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I’ll Be the Judge of That! – So You Think You Can Dance 5, June 24by Terri Smith -- 06/25/2009
View Printable version of this article I think tonight, things will you get interesting. We’ve got a new couple tonight, and we’ve seen other dancers outside of their element and how well (or poorly) they did. Some people think Ashley and/or Max left us too soon and there are weaker dancers still in the competition. Will any of them redeem themselves in the eyes of the people? Will anyone choke tonight like Caitlin did at hip-hop last week? Will anyone totally dazzle us like Jonathan did at contemporary? Enough with the questions. By now you’ve read Jenn’s RNO recap, so let’s get it on! Karla & Jonathan – hip-hop For the second week in a row, Kayla was expected to do well in the style she drew. She’s been quite the fortunate girl. (Remember, gentle readers, Jonathan told us that Karla is part of a hip-hop crew as well as being a contemporary dancer.) Jonathan always tries hip-hop in his little “THIS… is Jonathan!” openers, but it never looks that good. While Jonathan met my expectation tonight, it wasn’t good since I expected him to suck. Jonathan tried, but he’s way too rigid (and, frankly, mediocre) to pull off this kind of choreography. Karla did fine but I almost ignored her the whole time. She wasn’t particularly mesmerizing despite the fact that she completed the steps and did them well. There was just something really artificial about her delivery. Apparently, I don’t really like Karla. Why don’t I like Karla? 
Asuka & Vitolio – jazz I was in a different world than the judges. What is it about this couple that I don’t respond to? While I accept that they’re good dancers (although their side-by-side turn-leap combination was TERRIBLE!! – watch the slow-mo again) and they fulfilled all the technical elements of the routines, they don’t seem to sell anything to me. They’re emotional people, both of them have cried before us. They seem to like each other very much, but they don’t really connect. The whole routine just felt like an execution of steps. I know there wasn’t a complex, emotional story to the routine, but still. Melissa & Ade had a routine similar to (but better than) this and their performance was really good. We’re not starting out very well tonight. Am I just in a bad mood? Melissa & Ade – rumba Okay, that was hot. How sexy was Melissa?! She’s apparently a dirty little thing, so while I’m not surprised she pulled off the attitude of a rumba, but she made the choreography look like she does it every day. Her ballet carriage, technique, and flexibility definitely showed, but she never looked stiff. I know the man’s job in these dances is to sex up the woman and show her off, so while Ade didn’t do a whole lot, he wasn’t supposed to. What he did do looked excellent, though. Oh, and I HATE THE PICK!! Janette & Brandon – hip-hop Okay. Brandon freaking stunned me. He’s contemporary, right? (Nigel answered that for me.) He can pop AND break dance? That was insane! He was smooth, he hit, and his energy stayed high the whole time. I was worried he was going to run out of steam, but he was great. Janette did really well too. Toni started to say something about the routine being strategic on Dave Scott’s part, but she never finished her thought. I have an idea where she was going. As already established, Brandon was great. Janette didn’t do it as well as Brandon, but when you think about it, she wasn’t supposed to. She was the “rocker” learning the hip-hop, so it wasn’t going to look as sharp as the hip-hopper himself. Having said that, she really did do well. The fact that she could move at all in those heels defies nature. And about these two, even though they were two different styles, they played off each other and danced together really well. These two have what Asuka & Vitolio desperately need. Great job for these two! Kayla & Kupono – Vienesse waltz I miss Max. Did it look like Kayla missed Max, too? These two did this routine very well tonight. I thought Kayla was going to eat Kupono alive, but they were BOTH beautiful. His carriage was great and he stayed with the choreography and with his excellent partner the whole time. I see why people make a big deal out of Kayla. She really has done a beautiful showing this season. I’m not declaring her the winner or anything, but she is really gorgeous to watch. I am throwing my congratulations toward this couple for pulling off a routine that required such a connection during their very first routine. Bravo! Oh, and for my Dancing with the Stars watchers out there, do you think Len Goodman would have flipped his lid if he saw this routine with the bare feet? He’s such a snob. 
Randi & Evan – Contemporary Awesome. I said it. It was awesome. No two people could have pulled this off the way they did. Think about it. This routine requires great technique to execute the intricacy and show the lines of the choreography, but it needed people to pull off the story, as strange as it was, and make it remotely believable. Evan’s Broadway background shown through in spades tonight. Randi practically leapt out of her comfort zone but she was absolutely wonderful. It was simple, it was strange, but it was in excellent hands with Randi & Evan. I’m really happy for them. I’m also very thrilled that my Dance boyfriend, Evan, – oh, I didn’t tell you? We’re Dance dating now – had a great “leading man” night. I love you, Evan! Caitlin & Jason – paso doble God, even the recap of last week’s routine was rough. This week was much better. I didn’t love it. It looked like they, especially Caitlin, stumbled a bit throughout the routine. Jason’s carriage was fantastic, but his facial hair needs to go!! For the second week in a row, I thought he did better than Caitlin. She had moments where she looked good, but she also appeared lost in places, mainly the turns, which is surprising since she does contemporary. I get that they didn’t look that connected with each other. Maybe that’s what I didn’t like.
Jeanine & Phillip – Broadway They got the rehearsal couch at IKEA! Sorry, I had to say it. The fabric was a dead giveaway. Anyway, they got the pimp spot last week, but they didn’t deserve it at all. This week, they were great! These two are both naturally so animated, and their characters were great. I felt like Phillip’s energy rose and fell as the routine progressed, but I’m thrilled for him that he cleared the couch. Jeanine was wonderful! I second everything Nigel said to these two. Phillip wasn’t terrible, he really wasn’t. He was “fine.” Jeanine was tremendously better. Phillip question: Is Phillip smug or does he seem smug? Whenever he gets a critique from the judges, it seems like he’s doing “Eh, whatever” with his face, but I don’t know if he means to look like that. Phillip fans, help me out on this one. 1 2 Next-->View Printable version of this article
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