Tapeworthy: SYTYCD Canada

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Top 10 Performance Night - Ep. 216
Judges: Jean-Marc Généreux, Tré Armstrong, Luther Brown, Blake McGrath

Top 10!

And while there were a few other eliminated dancers that I thought should have made it to the Top 10, it was still a fantastic night with some terrific dances. In fact, if anything, only the choreography will split the differences in some of the pairings as I thought most of the dancers did a great job with what they were given.

So, here are the new pairings! (I discuss the solo's after the couples dances):

Melanie Mah
&
Vincent Desjardins
Style: Paso Doble
Choreographed by: Natalli Reznik & Francis Lafrenière (from Season 1)
Song: "Conquest" - The White Stripes
Grade: A

Wow. They actually put the two powerhouses together in the first week of the new match ups. I actually thought the choreography was a little jumpy and staccato and went from tricks to tricks for the wow show factor and there weren't as many transition moves as there should have been, but generally it was fun and powerful.

So while the piece itself was okay, I thought Mel and Vincent did a bang up job. Wow. Pairing the two powerhouses did not disappoint and they made the piece look AMAZING. Seriously, both Mel and Vincent have been amazingly versatile. They can even make this choreo look great (sorry, love you Francis but it wasn't my fave) so I'd love to see them do a Mia or Stacey routine.

Here's the video of Melanie and Vincent's Paso Doble:

Amy Gardner
&
Cody Bonnell
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookey
Song: "Come Home" - One Republic feat. Sara Bareilles
Grade: B

Wow, so they just paired up Mel and Vincent's other halves? Arguably the weakest dancers left. But the judges love them. And then they give them Stacey Tookey, who can make donkeys look good dancing. And then there's a prop. All dances with props become memorable. Hmm...

I thought they did a lovely job, again, much thanks to Stacey and the couch, and both looked like they were giving it their all, but I was still not fully convinced about Cody, who felt hesitant and gangly, and Amy doesn't seem as fluid as she should be, especially considering this is her genre. I'm glad Luther called her on it. It was a really good job BUT for Top 10, it needs to be GREAT.

Here is the video of Amy and Cody's Contemporary:

Tara-Jean Popowich
&
Emanuel Sandhu
Style: Samba
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Samba Vocalizado (The Vocal Samba)" - Luciano Perrone
Grade: A-

Now here's a fun latin ballroom routine! TJ is just awesome and has totally grown on me. She's just a tiny ball of energy isn't she?

Now. As for Emanuel, a polarizing dancer. Honestly, his body danced it great. I was very impressed and he can totally move (though that one butt shaking move was a little awkward) but what's with his face? He keeps scrunching it up and trying to look sexy or something but it comes off looking more like he's constipated. Still, I thought he danced it extremely well and I'm surprised at how well TJ and Emanuel danced together.

Here's the video of TJ and Emanuel's Samba:

Kim Gingras
&
Everett Smith
Style: Jazz Fusion
Choreographed by: Sean Cheesman
Song: "St. James Infirmary Blues" - The White Stripes
Grade A

Two White Stripes songs tonight. I guess they made contact and got the rights and decided to go all out while Jack was in a good mood still, eh?

Everett is becoming like the Benji Schwimmer of the competition for me. Even if he's not perfect, he's got so much energy and likability that it's still fun to watch. But I actually thought he did a great job this week and partnered well with Kim and I loved how he got all into character. (And yah, also love his bangs down).

And I totally thought Kim was dead. And since she's playing a dead girl coming back to haunt her killer, it was PERFECT! Man, she was so fab. Loved her in this.

LOVED the choreo. What a fun routine.

Here's the video of Kim and Everett's Jazz Fusion:

Jayme Rae Dailey
&
Austin Di Iulio
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Sho-Tyme
Song: "Da Rockwilder" - Method Man & Redman
Grade: A

Jayme Rae is a BEAST. Austin is a BEAST. If Mel and Vincent are the power couple, Jayme Rae and Austin is the competing power source. WOW.

I was actually amazed and so impressed by Austin and I was surprised the judges had minor problems with his Hip-Hop. I thought he was superb.

Here's the video of Jayme Rae and Austin's Hip-Hop:

The Solos

Kim Gingras
Song: "Kiss from a Rose" - Seal
Grade: A-

I actually liked that solo a lot. It showed me a different Hip-Hop side to her, something more feminine yet soulful and hip.

