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Top 16 Thoughts

Dance on a Monday night is a great way to unwind, especially if your Monday is a little “manic”. Tonight we were treated to several new choreographers, including Reina Hidalgo and Asiel Hardison, who created that fun opening routine. Love a good dance to a Justin Timberlake song.

1) Alexia, Derek & Jaja: Stacey Tookey (contemporary)
Stacy is one of my favorite choreographers on the show. She found a way to show case each dancer. Jaja is continuing to grow and blossom. Glad they were all safe…even if Cat psyched out Derek.

2) Megz, Moises & Jim: JaQuel Knight (Hip hop)
JaQuel another new choreographer and it’s the mastermind behind the Single Ladies dance. This was one of those that didn’t quite work…well for the guys at least. Megz was in her element and I’m really starting to like her.

3) Edson, JJ & Yurelis: Tovaris Wilson (Jazz)
This jazz had a real groove to it which I liked. I really hope Edson wilt some votes this week because I don’t think we have really seen him peak yet. JJ’s technique was lacking just a little bit.

4) Asaf & Marissa: Jean Marc (Club Salsa)
I just so bad…I was hoping it would have been some what ok but it wasn’t. Asaf really did try but he seemed to just be walking through it. While Marissa was able to pick up the steps she completely ignored her partner and played towards the crowd. If they were able to pull off some chemistry then maybe the dance would have been slightly better.

5) Gaby, Ariana & Birum: Sean Cheesman (African Jazz)
This was a fun routine and the girls were in beast mode. Over all a good routine.

6) Kate & Neptune: Justin Giles (Contemporary)
Just a simply beautiful routine and a great connection between Neptune and Kate. They both stepped up their game.

7) Virgil & Hailee: Pharside & Pheonix (Hip hop)
This was definitely my favorite street style routine of the night. I was even entertained by these two as they stayed in character throughout the judges critique.

Bottom 6: Stage; Kate, Edson & Moises Street; Asaf, Birum & Ariana

Twitter Save: Kate and Ariana (this actually surprised me)
Judges Save: Edson and Asaf
Going Home: Moises and Birum

Personally I think the B-boys should have been switched and I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that.

July 27, 2015 I Written By

Dance is one of my biggest passions. I grew up dancing at Augusta West Dance Studio (the same studio that Kathryn McCormick). I have a BFA in theatre/dance from Valdosta State University. Tap is my favorite style of dance.

Top 12 Power Rankings

Hard to believe that we are down to the top 12 dancers already, which means the all stars will be joining in on the fun soon. Another fantastic opening number, choreographed by Sonya and Dmitry, I love when ballroom and other styles are fused together. Before we learn who is in the bottom six we learn that Curtis has injured his shoulder and will not be able to dance this week, Unfortunately for Curtis he lands in the bottom six along with Alan, Nico, Makensie, Alexis, Jasmine H. Alexis and Curtis were the unlucky two that were sent home, and like the judges each cut get harder to deal with because of the emotional connections.

Before I get to my rankings I figured I’d mention the two small group numbers. I love both of them, I tend to just enjoy those dances rather than try to find something wrong. Also, it was nice to see Spencer and Leonardo fill in for Curtis; I enjoyed seeing the choreographers dance.

Top 4

Hayley & Leonardo: Hayley absolutely nailed this tango, and Leonardo made her look really good. Sadly, I don’t think this dance would have been as good had Curtis been able to perform. This was the stand out performance for me tonight.

Jasmine & Aaron: Justin came up with a great concept loved they were able to work with the apple and make it through the performance without dropping it. Over just love seeing these two dance together. I had a feel they would save Jasmine at the beginning of the show but this helped save her.

Amy & Fikshun: The moment the song started, I was excited about the dance. There really isn’t anything I can really critique them on other than what Nigel pointed out about having similar characters.

Malece & Alan: Wow talk about a fast salsa, Jonathan gave these two a big challenge. They pulled it off nicely but poor Malece ran out of steam at the end. I don’t think that she has to worry about being in danger next week but Alan might even though this was more his style of dance.

Bottom 3

Makensie & Paul: Okay, Why did I not realize that Paul was the one that won the Armenian version of the show. I think I’ll blame it on getting older and not paying a lot of attention as much as I should to the early auditions. Anyways these two dance great last night but I just didn’t care for or maybe the moves and the music didn’t mesh well for me.

Alexis & Nico: I was not a Soyna fan tonight. I really don’t know why the dancers danced great but the choreography was just wasn’t for me.

Jenna & Tucker: Yeah hip-hop is not their thing but they gave it a good try. They just didn’t have their right amount of attitude that was needed for the dance.

Bottom 6

Alan, Tucker, Nice, Jenna, Makensie, and Malece

July 31, 2013 I Written By

Dance is one of my biggest passions. I grew up dancing at Augusta West Dance Studio (the same studio that Kathryn McCormick). I have a BFA in theatre/dance from Valdosta State University. Tap is my favorite style of dance.

