SYTYCD: Final 6
Quick, because I don’t have much time.
I thought Brandon really nailed it this week. He repeated his solo from the tryouts and it was as good this time as it was then. Right now he’s the one to beat.
Kayla danced better than she had ever danced and being partnered with Brandon didn’t hurt.
Evan wasn’t as solid as I’d hoped but I think honestly that part of that was the choreography of the broadway routine. I thought the quickstep was well done except for the middle where it drug. However his solo was strong enough that I think he’ll be here next week. (BTW – is it just me, or does he always look like he should be in Quantum Leap?)
Melissa to me will be here next week. I don’t think she danced as solidly as in weeks past but I think it was good enough.
Ade has really struggled the past couple of weeks. He was, I thought, one of the two best dancers. However when the show moved from one dance to two dances a week plus a group dance he never quite adjusted. He’ll have one weak dance (Samba) and then a solid dance (the Hip Hop). It’s been like this every week for some time now. While I think he’s a better dancer than Evan I think Evan will end up making it in the final four because of that problem.
Jeanine was just too weak this week. Especially compared to Kayla and Melissa. She’s a great dancer but I just didn’t think she brought it this week.
Will my predictions come true? It’s hard to say. I think the routines have had as much to do with voting as the actual dancing. I think Jeanine has a popular following and that might carry her through despite a weaker week. Melissa’s been in the bottom before and she didn’t have a knock out piece of choreography this week like she did last week. Likewise Evan has always struggled and rarely has just nailed it. But he seems popular with the voters (I bet primarily young women) whereas Ade’s been in the bottom before.
Posted on July 29, 2009, in Dance. Bookmark the permalink. 14 Comments.
Steve Evans
RJH
Scott B.
John C.
Susan M
Aaron Brown
ninemoons
arandomjohn
kulturblogadmin
Kyle M
Brad
KulturBlogGuest
MCQ
Wm
Rebecca
Ivan
Geoff J
btdgreg
Clark Goble
Aaron R.
Tim J
Ben
My favorites were Kayla & Brandon’s contemporary piece and (shocker) Evan’s solo.
It’s a toss up who goes tonight. As long as Jeanine and Brandon are there, I think I’m good…
I think Nigel is right, people are voting for the choreography mostly because there are not any special stand-out, star-quality dancers.
It was interesting to see the boys all dance together and the girls all dance together. I thought Evan stood out in the guys’ routine. He has a different style than the other two and it made him stand out a bit.
I thought Kayla actually stood out a bit in the girls’ number. She really shined this week with Brandon and I wish they’d been paired together earlier.
I thought Jeanine and Ade were the weakest. The samba wasn’t that good and the hip hop was just STUPID. I told my husband those choreographers are like the Hannah Montana of hip hop.
I’ve never been that big on Melissa and didn’t think she was that great this week, either. Evan is good and I really like him but I think he must be getting tired or something. He didn’t quite shine like he could have.
Brandon and Kayla were excellent. Although that disco routine was kind of annoying. I don’t like how the choreography is just go-go-go with no breathing room. They have to move so fast they don’t get to have as much fun with it as I want them to.
Their contemporary was my favorite of the night.
And Brandon’s solo was amazing.
I agree with most of the previous comments.
Brandon’s and Evan’s solos were the best, by far. (But, does anyone really consider or vote on the solos?)
It was great to have Louis van Amstel’s choreography back on the show – it’s challenging and interesting. However, both dances were danced poorly. The samba literally made me cringe. Aack! The quickstep was better, but not great. (I thought it was waaaay too fast.)
The hip-hop number was dumb. (I loved the Hannah Montana comparison!!)
The disco number was awful. Doriana is trying to throw everything into her choreography lately (“we have to top ourselves.”) Consequently, the dance was too full of lifts and tricks executed poorly, with transitions that made me cringe. Little dancing – just trick, get ready, next trick. Gag.
I enjoyed the Broadway number, and loved Brandon/Kayla’s contemporary number.
So YES, I’ve commented on the choreography and not the dancers. But I strongly believe the dancers can only do so much. If the choreography is not memorable, or even horrible, the dancers are out of luck.
That said, after reviewing the whole season, I think Brandon and Kayla are the two that truly deserve to be in the final. It’s a toss-up between the other four.
P.S. I usually do not like Sonya’s choreography. The supergirl dance was really dumb. However, the guys’ dance was fun, quirky, and well done. Evan definitely held his own – I watched him most of the dance. He may not be “brilliant,” but he has definitely been solid.
