Free SYTYCD Newsletter Want to receive the latest news on So You Think You Can Dance sent straight to your email? Join hundreds of other SYTYCD fans who subscribe to Pure SYTYCD for FREE!

So You Think You Can Dance Season 9: Top 6 Power Rankings

TOP TWO ROUTINES:
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp & Anya Garnis – Argentine Tango
Oh Em Gee… Hot Hot Hot… I was WAITING for this… this… Argentine Tango, but not only that an Argentine Tango that was done really well. I love how the choreographers incorporated a bit of his classical ballet training into the piece (much like Danny Tidwell with Sara von Gillem in Season 3) it was just beyond hot. Definitely one of my favorites of the night.

Cole Horibe & Allison Holker – Contemporary
For some reason the choreographers are really latching onto his crazy, darker, psychotic side of his character / personality and who can blame them? He does it way too well. I like this piece, a lot, but honestly I am over the whole dark Cole thing… I want to see him try sexy again or even goofy and fun… please? Beyond that… he is a very strong technical dancer so I am not really worried about his dance ability.

MIDDLE TWO ROUTINES:
Eliana Girard & Ryan Di Lello – Quickstep
What’s there to say? I highly doubt there is anything that Eliana can not do… I mean she has been killing it for the most part with every routine up to date and she managed to help her first partner look good for the most part as well. She constant joy of being able to dance was consistent in this routine and she just seemed like she was having a grand ole time even while being in character.

Tiffany Maher & Ade Obayomi – Contemporary
For weeks I simply could not understand the draw that is Tiffany. Being a Jazz dancer I didn’t feel like she was challenged in this routine like she could have been, but I will admit even I liked her in this routine. She and Ade partnered in this routine rather well and I will begrudgingly agree that she has been fairly consistent when it comes to her work on the routines… I would love to see how she would fare in another routine that pushes her even further.

BOTTOM TWO ROUTINES:
Witney Carson & Stephen “tWitch” Boss – Hip-hop
There is no doubt that Witney is just oozing personality and charisma and she brings a lot of that to her dances, however, in regards to content I just felt that there wasn’t enough of it and as thus I felt like she wasn’t being challenged or pushed as far as I think she could have been. As thus, this was not a memorable routine for me in any capacity… and I just felt that she feel flat.

Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer & Melanie Moore – Jazz
There are some routines that pushed and prodded Cyrus in so many directions and there are others that kind of catered to his weakness and I think this routine did the latter more than the former. Yes Cyrus was being challenged… but it felt slow and sloppy in areas. Since I believed if he was pushed in every routine like he was in the Travis Wall routine last week it may have accelerated his growth a bit more… instead we are left wondering why he is still around and I don’t want to think that way because he really is superb at what he does and there is just a wealth of potential there for him to grow so much more.

ELIMINATED ROUTINES:
Will Thomas & Lauren Gottlieb – Hip-hop
This is the routine I was waiting for from Will, something that showed a side of him that we haven’t been able to get from him otherwise. It is unfortunate that he was eliminated because I feel like he had so much more left to give… if this routine was given to him earlier in the season I think it would have changed the direction of his development over the course of the show. If anything I believe he ended his time on the show on a high note… and me wanting more.

Lindsay Arnold & Alex Wong – Jazz
I really wanted to like this routine, I mean I am on the Alex Wong bandwagon… and Lindsay did a fabulous job last week in her routine with Jakob, but despite the incredibly strong dancing the connection / chemistry was not as strong as it could be. Based entirely on the routines of the evening this is probably one of the weaker routines overall… Not the weakest by any stretch of the imagination but not a strong routine either.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
Although I can understand letting Lindsay go… I would have much rather have seen Cyrus go as opposed to Will. But considering the votes were from last weeks’ dances I understand why the people voted Cyrus onward because his routine last week was beyond amazing in general.

I am not agreeing with the judges intervening in the eliminations from the Top 10 onwards. I miss having the audience choose how the Top 10 would be eliminated and felt that made for better television. Because Nigel and TPTB are trying to storyboard a lot of these dancers and their times on the show it loses a little bit of the integrity of the show in general and I hope that should the show return for a Season 10 we keep that little bit of what made the show such a wonderful piece of television. That and bring back the old stage!

