SYTYCD Season 7 Top 4 Performance Thoughts/Power Rankings
Wow, what a night. Ahem.
My Power Rankings tonight are going to be VERY risky indeed. Or perhaps not so much if you agree with me and I’m right…
Top Dancer
Robert Roldan had the strongest night, hands down. I’m sorry, but he did. 🙂 He’s been picking up steam the last few weeks, there’s a major campaign over at ISM for him and some of us…not naming names…but ME, have said how wonderful he is all season. Oh and that’s not even counting his routines tonight. He was the one who stood out to me in Tyce’s group Broadway, which is saying something cause it was three guys and one girl. I guess you could say that you’d notice whichever of the three guys you liked best cause you’d be looking for them. However…Robert had the most partner time with Lauren, he was always at the front or middle of the three boys in unison sections and whenever there was a guy on his own of the group, it was him. Then, the Viennese Waltz with Anya was lyrical and romantic and showed him off in all kind of wonderful ways. I think it was a moment. The right song (popular here on the site most of the season), the right pair of dancers, the right timing. But if it was just the waltz, maybe I wouldn’t have put Robert here. However, his Nappytabs hip hop with Dominic truly showed what he was made of. It was perfect for him – it had story and character, which he does best. And he killed it!!! Marianya “prescribed” hip hop as what Robert needed to conquer next and boy did he!!! Ricky is predicting that he’ll win.
Middle Two Dancers
Kent had his worst dance all season with that disco. And I’m not just saying that cause I hate disco. Really, I’m not. I have to agree with the judges. It was lackluster even compared to other discos. The saving grace was Kent’s unshakable personality, but here’s the snag. He’s been the clear favorite most of the season (i.e. since Alex left), so then it would be his competition to lose. And he had one bad routine. While a lot of his fans will vote for him anyway, this routine didn’t do him any favors and he blended into the wallpaper for that Broadway group routine, except at the very end. HOWEVER, and this is a big but, he had the biggest blessing a dancer could ask for in this – he danced well in the last routine of the night which happened to be a hugely memorable Travis wall routine with Neil, a very popular All-Star. I would’ve said Robert’s hip-hop was the best routine of the night if not for this one. That’s going to remind a LOT of people why they love Kent.
Adechike danced solidly, but his routines are still the least compelling (in terms of voting and “best of the night”), in my mind. But here’s why I think there’s a good chance he’ll edge out Lauren – people are going to be moved by his journey package (see, I told you the judges were stealthily supporting him by ragging on him), which was featured last of the night and separate from the other dancers’. And it was a moving, moving package at the end of which he gave very humble and heartfelt speech about how lucky and grateful he is, as if he knows he’s not going forward after this week. Not a dry eye in America after that, even at my house where I’ve become a late and begrudging Adechike fan. But about his dances. He had some little splashy moments in the Broadway, but was largely ignorable (ducks flying veggies). I really liked the African jazz (looove Sean Cheesman) and I thought that Adechike really connected with Lauren (if not the audience) and danced it well. But it felt like the Tahitian routine – you either got it or you didn’t and it was almost impossible to critique/consider alongside the other dances. I liked it. It reminded me of a paso doble somehow (probably because of Lauren’s skirt), but without the dominance factor and just the strength of movement. I think he actually danced even better and with more abandon in the contemporary with Kathryn. However, I felt like that piece was handicapped by the absolute wrong song choice, a frantic energy and some weird movement. All in all, it was an even better performance from Adechike once I watched it back. But it comes down to this… When I thought about what routines had been danced tonight, I thought of Kent’s contemporary, Robert’s hip hop, Robert’s waltz and even Kent’s horrendous disco before I could recall what Adechike had danced. It kind sounds like I’ve just devoted a lot of energy and space to explaining whey he’s leaving tonight. And he might. But…
Bottom Dancer
I think the vast majority of the audience are going to concentrate on “saving” either Adechike, Robert or Kent and they’re going to neglect Lauren like they did last week. She’s been proving she’s a phenomenal dancer with EVERY routine, especially lately. But when was her last big routine? You know, that really memorable routine that a dancer hopefully gets at least once in a season. Routines like the two we saw tonight (Kent’s contemporary and Robert’s hip hop), routines like Adechike’s hip hop with Comfort or Alex’s with Twitch. In movies, they’re called “set pieces” because they take the most money and energy, usually, to deliver upon. The Argentine tango with Pasha tonight (which Marianya totally recommended she dance) was that moment for her, but it was the FIRST routine of the night with TWO KILLER show-ending routines by the guys. And her jazz with Ade was strong and awesome, but lacked chemistry and some true malicious intent. She hasn’t really had any show-stopping phenomenal dances choreographed especially for and around her (as ALL of the remaining guys have had). She’s had to rise to every challenge, despite her experience and her prepardness and she HAS. Adam says he thinks of her as an All-Star already and I think he’s right that she’s quietly done whatever was asked of her and matched her partner to the best of her abilities. I think she deserves to win the season for that reason alone. But in reality, while I hope I’m wrong, I think people are going to forget to vote for her in the rush to protect their favorite of the three guys.
