Top 6 Results Thoughts and Discussion
I’ll be a little behind posting my thoughts tonight, at least for the moment. But, just in case, a spoiler space…
I really liked the Justin Giles Top 6 Group Routine. The movement was just unlike what we usually see. I thought it was a really good routine for the Top 6, too, with all their partnering and switching up, dancing as a group of three girls and a group of three guys in moments.
Sasha’s solo was awesome! She really threw herself and all her passion into it. Was not all that impressed with Caitlynn’s solo. I love her to death and I think she’s an amazing dancer when she’s choreographed, but her solos are always the weakest and this one was a bit frantic. Melanie’s solo was really good, but a lot more subtle than her solo last night and Sasha’s tonight. It was a little self-contained story.
The National Dance Day videos were fun, but Nigel’s extended promo for Mobbed was not. I would’ve rather seen almost anything else than waste our time with that.
Tadd’s and Marko’s solos were kinda boring, more of their usual solo styles. Marko even danced to another slow James Morrison song. Ahh! Rickey was really strong again – I wish this had been last night’s solo!
It was sweet to see LoFro and Kent re-dance Travis’s Prom routine. I don’t know that it’s my favorite Emmy-nominated dance, but it was nice to see them dance it again as All-Stars.
In fact, why couldn’t we have seen another Emmy-nominated routine instead of Nigel’s Mobbed pug?
Then, they announced next week’s All-Stars: LoFro, Robert, Mark and Joshua. Which got me all hopeful (I know, setting myself up here) that we’ll see a three-girl finale next week. I know, I know, Nigel already said the girl and guy with the lowest votes were leaving, but still…a girl can dream, right…?
I’m not surprised that Melanie is the first girl in the Top 4, but I am happy. It was sweet to see her mom and grandma in the audience, so nervous. They’re probably the only people in America that were worried she wouldn’t be in the Top 4. 🙂
Same thing with Marko’s being the first guy in the Top 4. He’s been the most popular guy all season, at least according to our polls and your comments. Right before they announced it, they showed a kinda smug-looking Tadd and then a *terrified* Marko. It was an interesting contradiction. I don’t personally think Tadd was smug, but that’s kinda how he came off at that moment (a little self-protection, probably).
It was really cool to see the big Melanie/Marko hug in the safe bullpen. The original top couple has made it through to Top 4. Unsurprising, but still really awesome. Lol.
We came back from commercial to The Bad Boys of Dance so quickly I was a bit disoriented. They were good, a lot of fun. But, even so, I would’ve rather watch more Grammy-nominated routines re-danced.
Unsurprised that Caitlynn gets cut tonight, but sad. I would’ve much rather have three girls in the finale, as I’ve said.
Also would’ve rather seen more re-danced Grammy-nominated routines than Pia Toscano. Ugh.
And also completely unsurprised that Rickey was cut tonight. At least they’re not really going anywhere, right? They’ll be in the finale next week and of course, on tour.
The winner is dance! 🙂
Are Kent and Lauren a couple?
@kelly, the last time I heard anything, LoFro is actually dating Dom!
omg, lofro mark robert and joshua?!! i think i’m in heaven!! i’ve been waiting all season to see joshua back on the sytycd stage!! and somehow i’m picturing mark and tadd in a routine if he makes the finale, that just sounds like an awesome combo to me 🙂
@Margaret: That WOULD be an awesome routine!!!
Just caught the end online, this is a REALLY strong group, wow. All 6 are finale-worthy in different ways. Kent and Twitch have brought something out of Sasha that I hadn’t ever seen from her before which was so beautiful. That being said, I never really warmed up to her this season, I’m not totally sure why. I connected much moreso to Caitlynn and Melanie, so I was bummed (but not surprised) to see Caitlynn go home. I was THRILLED to see Tadd make the finale, the first time a b-boy has made the finale and a way for us to not have an all-contemporary final 4, just shaking things up 🙂
ugh, pia toscano, really?! she’s beautiful, but I don’t find her interesting or original. That was a song I’ve heard in a million different forms on the radio since the mid 1990s, the inspirational diva belting song. I agree with you, Emilie, I would have much rather seen another Emmy-nominated routine (Robert and Allison’s Fix You, anyone?!)
