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So You Think You Can Dance Show Recap

After my previous review of So You Think You Can Dance I found an interesting show recap on their site. It is interesting to read through the different dances and summary of opinions.

SHOW 217

We’re back for a very special So You Think You Can Dance, 2 hours people, big time. Tonight we will see 2 routines from each couple and a solo routine from every dancer. This means it’s one for all, no more voting for couples. I see tears coming soon from a couple of tightly bonded pairs.

Tonight’s judges are the unconquerable Nigel Lythgoe, the sassy pair of Siseli and Elisa, and a foreigner (sorry cat, England doesn’t really count anymore) Jean Marc Genereaux.
Let’s get down to the dancing; there’s is a lot to see tonight.

Martha and Ivan
Me and You
Cassie
This new couple draws hip-hop taught by Shane Sparks. The first couple dance of the night is starting off pretty mellow with the pair dressed like detectives from a wil smith movie. I really expected more from this couple in terms of hip-hop, they didn’t really bring it. Evidently the judges disagree with me and really liked it, minus some issues with the chemistry.

Donyelle – solo
Git It
Bun B feat. Ying Tang Twins
Doing her first solo of the competition, Donyelle is getting it krunk with some high boots and camo. The audience is really into this routine and the judges dig it too. They’re not surprised Donyelle’s confidence and spirit come through in her solo work.

Dmitry – solo
Pump It
The Black Eyed Peas
As always Dmitry is exhibiting an almost aggressive amount of chest, why even wear a shirt I ask? Regardless of what I think about this the ladies will be voting, many many times. The judges liked him as always, but Nigel thinks this chest-baring stuff is getting old, and distracting from the dancing.

Travis and Heidi
Plaza of Execution
The Mask of Zorro (soundtrack)
Travis, now spilt from Martha, picks Heidi out of the hat as his partner for today. The pair is doing the Paso Doble, taught by our good friend and judge Mary Murphy. They come out looking a little crazy, Heidi hanging upside down behind Travis, or some weird conglomeration like that. They’re really taking this routine serious. The judges really like the power, the drama, and the chemistry.

Ryan and Allison
Ethna
Klement Bonelli
Ryan chooses picks Allison and they get they get they’re specialty, Contemporary tought by Mia Michaels. This piece is pretty intense in the physical demand aspect, but Ryan and Allison are handling it well, but it’s still a little cheesy. But wait, they have a surprise ending, they jump of the stage in tandem, pretty cool. The judges really like the fluid and unique nature of the routine. Score one for Mia.

Martha – solo
What are you waiting for?
Gwen Stefani
Donning a huge green gardeners hat, Martha hits the air doing some powerful powerful moves. The judges don’t think she sold her solo as much as she should, like she was holding back. Looks like Martha may be in the danger zone.

Ivan – solo
This Luv
Donell Jones
Ivan starts with his standard hip hop pop lock thing, but then throws in an amazing twist. He’s wearing those roller shoes scooting across the floor. The judges like it, but just that, no real stellar reviews.

Donyelle and Dmitry
Sing sing sing
Swing Kids (soundtrack)
The Donyelle and Benji power-team is now broken up, this new pair is is doing the lindy hop. Donyelle keeps her partners, Dmitry keeps losing them, let’s see how this match works. They come out in stride with a lot of confidence, but I keep seeing some minor missteps. They pull off some pretty astounding tricks, which should probably make up for any problems. The energy itself in this dance is pretty impressive. The judges all totally dig it.

Benji and Natalie
Wonderful
India.Arie
Benji picks Natalie out of the hat for a jazz routine. Tyce Diorio will be teaching the dork-queen combo. They’re dressed like they just got off a life boat in the Bahamas, which works quite well for Natalie as you might expect. They seemed to really have nailed this routine, and the judges agree completely. Nigel just said “joyful” if that gives you an idea.

Heidi – solo
Dum Diddly
The Black Eyed Peas
Wearing a tiny flesh colored piece of sparkling cloth, Heidi brings out the power burst in her solo. The judges loved her modern ballroom routine, leaving siseli and elisa at a loss for words.

Ivan and Martha
Sandy’s Song
Dolly Parton
Ivan and Martha draw the very serious and elegant ‘Smooth Waltz’ for a routine. The pair has some serious obstacles to over come for this dance, one being Ivan staying serious. They come out looking very elegant and at least 15 years older, well maybe 5 for Ivan. This dance is supposed to be smooth and elegant and all those kind of words, but it feels pretty flat. The judges agree giving mediocre reviews all around. The French judge, Jean-Marc, says the couple didn’t frame the dance correctly. As we all know, frame is very important in any ballroom style.

Travis – solo
Belief (Stripped Version)
Gavin DeGraw
He’s breaking records for spins here, or pirouettes as they call them. Other than that, h just does some dramatic leg lifting. He really makes it look easy which I think is considered a good thing. The judges like his solo a lot.

Ryan and Allison
Bye Bye Blackbird
Liza Minelli
Ryan and Allison draw Broadway for their routine. This style is a departure for each of their specialties, but I think they have the power to work it on out. These costumes are absurd; bright red, with white fedora’s add a pair of fishnets to Allison. I’m not really sure what the make of the dance, it’s a little out of sync and seems like they don’t really know what’s going on, almost like dancers on some early morning kids show. The judges are not impressed either giving blasé reviews all around saying Ryan is overly technical with his style.