August 30, 2012 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

So You Think You Can Dance Season 9: Top 8 Performances – Music and Initial Thoughts

Dancers: Top 8
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Peter Chu
Song: Woodkid – “Run Boy Run” Run Boy Run - Run Boy Run (Remixes) - EP

PARTNER DANCES
Dancer: Witney Carson
All Star: Stephen “tWitch” Boss
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Luther Brown
Song: Lil Wayne feat. Big Sean – “My Homies Still” My Homies Still (feat. Big Sean) - My Homies Still (feat. Big Sean) - Single
Initial Thoughts: Well I wanted to see Witney try her hand at hip hop… and unfortunately I am not impressed by any stretch of the imagination. And that’s a bit disconcerting. I kind of felt that she was just being sexy, strutting around the stage shaking her booty and just added a few arm moments and voila!

Dancer: Cole Horibe
All Star: Allison Holker
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: Björk – “Possibly Maybe” (Instrumental) Possibly Maybe - Björk's Greatest Hits
Initial Thoughts: I have a sneaky feeling that the choreographers are tapping into Cole’s more psychotic, evil, dark side of Cole more often than not… and who am I to complain? He does that look and personality well. His partnering with Allison was off the charts not to mention their chemistry… one of my favorites.

Dancer: Eliana Girard
All Star: Ryan Di Lello
Style: Quickstep
Choreographer: Jonathan Roberts
Song: Caro Emerald – “That Man” That Man - Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor
Initial Thoughts: Well, I wanted to see Eliana to try her hand on a Ballroom routine… but I was leaning more towards a Latin number… I didn’t think of Quickstep and man I liked this, but I wasn’t all too surprised that she could pull off a Quickstep. Her chemistry with Ryan was very good too and they looked like they were just having oodles of fun.

Dancer: Lindsay Arnold
All Star: Alex Wong
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: Gotye feat. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used to Know” Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra) - Making Mirrors
Initial Thoughts: Technically-wise this was a very good routine, chemistry / personality / character-wise it was ok… but I wanted to reach out and be thrilled with this routine… but instead just nothing.

Dancer: Will Thomas
All Star: Lauren Gottlieb
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Song: Wye Oak – “Dance My Pain Away” (District 78 remix) Dance My Pain Away - Dance My Pain Away - Single
Initial Thoughts: Personally I really like this routine… it was difficult to create a chemistry when the dancers are not dancing with one another… but somehow it worked. We managed to see a whole different side of the goofy Will that I think a lot of people were getting a little annoyed with and this was a breath of fresh air.

Dancer: Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer
All Star: Melanie Moore
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Song: Freddy Fresh feat. Fatboy Slim – “Badder Badder Schwing” Badder Badder Schwing - Badder Badder Schwing
Initial Thoughts: For me this routine felt slow and you know that he’s not up there technically with the other dancers. But I have to admit, he is doing his damnedest to keep up and that in and of itself is impressive.

Dancer: Chehon Wespi-Tschopp
All Star: Anya Garnis
Style: Argentine Tango
Choreographer: Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo
Song: Jesse Cook – “Breathing Below Surface” Breathing Below Surface - The Ultimate Jesse Cook
Initial Thoughts: Hot Hot Hot… it is about time there is a sexy and smoldering Argentine Tango on the show and I am so glad that it was Chehon that got the honor of just that. I really loved his precision and footwork and his connection with Anya was palatable. Overall I really liked it… a lot… ok more than a lot.

