OK–what woman, due to be married to the love of their life or not, wouldn’t want private dance lessons with Maksim Chmerkovskiy???? I’m there, ya’ll. I didn’t dance at my wedding, but I got to sing, and it was one of the greatest moments in my life (unfortunately I surprised my guests so much with my performance that there is NO video record of this anywhere). My brother and his wife danced, and I will never for get that!
Lucky Chelsea and her then fiancée Marc Mezvinsky took lessons from Dancing With the Stars’ bad boy Maks to do a very sexy dance to Michael Buble’s “Feeling Good”. They didn’t tell anyone about the first dance (my brother and his wife kept it a secret, too). Needless to say, there were reportedly raised eyebrows at the dance, but a great surprise and enjoyment for the guests as well.
It’s the first of two finale nights on Season 7 of So You Think You Can Dance, and while I regret Alex not being here with all my heart, I wish Kent, Lauren and Robert luck as we launch into the first night of the Top 3 Performances! Who will win America’s Favor? Let’s find out.
First up is All-Star Lauren and Kent with a Nakul Dev Mahajan Bollywood routine. Can Kent deliver the cheese? And the lightning-fast hand gestures? Oh most definitely. There could have been even more cheese in my opinion, but the dance moves were simply too fast to deliver it. I LOVED the bit where they clapped hands together while Kent was behind her. Great visually, and lots of fun. Judges loved it but did not have too much to say.
Next is Lauren with Twitch doing a political NappyTabs Hip Hop routine. I’m sure she can hold her own against Twitch, so I’m looking forward to this. The first moment with them smiling and shaking hands is funny and very accurate for dueling politicians. Their movements at the podium are super brilliant, I think, and Nappy Tabs has come up with a very cerebral Hip Hop number. Probably not a fave with those who love old school, but a great piece overall. And well danced! Lauren is praised for her strength and trustworthiness as a dancer with a choreographer’s steps. High praise from Mia Michaels. And I love Twitch, he was a cutie-pie with his shaved face and glasses.
Robert drew a Tyce Jazz number with All-Star Mark, and they do it to one of the best songs of the early 80′s, “Whip It” by Devo (I’m still a Mark Mothersbaugh fan, and he’s appeared with Devo very recently on one of my son’s favorite shows, “Yo! Gabba! Gabba!”). Kitschy, flashy, hand shaking, silly, hair-sprayed hair, jazzy fun. And I actually thought that Robert was better than Mark and stood out by a mile. For Mia, Robert is the most improved dancer on the show. Adam Shankman “threw up” with happiness that he danced for the joy and not for the competition (the things that come out of Adam’s mouth…).
Kent’s interview one-on-one with Cat was very cute and funny, just like him. They talked about the “faces” and we got to see a lot of them through a little tape. He does a hilarious bit for Cat where she asked him for happy and he gives her his happy face. Then she asks him for sad and he doesn’t change it. Very Kent.
Kent’s solo is pretty amazing technically and full of pauses within his leaps and jumps and throwing himself on the ground, but I found it very frenetic and desperate. Something he doesn’t really need. Super powerful dancer, though.
The contestants are now paired up with each other (how are they going to do that, is one person going to dance twice?), and Lauren and Robert are doing a Dee Caspary Contemporary. Prop Alert!! Looks like they are dancing with a pillow. Let’s see if they are overshadowed by their prop or are able to integrate it seamlessly. The golden lighting on them is beautiful. And I like the concept of them as a couple just trying to get home, and there are some moves with the pillow (like the last move, and the move where she threw the pillow to him and jumped to him) that are really fantastic. Well done to both of them. Judges love them. I have a feeling that there will not be much negative commenting tonight and I am intrigued by this.
Lauren is now paired up with Kent (I guess they’re all dancing with each other, so how many dances is that, I’m no math major) for a Mandy Moore Jazz number and they are playing the kooky weirdos that they really are and dancing to “Hip To Be Square”, which I always loved for the Tower of Power horns. Fun, simple, silly. And I could have used even more silliness, over the top would have been completely fine with me. Nothing super remarkable about this dance, didn’t seem to be enough of a challenge for both of them, which is echoed by Nigel Lythgoe.
Robert’s sit-down with Cat, he cites his favorite dance as the Travis Wall piece with Allison, which I will concur. He found the hardest thing to be all the ballroom stuff (which he did amazingly flawlessly, btw). His solo was a great mix of everything that got him on the show to begin with, and a nice cohesion with the music.
To now confuse me further, Kent is paired up with Allison for a Stacey Tookey contemporary about a couple having difficulty with maintaining their “perfect” relationship. This is such an interesting piece. You see the love, the hate, the manipulation, the desperation and the emotion from both of them. Emotion Kent, way to go, very real. In fact, he’s still affected into the judges’ interview and I am very moved by him. Mia tells him she loves him. When he tells Adam “you get so invested with the movement and the story, that the steps don’t even matter, ” Adam tells him he just became an artist. CAN I GET AN AMEN???!!! I am very impressed with this kid.
