So You Think You Can Dance - Love & Six

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 6 Performance Night - Ep. 520
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Guest Judge: Lil C

I used to love Lil C but he's kind of a downer tonight, and his affections for Ade and Brandon over Evan is so obvious that I respect him just a little less than normal.

On the other hand, I couldn't hear Jordan Sparks' song "Battlefield" this past week without seeing Jeanine dancing, plus then I would picture her tick tock on her toes from her solo and she's finally snagged my heart and my allegiance and I've totally fallen in love with her. Just in time for next week's finale! It's actually very similar to Sabra's journey who came from nowhere and week after week of strong performances, finally started coming out in the limelight near the end of the run.


Guys Group Dance - Ade, Brandon, Evan
Choreographed by: Sonya Tayeh
Song: "True Romance" - She Wants Revenge

Well aren't the boys always fun? That was fun, and with the exception of the start where Evan seemed a bit soft, the rest of it seemed pretty unified, especially considering the differences in sizes and looks between the three. There might have been some moments later on but by then, I sort of was just sitting back and enjoying watching the boys (... shut up... I'm meaning that in a nice clean way).

Lil C makes a backhanded compliment to Evan but I'm just going to ignore that.

Here's the video of the Guys Group Dance:



Jeanine Mason &
Ade Obayomi
Dance #1
Style: Samba
Choreographed by: Louis van Amstel
Song: "LoveGame" - Lady Gaga
Grade: B+


Ade's good and he looks so strong standing there but the moment Jeanine comes around from behind, she steals the spotlight and never lets it go. Mary thought it started well enough but then faded off, but all the judges loved Jeanine far more than Ade. I can't say Ade was as bad as the judges made it sound like, but I will agree that I was basically mesmerized by Jeanine's glow so everything around her was a bit fuzzy and soft (and thus hid any flaws...?).

Here's the video of Jeanine and Ade's Samba:



Melissa Sandvig &
Evan Kasprzak
Dance #1
Style: Broadway
Choreographed by: Tyce DiOrio
Song: "Get Me To The Church On Time" - Matt Dusk (from My Fair Lady)
Grade: A-

Evan in his underwear? I swear I'll try to be objective here. Just give me a moment...

I just love that someone like Evan, who really harks back to dancers of years yonder, back when comedy and spunk are intertwined with dancing, is still around in this competition that really awards emotionally naked contemporary dancers or come-from-the-streets underdog stories (except this season).

Melissa, who has sort of milked the oversmiling while covering up any real personality, fits perfectly into the bride role here with enough of that plastered charm the dance from Pleasantville demands from her.

Plus, I didn't hate a Tyce DiOrio routine! Actually, I quite enjoyed it and found it charming and delightful. Tyce finally designed something that seemed breezy and fitting the dancers personalities.

Lil C of course was disappointed in his obvious attempt to get Brandon and Ade into the final four. Mary and Nigel liked it much better.

Here's the video of Melissa and Evan's Broadway:



Kayla Radomski &
Brandon Bryant
Dance #1
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookie
Song: "All I Want" - Ahn Trio
Grade: A-

First of all, now that a couple of Canadian choreographers have gone down to do this show, and a bunch of American ones came up do to SYTYCDCanada, what's going to happen now that the shows are going to cross over for a few weeks (actually, almost two months)? Is CTV nuts for trying to squeeze in the Canadian version between the few weeks between Seasons 5 and 6? Especially now that S6 starts a week earlier on Sept. 9th? Oh well, nows not that time to ponder about that (I'll get to that later), let's get back to the current dancers.

Yay! Stacey Tookie from Canada! Though not as strong as the first piece she did for Jonathan and Karla (who I STILL love and whose pictures on twitpic are ADORABLE) and maybe it's the saturation of contemporary dancing this season (seriously? where's the krumping? I know these kids are bad at hip-hop but talk about tailoring the dances for them this year) but I was slightly bored actually and my mind wandered.

That doesn't mean the dancing was bad. Kayla and Brandon actually did an amazing job with it, and there were so many nice moments, I think I just kinda hated the song actually and it killed it for me. There's Imogen Heap and then there's pretentious droning.

Here's the video of Kayla and Brandon's Contemporary:



Jeanine Mason &
Ade Obayomi
Dance #2
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo
Song: "Move (If You Wanna)" - MIMS
Grade: B+

I won't claim it was perfect or anything. There have been better Hip-Hop's on this show, and as much as I want to be cheering, I thought it wasn't as hard as it should have been. But that shows you how much I've now officially fallen in love with Jeanine because I was just transfixed again by her. Maybe my love is clouding my judgement but that just means she's done enough to capture my attention and my heart forever!

Here's the video of Jeanine and Ade's Hip-Hop:



Melissa Sandvig &
Evan Kasprzak
Dance #2
Style: Quickstep
Choreographed by: Louis van Amstel
Song: "As Long As I'm Singin" - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Grade: B-

Evan may have gotten Broadway but then again, he now has to deal with the Quickstep (aka the dance of death). Hmm...

