindsey -- 7/10 - I loved Cole in this piece, but Lindsey let the side down a little. I was happy to see the judges pick up on what I said last week about Cole...that he's a poser. It could be that he's actually an actor, but I think Adam hit it spot on when he said Cole had trouble letting go of the characters he creates. Some people like that actually lack a real personality and so they slip into fake ones. This is the vibe I get from Cole as I asked myself if I was supposed to believe his Ninja BS from the auditions and last week.
Amelia & Will -- 6/10 - Sorry judges I was not as impressed as you were. And I love Amelia. Also, yes, I suppose objectively speaking those were some phenomenal extensions, but I was turned off by the concept and wasn't called back into the light by the performance. It all seemed soulless to me. Still, I do like these two and hope they stay on with us.
Amber & Nick -- Hard to score this one. I loved Amber and didn't see Nick. Again, I agree with the judges, this is what is supposed to happen to a male partner in some cases. But I don't agree that it should happen to him in the Tango. Amber just smoked his ass. She was so good, perhaps the best I've ever seen a non-ballroom person dance a tango on this show. So...8/10 for Amber...and a vote for her, too.
Audrey & Matthew -- 8/10 - I am not loving Sonja as much as the judges are tonight. Though I do like that she is growing as a choreographer. The moves are interesting and challenging and not tired and boring the way some *cough*Mia*cough* routines get. I do wonder if Audrey simply failed to deliver the aggression that I was expecting in this. It looked to me as if she was an abused woman fighting off an aggressive male. But it was bold and big and took strength. So, I'm giving it a high technical score, but no vote.
Darian & Janelle - 5/10 - WTH? A slow jive? Or what that supposed to be lyrical hip-hop? I stepped out of the room for a minute and didn't catch the style and I truly couldn't figure it out from the choreography either. I am relatively sure it wasn't contemporary! :grin: For once, Nigel criticizes his choreographer and rightly so. Though the dancers were flat as well. I don't think that Darian did well. I was put off a lot by that kiss, as it didn't work well with the piece and seemed too much for the moment.
Jennae & Brandon -- 6/10 - Thought this was amusing and a good job from both dancers selling the concept of the characters. Fun and light!
Eliana & Cyrus -- 4/10 - Jive? Honestly? Just NO! Poor Cyrus. Buddy, I want to support you, but I can't support that. I do think that he tried. And as I've said before, the thing I like about Cyrus is he doesn't lose his temper when he's being beaten down by something. So many street dancers cop abrasive attitudes and it is hard to support them when they not only fail to dance well, but are pissed off that they were expected to dance well. Cyrus keeps smiling through the torture. And he did get there for Eliana, which had to make her big job of carrying him a little easier on her. I am tossing her a vote, because we can't tell how she's doing on something like this.
Daniel & Alexa -- Contemporary. In a tub (them, not me). It might as well have been me. I don't know what to say. No feelings about this at all. It was uninspired.
George & Tiffany -- Sadly,I wandered off when the judges were talking to Daniel and Alexa and I missed this routine. But it seemed lovely in the recap. I do love this pairing. All night long I was hoping to see them again...and then I missed them. Still, it was a Foxtrot, so probably I didn't miss much.
Witney & Chehon -- 7/10 - Bollywood. Maybe it is me, but I didn't love this routine. Maybe it was being told that there was no meaning behind the routine, I don't know. The crowd seemed to eat it up and the judged piled praise on these two. Again, I could see that Witney did some lovely sharp movements, so I could support her technically. But I didn't feel that Chehon lit up the room this time. I think the judges are full of it about that.
And, I see Witney and Chehon are in the bottom six. And only one dancer from each side is going to be safe? I hope that is because they gave them an extra week to gain fans. I don't like this rush to eliminate, it throws me. And, just like on the Voice, I am angered that I wasn't allowed to vote on them this week, after performances that I might have LOVED! Certainly Witney and Chehon did better this week than last time, even if I didn't feel that Chehon was "on fire."
And they are safe, too. Nick going home suits me fine. I found him forgettable. I also didn't care for Alexa that much. I didn't hate her, I thought she was scrappy and stuff in the auditions, being berated on national TV. But she hasn't impressed me very much as a dancer. I find her average for this show...forgettable. Also going home are Jannae (whose name I constantly spell wrong, I think) and Daniel. I suppose it says something that I can't remember what I thought of Daniel* last week. I should go read my review again. Meanwhile, I do hope, as I said, that we have more time to spend with the dancers facing elimination from now on...and that we slow it down to one guy and one girl leaving every week.