Last woman standing Lauren talks with Cat, and says her favorite dance was the prom dance with Kent. She had never shared and experience like that with someone on the stage before (and she’s not just talking about the very real kiss at the end). Her solo is the most satisfying of the night for me, from the Mary J. Blige music to the to the luxuriously sensual movement and declaration of her womanhood and her saying “I’m here and I want you.” was simply perfection. Bravo. I just also love that Lauren has an affinity for the classic soul. My kind of gal.
Robert is up next with Kathryn for a Spencer Liff Broadway routine to “Cool”. Ooh, I just love that song. It’s so interesting to see this concept for this song since it’s really the Jet’s gang song (and one of the most awesome pieces ever written/choreographed). But SOOOOOOO cooooool. Amazing choreography and amazingly danced (so well, Robert split his pants). Kathryn and Robert shine like neon pennies and Robert once again proves that he can pretty much do anything they throw at him.
Lauren gets to do a Cha Cha Cha with Pasha! Oooh, good, we get to see Pasha again. And coincidentally, the dance is about Lauren seeing Pasha and not being able to contain herself. Pasha shakes his hips like NO ONE can as usual. Lauren is hot and strong and does a damn impressive body roll (I know that’s an odd thing to pick out, but it stuck out to me). Plus, where she jumped with her knee on his shoulder and then he flipped her completely over then set her down so softly–that thing you know? Crazy amazing. Mia said that if she was still dancing, she would want to dance like Lauren. Whoa. I think Mia is making up for a whole season of some really harsh comments tonight.
The last dance of the night I something new, I believe. A “Malevos” dance, which means “gangster” dance, but Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionnuevo (yea! I get to say his name twice this season). The guys are in zoot suits and spats and black hats as they do this. And it’s not what I expect, as they hold each other’s shoulder’s a lot and do some tango like-looking steps. The one moment where Kent jumps up on Robert and then he flips him over was spectacular. Interesting and new, huh. Very powerful from the two of them. Apparently, this is the dance the men do together to practice their tango before they go do it with their women. Even more interesting!
Well that is it, let the voting commence! Who will be crowned America’s Favorite Dancer? We’ll be tuning in tomorrow night to find out!
Lauren and Pasha: Argentine Tango
Choreographer: Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionnuevo
Astor Piazzolla: Oblivion (slow and smokey) Oblivion – Piazzolla en Suite
AdeChike and Lauren: African Jazz
Choreographer: Sean Cheesman
Ralph MacDonald: The Path (fun and tribal)
(not available on iTunes or Amazon as download)
Robert and Anya: Viennese Waltz
Choreographer: Jonathan Roberts
Anouk: Lost (pretty song to go with a pretty dance) Lost – Hotel New York
Kent and Neil: Contemporary
Choreographer: Travis Wall
DeVotchKa: How It Ends How It Ends – How It Ends
SPOILER ALERT!
Tonight’s results show was of course extra special not only because not only did we get to see Desmond Richardson dance to The Rolling Stones, but Janelle Monae did a jaw-dropping live performance of “Tightrope”.
So! The finalists for Season 7 of So You Think You Can Dance are:
1. Lauren
2. Kent
3. Robert
Best of luck to AdeChike. I’m looking forward to an exciting Finale next Wednesday. I’ll be watching and blogging!
We’re here, the Top Four before the Finale to crown America’s Favorite Dancer! Let’s get started. Music Recap to follow this post, so if I don’t mention choreographers, don’t worry, I will!
All four start out in a Tyce DiOrio Broadway routine from Guys and Dolls. And they are excited to work with Tyce! This piece was decent, but nobody seemed to really shine in it. I also was constantly distracted by Lauren’s dress which looked like it was unbuttoned in the back, but I figured out it was just the design. This was a complete dud for me, unfortunately. I did like, however having all four of them perform together. Not much commenting from the judges on this one.
Lauren is up next with an Argentine Tango with Sexy Mr. Pasha. Argentine Tango is my favorite ballroom dance, so I’m anticipating this one. This dance is slow, so it’s deceptively simple (it is NOT, btw). It’s very smoldering, intricate, intense and long moments are taken. The one moment where lifts her up in a sweeping motion and her legs work a little dance was simply exquisite. Lauren does very well in this, I think, but I have to say Pasha is the eye catcher for me, just because he’s Pasha. He really gives on the dance floor.
We look back on where Lauren was before she started SYTYCD, and I didn’t realize she was SOOOOO young! I thought she was at least 23 or something. I give her even more props for growing up on the spot and being mature beyond her years.
AdeChike takes the stage next with All-Star Lauren for an Afro-Jazz number. I instantly love their outfits, that terra cotta color looks so great on them. The song is very interesting and tribal. Unfortunately, other than the beginning moments, this was a low-key dance for me as well, it wasn’t especially sparkly. AdeChike gets the note again to loosen up some more, especially in his back. I just remember his solo to “Woman’s Work” and I don’t agree with that note, but maybe he could let go some more. I didn’t see the celebration that Sean Cheesman’s piece needed here.
