So You Think You Can Dance -- SYTYCD -- Fall 2009

Cafe Society
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No comments on last night’s show? Is everyone on the road for T’giving?

Last elimination before the top ten – and is it just me, or is the season whizzing by? – and a nice jam-packed show. Glad everyone had two numbers – more for us to evaluate them by, and more fun to watch in general.

A lot of really good dancing last night. Wonder who will be lucky enough to get Jakob next week? His personality is kind of creepy, but god damn that boy can dance.

People I’d be happy to say goodbye to:

Mollee and Nathan’s phone routine was blah; their can-can not much better (though it beat the hell out of last season’s Russian folk dance, at least). Whoever it was who said they’re good for top ten so they go on the tour is correct – though last season didn’t they send top twelve? But these guys are just way out of their league, I’d be okay with sending them off to eat turkey and pumpkin pie in peace.

Karen and Victor: Damn, their sync on the hip-hop was totally nonexistent

Good dancers who need to stop screwing around:

Russell and Noelle, esp. Russell. I’d be okay with ditching Noelle – who’s better than I thought she’d be, but isn’t great – but Russell, dude, this is a competition.

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Safe & Comfy
Ashleigh & Jakob - Two powerhouse performances, each catering to a different one’s strength but both delivering the goods in spades. It’s also quite touching how completely enamored they are with each other. They will definitely have a lot to offer whomever they partner up with next. And Legacy plays the humility card perfectly (and sincerely, I might add; I’m a fan).
Kathryn & Legacy - Forget Karen, Kathryn was the smokin’ hottie last night, and while the waltz was only so-so (but much higher energy than most examples of that style), their first jazz number was original, sizzling, and marvelous. They’re also a terrific match, though it’ll be more interesting to see whether they jive as well with someone new.

On the Cusp
Noelle & Russell - The biggest problem with these two was that their freeform lyrical dance and latin numbers were so heavily overshadowed by the (superior) freeform lyrical and latin numbers of A&J. Russell is holding his own, but he’s still second string to Legacy in the Street-Dancer-Done-Good dept. I like him a lot, though, but wish Noelle had a bit more personality (she seems like a poor man’s Kathryn at this point). The big difference, of course, was that her latin number was Not Bad for a White Girl, which just isn’t good enough (though the deck was stacked against her from the start–Shakira? That’s just not fair). Still, generally strong overall with no major missteps and two good pieces.
Mollee & Nathan - Argh! Really can’t stand them, and while I’m crossing my fingers that, given last week’s results, they may find themselves in the bottom 3 again, I’m not underestimating the tweener love that may keep them in the game. The hip hop number I may have liked with anyone else performing it, but it seemed so Talent Show in their hands (and the less said about the can-can, the better; they’re obviously skilled technically, but the vibe was pure Epcot Center, not Moulin Rouge). It will be really interesting to see how they fare with partners that are, well, adult. There’s still too much cutesy-poo in their stage presence, and I have a hard time seeing them paired with, say, Ashleigh or Legacy without being eaten alive. Please-oh-please go home (though not holding my breath)

In the Danger Zone
Ellenore & Ryan - Lindy Hop and Broadway?!? Why not just paint a huge target on their backs? While the former was fizzy and fun (and one of their best bits together), the Broadway was a snoozer, and with that kiss-of-death style draw, they’ll definitely be dancing for their lives. I suspect Ryan will be safe (since a Top 10 w/Mr. & Mrs. is too irresistable), but Ellenore may be in trouble.
Karen & Victor - And the truth is revealed–Karen can really bring her A-game when she has a decent partner. For her (and him, too), though, I suspect it’s too little too late. The tango was really well-done, but the hip-hop kinda blew, and while I blame the choreographer for part of that, they still left a dreary and lackluster final impression. Neither of them seems to offer anything that isn’t readily available somewhere else among the other 10, which may render them the most expendable.

We’ll see…

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Is it me, or do all the women this year really suck in comparison to the men? I feel like the boys are really carrying this season. Jakob and Russell seem light-years ahead of everyone else from my POV, though Ashleigh has definitely been holding her own. Legacy has impressed the hell out of me too, and despite seeming kind of douchey at first, he’s growing on me. Mollee and Nathan are adorable but total amateurs compared to some of the absolutely stunning dancers in the competition.

I absolutely loved the tango with Karen & Viktor, but I feel like they put so much effort into that tango they blew their other piece.

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Noelle wins the Most Beautiful Back award for the season.