EDIT TO SAY*Turns out I didn't care for Daniel last week. Nor was I impressed with him this week. So, that was a cut I could get behind. Also wondering if we will have Brandon and Amber paired together next week. I suppose that is a given, but they are always changing things up on this show. My votes are going to Amber, Brandon, Cole, George and Elaina this week.
First things first, the new elimination policy sort of sucks, because there was no chance to look back at a favorite. On the other hand, it is awesome not to have to watch those long filler shows full of performances by people I don't care to hear or see. On the other, other hand, it is a sad day when we no longer have filler episodes to fill with the awesome dancers that need more exposure on TV, specialists who we loved from the auditions for example...and ballet troupes that can be showcased. Finally, on my last hand, I ponder the format staying at 2 hours so that we have a decent chance for dance offs and clip shows as we move forward...because honestly the dancers did have a long intro this time and were pretty lucky to get it.
Okay...to the performances...
Cole & Lindsey -- 7/10 - I loved Cole in this piece, but Lindsey let the side down a little. I was happy to see the judges pick up on what I said last week about Cole...that he's a poser. It could be that he's actually an actor, but I think Adam hit it spot on when he said Cole had trouble letting go of the characters he creates. Some people like that actually lack a real personality and so they slip into fake ones. This is the vibe I get from Cole as I asked myself if I was supposed to believe his Ninja BS from the auditions and last week.
Amelia & Will -- 6/10 - Sorry judges I was not as impressed as you were. And I love Amelia. Also, yes, I suppose objectively speaking those were some phenomenal extensions, but I was turned off by the concept and wasn't called back into the light by the performance. It all seemed soulless to me. Still, I do like these two and hope they stay on with us.
Amber & Nick -- Hard to score this one. I loved Amber and didn't see Nick. Again, I agree with the judges, this is what is supposed to happen to a male partner in some cases. But I don't agree that it should happen to him in the Tango. Amber just smoked his ass. She was so good, perhaps the best I've ever seen a non-ballroom person dance a tango on this show. So...8/10 for Amber...and a vote for her, too.
Audrey & Matthew -- 8/10 - I am not loving Sonja as much as the judges are tonight. Though I do like that she is growing as a choreographer. The moves are interesting and challenging and not tired and boring the way some *cough*Mia*cough* routines get. I do wonder if Audrey simply failed to deliver the aggression that I was expecting in this. It looked to me as if she was an abused woman fighting off an aggressive male. But it was bold and big and took strength. So, I'm giving it a high technical score, but no vote.
Darian & Janelle - 5/10 - WTH? A slow jive? Or what that supposed to be lyrical hip-hop? I stepped out of the room for a minute and didn't catch the style and I truly couldn't figure it out from the choreography either. I am relatively sure it wasn't contemporary! :grin: For once, Nigel criticizes his choreographer and rightly so. Though the dancers were flat as well. I don't think that Darian did well. I was put off a lot by that kiss, as it didn't work well with the piece and seemed too much for the moment.
Jennae & Brandon -- 6/10 - Thought this was amusing and a good job from both dancers selling the concept of the characters. Fun and light!
Eliana & Cyrus -- 4/10 - Jive? Honestly? Just NO! Poor Cyrus. Buddy, I want to support you, but I can't support that. I do think that he tried. And as I've said before, the thing I like about Cyrus is he doesn't lose his temper when he's being beaten down by something. So many street dancers cop abrasive attitudes and it is hard to support them when they not only fail to dance well, but are pissed off that they were expected to dance well. Cyrus keeps smiling through the torture. And he did get there for Eliana, which had to make her big job of carrying him a little easier on her. I am tossing her a vote, because we can't tell how she's doing on something like this.
Daniel & Alexa -- Contemporary. In a tub (them, not me). It might as well have been me. I don't know what to say. No feelings about this at all. It was uninspired.
George & Tiffany -- Sadly,I wandered off when the judges were talking to Daniel and Alexa and I missed this routine. But it seemed lovely in the recap. I do love this pairing. All night long I was hoping to see them again...and then I missed them. Still, it was a Foxtrot, so probably I didn't miss much.
Witney & Chehon -- 7/10 - Bollywood. Maybe it is me, but I didn't love this routine. Maybe it was being told that there was no meaning behind the routine, I don't know. The crowd seemed to eat it up and the judged piled praise on these two. Again, I could see that Witney did some lovely sharp movements, so I could support her technically. But I didn't feel that Chehon lit up the room this time. I think the judges are full of it about that.
