SYTYCD: Vampires, Ballet & Aliens Galore!
July 2, 2009
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It’s about fucking time every single act of the night amazed and inspired. I’m going to have a hard time narrowing down people for the Bottom 3 this week, which is always a delight. Personally, I think it is more fun when everyone rocked it out and creates a challenge.
I would have to say that it is too hard to pick out just three performances that were my favorite … Nevertheless, I think Kupono Aweau & Kayla Radomski and Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb had the two best performances of the night and should not even be considered for the bottom.
Kupono & Kayla performed a contemporary routine from Sonya Tayeh … with an obvious inspiration from True Blood, Twilight and Interview with a Vampire … maybe not the vampire part, but the death aspect that is usually associated with vamps. I enjoyed this routine because of the commitment and technique these two dancers brought to the floor. I think the lines and leaps between the two were spectacular to watch. Plus, it is pretty cool to see a dark side to dance …
Phillip & Jeanine did a hip-hop routine from amazing choreographers Tabitha & Napoleon D’umo … both the dancers were chained together and kind of forced to have synchronicity and rhythm together … Since I have been disappointed with the majority of the hip-hop routines this season, I was pleasantly surprised … The part of the dance where they both popped their chest in and out was enough for me … and the key thing at the end was pretty sweet.
The one couple I believe should be in the bottom is Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak for their deplorable Broadway routine. They may be in my top dancers, but they screwed up this week …
One couple that has really impressed me this week … to my reluctant admission … is Brandon Bryant and Janette Manrana (they did a Cha-Cha). The routine was brilliant and kept me entertained throughout … while Janette was amazing (as usual), I just wished I liked Brandon as much as everyone else does …
Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi performed classical Ballet from Romeo & Juliet … For me, I have always seen Ballet as boring, but the innocence and energy between the two dancers showed me the great strength and commitment it takes to perform a great Ballet performance. Since Melissa is (I believe) the first Ballet dancer to appear on So You Think You Can Dance, I think they both presented a top-notch performance to solidify Ballet on the show.
Caitlin Kinney & Jason Glover did a pop-jazz routine by Brian Friedman … with Caitlin as an alien and Jason as the last-surviving human on Earth who she has to impregnate. It’s a little unusal and the costume designed for Caitlin looked like a spiky condom, but the performance was a lot of fun and really entertaining to watch. I don’t think this was Friedman’s best routine, but I think it was enough for Cailtin & Jason to redeem themselves.
Lastly, newly paired Vitolio Jeune & Karla Garcia did a Quickstep (which has come to be known as the ‘kiss of death’ for dancers). Personally, I think they did an amazing job with a dance that tends to be on the boring side. The dress change Karla did was unexpected and a great way to change the speed of the dance. I still have a feeling they will land in the bottom, I just hope Karla can survive the cut …
I can’t wait to see what happens during the results show cause I think this week was a fantastic surprise and the dancing was some of the best I’ve seen this season …
** I can’t believe the two couples I said were the best this week landed in the bottom. Kupono & Kayla and Phillip & Jeanine had the most exciting routines … I’m not surprised by Vitolio & Karla being sent home … I really liked Karla, but sometimes talent isn’t enough to keep you alive in a competition … Vitolio I can live without, but I’ll miss Karla … I know, I’m a man-hater.
Next week will probably be the best week of dances … I have come to really like all the couples and I’ll probably be shocked by whoever leaves next week … I can’t wait!
