SYTYCD Top 12 Power Rankings
I’m so excited for Top 10 next week. And a bit sad. Some couples, I’m praying they make it through, so I can see the dancers each with someone else and some couples, I’m incredibly sad (and maybe a bit worried) now that they’re going to be split up.
I keep saying how hard this is, but am mostly trying not to face that it’s not going to get any easier. Every week, it gets harder. And now, half of the couples are in the bottom 3! Thanks for your comments in the “SYTYCD rant” John provided, cause I totally scoped them out. Also, I’m using my texts back and forth with my mom as notes, since we always talk throughout the shows.
Okay, so let’s start…
-Janette and Brandon are SUPER safe this week, I think. Both of their routines were outstanding and they were last, so they’re fresh in our minds. WADE ROBSON! I think WR loves his Roisin Murphy (remember Lauren and Neil with “Night of the Dancing Flames”?). In the comments, Beth says she’s been a hater, but was sold tonight. I’m right there with her and I suspect that a lot of us with reservations about either of these two dancers will vote for them tonight.
-Jeanine and Phillip first had a kind of boring Russian folk dance, but they made it work with their personalities and chemistry and nobody had any complaints about their dancing. Phillip showed a lot of progress with his jive and Jeanine was too sexy for words and smoothed over any lack of polish on Phillip’s part. I believe they, too, will be safe. It’ll be interesting to see how Phillip does with a new partner. He’s got a great personality and is a good dancer, but he’s not picking up the other styles fast or strong enough, so he disappoints me sometimes.
-Kayla and Kupono rocked a Mia Michaels routine about addiction. It was ridiculously good, gave both my mom and I shiver attacks and apparently made Stephanie almost puke, it was so good. Their Broadway wasn’t nearly as good. I enjoyed it, but I think the judges’ comments were valid. However, I think the strength of Mia’s routine and Kayla’s popularity will save the day here.
-Randi and Evan made me so afraid tonight when I heard the words “hip-hop” attached to their names. But, they pulled out a sweet hip hop with Nappytabs’ help. It was funny how both Nigel and Mary spoke my thoughts for me. I kept wondering if Randi should be thrown around so much if she were pregnant (lol) and Mary voiced my hip-hop related fears. Their samba struggled in the middle (though Randi kicked butt and the opening was very strong). Loved seeing Pasha and Anya! I think the comments aimed at Evan were right on tonight (much as I love him). He’s a lot sexier than he lets himself dance, so he’s got to move those hips with confidence. You could almost switch R&E and K&K, in my mind, but I think that there was just enough of an edge with the stellar Mia Michaels piece to put K&K just a cut above. I don’t want either of them to go home! No siree! Let’s see how they dance with new folks.
-Melissa and Ade had two competent, interesting numbers, but they were routines that can sometimes be…less dynamic. Okay, it’s no secret. I’m not a fan of disco. My mom loved the disco, but I’m just never really that impressed. And the waltz was sweet, especially as it was potentially their last dance together. I was really impressed with Ade and enjoyed his independent spins near the end. But, because the dances were disco and waltz and earlier than the rest of the dances, I think they may be in trouble. At this point, I don’t dislike anybody, but I probably like Melissa and Ade least at this point.
-Caitlin and Jason had a great Foxtrot, but he wasn’t really keeping up with her. She got her wish with a sequiney, sexy costume (and I guess the costume department took pains to make up for last week). Their Mandy Moore lyrical jazz was good too, but everyone mentioned they just didn’t think they did quite enough since it was their own styles. I honestly hope that Caitlin at least makes it to next week because I suspect that, though they clearly like each other, she and Jason just never developed the right chemistry as dancers. I don’t think it’s so much Jason holding Caitlin back as they would’ve been better off with different partners.
However, I suspect that they’ll go if they’re in the bottom 3, since they’re no strangers to that position. Or Melissa and Ade. If I were calling the shots, I’d send Melissa and Jason home.
It’s really sad because, as much as I like all of the dancers at this point, I just don’t think the boys stand up to the girls in terms of dance talent. Evan’s probably the only one I’d be devastated to lose, where I love all the girls.