Everett Smith
Song: "Everybody Dance" - Chic
Grade: A

That was great. I know I've been harsh on Everett recently but I still think he's great and when he does his tap, he's pure brilliance. And such the SHOWMAN! Such a fun solo and he knows how to work that crowd. Love it!

Jayme Rae Dailey
Song: "Make Me Over" - Keyshia Cole
Grade: B+

Oh much better girl! Love Jayme Rae but I've been slightly underwhelmed by her solo's. They've been getting better (and seemingly following the same progression that Jeanine had) and as it was destined to be, here we have another week and another improvement. Still not the SOLO I'm wanting out of Jayme Rae, but she seems more relaxed and playful and enjoying that the solo is unified by her (literal) interpretation of the song, giving it some semblance of a plot narration.

Austin Di Iulio
Song: "Always Midnight" - Pat Monahan
Grade: A

And to think people almost dismissed him as solely a tricks boy with no dancing skills. I am LOVING his solos. They feel passionate and they show off a great mix of dance movements and jumps and tricks.

Amy Gardner
Song: "Wanted" - Vanessa Carlton
Grade: A-

I was actually impressed by that solo. Standard contemp stuff but she did a great job. And you know she's my least favorite girl at this point so that's saying a LOT.

Cody Bonnell
Song: "I Need A Girl (Part Two)" - P. Diddy feat. Ginuwine, Loon, Mario Winans & Tammy Ruggeri
Grade: A-

Oh Cody, he's so adorable. And so suave and its adorable that he's so boyish trying to act manly in his smooth Hip-Hop solos. It's great to see him do his thing.

Melanie Mah
Song: "The Fame" - Lady Gaga
Grade: A-

Mel has gone all naughty! Not the best solo but her dance skills within each component is so tight. I wish it was a little less vampy/ stripperish as a whole but the technical skills are there to back her up, so gotta give her props.

Vincent Desjardins
Song: "Can You Feel It" - Reel 2 Reel
Grade: A-

I think Vincent has done better before, but he's still freaking awesome no matter what, and he's such a showman and again, like Mel, has the skills to back up his playfulness. He's had better unified solo's but again, he set the bar so high for himself that the lower grade is really only relative to his amazing past performances.

Tara-Jean Popowich
Song: "Relief" - Chris Garneau
Grade: A-

Seriously, I'm starting to really love TJ and I thought her solo was solid and beautiful and mixed in some funkiness to add some colour. I just wish the transitions from one movement to another were less abrupt and smoother instead of one trick to another.

Emanuel Sandhu
Song: "Bridge" - Amon Tobin
Grade: A-

He sure can dance, and it was a great solo routine and even ended without doing a silly dance. And his footwork is awesome. Now he just needs to tone down on that face scrunchiness. And that momentary jazz hands could have been toned down a bit. I keep thinking of that scene from Bring It On!.

Here is the video of the girls solos:

Here is the video of the guys solos:

2 comments:

momo12:03 p.m., October 01, 2009
I so appreciate being able to see the photos and videos with your super-observant recaps!
I enjoyed the paso and Melanie brought the right kind of energy for a non-ballroom dancer. Both she and Emanuel were way beyond the usual "fake it" of non-ballroomers, and the only quibble I have is that each of them was so focused on being fierce that they jutted their heads forward and lost some of the open chest/posture that actually conveys the intensity. Jean Marc mentioned it in his comment to Emanel. Having said that, his footwork and digging into the floor was GREAT!
Amy and Cody danced competently, but didn't project their energy enough. I think Cody lets his chest and shoulders relax a little too much, needs to be thinking about his core, even though I thought he did really well with the choreography.
LOVED the CHeeseman choreo and Kim and Everett' performance, but wouldn't it have been more menacing if Mark Kanemura had been dancing the role? Kim was perfect! She's my favorite dancer now, although I thought TJ and JR did better solos.

Jayme Rae has the bounce in the beat that Austin just doesn't quite have. I don't know exactly how to describe it but she is funky where he is not, even though he executes strongly.
Wow, all of the guys did strong solos. Now it's a matter of taste. I have my preferencees, but I thought they all showed us the best they had.
Vance12:35 p.m., October 01, 2009
Now that you mention Mark Kanemura, man, that would have been awesome. He's one of my all time faves and I thought was highly underrated during his season.

Tapeworthy

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

SYTYCD Canada - 10!

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