Of COURSE he’s getting tired, Susan. You can only take so long of “you’re not that great” and being the judges’ whipping boy before it shows on his awesomely expressive face…
I thought Kayla looked tired in the all-girl number. (Given she had just barely finished a very athletic disco routine that’s not surprising – almost a little mean to schedule it like that) Of course she still did well but not great (I thought).
I agree that Tabitha and Napoleon really haven’t been as good this year as in past years. I didn’t mind that hip hop last night but it sure didn’t wow me. (Partially it had a lot to do with the music choice) I thought Ade danced it well though I thought Jeanine really struggled in it (screwing up several times with the boxes) I’m not sure why the judges praised it so well though. I’m also not sure why they’ve had Tabitha and Napoleon doing so much this year. Have they had trouble getting choreographers?
Mel, I do think people vote on the solos. I think Evan’s solos have been what has primarily been keeping him going. And I think Brandon’s solo really locks him into to having a solid chance of winning everything. (I think he deserves to win)
Normally I don’t like Sonya’s stuff either but she’s had a few this year I really dug.
My issues with the solos: 1. This isn’t a choreography contest. 2. What can you really show in 30 seconds? If you want to show off your abilities, you throw in all the “tricks” you can, or the judges cut you down for it. And yet, the same judges complain (rightly so) about some of the solos looking “desperate” and full of too many tricks. Thirty seconds is really a waste of everyone’s time, in my opinion.
And, why not have everyone do the same choreography once, to really compare them against each other? A couple of years ago they all did the same solo choreographed by Wade Robson. That was enlightening. Maybe all top five couples could dance the same latin or contemporary dance – then we could really judge them against each other. Because, like I mentioned earlier, sometimes (often!) you get a piece of garbage competing against a brilliant piece, and the dancers lose.
Mel, I think it’s clear choreography is part of it. Thus the solos. I do agree that I think the solos should be longer than 30 seconds though. At least now towards the end. While the solos don’t always impress the judges they often impress the viewers who vote. I think that’s why Evan is in the final four: on the strength of his solos.
Thoughts on the final four. No real surprises. I figured Ade was out. While he was one of the solidest dancers he’s struggled with the multiple routines and had the “cockiness” problem that I think turned some off. I’m a bit surprised that Jeanine is in the final four. But realistically Melissa not making it is not a surprise.
I do agree though that the dancers are too often at the whim of what choreography they pick up. And that’s unfortunate because you can then end up with people who ought go on getting eliminated like Jeanette. However in past years you had dancers who always seemed to do well regardless of what they got. This year Brandon’s come closest to that. I don’t think any of the women did.
Katee (from last year) is such a better dancer than all the girls this year. And Chelsie has so much more spark and personality than they do, too. I was so excited that they brought back my favorite routine–the one with Chelsie and Mark. Funny that it was choreographed by the Hannah Montana couple. They’ve gone downhill this year.
The problem with all these dances and dancers from last year is that they show this year’s crop to be kind of disappointing (except for Brandon & Jeanette). Yes there have been some really good dances. But this has definitely been the weakest year other than perhaps the first year (which I didn’t see). And it’s not in terms of technique primarily but a certain performance quality. While part of that is the choreography a significant part is, I think, the dancers themselves.
Susan, I wonder if Tabitha and Napoleon haven’t been as strong this year simply because they’ve been asked to do so many dances. I think they’ve choreographed nearly every week.
They should’ve had Lil C do some krumping this year. Although I kind of shudder to think of any of this year’s dancers attempting it.
OT, but if you haven’t seen it, Rize is an interesting documentary about krumping:
Yeah, but they should be having this year’s dancers trying hard stuff. There really wasn’t the variety this year there was in the past, despite adding in more Russian and Bollywood.
Just to belabor the point, in prior years there were several people who managed all dances. This year only Brandon and Jeanette really managed that. (Which makes Jeanette’s leaving all the more ridiculous)
I’m totally not watching tonight. With Melissa, Ade, and Janette gone, the only truly deserving dancer left is Brandon. He should win, but that will be boring because his real competition is gone. And it will seem a bit rigged seeing that Mary (and Nigel?) has been worshiping him since Day 1. Oh, and also boring because yet another guy wins this show.
If he doesn’t win then it will just be infuriating.
Anyway, see ya in the Fall, So Ya Think You Can Win A Rigged Popularity Contest.