Some Final Thoughts
-I missed the group and the tango, so I came in on Cat standing next to Lauren with her new short haircut. I was a little stunned. And I loved hearing Lauren say to the audience, “I hope you’ve enjoyed watching it as much as I’ve enjoyed living it.” Hell yeah, LoFro. 🙂
-I liked Sean Cheesman’s African jazz, but I think I would’ve liked the second jazz a lot better without the “story” behind it. And also, with different music.
-I really hate disco. They either need to find a new disco choreographer (if another one exists, if there’s ANYBODY ELSE who hasn’t yet given up the ghost) or retire the style. C’mon, get with it! Stop using disco and quickstep UNLESS there’s a completely unique way of doing it or dancers who just happen to be able to kill it.
-I think it makes sense that Adechike danced for Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden and I can see him having a career working with them. But I don’t dig their stuff. I almost never really love or remember their routines.
-Adechike made me cry. I’m so glad he’s opened up in the last few weeks (that I’ve seen). I’m glad I’ve gotten to “know” and appreciate him. Even though I hope he leaves this week instead of anybody else (ducks flying fruit).
-Nappytabs have been KILLING it this season. They’ve had three or four really great routines this season. Namely, the Alex-Twitch “Outta Your Mind” and now this one with Robert and Dominic.
-Alright, this has to be said. I love, love, love the Kent-Neil-Travis contemporary tonight. LURVE IT. It was perfection and reminded me of why Kent has such a following when he’d started to be redundant to me. But here’s my beef. Well, it’s not a beef. It’s an observation. The “background” or “story” to the routine was that it’s a friendship breaking up and that worked because they both danced very “masculine” (read: straight). And bravo to SYTYCD/FOX/everybody for having a male-male contemporary with that much physical connection between the two men – even if they had to dress it up as a “friendship” that was breaking up. But it was about lovers. It was about two men who love each other and hurt each other, any way you read it. And while it’s remarkable that it’s “okay” to have a dance like this on a t.v. show (same sex marriage news today, how timely!!), let’s get to the point where we can say, “this is a story about two lovers breaking up” and it’s OKAY for the lovers to both be men. Or women. That’s it, I’m done. It was beautiful.
Nothing else has gone to plan this week in cursed Season 7, which is why I’m predicting for the “surprise” twist. Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!!!!
Cat didn’t cut her hair…she just pinned it all under to look like she did 🙂
Wow, two out of four… and kind of three… I did say that Kent needed a dance that would force him to be more masculine than anything he’s danced before… I guess that dance did it… 😀
Maybe next time I’ll do better. 😉
Emilie,
YES! Robert did have a fabulous night. Someone on this site (was it you?) said he’s a “moving piece of art.” I still love that expression! And I loved Robert’s clip: he lives with Channing Cook! Who knew?
And AdeChike’s video package made me CRY. I actually had to watch it over a couple of times it I thought it was so moving. If I weren’t such a die-hard Robert fan, I might have even voted a few times for him. I admire the guy a lot.
Kent’s contemporary piece with Neil was just spellbinding. I’m not a huge Kent fan, but I gotta be honest on this one. Really well done. I guess the producers think that America isn’t ready for a homosexual storyline. I think they’d be surprised.
And Lauren… what can’t that girl do? She’s special. She makes it all look so easy.
Anyway, I voted my fingers off for Robert. Wouldn’t it be just FABULOUS if our Robert won? Highly unlikely, as Kent seems to have it sewn up, but I’d be thrilled if he were #2.
Thanks for a great recap!