Dancer: Tiffany Maher
All Star: Ade Obayomi
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Song: Celine Dion – “The Power of Love” The Power of Love - My Love (Ultimate Essential Collection)
Initial Thoughts: Ok… I am slowly beginning to understand what people like in Tiffany, and honestly in comparison with the other girls of the evening this was generally a strong routine. Was I impressed? No, did I like it… yes…

SOLOS
Tiffany Maher: Glee cast – “I Was Here” I Was Here (Glee Cast Version) - Glee: The Music - The Graduation Album
Will Thomas: James Morrison – “Better Man” Better Man - Undiscovered
Lindsay Arnold: Bond – “Señorita” Señorita - Classified
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp: Max Richter – “On the Nature of Daylight” On The Nature Of Daylight - The Blue Notebooks
Witney Carson: Rihanna – “Where Have You Been” Where Have You Been - Talk That Talk (Deluxe Edition)
Cole Horibe: E.S. Posthumus – “Arise” Arise - Makara
Eliana Girard: Max Richter – “Infra 8” infra 8 - infra
Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer: Excision & Downlink – “Existence” (VIP) Existence (VIP) - Existence EP

I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

SYTYCD rumblings

What a great show last night!! I sprinkled my thoughts here and there on other posts but overall I was really impressed. I thought I’d bring you all a smattering of SYTYCD news that I’ve seen over the past couple of weeks. Much of it comes from our friends at Entertainment Weekly

*added 6/24
I haven’t had the chance to read some of your comments about the results last night, but Kate Ward, a writer at EW.com has written an article aptly titled, “SYTYCD results make fans angry. you won’t like them when they’re angry”

I have to admit, I was pretty annoyed to see them keep Ryan after her abysmal “dance for your life”. I was watching the live feed online and it shorted out so I missed Missy’s and Iveta’s but from what I’ve heard Iveta’s was better. I saw all the guys and I thought Ricky really made his case to stay, his solo was great. Frankly, it’s not his fault Ryan seems to rather look at the camera and mug than connect with him. One of the posters recommended that they should have let all three girls and one of the boys go and kept Nick and Ricky or Nick and Wadi. I agree that Nick had a great personality and I would have loved to have seen him do contemporary with his long limbs to really see what he can do.

thoughts on this? I think it’s pretty interesting…

————

They’ve recently released their list of the 25 greatest SYTYCD performances of the past 7 seasons.

25. Kathryn and Ryan’s cha-cha (Season 6)
24. Pasha and Sara’s “Rockafella Skank” (Season 3)
23. Lauren and Twitch’s “My Chick Bad” (Season 7)
22. Lacey and Kameron Week 1 (Season 3)
21. Jakob and Ashleigh’s “Hit Me With a Hot Note” (Season 6)
20. Tranji’s “Gyrate” (Season 2)
19. Melody and Nick’s “All That Jazz”
18. Ellenore and Jakob’s “Tore My Heart”
17. Jeanine and Jason “If It Kills Me”
16. Brandon and Jeanette’s Disco
15. Katee and Joshua’s Bollywood
14. Jaimie and Hok’s “Hummingbird and the Flower”
13. Robert and Allison’s “Fix You”
12. Brandon and Jeanette’s “Ruby Blue”
11. Chelsie and Mark’s “Bleeding Love”
10. Ade and Billy’s “Mad World”
9. Danny and Lacey’s “Hip Hip Chin Chin”
8. Allison and Ivan’s “Why”
7. Kayla and Kupono’s “Addiction (Gravity)”
6. Heidi and Benji’s “Black Mambo”
5. Allison and Alex’s “Hallelujah”
4. Neil and Sabra’s “80’s Power Lunch (the table dance)”
3. Travis and Heidi’s “The Bench”
2. Katee and Joshua’s “No Air”
1. Alex and Twitch’s “Outta Your Mind”

This is a pretty stellar list, I must say, but there are a few glaring omissions. Where is Will and Katee’s spectacular pas de deux from season 4? Or Kayla and Max’s incredible WEEK 1 samba from season 5? I know this doesn’t include solos, but I don’t think anyone has topped Blake’s amazing solo from top 6 week in season 1, I’ve rewound it 100 times at least and still can’t figure out how he switches directions in his back handspring!

any other routines that didn’t make the cut?
Read more..

June 23, 2011 I Written By

SYTYCD on Glee’s Bad Reputation

Thanks to commenter Ben for pointing out SYTYCD alum on two musical numbers from Glee’s recent episode, “Bad Reputation.”