And, I see Witney and Chehon are in the bottom six. And only one dancer from each side is going to be safe? I hope that is because they gave them an extra week to gain fans. I don't like this rush to eliminate, it throws me. And, just like on the Voice, I am angered that I wasn't allowed to vote on them this week, after performances that I might have LOVED! Certainly Witney and Chehon did better this week than last time, even if I didn't feel that Chehon was "on fire."
And they are safe, too. Nick going home suits me fine. I found him forgettable. I also didn't care for Alexa that much. I didn't hate her, I thought she was scrappy and stuff in the auditions, being berated on national TV. But she hasn't impressed me very much as a dancer. I find her average for this show...forgettable. Also going home are Jannae (whose name I constantly spell wrong, I think) and Daniel. I suppose it says something that I can't remember what I thought of Daniel* last week. I should go read my review again. Meanwhile, I do hope, as I said, that we have more time to spend with the dancers facing elimination from now on...and that we slow it down to one guy and one girl leaving every week.
EDIT TO SAY*Turns out I didn't care for Daniel last week. Nor was I impressed with him this week. So, that was a cut I could get behind. Also wondering if we will have Brandon and Amber paired together next week. I suppose that is a given, but they are always changing things up on this show. My votes are going to Amber, Brandon, Cole, George and Elaina this week.
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Again, C&P from FB
Date: 2012-07-19 05:58 pm (UTC)Cole & Lindsay: Good characterizations. I would have liked to see more dancing in the first half of the dance. Good effort. I wasn't blown away by it, but it was decent. 6/10
Amelia & Will: Great execution! Beautiful lines. The choreography didn't inspire me, though. That isn't the dancers' fault. 6/10
Amber & Nick: She's fierce. Good lines. Nice flicks and kicks! Fasts and slows, the dance didn't feel like it had one volume, so to speak. 7/10
Audrey & Matthew: Another "my leg is in the air!!" step. Actually, lots of them. I didn't really feel the aggression this dance was supposed to portray. Great execution and lines, but the characters needed work. 5/10
Dear Nigel, You are not allowed to say "stank".
Janelle & Dareian: Lyrical hip-hop to The Temptations? Cognitive disconnect for me. Also, the execution seemed a little immature. 4/10
I'd probably be boring for the general audience, but I would love to see all couples dance to the same choreography for one show to see where differences emerge. These routines are really a product of two parts: the dancers (who are being judged) and the choreography (which isn't so much).
janaya & Brandon: Cute characters!! i want to know more about them. Fun!! 7/10
Eliana & Cyrus:I do not see a lot of jiving in this dance. Oh, there we go. Oh, Cyrus... This is kind of a mess. 4/10
Alexa & Daniel: Really liked this routine. The choreography was great and I love how the dancers played to one another. Great lines! 7/10
Tiffany & George: The foxtrot should always look effortless and this fit that, aside from the initial hold position. Will this dance be remembered at the end of the season? No. 6/10
Whitney & Keon (sic- I wish they'd put up the spelling like they used to!): Nicely synchronized. The sharpness and precision of their movements is awesome. 8/10 I dub thee best dance of the night!
That Step Up: Revolution group dance was DOPE! WHOA
I agree with the judges' decisions.
Re: Again, C&P from FB
Date: 2012-07-20 01:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-19 06:35 pm (UTC)I missed the premise for Amelia and Will and so I guess it didn't affect my watching. I really liked both of them, together especially.
Tango is by absolute FAVORITE, when done well. Which Amber & Nick accomplished, but Nick did disappear. Amber was excellent. I say they try to get Derek Hough as a choreographer for Tangoes.
I can't even remember what Audrey and Matthew did.
I missed the slow jive (WTH?). The tail end looked pretty meh.
Can;t remember what J & B did.
Eliana & Cyrus, She was excellent and I just love Cyrus. No, the jive was not a good dance for him, but he never faltered, was always there for her and looked like he was having a blast the whole time.
Alexa & Daniel were so very blegh for me. This dance was almost painful for me to watch. Not sorry they went home.
I loved George & Tiffany. their Fox Trot was beautiful and they made it look effortless.
Witney & Chehon were good considering the complexity of the dance (I LOVE Bollywood) and I think they will improve in the personality dept.
I don't vote because we record the show. Only my Mom and I like to watch. Hubby will watch the beginning dance but gets bored and wanders back to his college football forums.