Travis, Neil and Kent were BRILLIANT !!!!! I got goosebumps and my eyes watered. It was amazing!!!! Love them !!!
typing as I watch.
nothing special about the opening number. I enjoyed the costumes, though, haha. Ugh, Tyce as a guest judge.
Ooh! Nick Lazzarini sighting!! Today is his birthday, btw.
Pasha’s a stud, enough said. I thought Lauren was beautiful. I wasn’t as in love with the dance as the judges were, I liked Ryan and Ellenore’s from last season better, but I thought it was very nice. I have to ask, though, has Lauren really been stretched emotionally this season?
Oh AdeChike, can the guy do anything right? I loved this routine. I thought Lauren looked AMAZING in that costume. I saw a little bit of what Adam was talking about, losing your center to get deeper into the dance, but he looked like he was having so much fun! And that’s what matters. Sean used this music last season on SYTYCD Canada for an Afro Jazz number with eventual 3rd place dancer Jayme-Rae and her partner, Daniel, who had what I think Adechike was missing, that looser center. Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZr4lJkHi88
Oh my. What a beautiful routine. Jonathan Roberts is one of my favorite ballroom choreographers, he’s a multiple time American smooth champion (with his wife, Anna Trebunskaya). Robert was incredible, Nigel talked about his carriage and he’s totally right. He was very conscious of being there for Anya, which I think Mia took as him not enjoying himself. Plus, his video package was kind of adorable.
Yes, Cat!! Excellent rib on Adam.
Fun disco, I agree with whoever said that he kinda got off easy compared to some other discos that have been done on the series. I thought first about Kayla and Brandon from S5, their disco, according to Kayla, was “a circus” and I can attest to that having seen in on tour. I wouldn’t be as harsh as Mia, but I kind of agree, it definitely wasn’t his best performance. His answer to Cat’s question was all kinds of amazing, though.
Anyone else confused as to why Nigel referred to Nick as “one of the best disco guys the show has ever had” rather than the first winner of the show?
Yes, Sean Cheesman!! He had two fabulous routines tonight. That lift was insane. They partnered very well. Very cool routine, everything about it just oozed strength and coolness. I love Ade, he had his eyes on her the whole time, just so focused. Agreed with Mia about the chemistry, but what an improvement over the disaster that was their routine W1.
Ehhh, I so wanted to LOVE this routine. After “Imagine” and “At This Moment” I thought this would be spectacular. I thought it was really really good, but it wasn’t on the level of those other 2 dances. I will agree with the judges that we were able to see his growth, especially because they were partners W1. Adechike danced with more abandon than I think he’s danced with all season. Oh goodness, now I’m crying. That video totally got me.
Can I just call this night for Robert now? That was amazing. Robert just killed that routine. I don’t even know what to say at this point, that was just so cool! I’m not totally sure if Robert outdanced Dom, I’ll have to watch the piece again, but they both hit the moves really hard. This piece is going to make the crowds on tour go nuts. I had a feeling Robert would do really well with hip hop b/c he did so well with the Bollywood, I’m glad I was right.
Wow. That was awesome. Kent and Neil made a fabulous pair, I liked this much better than the baseball number. Kent got incredible height, but part of me thinks that the piece showed off more about how much Neil has improved as a dancer since his season, I don’t think he could have done that routine during his season. The two all-American boys doing a dance together that people will certainly remember. I have to say, I hate that the judges practically called the show for Kent tonight when I thought that Robert had a better night.
Overall, probably the best night of dancing we’ve had from start to finish this season. I really have no idea who is going to go home tomorrow night.
What an AMAZING night! Especially the last two pieces. I really hope Robert stays, I love him so much as a dancer!
Em, I thought about you when they signaled that Kent would be discoing. I completely agree with you (sorry Mariyana!), but I hate the disco. 🙂
I also don’t think you’re way off with the Lauren prediction. I really like her—she’s grown on me–and the judges obviously want her around, but she’s not nearly as memorable of a dancer as the three guys are. Their personalities and dances are always more “stand out” to me.
I, too, thought it was a great night. Adechike, Lauren and Robert are all in danger tonight, though. I think that Robert had a great night with the hip hop, but not so much the waltz. I thought Kent’s contemporary was great (and COSIGN to the final point you made…let’s just call it like it is, fellas, k? Travis got his heart broken and you know, I want to beat up whoever did it because it’s our Travis). But his disco was meh. Lauren and Adechike both had two good dances–and no “wow” dances. So I think all four averaged out about the same.