What do you think? Am I going to be terribly off this week? Or eerily on? Do you think Kayla and Kupono have any advantage going into the Top 10 since they’ve already switched partners? And let’s try this “dream couples” thing one more time now that we’re going to have the opportunity to see new partnerships next week.
Oh, and if you were wondering, my mom and I exchanged something like 60 text messages throughout this show. I tried to get her to do the Power Rankings for me since it’s so hard, but she had to go to bed.
I’m still watching the show as I wasn’t home tonight when it was on so I can’t comment on everything. However, I agree that the girls are stronger than the boys (overall) and wish that we could send home two boys instead of 1 of each. Last year it was the reverse; I thought the girls were weaker.
I’ve been a big fan of Janette from the beginning. She’s cute, sexy, and very talented. I’m still a fan of Kayla and I have to say that Jeanine really impressed me tonight.
I’ll have to comment more after I finish watching.
Jeanine, Kayla and Janette for Top 3 girls!!!
Emilie–great power rankings!
I have a penchant for Melissa and Ade, so I would probably rank them a bit differently, but I think your analysis is probably right…they went early, and may not be memorable. I voted for them, though. 🙂
I definitely don’t think Melissa goes home…unless she gets in the bottom 3 and does what the first pointe ballet dancer did on the show last year (?–maybe two years ago), which was dance her solo in flats. I actually think they’d send Kayla home before Melissa right now, and rightfully so. Kayla’s technique is probably better (in contemporary/jazz, anyhow), but she doesn’t sell the routines like Melissa does. I think, unfortunately, that it’ll be Caitlyn’s swan song…unless they make it out of the bottom, then it’s anyone’s guess.
(I know you and John are big Caitlyn fans, so I will be bummed for you if it happens that way!!!)
I think you’re probably right that Jason may go home this week…though Kupono’s solos are always relatively weak. And I think the judges kind of want to see Jason with someone else. I dunno.
Great posts, though…as usual!
Beth- Just a little correction. If you are referring to Jessica Fernandez from Season 2, it was 3 years ago. If I’m not wrong, out of the 3 solos she did, 2 were en pointe. So if Melissa does her solo, she might as well do en pointe because that’s her forte. And she has been doing her introductions en pointe. 😮
I can’t wait for the judges to stop playing favourites. Still devastated that the judges kept Kayla instead of Karla. And I agree with you, Beth, that Kayla does not sell her routines. She certainly does not sell her solos, to me, at least. For a dancer with such potential like her, I’m quite disappointed that she did not show substance and heart in her solos. It was mere kicking and leaping around the stage. I know the judges show exceptional favouritism to her, which I really don’t like. Karla was unjustly eliminated, in my opinion. Karla’s solos were more substantial and she dances from her heart and soul, if you know what I mean.
Now, the couples. I think the people for now until top 10 are Janette, Brandon, Ade, Melissa, Jeanine.
Maybe Caitlin will be safe if she brings it in her solo again. Personally, I feel that her solos are one of the most ‘stable ones’. Jason also has to bring it, and not like his previous solo. I think his first solo was pretty good, but his style is more of the, for lack of better word, abstract. He has the strength and power and expresses it explicitly in his solos rather than presenting technique and control like other contemporary dancers usually do. Do I make sense?
I’m trying very much to like Kayla now. I believe she is truly a gifted dancer. I liked her at first, and my expectations for her were high since the judges were praising her so much during Vegas week and before top 20. She has been bringing personality to her couple routines like she should, like every normal dancer on the show should. But I always feel as if she is not dancing from her heart and soul and through it. She has the right expressions and all, but no matter how beautiful she is and how she presents the dance, it always feels like there is a mask over her performance and that is keeping me from connecting with her and the dance, which would definitely keep me from liking her along with the other dancers, as much as I try to.
Evan may not be so safe if his legion of fans put him in the bottom 3. The judges have been rather hard on him. Haven’t seen his solo yet, so no predictions for now. Randi is a powerhouse. She hits every line, but I still trying to connect to her and her dancing, and that is making more progress than with Kayla. The judges will keep her if she continues with such a performance and brings a good solo, I think.