Robert gets to do the season’s first Viennese Waltz with Anya. And we get to see Dancing with the Stars’ Jonathan Roberts as a new choreographer! Yea! I love the dragging splits move. Once again, my opinion is that Robert actually LOOKS like a ballroom dancer. He also looks somehow older in this piece, more mature. I really liked this, the movement, the exciting moves that I’ve never seen, really pretty. They also had a great connection, very lovely. Judges marvel at the “straight arm” lift that he did and I realized how hard that was. Robert is good at ballroom!
Taking a look back at Robert, he really loves his mom and Step Dad. He also lives with Season 6′s Channing in North Hollywood and it’s fun to see them move all the furniture back and dance in their apartment.
Next, Kent gets a Dori Sanchez Disco with Courtney. Yea! I think there’s only been one disco routine this season and I’ve missed it dearly. Dori knows how to do it hard, hard, hard and fast, fast, fast, so I am anxious to see how Kent copes. There needs to be fun, party and hot moves for sure. I have to really admit that Kent is a good partner, very very strong for a smaller guy. This is a much slower Dori Disco than I’m used to and I’m wondering why! BUT–Kent’s super fast spin with Courtney across his shoulders is jaw-dropping. Crazyness! Kent’s comment about not being very big was cute. And Judge Nigel Lithgoe was right, there was no cheesiness from Kent in this dance. Amazing. Mia and Adam thinks it’s his worst performance.
Kent seems to not have changed at all since right before he came to the show, he’s still a ball of crazy energy. And a great dancer.
Lauren is paired with Ade to do a Sean Cheesman Jazz number, and she’s playing the part of a black widow. The lights are too bright again here, as they were for Sean’s first number. This is an interesting Jazz piece, I’ve never seen anything quite like it, mix of African and Jazz and Hip Hop. Lauren was incredible, though, and Ade’s lift of her from her upside down was mind-blowing. Could have used a smidge more sexual chemistry between her and Ade, as Tyce echoes. Nigel proclaims that Lauren will be in the finale. She gets extra points for dancing jazz in heels.
AdeChike and Kathryn are put into a Desmond and Dwight (Complexions) Contemporary piece. Desmond is AdeChike’s inspiration for becoming a dancer. This was a great piece that really showed their love for dance and their enjoyment of dancing together. Who wouldn’t love dancing with Kathryn McCormick? AdeChike is spanked again for not going to the limit of his abilities the whole time. The judges really want more more more from him. But it looks like unless America comes through, he won’t be in the finale.
As we look back on AdeChike, we see that it is not cool to be a male dancer when you come from Brooklyn. Glad he flourished and prospered and did not give up. He’s a doll and he deserves success.
Robert and Dominic pair up for a NappyTabs Hip Hop routine. They play two clowns in a circus who find out they’ve been fired, and it looks like this is a perfect opportunity for Dominic to cut it up and Robert to join. But this is also the “darker side” of clowning! This is super fun and I love the integration of clowns with hip hop, plus the balloon, very cool. Not super technical, but Robert does well. Judges love it and him. Mia loves the “Hip Hop Theater”. I love that term!
Last up, Kent joined Neil in a Travis Wall Contemporary. This is a story of friendship and betrayal. I adore male dances, so this should be good. I really, really loved this piece. It told such a story about friendship and love and what we can do to each other when the degree of love is so high that it can also be as equal the degree of hate. Very heart-wrenching and real and personal from these two dancers (and Travis). Excellent. Kent shows up with all heart and no cheese and inspires Mia to tears (wow). Kent is my late choice for the winner of season seven.
With that said! We move on to the elimination show tonight. Which dancer will NOT make it to the finale? Tune in tonight and find out!
Hey, I’m starting a new feature here on the This Momma Can Dance blog, and that is listing all of the music from the performance shows for So You Think You Can Dance! Complete with the dances performed, choreographers and dancers. I’ll also give you direct links to where you can purchase the music on iTunes or on Amazon.com (no seasrching!). To get started, here’s last week’s Top 6 Show music. I’ll be regularly doing this feature just after my review of the performance show. The links within the post are iTunes, and the block down at the bottom is Amazon’s MP3s. Enjoy!
Lauren and AdeChike: Foxtrot Choreographer: Jean-Mark Genereux and France
Beyonce: Fever Fever – Fever – Single
Billy and Robert: Bollywood Choreographer: Nakul Dev Mahajan
Bombay Dreams Soundtrack: Ganesh Ganesh – Bombay Dreams
So with Jose gone and the surprise of Billy being sent home, what are we in store for tomorrow? Tune in with me and see! I’ll be back with a recap and music lists. Until then!
Chmerkovskiy???? I’m there, ya’ll. I didn’t dance at my wedding, but I got to sing, and it was one of the greatest moments in my life (unfortunately I surprised my guests so much with my performance that there is NO video record of this anywhere). My brother and his wife danced, and I will never for get that!