Obviously I love Evan despite his faults, but even when he's not good, he's got this gentlemanly suaveness about him that I think wins my heart over. Cause technically, that seemed a bit rough, from both Melissa and Evan, but their upper bodies seemed to cover up enough of it that it still looked fun and if you wanted to ignore the footwork, they made it possible.

Nigel was right in pointing out the mess ups in footwork and energy levels but that their rising personalities mostly covered for it. There have been better Quicksteps on this show but there have been far worse too.

Here's the video of Melissa and Evan's Quickstep:



Kayla Radomski &
Brandon Bryant
Dance #2
Style: Disco
Choreographed by: Doreana Sanchez
Song: "Dance (Disco Heat)" - Sylvester
Grade: A-

Well, that's the second dance of the night where I've liked the routine from choreographers I usually don't love. First Evan and Melissa do good with a fun Tyce routine, now Kayla and Brandon totally sweat away with Doriana's aerobics workout. Between all the twinkling lights and their SHINY SHINY outifts, I thought that was a LOT of fun full of pizazz and energy. LOTS of energy.

Here's the video of Kayla and Brandon's Disco:



Girls Group Dance - Jeanine, Kayla, Melissa
Choreographed by: Sonya Tayeh
Song: "Kick It (Stereoheroes Remix" - Nina Martine

Another fun group routine, though I will say I preferred the boys one, but still fun to see all the girl power going around, especially from such strong remaining women left in the competition. I will agree there could have been a bit more oomph to it all but hey, it's there 4th dance of the night.

Here's the video of the Girls Group Dance:



The Solos:

Kayla Radomski
Song: "You Found Me" - The Fray
Grade: B+

More of the same Kayla contemporary routines but she's good. I'll give you that. But it's still more of the same, and while it felt slightly fuller than last week, and she seemed to be pushing a little harder, it didn't wow me emotionally or viscerally as a whole though I could see technically it seemed impressive enough.



Ade Obayomi
Song: "18th Floor Balcony" - Blue October
Grade: B+

Someone on twitter (but can't remember who, sorry) mentioned it too but what's with the ridiculous endings? It's almost like they give up halfway through their own routine and then do a silly flippant dance as a joke that isn't funny anymore after 5 seasons (not that it really ever was). Like Kayla, Ade's solo's are great and strong but now are starting to look all the same and don't have the pop needed that they first had.



Melissa Sandvig - Solo
Song: "I Put A Spell On You" - Nina Simone
Grade: B+

It seemed more cohesive than last week's routine of technically difficult but simple looking ballet skills but the ballet skills still don't have the wow power for this show and I think it won't capture the attention needed to win a TV show.



Brandon Bryant - Solo
Song: "O'Fortuna" - (from Carmina Burana) Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg & Kurt Prestel
Grade: A-

Amazing what some grande epic music can do to a spastic seizure like contemporary routine! Finally, with this right type of music, the solo seemed far more fluid and planned out which was always the missing portion from Brandon's solo's. We know he's strong and looks good naked and can do some amazing tricks, but it never felt like ONE routine. Amazing what 70 year old music can add.



Jeanine Mason - Solo
Song: "Feedback" – Janet Jackson
Grade: A-

Not as amazing as last week's solo but that was AMAZING and hard to top. Still great and she at least works WITH the song again and feels more unified than Kayla. Plus the way she ended the piece with a sly flirt without any dancing nonsense was smart and charming.



Evan Kasprzak - Solo
Song: "Lady Is A Tramp" - Sammy Davis Jr.
Grade: A

Speaking of smart and charming, Evan continues to do his old style solo's and I still can't get enough. They make look easy and all jazz handy but look at the jumps, spins and twists in the piece and you realize the dance is just as technically difficult as any of the contemps. Plus he always infuses his aw-shucks personality into the piece and proves you don't have to be smoldering to be sexy.


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Final Roundup:

Best Couple Dance of the Night: Kayla and Brandon's Disco
Second Best Couple Dance of the Night: Melissa and Evan's Broadway
Third Best Couple Dance of the Night: Kayla and Brandon's Contemporary

Best Male Solo: Evan Kasprzak
Best Female Solo: Jeanine Mason

Best Male of the Night - Overall: Brandon Bryant
Best Female of the Night - Overall: Kayla Radomski

Worst of the Night - Couple: Melissa and Evan's Quickstep
Worst of the Night - Solo: Melissa

If I had to make a new list from Favorite to Least (with last week's position in paranthesis), it would probably look like this now:
1. Jeanine (1)
2. Kayla (3)
3. Evan (4)
4. Brandon (7)
5. Ade (6)
6. Melissa (8)

Predictions:
Bottom Four: Kayla, Melissa, Evan, Ade
Going Home: Melissa, Ade (Yes, I know everyone's picking Evan but I'm going on a limb here. Hey, if Janette can be out last week, anything can happen).

Should be the Final Four (in alphabetical order): Brandon, Evan, Jeanine, Kayla

Don't forget, I'll be back with the results show and our bloggers panel chat, with the awesome group of
LowResJoe, ABChau, TwoP Lauren S and myself who will discuss this week's performances.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:

Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat

Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle


So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Thanks to Rickey for the photos and videos.
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com