Philip is in huge trouble. Fans love him but the judges expect a lot more. If he stays, and unless he shows the potential to grow, he cannot bring much to the show except for what he does best.
Kupono’s inconsistent. That’s why sometimes I like him and sometimes I don’t. His OCD definitely does not endear me to him. His solos are so bad to keep him (sorry), but his performance for couple routines and group routines are sometimes so good! Goodness, let’s just hope he can show everyone he’s truly talented. 😮 Who knows?
Love Janette since day one. Her personality on screen is so lively and endearing. Brandon is full of vigour as well. Wonder how these 2 are going to cope without each other if they make it. Ade is one favourite too, and I understand that favouritism. He represents profound strength and character (although character is not as profound). Melissa is another judge favourite, and I also understand why. Although some people say that she does not bring much character into her dance, I feel that she does. There are two ways of bringing personality and character into the dance. One is to put on expressions and a mask, or to keep it subtle but just enough to not cover up yourself and still bring enough to the performance as well. Melissa has done the latter, and I really appreciate how she does not exaggerate the jazz she was given on week 2 because that is the sort of piece which dancers would tend to give in more than they should and mess up the whole thing. Too much of a good thing makes it turn bad, if you know what I mean. Jeanine is safe, obviously. She’s been bringing every week, although Philip pulls her down in some routines. Her solo showed America and the judges how good she was and she’s here to stay.
Anyways, conclusion. I have a rough idea of who top 4 might be for now, but I don’t know if it will change unless the dancers themselves or America proves me wrong. It’s pretty obvious at this stage who is strong and who isn’t. I have to agree that the guys this season is not really good. I have yet to see a liking of Nick Lazzarini, Blake McGrath, Travis Wall, Danny Tidwell, Neil Haskell, William Wingfield. I’m going to be quite disappointed if so. Every season has its best dancers, I guess. Yet to see one guy with a good centre and beautiful lines. Yet.
For the girls, not a Melody Lacayanga, Allison Holker, Heidi Groskreutz, Donyelle Jones, Natalie Fotopoulus, Sabra Johnson, Lauren Gottlieb, Katee Shean, Kherington Payne to be seen yet, but close.
Haven’t seen anyone with the love of dance exude full and whole from him or her yet. I still have hopes and don’t want to be disappointed.
Sorry for the longer rant than usual although I know there’s no need to apologise. If you read till here that is. 😀 Great that there’s a site for such vibrant discussion. Love it, wholly and truly.
I agree Janette and Brandon are at the top of the pack. I don’t even like them, but I enjoy watching them dance.
I love Evan, but he disappointed me last night. I just think his lifts are too laborous. You’re right about the sexiness, though…he has more than he shows on the dance floor. There’s a reason Randi mentioned that look he gives…
Oops. I forgot Jaimie Goodwin and Shauna Noland. You know I feel so bad for forgetting these dancers sometimes because to love the show and them so much?!
When nigel and some people said that melissa was the first ballerina, i was like what!!!!! what about jessica, from season 2??? you remember??! Yikes.
And he said he forgot how beautiful Faina was when she danced when she came to audition with someone else this season.
And when he mentioned during the 17-year old Nathan Trasoras’s audition who had one of the best centres, he only mentioned Danny and Travis. What happened to Nick and Blake?!
maybe it’s just me. overreacting. I mean i don’t expect everyone to remember everybody and not everyone has watched all 5 seasons. so ya. but i feel bad, personally.
It just goes to show how many great and absolutely phenomenal dancers come and go so fast. And it’s the 5th season.
I think Beth is referring to Rayven from season 4, she had a Nappytabs hip hop the first week to “American Boy” and was in the bottem three. She was sent home the first week when she did a ballet solo on flat instead of pointe.
Just a quick FYI…Wade also did an amazing group number a few years back to a song also by Roison Murphy–Ramalama (bang bang). So he really must be inspired by their music!