Emilie’s Top Group Routines from Season 8

There are A LOT more fantastic routines from this season than we think about immediately. I know Nigel’s tweeting already about some of the routines they’ll show on the finale tonight, but I’ve been ignoring him so I can remind us about my favorite dances. There have been a LOT of great group routines. Most of Tyce’s great work this season has been in the group routines, actually.

#1 Tyce Diorio’s “The Circus Sets Up” (Top 8)

#2. Dee Caspary’s “Poison & Wine” (Top 16 B Group)

#3. Sonya Tayeh’s “Pop, Drop and Roll” (Top 10 Girls)

#4. Christopher Scott’s “Velocity” (Top 10 Guys)

#5. Kelly Abbey’s “El Fuego” (Top 12)

#6. Dave Scott’s “Sinnerman” (the 2nd Top 20)

#7. Nakul dev Mahajan’s “Kata Kata” (Top 14)

#8. Sonya Tayeh’s “XR2” (Top 20)

#9. Justin Giles’s “Grown Unknown” (Top 6)

#10. Tyce Diorio’s “Little Bird” (Meet the Top 20)

There are *easily* more dances I could’ve picked. I had a hard time leaving the Top 7 Girls and Guys routines off the list. Are there group routines you think I should’ve included instead?

August 11, 2011 I Written By

Season 8 Top 6 Results Music

The Top 6 Justin Giles Group Routine was danced to: Lia Ices’s “Grown Unknown” – Grown Unknown - Grown Unknown

Sasha danced her solo to: Miri Ben-Ari’s “We Gonna Win” – We Gonna Win (Featuring Styles P.) - The Hip-Hop Violinist (I love the name of her album – The Hip-Hop Violinist, awesome!)

Caitlynn danced her solo to: Natasha Bedingfield’s “Touch” – Touch - Strip Me (Deluxe Version)

Melanie danced her solo to: Sia’s “My Love” – My Love - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Deluxe Version]

Tadd danced his solo to: Tower of Power’s “Only So Much Oil in the Ground” – Only So Much Oil In the Ground - The Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years

Marko danced his solo to: James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something”- You Give Me Something - Undiscovered

Rickey danced his solo to: London Music Works and Clint Mansell’s “Requiem for a Tower” – Requiem For A Tower - Coming Soon - Trailer Tunes

LoFro and Kent re-danced their Travis Wall Prom routine to: Howie Day’s “Collide” – Collide (Acoustic Version) - Stop All the World Now (Special Edition Version)

The Bad Boys of Dance danced to: Daft Punk’s “Derezzed” – Derezzed - TRON: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) from the Tron Legacy soundtrack.

We say goodbye to Caitlynn to: Greyson Chance’s “Waiting Outside the Lines” – Waiting Outside the Lines - Waiting Outside the Lines - EP

Pia Toscano sang her single: “This Time” – This Time - This Time - Single

We say goodbye to Rickey to: Sharif Iman’s “Shine” – Shine - Shine

August 4, 2011 I Written By

Top 14 Performance Thoughts and Discussion

I’ll be updating my thoughts on tonight’s episode live (with a little lag, I’m sure, while I’m working on the music). Feel free to begin the discussion in the comments. What are you most looking forward to tonight? Dreading?

Spoiler space just in case…read on after the break…

Read more..

July 6, 2011 I Written By

Season 8 Top 14 Performance Music

Check back for the full list of tonight’s music, updated live.

Justin Giles’s Top 7 Guys group contemporary routine: Damien Rice’s “Prague” – Eskimo (w/hidden tracks (this is a hidden track attached to “Eskimo”)

Melanie & Marko’s Ray Leeper jazz routine: Lady Gaga’s “Americano” – Americano - Born This Way (Bonus Track Version)

Sasha & Alexander’s Shaun Evaristo hip hop: Miguel’s “To the Moon” – To the Moon - All I Want Is You

Jordan & Tadd’s Toni Redpath smooth waltz: Secret Garden’s “Nocturne” – Nocturne - Dreamcatcher

Clarice & Jess’s Justin Giles “hard hitting” contemporary: Celeste Lear’s “Light Through the Branches” – Light Through the Branches - Looking Up from Underwater

Ashley & Chris’s Liz Lira salsa: Tito Puente’s “Mambo Beat” – Mambo Beat - Lo Mejor de Lo Mejor: Tito Puente

Ryan & Rickey’s Chucky Klampow jazz: David Bowie’s “Fashion” – Fashion - Best of Bowie

Caitlynn & Mitchell’s Mandy Moore contemporary: Celine Dion’s “To Love You More” – To Love You More - Let'S Talk About Love

Ray Leeper’s Top 7 Girls group jazz routine: Eartha Kitt’s “My Discarded Men” – Eartha Kitt

I Written By