Here’s his comment:

I found one for Total Eclipse of the Heart, which features Melissa (quite obviously) and possibly Brandon.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/05/glee-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/

And here’s a link with a video for “Let’s Get Physical” which features Brandon and what’s-his-name. You’ll be able to pick him out.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/deep-dish/2010/05/of-glee-i-sing-lets-get-physical.html

In the “Total Eclipse of the Heart” routine, we get glimpses of Brandon and Melissa throughout, but Melissa is really prominent at 42:05 on the right of Jesse. She’s got her “Naughty Ballerina” face on, her expression saying something along the lines of, “Naught Ballerina’s gonna steal your man.”

“Let’s Get Physical” is basically an homage to Brandon’s butt, at least once you stop looking at Olivia Newton-John and Sue Sylvester. The first time his face is really prominent is 26:37 and then again at 26:50. His butt’s super prominent at the end. 🙂

As for Ben’s “what’s-his-name” in the “Let’s Get Physical” segment, I’m not sure who he’s talking about. I thought Ryan Di Lello would have the physique for it, but I didn’t see him. Maybe Nathan with a shaved head? What do y’all think? [UPDATE: Thanks to commenter Julia (and SYTYCDism) for pointing out that it’s Jonathan Platero!]

May 8, 2010 I Written By

Burn the Floor with the Di Lellos

For those of you who love the Ashleigh and Ryan Di Lello, I just read a great article about them joining the cast of Burn the Floor, along with Season 7 All-Stars Anya and Pasha, and their fellow Season 6 contestant Karen Hauer.

Check it out!

April 21, 2010 I Written By

The SYTYCD Top 6 on Ellen

Here’s the Top 6 on Ellen. I love this! And I like the married dancing!

December 16, 2009 I Written By

SYTYCD Top 6 Results Music (Finale Part II)

Many, everybody’s been killing me with anticipation today on Twitter, so I have HIGH EXPECTATIONS for tonight’s show, including the music.

Opening song, layered over the Top 6 talking: “Sweet Disposition” The Temper Trap - Conditions - Sweet Disposition-The Temper Trap (thanks Blair!)

Kelly Abby Top 19 Group Routine: “Scared of Me” Fredde le Grand - Scared of Me (feat. Mitch Crown) - EP - Scared of Me (Radio Edit)-Fredde Le Grand ft. Mitch Crown

SPOILERS from here on out.

Lil C’s favorite with Russell, Legacy and Kevin: “Beggin'” Madcon - Beggin' - Single - Beggin'-Madcon

Adam’s favorite with Ellenore and Jakob: “Tore My Heart” Oona - Tore My Heart - Single - Tore My Heart-OONA and Dave Tweedie

Nigel’s favorite with Peter, Bianca and Phillip: “Take the A Train” Ella Fitzgerald - Pure Ella - Take the "A" Train-Ella Fitzgerald

Mary’s request for new routine that the DiLillos danced and choreographed themselves: “Straight To…Number 1” Touch & Go - I Find You Very Attractive - Straight To... Number One-Touch & Go

Leona Lewis performs the theme from Avatar (who apparently sponsored tonight): “I See You” Leona Lewis - Avatar (Music from the Motion Picture) - I See You (Theme from Avatar)

The Groovaloos perform to “Groovaloo Street” by Rapier & Burns (not yet on iTunes)

Nigel’s favorite with Kathryn & Jakob: “At This Moment” Michael Bublé - Crazy Love (Deluxe Edition) - At This Moment-Michael Buble

Tyce’s favorite with Mollee & Nathan: “Azeem O Shaan” A. R. Rahman - Jodhaa Akbar - Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah -AR Rahman from Jodhaa Akbar

Ryan is #6 to “Where It Ends” 16 Frames - Where It Ends - Where It Ends-16 Frames

Adam Lambert performs “Whataya Want From Me” Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment - Whataya Want from Me

Season 6 highlights recap to “Guardian Angel” The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It - Your Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Ashleigh is #5 to “Never Say Never” The Fray - The Fray - Never Say Never-The Fray

Adam’s favorite with Ellenore & Legacy: “Machine Gun” Portishead - Third - Machine Gun-Portishead