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I actually thought Ellenore & Ryan were towards the top for the evening. I really like her, and I thought her personality was well-suited for both of the routines they got. I liked the Broadway number quite a bit better than the Lindy Hop, which looked a bit sloppy to me.

Something about Ashleigh still rubs me the wrong way. I think she and Jakob have great chemistry together, and it’s obvious that she’s working really hard. But she still overdoes her facial expressions. I never love any of her her and Jakob’s routines. And I agree that he’s kind of creepy.

Kathryn & Legacy have turned out to be my favorite couple, which is something I never expected. Their jazz number was excellent.

Karen & Victor and Russell & Noelle are just not nearly as good as everyone else. With the exception of Mollee & Nathan, of course, who are never any good at all (well, they may be good dancers, but their personalities make me loathe everything they do). My admiration of Russell is waning a bit. I absolutely don’t buy that he’s never had formal training, but I’m OK with the lie. I think it’s weird that he can get so dirty when he’s krumping, but he had this nice-boy smile on during the entire samba routine.

I really miss:
[ul]
[li]The old stage. I hate the screen and the lighting choices they’re making this season. They also seem to be filming the routines differently, and whatever they’re doing doesn’t work as well.[/li][li]Truly amazing couples, like Katee & Joshua or Janette & Brandon. No couple this season compares.[/li][li]I never thought I’d say this, but Mia Michaels. Not her judging (oh god no) but her choreography.[/li][li]Good hip hop. I don’t think we got any last season, either. The routines have been blah and the dancers haven’t done them well.[/li][/ul]

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I thought the judges’ comments about Ashleigh’s facial expressions (and ballroom in general) were hilarious. A surprising amount of self-deprecating humor about Dance.

I miss Hok, or Hawk, or whatever his name was. Haven’t been dazzled by a breaker since him.

And I’m rooting hard for Ellenore…she’s a friend of a friend (don’t know her at all, personally).

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They’re definitely two of my favorites. I thought the Broadway number was pretty awesome, but I think the downfall of the Lindy Hop was the music–it felt too slow and while they were moving at Lindy-speed, the song was kind of ambling along, and I think it made the whole routine look easier than it actually was.

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Haven’t seen the results show, but I think that Mollee and Nathan should go home.

I was surprised at how enthusiastic the judges were. There were a few routines that I thought were “off” but the judges loved. For instance, I thought the “Hips Don’t Lie” number seemed really slow and forced. It’s hard to hear that song and not compare the dancing to Shakira, who can REALLY move her hips. I thought the can-can lacked energy. I’m wondering if it was me or if they translated differently to the t.v. than the live audience.

I didn’t feel the chemistry between Karen and Victor in the second dance at all – Usher’s “Move Mountain” song. I was surprised that the judges let the angry choreographer have it, even though I agreed with them. “The music and the angry dancing didn’t seem syncopated.” Methinks they don’t like her. I was ticked that they didn’t show the choreographer’s reaction.

I skipped a few weeks so I don’t know these dancers very well, but I’m really impressed by how strong Ryan is.

I was also knocked out by how strong Kathyrn is. I think she and Ryan would be a perfect complement for each other because they are both beautiful dancers.

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Nope – Victor and Karen. Deservedly, IMHO.

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Nigel did say if he’d had his way, Nathan would have been going home; the judges were not unanimous in their vote on the male dancers. I agree with Adam–what’s sinking Nathan isn’t his dancing as much as what he’s saying in the clips before the show. IMHO, he’s coming across as an overindulged, arrogant brat. An immensely talented brat–wow, that guy can dance–but a brat.

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The judges seem impressed with Mollee’s ability and how much she’s “matured” in competition, in contrast with how Karen never seemed to show much range beyond flaunting her sex appeal. They may think that Nathan has been kind of a bad influence on Mollee presence/charisma-wise, and that she’ll have more of a chance to shine when the contestants get shuffled.

They may, conversely, think that Nathan wasn’t much encouraged to mature by being partnered with Mollee, such that they (excluding Nigel) let him hang on (I’m a little surprised that Nigel apparently let him slide last week – unless that was actually a split decision like last night).

Maybe not last week, but she was similarly half-hearted in last night’s solo and they called her on it before saying goodbye.

I tend to focus my attention on the women for some reason :wink: and I think that’s a bit harsh, though there haven’t been quite the standouts of some seasons.

I’m on board with all the Kathryn fans in the thread. I’ve loved everything she’s done, but I think she may be this season’s version of Kayla – She performs everything with such skill and commitment that she can everything look too easy, and she might not have a distinctive enough personality to build a big fan base.

