and the winner is... LAUREN!!!!

Wow! I can't believe she did it. She beat Kent. That is crazy. I would have been happy regardless of who won between them. I bet the judges are happy. Very exciting for her.

I am just sad that the season has ended. I will miss watching amazing dances each week! Well, here is to an outstanding season and to what next season has to come!

Twitch and Ellen perform Outta Your Mind

That was hilarious-ily awesome!!! Way to go Ellen DeGeneres! I can't believe she actually did most of the choreography and did a half decent job at executing it. That was awesome, just awesome!

Encore performances

Billy and Robert take a trip to Bollywood to bring back their celebrated duet. I think we had more Bollywood routines this season than disco. It was the hot, trendy, cultural dance choices for the season.

Kent and Neil perform How it Ends, Travis Wall's controversial back stabbing piece. There are many opinions about the inspiration behind this piece. Some think that it is exactly as how it was presenting on the show... two great friends, one stabs the other in the back. However, others think this piece was about a bad breakup between two guys. Regardless of the inspiration, it gave Travis a reason to choreograph an awesome piece filled with emotion and artistry.

Encore performance

Lauren and Twitch perform a Nappy Tabs piece. With Nappy Tabs having a ton of encore performances of their pieces it makes me think that SYTYCD needs to diversify in their selection of choreographers.

Alex and Alex's performance to Hallelujah was revisited via video due to Alex's injury, but it was still outstanding. Tear... I miss Alex... why did he have to get injured!?!? Why!?!?

Robert takes 3rd place

No shock here. Robert should be super proud of finishing in third place this season. I mean, he beat Billy Bell and well, um, Billy is A-MA-ZING. He didn't look surprised by the results so I think Robert knew that he couldn't compete with Kent and Lauren's fan bases. REMINDER ALERT... Robert was in the bottom three almost every week. He defied all logic to make it to the finale.

UK SYTYCD Winner performs with Neil

First, Surrender is one of my favorite pieces of music. So great selection Stacey!

Second, Charlie is clearly classically trained. Her technique oooooozed out of every move that she made. Beautiful performances from her and Neil, but I could have used a little more grit behind that gorgeous technique. It was just a bit too pretty for my taste.

Encore performance

Jose and Dominick bring back their sword and the stone b-boy piece, the first ever b-boy duet on SYTYCD. Fun piece, I still like Dominick's performance better than Jose.

Encore performances

Lauren and Pasha perform an Argentine Tango by Miram and Leonardo... DRAMA... but I don't remember this piece at all.

FIX YOU!!! Robert and Allison melted my heart again with their performance. This should definitely earn Travis an Emmy award for choreography. Best piece of the season. Without a doubt.

Cool Foot Luke

That 7 year old is a wicked tap dancer! He is unbelievable! I want to meet his dance teacher. He has got to be home schooled because he must be studying tap like 10 hours a day. I mean, I am usually impressed when a 7 year old has a clean double time step. Little 7 year old Luke is my new hero.

Encore performance

Robert and Dominick perform Scars, another Nappy Tabs piece. This was probably my second favorite hip hop piece of the season. I think it is the dark quality of the dramatic concept. I didn't like the more subtle make-up on Robert this time around though. I'm sure they kept it simple so that he could make a quick change for his next piece, but the lack of crazy, dark make-up made this performance not as strong as the debut performance for me.

Encore performances

AdeChike and Comfort perform Fallin', choreographed by Nappy Tabs. I think this dance capitalized on AdeChike's strengths and was his finest performance outside of his comfort zone.

Kent and Anya perform my My First Kiss, a cha cha choreographed by Jean Marc and France. I don't remember this as being one of the best routines from the season and I don't think all of the judges were fans of Kent's performance. I am really surprised that they decided to bring this dance back for the finale.

Encore performances

Kent and Neal started us off with a repeat performance of Shoeless Joe which was just as fun as it was the first time around.

Billy Bell and Ade brought back Stacey's Mad World... the depth of that dance still astounds me. Billy is so darn talented; how did he go home after performing that piece?

Yes, the top 3 are outstanding dancers but watching Mad World makes me feel like we are missing two dancers that should be in the top 3... Billy never should have left us and it is so unfortunate that Alex got injured.

FINALE!!!!!

