Seems dumb to me that he didn’t check with his boss before going to try out.
I really HATE watching the tryouts. First, I don’t enjoy watching the people who really can’t dance make fools of themselves, or be torn apart by the judges. In last night’s episode, we didn’t see that much dancing, it was all the human-emotion. Plus, I can’t keep track of who’s who, either, and it’s just confusing to load me up with backgrounds on people who are NOT in the top 20.
I was irritated last night when I realized that we weren’t going to see any dancing, as I feel that is one of the main points of the show. I understand that all of the finalists got to do one more dance for the judges, and we didn’t see any of it. It reminds me of the results shows of Dancing with the Stars where I tape it so I can zip to the last 3 minutes to see the only relevant part of the show.
Actually, you don’t need to – I watch The Mentalist, then flip over to DWTS when it (The Mentalist) goes to final credits – haven’t missed the denouement (of either show) once.
“…hate Mia…”
Oh yes. I know her type exactly in the arts, and also very common in sports and fitness coaching.
The method:
Assert omnipotent superiority and emotionally browbeat and strip away all confidence or self-esteem in the student. Then, grudgingly parcel instruction as if it were a cherished gift contingent on the student groveling for more at your pedestal. Then, tie all rebuilding of confidence and self-esteem to the instructor. “Mia is wonderful, I couldn’t have done anything without her.” Then sit back smugly and bask in the “love” and tell the world how wonderful you are.
She is an ugly, ugly person.
Well I don’t know if I feel that bad for him since he was under contract and obviously didn’t obtain permission before trying out.
However, I think it was pretty short-sighted on the part of the company not to let him go. If they had wanted, they could have let him go under the condition he returns. In these times where arts companies are crying for resources, having this kid on the show would have been some of the best free advertising they could have hoped for.
Every week, you would get to hear “Alex, a dancer with the Miami City Ballet” If he went far in the competition, they could do a vignette about his career in Miami. If Alex had won the show, no anount of money could have bought that kind of publicity for the ballet company publicity.
I don’t know how contracts work in the industry. I just think that the Chair of the Board or the chief fundraiser could have been pulling their hair out watching this kid crying on TV saying that he feels trapped in ballet. I would think that there is no chance the ballet company will get him to re-up when his contract does expire. So they will lose him anyway.
I agree with all the comments about Mia. WTF was her problem with him? Some of the dances she comes up with are interesting. But that doesn’t give her the right to say such things to someone. That was just damn cruel and foul.
And I knew they were going to put the brothers through that same crap they pulled on all the other relatives and friends. Remember them making those two female friends stand on stage together, knowing there was only one who could go through? Then, they even pulled that, “Well, if you think you won’t come back next year, we need to reconsider our decision!” Overdamatic much?
I’m behind Evan for the win. I love his style and sense of humor. Reminds me a bit of Benji. Hopefully the outcome will be similar!
This was my thought too. He’s got the right combination of cute, talented, and humorous to go a long way in the competition. Like Benji, he is “adorkable”.
God I hate Mary. She isn’t one-bajillionth as delightful as she thinks she is. Wacky, in general, is better in teeny tiny doses.
Are we just going to stick with one long thread or have weekly threads?
Last year we did it all in a single thread – with only 8-10 posts a week, we don’t get the traffic that AI or other shows get.
I’m excited to see how Evan and the popper do. Hopefully they get good partners. I remember a couple of seasons ago this one guy got paired with a girl who was a lot taller than him and he was voted out the first week. He didn’t have a chance.
I honestly wish that they had the first week be like an exhibition and then the second week is when they start voting people off. That first week, it’s really hard to judge who you’d like and who has talent.
I feel bad for the dancers who got stuck with the Crash Test Dummy routine and the Silent Film number. Yuck.
I have a feeling Vitolio is in trouble, which is too bad because he has the best backstory and the best name.
I think the one with the lowest would be the Crash Test Dummy routine. I agree that the two you mentioned weren’t that great (through no fault of the dancers) but at least Ashkur and Vitolio both have a built in fan base. They were well spotlighted during auditions whereas I don’t remember Crash Test Dummy’s very much.
The ones I liked least were couples 2-5. (Broadway, chacha, the first jazz, and the second hiphop.)
Amazingly enough, I liked contemporary dance by Melissa and Ade…and I hate almost every contemporary dance. Maybe because this one didn’t have all that aimless running about while flailing your arms and hair about. So hate that.
Really Good
Jeanine & Phillip: Terrific hip-hop opener and a perfectly matched couple.
Randi & Evan: Playful without ever feeling goofy, the number was also casually sultry and very mature. Another excellent couple.
Kayla & Max: Kayla has always seemed too girly to me, but she was completely in the zone, and Max brought his A-game to his specialty. A fantastic number, and they completely schooled the other Latin number of the night.
Good
Caitlin & Jason: Maybe not as electric as last year’s Bollywood, but vivid and athletic and very well done.
Ashley & Kupono: The most conceptual, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re in the bottom 3, but the number was inventive and Ashley in particular was amazingly expressive, despite the make-up. I liked it quite a bit, and it was certainly distinctive.
Melissa & Ade: Simple but quite lovely, Melissa with her hair down is a gorgeous revelation, possibly to Ade’s disadvantage (his personality didn’t come through much, despite his obvious technical skill).
So-So/Not So Good
Asuka & Vitolio: Probably the toughest sell as far as routines go, but their delivery wasn’t as vibrant or enthused as it needed to be. The most vulnerable couple.
Karla & Jonathan: The judges liked it, but I didn’t see any chemistry. Karla is a smokin’ hottie, but there was little that was sensual about the pairing (and it suffers even more when comparing it with the other Latin number).
Paris & Tony: Given that ths was supposed to be his strength, Tony didn’t impress much. Paris is one of three interchangable brunettes, but while the other two (Jeanine & Ashley) really brought out their personality this week, she never did, though she was still better than her partner. The sucky music and costumes didn’t help there. Another highly vulnerable pair.
Janette & Brandon: Though Mia’s criticism was beyond the pale last week, I didn’t see anything special in Brandon’s performance tonight. While Janette seemed effortlessly natural and elegant, her partner seemed too stiff and restrained. I’m not looking forward to Mary’s weekly tonguebath of him, especially in a week like this one where he was nothing special.
I haven’t been blown away by Brandon yet, but I have to admit that lift they did, where he lifted her above his head and spun around (not the beat description, I know) was absolutely incredible.
Does anyone know where there I could see the dances again online?
If you think that was impressive, just wait until Asuka gets paired with Ade or Brandon. She is so petite, they could pretty much fling her like a baton through the ceiling tiles.
But I have a sinking feeling Asuka and Vittolio are gone this week. I know they were going for Buster Keaton, but it looked like Vittolio was sporting an Adolf. Had I been in his position, I would have made a stand and flat out refused it. And “Asuka” sounds so much like “Oscar”, that was used in the closed captions.
Stupid storms in St Louis.
Local affiliate kept breaking in last night and I missed both Evan amd Randi’s routine as well as Ashley and Kupono’s, and background/rehearsal stuff.
Thats said, I think the couple who did the Foxtrot will be in the bottom three tonight. Foxtrots generally don’t do well on the show.
No prediction on who’ll be going home.
There’s no significant difference in 'stache styles between an Adolf and a Charlie Chaplin…which is probably what they were going for.
I had no idea Evan was short, since they previously only showed him standing next to his brother. The sight of him coming up to Cat’s shoulder was a bit startling.
Luckily for him, his partner is even shorter.