Debbie’s favorite with Noelle & Russell (tape): “Frog Dance Mickey Hart - Supralingua - Frog Dance-Mickey Hart

Ellenore is #4 to “Breathe” Ryan Star - Breathe - Single - Breathe-Ryan Star

Lil C’s favorite with Ariana, Channing, Nathan and Jakob: “Cryin'” k.d. lang - Live by Request - Crying-kd lang

Mary’s favorite with Kathryn & Russell (tape): “I Can Transform Ya” Chris Brown - I Can Transform Ya (feat. Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz) - Single - I Can Transform Ya (feat. Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz)-Chris Brown

Mary J. Blige performs “I Am” Mary J. Blige - I Am - Single - I Am

Nigel’s favorite – the Top 20 group routine: “Comanche” The Revels - Pulp Fiction (Music from the Motion Picture) - Comanche-The Revels

Kathryn (NO!!) is #3 to “Something Beautiful” Needtobreathe - The Outsiders (Deluxe Version) - Something Beautiful-Needtobreathe

Jennifer Lopez performs (with SYTYCD girls from Season 6 and seasons past!) Louboutins (not on iTunes yet)

The recap of Russell and Jakob’s journeys was played to “Time of Our Lives” Paul van Dyk - Reflections - Time of Our Lives -Paul van Dyk (thanks again, Sokko!)


We had such amazing music on the show this season! Check it all out here.

I Written By

SYTYCD Top 6 Power Rankings

I just don’t know, y’all. Part of me thinks this is a slam dunk for Jakob (John already proclaimed him the SYTYCD season 6 winner back on the 8th). But part of me thinks Kathryn or Ellenore might still win it. Wishful thinking? Let’s see…

Read more..

December 15, 2009 I Written By

Season 6 Top 6 Predictions?

When I saw this picture on the SYTYCD site, I couldn’t help wondering if my Power Rankings were already done for me. A picture’s worth a thousand words, after all…

sytycd-season-6-top-6

It’s not necessarily what I’d like. I’d love if the final two were Kathryn and Ellenore. But, I have a feeling this picture (unconsciously on the part of Fox and the SYTYCD folks, maybe) predicts the order of the Top 6. First, Ryan and Ashleigh will get eliminated. Then Ellenore and Russell most likely. And, I suspect the final two are gonna be Kathryn and Jakob. It might even be in this particular order…

I’ll do a proper Power Ranking after tonight’s Finale Part I, but I think this pretty much this says it all. What do you think?

I Written By

SYTYCD Top 8 Results Music

It’ll be interesting to see what happens tonight, who goes into next week’s Top 6 Finale. Kris Allen is playing tonight and I’m sure we’ll have some great music, as always.

Sonya Top 8 group routine: “Pon de Floor” Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do (Bonus Track Version) - Pon de Floor (feat. VYBZ Kartel)-Major Lazer ft. VYBZ Kartel

Asia’s #1 pop group The Wonder Girls performed “Nobody” Wonder Girls - The Wonder Years - Trilogy - Nobody

Legacy danced his solo to “Flashing Lights” Vitamin String Quartet - The String Quartet Tribute to Kanye West - Flashing Lights by the Vitamin String Quartet
Ellenore danced her solo to “Hajnal” Venetian Snares - Rossz Csillag Alatt Született - Hajnal by Venetian Snares
Ryan danced his solo to “Din Da Da” Kevin Aviance - Box of Chocolates - Din Da Da by Kevin Aviance
Mollee danced her solo to “You’ll Find a Way” Santigold - Santigold - You'll Find a Way (Switch and Sinden Remix) by Santigold (the Switch and Sinden remix)

Kris Allen performed “Live Like We’re Dying” Kris Allen - Live Like We're Dying - Single - Live Like We're Dying

Mollee is sent home: “Never Say Never” The Fray - The Fray - Never Say Never-The Fray

Legacy is sent home: “Where It Ends” 16 Frames - Where It Ends - Where It Ends-16 Frames

If you’re hot to trot before the show starts, check out all the music from previous episodes here.

December 9, 2009 I Written By