Katie Holmes as the judge, oh goodness. I’m not even sure what to say about that.
It’s not my favorite Emmy-nominated routine either, but can I just say it was the only routine of the season to give me chills?
And by season, I’m talking S8. As I’ve said before, I feel as if an INCREDIBLE talent has been wasted on lackluster choreography this season.
That didn’t stop me from purchasing tickets for the LA show since they’re not coming to Portland this year….
Ha.
@Tiffany, I’d have to agree with you, I love being inspired by the choreography, and there have only been 4 that have done that for me: Melanie and Marko’s Turn to Stone, Sasha and Twitch, Melanie and Neil, and Melanie and Tadd. I know this makes me sound like a total Melanie homer (I’m not, I swear) but those routines stirred something in me that many of the other routines didn’t. These are INCREDIBLE dancers that we’ve had this season, and I think part of the drama with some of the people who went home early had to do with them not being given choreography that the audience connected to.
btw, a fellow portlander!!! I live in northern california now though, so i’m snapping up my tix for the san jose show. 🙂
@Tiffany, not all routines but i do agree a bit, I think some of the choreographers did not push the envelope compared with previous seasons of the show. I’m excited for next week but I hate the fact its going to end
Melanie,Marko, Sasha, & Tadd make very Good Top 4, I agree @Margaret that at least we have 1 non-contemporary dancer making it to top 4, im really looking forward next week I hope all of them do well and I just wish the choreography of dance s next week is pushed to the limits. I hope the dancers and choreographers wow us audience in the finale
I LOVED Melanie’s solo! I loved its understated strength and being in the moment. Not every solo has to be DANCING FOR YOUR LIIIIIIIFEEEEE!!!! if it’s done well, and as we all know she is an incredible dancer – and Nigel has it right – a great actress. I felt she had more of a story in her solo than Sasha. I’m getting a little tired of Sasha’s style and I wish she could be more vulnerable without always having to show us her struggle, if that makes sense.
I also wish Tadd would incorporate some of what he has learned into his solos.
Other than that, GREAT Top 4!
hahah @emilie, that cut before they announced the guys’ results with tadd and marko was HILARIOUS!!
so glad mel & marko made it through, but it wasn’t a surprise. same with sasha. but i wish they would stop playing that clip of marko and his mom backstage. it was cute the first time, but by the third (OR MORE), it’s getting annoying.
LOOOOVED the prom dance w/ lauren & kent once again. i think it’s my fav sytycd routine ever. so brilliant, and with such amazing dancers.
again, with comments to the lesser-quality choreography of S8, i completely agree, and think that they’re getting in more ‘rookie’ choreographers. there is almost NO wow-factor, and i agree with emilie’s choices, and would like to add one more; caitlynn’s tango with pasha. that was incredible.
not quite happy with the cut 1 boy and 1 girl choice. 3 girls and marko would have been a way smarter choice. although caitlynn’s solo was pretty weak, i think she’s a WAY better dancer than tadd, who’s more than a ‘tadd’ annoying. his solo was total blech, and he seems SO arrogant. or maybe it’s just the mentality of b-boying, since it’s a solo type of dance? comments, please!
@demon fao, absolutely agree with you about the 1 non-contemp dancer thing.
Caitlynn FTW!!!! 🙁 so upset she got cut even though it was expected. SIGHS.
Totally agree with the comments about lacklustre choreo this year.. I know they’re trying to introduce new flavours and all, but I like the old choreographers too. 😀 They kept Sonya and Tyce, but I want good pedestrian contemp like Stacey Tookey or Mia Michaels’.
Oh well. REALLY hope next week’s finale will be awesome if not I will be so fumed over Caitlynn not making top 4 😀
@maddie: I don’t find Tadd annoying at all, I think he is genuinely blessed and happy to be having this experience and he seems like a live-in-the-moment kind of guy; I love him.
My favourite routines were Sasha and Twitch, Melanie and Tadd, Melanie and Marko’s turn to stone and the one of them with the Kiss. I also loved Melanie and Twitch and “I’m Coming Home”.
Sadly stopped connecting as much with Sasha, love when Marko Dances, not when he’s crying with his mom, love Melanie as always and think that Tadd is amazing and a ray of sunshine 🙂
@Margaret: Totally agree about “Fix You” routine!