Natalie – solo
Lamentation
Leah Andreone
She’s really exercising the modern dancer strengths in this routine, one of which is getting several people to cry. I bet she’s safe with this solo. The judges love it all the way.

Benji – solo
Land of 1000 dances
Wilson Picket
This is Benji’s very first solo performance, I didn’t realize Donyelle had been that good for him. He does his standard Benji moves, modernized west cost swing style eliciting chants from the audience. The judges totally love it.

Donyelle and Dmitry
Hey Mama
The Black Eyed Peas
For their second dance the new power couple is doing the Samba, taught by Mary Murphy again. The pair is in stalk mode like sexual dynamos on the dance floor. The judges think it was great all around, a real organic success.

Heidi and Travis
*music TBA
The blonde couple draws contemporary, which Travis loves but is giving Heidi some serious trouble. Whatever Heidi was crying about during class isn’t an issue anymore because they totally nailed the choreography. The judges love it, even Nigel is expressing some heavy emotion. Score two for Mia Michaels choreography.

Allison – solo

We Belong
Pat Benetar
Wearing only the finest in gypsy island wear Allison does her smiling contemporary routine. The judges like it, but think her emotion was a little static.

Natalie and Benji
She’s freaky
Pitbull
Shane Sparks is charged with teaching the princess and the dork how do hip-hop ghetto style, no the easiest job. They come out dressed like auto mechanics in full coveralls. It’s a pretty rough and aggressive routine for this couple and I don’t think they really hit it right. The judges think it was fun, but lacked the real hip-hop flavor.

Ryan – solo
Canned Heat
Jamiroquai
This is the song that made Napoleon Dynamite famous for dancing, Ryan almost does him one better, almost. The judges really like saying Ryan dances big in all aspects.

That’s another amazing episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Come back tomorrow when we see who get eliminated, plus a musical Guest Chris Brown.

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July 21, 2006 I Written By

Just call me Charlie...but where are my angels?

Dmitry Chaplin and Martha Nichols Get Sent Home on So You Think You Can Dance

Dmitry Chaplin and Martha Nichols got sent home tonight on So You think you Can Dance. I can’t say I was really dissappointed by either of them getting sent home. I was actually quite glad that Martha Nichols got sent home. I don’t think she did a good job dancing at all. The difference between her and the others was great. I will give Martha credit on many of her ballroom dances she looked very nice and had some nice lines. Otherwise, I was glad she got kicked off. Think about this. Which girl would you have take her place? I’m also glad that Natalie Fotopoulos was second from the bottom. I hope she goes home next. She’s all body and sex appeal.

I think that the American voters(8 million is nuts) did a real disservice to Dmitry. How can the fans on TV go so crazy and the people at home not at least make him into the top 5 guys. I was surprised that Cat Deeley didn’t get on the phone and start voting for Dmitry. Cat’s interaction with Dmitry has been one of my favorite parts of So You Think You Can Dance. I know Dmitry would be gone sooner or later, but now didn’t seem the right time. I guess this goes back to my personal theory that having friends is important in these voting contests. I remember on one of these voting shows people had set up a room similar to a telethon with phones to vote for their favorite. I guess Dmitry doesn’t have friends. Maybe if they accepted text messages from Russians he would have gotten it. Too bad it’s America’s favorite dancer and not Russia’s or the World’s. Is that Nigel Lythgoe’s next show? I also have to admit that Dmitry’s most impressive moment was when he did an incredible lift with Donyelle Jones. I guess the guy does have some muscle.

As an update to my previous post on So You Think You Can Dance on Fox I have further found out that not only is Benji Schwimmer a mormon, but his cousin Heidi Groskreutz is indeed a mormon(at least someone on a message board said they knew her and said she was). Not to mention she’s still my favorite(and HOT). If you don’t believe she’s hot and an amazing dancer then watch this Youtube Video of Heidi and Benji dancing. I’m 99% sure Jaymz Tuaileva is a mormon. Otherwise, why would his profile say:

“My dad used to dance at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii when he was younger. I would call that dancing professionally. He used to do a mean fire dance that’s for sure.”

Jaymz should have busted out a fire dance and he’d still be on the show. For the record, the fire knife dancers at the PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in my life. My jury’s still out on Allison Holker(that last name looks way to much like hooker…she needs to get married) being a mormon. I’m not a betting man, but I’d bet she is a mormon living in Orem, UT.

Well, I don’t want to leave too many people out. So, I better cover one of my favorite soloists Ivan Koumaev I wasn’t too impressed with the wheels on the shoes, but that’s because his solos are SOOO good usually. The wheels were used too much and distracted from his expert solo dancing skills. Either way, I was really disappointed that he wasn’t in the bottom two tonight. I would have much rather watched him do a solo than either of the other 2 men.

Finally, it was about time their guest performer wasn’t some gay group that gets up and sings. So You Think You Can Dance should not allow any performer on stage if they can’t shake it, groove it, move it, or some other dancing motion. Finally, Chris Brown got up and showed some plentiful dancing skills.

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I Written By

Just call me Charlie...but where are my angels?