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When Nigel says the decision is not unanimous, I think he means the other producers (not the other judges). i.e. the other producers know damn well who are buying the tour tickets. It’s not the SDMB posters and it’s not dance devotees who will be showing up in droves.

Victor went home purely because of the frenzied teen fangirls who will snap up tickets to see Nathan and who will stay home if Nathan is not around. It doesn’t matter if Nathan whoops it up or talks about jetskis. As long as he didn’t alienate the fangirls, he was a lock for top ten.

I was a little surprised that Karen went before Ellenore, but maybe that was the concession to keep Nigel happy. Karen is a bigger draw than Ellenore (still nowhere near as big a factor as Nathan), but Ellenore is a more versatile dancer.

I loved Mollee’s solo, especially that unique and highly unusual flip move at the end.

Ashleigh and Jakob’s routines look as polished as the professional specialists they bring in for the results show. That’s what I love about this show… the talent is at a level that rivals the best in the business. In past seasons, there were Sambas and Argentine Tangos that were as good or better than the professional Samba and Argentine Tango routines.

Russell’s nun-chuck toss-flip of Noelle and Legacy’s hula-hooping of Kathryn in last week’s Paso Doble were extremely cool examples of dance moves no other show even attempts.

I must admit the new commercial bumpers are growing on me. But the new stage is still problematic. I know it has better lighting and the more intimate size frames the dancers better and makes them appear larger than life, but I don’t think they’ve adapted the camera rigs properly.

In past seasons, there were more rotating shots that panned around the dancers and showed the stage background and audience. Now, the camera is always from the front. (Except when a cameraman physically walks onto stage at the end of the show to film the dancers mugging with Cat Deeley)

Noelle “My name has nearly the same letters as Mollee and Ellenore” is young and pretty (and therefore will look hot in those revealing samba outfits like the other young and pretty girls), but I thought Kathryn was even hotter in her Paso Doble outfit. Noelle kind of looks like Ted Kennedy to me, so that kind of ruins her sex appeal.

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Actually, I think there’s a track across the back of the stage that they use for a stage-left-to-stage-right pan towards the audience at least a couple of times a show.

And I thought the old stage was more intimate – this stage feels too big and with too much distance between the dancers and the audience (across the orchestra pit, if there is one). This feels like a traditional theatrical stage, whereas the old one felt more “in the round” – on that point we definitely agree.

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The big problem with the new set is the sound system. Maybe it’s my TV, but it sounds to me as if all the music is blaring from speakers above the stage. It has that large auditorium feel to it. So, rather than like last year when dancers had the music surround them, the music feels detached and distant. It means that when a dance number isn’t working well, it REALLY isn’t working well because that disconnect between them dancing and what they’re dancing to is so jarring.

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Jakob and Ellenor – good lord, what a dream team. I thought the quickstep was amazing, and then they danced Sonya’s number at the end. Jesus fucking christ.

Joining them in the final four, I predict, will be Russell – if freakin’ Mollee doesn’t do him in with her clumsiness, I blame every single one of their blips last night on her – and probably Kathryn. I loved the “Choreography” piece, and she had the '50s look exactly right – not only in costume, hair, and makeup, but in how she moved. She even made Nathan look good.

As for who’s going home tonight – having gotten our first husband and wife team on the show, and gotten them to the top ten, may we now have the first ever husband and wife elimination?

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Wow, IMO Ashleigh has been the best female dancer, but I agree about Ryan, he can go now.

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Up till now she’s been partnered with Jakob, who could make anyone look good. Last night, she was way out of her league. The first number was tough, so I’ll cut her some slack, but her hip-hop was du merde.

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Seriously, Ellenore was born to do Sonya’s choreography. That number with Jakob was just fantastic! I agree with Adam Shankman, it did sort of feel like a follow up to Sonya’s “The Garden” from two seasons ago.

I was relieved/glad that the judges called out Dave Scott for his lousy choreography. That hip hop with Legacy and Ashleigh was a hot stinking mess of awful. I mean, a cape? Really? Oh and for that matter, WTF was that first dance those two did? It was like angry awkward gymnastics.

I was surprised how disappointed the judges were with Kathryn and Nathan’s rumba, I thought they looked fabulous, had chemistry, and she was very sexy.

I’m with you on this one. I didn’t like Ashleigh at first, and even though she’s grown on me, she was weak last night. Ryan faded to the background for me, and I never really notice his dancing so much as his strength and ability to lift. Also his solo last night was just silly.

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My daughter’s DVR didn’t this evening, for some reason.

Who’s gone?

Thanks a bunch! :slight_smile:

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Nathan and Noelle