Interesting stuff.
I pretty much entirely agree with you and love the very astute observation about how the piece was ultimately about love between two men (platonic or romantic). I hope that we get to the point where that can be said and danced and it’s nothing out of the ordinary.
It was incredibly obvious, so much so that I almost wondered why Nigel bothered asking, that this was something that happened to Travis recently. Poor guy. I think that we’ve all felt that betrayal before, either from a friend or a lover, and that’s what made it such a great routine.
Wonderful point about Lauren too. She shines in whatever she’s given but she didn’t get a fantastic routine to truly knock out of the park this week and I think that’s a shame. If she is in danger we’ll have to wonder what might have happened if Lauren had gotten a Travis piece while Kent, who is less in danger, had a less memorable routine.
I’m firmly in the ‘can’t stand disco’ group but if they do have to have it on the show they should certainly change choreographers. Since they’ve been stealing all our SYTYCD Canada choreographers lately anyway how about the disco one? 😉 Melissa Williams? I seem to remember her routines being better anyway.
Great review Emilie!
Randi from S5 was there last night! She was sitting right next to Napoleon and Tabitha
(1) Totally agree with your last thought (no surprise.) Why are we tiptoeing around this topic these days when we didn’t way back in the 70s???
(2) NappyTabs are hitting it out of the park this season. So sad that 2 of their top 3 numbers can’t be on tour =(
(3) Gonna flat out gloat and tell you I went to the taping and drove home smelling of Robert hugs. (FYI he wears Gucci by Gucci.) You should have seen me driving 2 1/2 hours sniffing my shirt sleeve every now and then 😀
(4) The dancers answered my question about the tour – there will definitely be new routines since so many numbers can’t be created due to lack of the original partner.
@Margot
You got Robert hugs? I am sooo jealous! 🙁
[…] as you might’ve seen in my Thoughts/Power Rankings post last night, I’m guessing for the crazy twist tonight rather than what I think *should* happen […]
Totally disagree that Robert was the best this week. …Even though he was praised as if he was.
His VW was an improvement over his past ballroom routines. But still wasn’t better than Lauren’s AT. And he wasn’t all that in his super easy hip hop either. Adam’s comment was ridiculous. I think the judges were just trying to make sure he was in the finale over Chike. So they overpraised.
On Lauren…. I think she’s had many brilliant routines this season. And maybe that’s a problem because she’s so consistently amazing, you expect that now. But I’m guessing by the “when was the last time she had a standout routine” comment that you mean when was the last time she had a contemporary. And it’s been a while. She’s only had one this season. While Kent and Chike have had 3 and Robert’s had 2. It’s unfortunate because she’s an amazing contemporary dancer and hasn’t even gotten to dance her style with an all-star.
Even though it’s given her the opportunity to prove her versatility time and time again, people don’t seem to care about or vote for that as much.
First of all I have to say the dance with Kent and Neil was brilliant and by far my favorite dance ever on So You Think You Can Dance! It touched me in a spot that Im sure it didnt touch very many because this exact storry happened to me my best friend who I shared everything with and leaned on for one day just backstabbed me in the worst way. I hit back but she always seemed to be on top pushing her foot into my face like Neil did to Kent. I tried to ignore it so I could get her back and then I realized that those were her true colors. In the end I was sad to lose a friend but I was grateful to learn from it. So I have to say that I understand where Travis is coming from! A little point I want to say though is that this piece was not about lovers, or two men who break up. Its about friendship and when it becomes tough you need to see people for what they are. When you see someones true colors believe it because no one is worth hurting yourself for. I should have left her when I saw her true colors. >Peace
My fav’s are Kent and Lauren. I disagree in the fact that I don’t think Roberts the best I actually think Kent is. Since the beginning my fav’s were Alex and Kent but once Alex left I started liking Lauren!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kent has been amazing and every contemporary routine he has done has melted me and I always cry! His routine with Neil and Travis was BY-FAR the best this week! Did anyone else notice that Neil, Travis and Kent could be brothers? ANYWAYS I LOVE Travis. I LOVE Neil. I LOVE Kent. and together I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Lauren is a beautiful girl and a beautiful dancer but I think the reason why shes always at the bottom is because girls are voting… for the guys.
<3 Kent- BY-FAR THE BEST THIS SEASON!!!!!!!
pizza and hamburgers…
They should have an all contemporary dance competition. 😛