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Congrats to Kathryn McCormick!

I really should be sleeping right now but I am way to excited! Nigel made a comment at the end of tonight’s show that some Alumni were in the audience and also spilled the beans about Kathryn landing a part in Step Up 4. What Nigel failed to metion is that she landed the LEAD FEMALE role. Adam Shankman confirmed tonight on twitter that she had a fantastic audition and that a star is born.

To new readers who may not understand my excitment, Kathryn and I danced at the same dance studio growing up. Though we may not be close friends but she is apart of my extended dance family and I know that we all are really proud of her and I can’t wait to see the movie.

July 6, 2011 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 14 Power Rankings

Just consider this whole thing a spoiler. But, just in case, I’ll delay posting this for a little bit. I can never tell if my Power Rankings are how it is or wishful thinking on my part, so you tell me. Either way, this gets harder and harder every week. Here we go…

Top 3 Couples

1. Caitlynn and Mitchell – they had a phenomenal Mandy Moore routine and the benefit of going last before the Top 7 Girls routine. They grow on me more and more every week. They got a standing O from the judges and were really cute together on stage. I’ve decided that them being in the Bottom 3 last week was a mistake, so I’ve put them at the top of the heap. Perfect storm of great dancing, great routine and great placement in the episode.

2. Ryan and Rickey – I know they’ve been losing favor, particularly Ryan and have also been in the Bottom 3, but their Chucky Klampow jazz routine full redeemed them for me and they also danced later in the episode. I think they started their comeback last week and sealed the deal this week. I hope, anyway, cause it’d suck if they were in the Bottom 3 again, especially if they didn’t get saved.

3. Melanie and Marko – Their Ray Leeper Latin-fused jazz was interesting and strongly danced, but had the bad luck to be the first routine of the night. However, they are the most popular couple by far, so I’ve put them in the safety zone. Hopefully, people won’t assume they’re safe and forget to vote for them. I wouldn’t want them to get Kherrington’d. 

Am I crazy putting my favorite 3 couples in the Top 3 or do y’all agree?

Middle Couple

4. Sasha and Alexander – I don’t love them as a couple, but Sasha in particular is very popular and is feautred prominently in group routines. She’s always given strong choreography and really immerses herself. I think they’ll be safe, but I could foresee an alternate set of events where they’re in the Bottom 3 and one of the other couples is here by the skin of their teeth.

Bottom 3 Couples

We *have* to have a Bottom 3 and despite the fact that I keep putting the same ones in danger and they always seem to be safe, I’m doing it again…

5. Jordan and Tadd – I could see them switching with Sasha and Alexander and being safe. However, I think their routine,  while a great Toni Redpath routine, was a waltz towards the front half of the show. It was, at least to me (and Travis), a bit awkward at times and not as smooth as it could’ve been. I hope they’ll survive thet Bottom 3 cause I love them and would love to see them in the Top 10.

6. Clarice and Jess – They seem to be picking up steam, so they could also switch with Sasha and Alexander. They had their best routine together (in mine and Travis’s opinions, again) and one of my favorites of the night. I’m putting them here because I think they’re less popular than Sasha (and Alexander) and Jess really needs to dance with someone else to prove his mettle. At least as far as I’m concerned.

7. Ashley and Chris – Their salsa was the hands down weakest performance, by most definitions. I wouldn’t mind seeing either one of them dance with someone else, but I find that they are more consistantly the weakest of the couples and my least favorite. Which is so hard to say because they’re such great dancers and their personalities are shining more each week. I think, all things aside, they’ll be the ones to go tomorrow.

Okay, how delusional am I this week? 🙂

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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..

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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

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