Aug

1

SYTYCD Top 8 Performance Show

Posted by Brandon Mendelson

August 1, 2007 |

Adam Shankman returned as guest judge this week on So You Think You Can Dance. Cat Deeley continued her streak of cute dresses with a sparkly blue number. Her hair was also nice and straight and sans weird flower thing that she had last week.

This week each couple performed two partner dances, the first time this season that they have had to perform twice as a couple in one show. Here are my thoughts on each dance, as well as some of things that the judges had to say.

Danny & Sara
Argentine Tango, choreographer Alex Da Silva
This routine was pretty hot. Sara’s high boots were great. I liked what Sara called the “pretzel maneuver” where she twisted and turned her body. Although I was nervous that there would not be chemistry between the two because their personalities are so different, I thought that they worked really well together.

Adam Shankman said that he was proud of Sara and said that there was no shred of the B-girl in that performance. He called Danny the best dancer that they have ever had on the show. Mary said the beginning of the routine was great, especially Danny’s pirouettes. She did not like part of the choreography that deviated from the Argentine Tango, but loved it overall. Nigel thought it was very sexy, but would have liked more in Sara’s face. He was also impressed with Danny’s pirouettes.

Hip-hop, choreographed by Shane Sparks
They danced to “Push” it by Salt N Pepa, which I love and even wore old school outfits, complete with spray-painted T-shirts. I liked the routine overall in terms of entertainment value. There were several points where they were not together which was distracting.

Adam did not like their outfits. Nigel said that they were not ghetto, but were more Sesame Street. Adam said that they were good and that they are the most versatile couple. Mary said that the dancing was not hard-hitting enough for her and they were “too cute.” Nigel said that said that they “didn’t achieve it together.”


Dominic & Lauren
Krump, choreographed by Lil’ C
I thought that they seemed really off in the routine, almost like they were doing different dances. Lauren’s movements seemed longer and more fluid, while Dominic’s were shorter. There was one point that it looked like Lauren fell. Was that part of the choreography? She played it off like it was. I did not really care for this routine. I don’t think that they have ever had a krump routine that I did like, so maybe I am just not down with the whole genre?

Adam Shankman thought it was “really hot.” Mary liked the energy in the beginning, but said that it fell off in the middle and the end of the routine. She added that they were “gansta.” Nigel said that he knows as much about krumping as Lil’C knows about about cucumber sandwiches and tea. He did not like the 50 cent song that they danced to (who he called 50 cents and blamed the fact that he was English). He said that the routine did not really reach the level that they should have for krump. Lauren did indeed fall in the routine and covered it. Nigel said that is the mark of a professional dancer.

Rumba
This routine was a mixed bag for me. I thought that they were almost dancing in slow-motion a lot of the time (I thought that Rumba was faster than this?), but I thought that they had the chemistry that other couples were lacking. I actually believed that they were into each other. I am not too sure about Dominic’s heeled shoes, but Lauren’s blue dress was gorgeous.

Adam said that someone needs to keep an eye on them after the show. He said that Dominic’s b-boy friends would be impressed with him. He agreed with me that they had chemistry. He also agreed with me that it did not seem like the Rumba to him and there was not enough dancing. Mary said that it was a “different rumba,” and usually there is more dancing. She said that there was not enough hip action and feels “mixed.” (Wow, that’s what I said. I am either psychically predicting what they are going to say or I am getting better at judging the dancing). Nigel said that Dominic’s face was much better with his face this time, but the hips were not there.

Nigel said that they are going to ask the choreographers to give real choreography next week, rather than playing to the strengths of the dancers and changing the style of the dances to suit them.

Neil & Lacey
Latin Jazz, choreographed by Maria Torres
I really liked this routine. Lacey had a red dress with yellow fringe on the bottom, so when she danced it look like flames. I am sure that Neil will get plenty of votes this week, as he went topless! There were a lot of different elements to this routine, including a difficult lift that they managed to pull off.

Adam said that if Neil gets a lot of votes this week they are going to have to change the name of the show to So You Think You Can Dance Nude? He thought that Lacey did not look at her partner enough. Mary thought that the chemistry was not there between them and it was “forced.” Nigel loved the music and choreography and didn’t love the performance. He said that they were like two dance school pupils.

Contemporary, choreographed by Mia Michaels
The dance is about Mia meeting her father in heaven.
I thought it was a very pretty routine, although I could have done without the hundreds of flowers all over the floor. It was odd in that there was not that much dancing and there was a lot of leaping around.

Adam called Mia “unreal” and loved what they did because they acted. He said that it will go down as “one of the great dance performances on television, ever.” Mary was crying and could not even talk. Nigel said that Mary is going through something personal now, too. Nigel said that it was brilliant because they forgot about technique and danced like there was no one watching. Nigel (going a bit too far I thought) said it was the “most beautiful thing” that he had ever seen. (Really?)

So I thought it was a bunch of odd leaping with flowers and Nigel thought it was the most beautiful thing ever. Hmm. What did you all think?

Pasha & Sabra
Broadway, choreographed by Tyce Diorio
This routine was a lot of fun and very high energy. I enjoyed watching it, but they made it look so easy that I wonder if it was that the choreography was too simplistic or that they were just that good?

Adam said that he thought he was not going to like it, but he was really drawn in. They had character and great overall performance. He called Sabra “a revelation.” Mary said Sabra is “always a revelation.” She thought that Pasha was a revelation too. She loved all of it. Nigel liked it, especially the high-energy choreography.

Quickstep
I really enjoyed this routine because it was energetic and a lot of fun. Sabra held her own, I thought, despite her lack of experience with the dance. There were a couple of swing elements into it, including the song, which gave it a little something extra. Sabra did a great leap toward the end which I was very impressed by.

Adam thought it was awesome. Mary said that it was a very difficult routine. She said that they “tore this up!” Nigel said it was tremendous. He said that they were the best couple of the night.

My predictions of who will be going home:
Lauren and Dominic

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite dancer in the comments, you could win our comment contest. Details are here.


Comments

5 Comments so far

  1. Kristi on August 1, 2007 11:00 pm

    I didn’t get to see Lacey and Neil’s first dance because of the bridge collapsing so I don’t have an opinion on that one. I thought their second dance was very moving, not as great as the Park Bench last year but very moving. Lacey may have lost a lot of votes due to her hamming it up too much during the phone number part. I know she lost MY votes with that. She shouldn’t have put that flower in her mouth. She didn’t dance great enough to over come that imao.

    I’m routing for Sabra to take it all. I think she is awesome!!!!

  2. jwelson on August 1, 2007 11:46 pm

    No more krumping…ever, it is the kiss of death

  3. Winnie on August 2, 2007 8:13 am

    Kristi: If I find a video of the Latin jazz routine I will post it up here. Lacey did ham it up at the end, but people seem to love her, so we will have to see if that affects the voting at all.

    jwelson: I totally agree. No more krumping, please.

  4. Rita on April 29, 2008 3:53 pm

    There is nothing better than getting out on the dance floor with a new pair of jazz shoes and putting on a show. I still get such a thrill from each and every performance.

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