I was watching Mia Michaels’ Addiction dance again, thinking about Nigel’s comment that being unable to see Kayla’s face really took away from the dance. A friend of mine was bothered by it, too, but I didn’t really notice it when watching the first time. So, I watched the dance again, and it still doesn’t bother me. Usually I HATE hair in a dancer’s face, but in this dance, the hair masked Kayla and made Kupono the main character of the dance. Kayla was not an individual character, but the personification of mindless desperation felt by those caught in the throes of addiction. Kupono was where the personality in the dance came from, and the fact the he had personality and she did not made him somehow more threatening. It was as if a person trapped in addiction has lost her very humanity.
I agree that if we could have seen the anguish in Kayla’s eyes as she tried — and failed — to get away, it would have been extremely provocative, kind of like Chelsea’s pain when Mark ripped her heart out in Bleeding Love. BUT, in my opinion, it would have changed the feel of the dance. Kayla would’ve been human, and Kupono’s character might have faded a little bit in comparison to an abstraction. It still would be an amazing, powerful dance, but it would have been different. And I don’t know that it would have been BETTER.
I agree, but we can’t really blame Kayla for her hair, because I’m sure she didn’t choose to have it like that, the hair and makeup department did. It would have taken away from the dance if she had brushed it back just so everyone could see her face.
I completely agree with Stephanie’s comments above. Kupono’s performance amazed me…a real tour de force. I have to say I really enjoyed Randi’s performance as the pregnant lover too. There’s something so genuine and sweet about her, I can’t help rooting for her.
I am jealous that Emilie has a mom who will share her love for a show like this. Mine just snarks about how I watch too much crappy TV. We haven’t watched TV together since Six Feet Under, which we both loved. “Reality” TV gets a bad rap–ignorant critics don’t realize that some of it is really high quality stuff. My sister is a choreographer and she’d probably look down on this show just because it’s television–which is ridiculous. Mia and Wade and others raise it to a very high level.
Montana ~ your sister will only look down on the show until she actually WATCHES it. Then she’ll see that there is actually high quality dancing AND choreography going on, and appreciate it for bringing dance to the “masses.” That’s the conversion that happens to all my friends that I force to watch the show with me. It starts out with friendly teasing about reality shows, and ends with a loyal viewer. It’s just getting people to sit down in the first place that is hard.
Then again, artistic types in general are sometimes a little snobby about this sort of thing. My ex-step-mom is a professional musician, and she couldn’t say enough bad things about Andrew Lloyd Webber because he was too “pedestrian.” Make something popular, and the artists will disdain it purely because of its popularity, never mind that it might be doing good things for the art form as a whole by making it more accessible. I love artists, but they do have their foibles.
I can’t believe it took me so long to reply to y’all’s comments! I’ve been reading them, trust me. I love all the informed chatter.
I was so excited that they kept Caitlin and Phillip are going to be on the tour. I think I’m getting cynical, though, cause I immediately said to my mom (we got to watch the results show together this week): “How could they not, with the great routines both Caitlin and Phillip had, of COURSE they want those on the tour.” 🙂
@Beth: Glad you liked the rankings. It was hard to say who was going to go! I imagine it’ll only get harder…
@Buggy: You called it with Phillip being in trouble. I kept feeling like his fans would pull him through. I think they got it right. And as much as I hate to say this – if Evan doesn’t step up his game re: sexiness, I’ll hate to lose him, but probably agree that “they got it right,” when he goes too. Oh I AM cynical.
@Ronnica: THAT LOOK!! 🙂
@Mandy: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I started watching in Season 3 and haven’t caught up on everything from the first two seasons. Had never seen Ramalama (must hide in shame before you all come and get me with pitchforks and torches) and I LOVED it!!! Wade must REALLY like Roisin Murphy. Here’s his wikipedia page, which lists all of his SYTYCD routines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Robson
@Montana: That’s why a site like this is so awesome. If you don’t have people in your life who get your love for SYTYCD, you can meet strangers-soon-to-be-friends here who get it. I’m consistently impressed with you folks.
No problem Emilie! That was one of the first episodes I’d ever watched but it was that routine that made me want to keep watching! Whenever anyone in my family asks who Wade Robeson is I just say “He did the zombie dance” and they know what I mean even though it was years ago!