What an energy-charged opening number for the finale! Amazing choreography by Christopher Scott. He did an excellent job of weaving different styles of dance into a cohesive piece. Did you see Billy Bell whip out some crazy flexibility tricks? It was awesome to see Alex worked into the piece. Nice use of a chair on wheels.

Has anyone ever noticed that all of the girls standing in the front of the audience are always wearing cute, trendy dresses? Do you think SYTYCD mandates a "costume" for their audience members?

So, what now?

I actually think Lauren is going to take this one. Maybe I am falling victim to the shameless marketing by the judges but I think she is going to give Kent a run for his money. One thing is for sure... you better vote for your favorite because I think it is going to be a close one!

Kent and Robert perform a Malevos (sp?)

What the hell was that? I found most of it to be awkward and weird. There were a couple cool moments like Robert's slow motion punch as Kent did a dramatic back bend under strobe lights. Otherwise, I was not into it.

Lauren and Pasha perform a ballroom piece by Tony and Melanie

Well, who doesn't loose control when they see Pasha?

Sexy, hot, amazing lifts... whoa. That was a pretty awesome performance by Lauren. Like Nigel, I am not a ballroom expert but her performance appeared to be on point to me.

Mia to Lauren... "if I was still dancing, I would want to dance exactly like you." Is there a higher compliment you could receive from Mia Michaels? I am pretty sure that Lauren could loose tomorrow night and still be happy after receiving that praise. WOW!

Robert and Kathryn perform a Broadway piece by Spencer

I LOVED this original interpretation of West Side Story's Cool. I usually HATE non traditional interpretations of Broadway pieces, but it was a lovely surprise. Kathryn is amazing and Robert is pretty darn great himself. I found the interchange between the two of them to be filled with tension and suspense. Robert's shoulders were a bit tense and lifted in the beginning perhaps in an attempt to capture his character, but I was able to look past that after the intro and got lost in their connection.

Robert split the seam of his pants right up the butt! Thank goodness he had some dark undies on beneath.

Lauren's Solo

Great control on her frozen arabesque, but as with the other solos... the same as previous solos. Good, but eh. At least they are all in the same boat.

Kent and Allison perform a Contemporary piece by Stacey

I loved how this choreography really illustrated a dialogue between the two dancers. Stacey does such an incredible job of bringing out intensity and turmoil in contrast to the soft music. It makes the movement speak instead of the lyrics. Really amazing effect.

Gorgeous dancing by both Kent and Allison. Artistically fabulous. Allison has really lucked out this season and has gotten to perform several amazing contemporary pieces.

Robert's Solo

Great solo, but again... remarkably similar to previous solos by Robert. Good, but eh.

Kent and Lauren perform a Jazz piece by Mandy Moore

Huey Lewis makes me have a flashback to Back to the Future. I have to say, I am super surprised that Mandy choose piece of music from the 80s. That is so out of character for her.

I found Lauren's performance to be a bit cheer-i-rific for my taste. Kent's performance had a bit more character behind the movement.

I agree with the judges, there just wasn't much to this choreography. This dance could have been performed by 2 seven year olds. There was no challenge. It was a bit of a waste of this dynamic duo's talent.

Lauren and Robert perform a Contemporary piece by Dee

Beautiful choreography by Dee! I adored the prop study with the pillow. What an unconventional prop for a dance piece. It become a bit of a "dance about a pillow" which I think distracted me a little from the beauty of the dancers. At the same time, I was entranced by the continuity of their movement. It was milky and thick with gooey body lines like Lauren's opening ponche and emotional bursts from their personal connection. I would also like to commend Dee on his primarily instrumental musical selection. It was refreshing to watch a dance filled with emotion and artistry that was not explicitly defined by the lyrics of the song.

Kent's Solo

Great solo, but it was remarkably similar to past solos. Similar tricks, jumps, leaps, turns and intimate moments. I wish that their solos for the finale were choreographed professionally. They deserve a big, moving solo moment and these 30 second bits are become redundant and uninspiring. Good, but eh.

Robert and Mark perform a Jazz piece by Tyce

Robert and Mark looked almost like twins dancing together. I have always been a fan of Mark's and think that he is an incredible dancer, but I think Robert out danced Mark in that piece. He did an excellent job emphasizing the cookiness of the of the choreography. I love how he dances beyond his natural body perimeter. His energy shoots out through every body line. He did an excellent job providing a crisp ending and fluid transition to the movement. Yes, Robert has grown by leaps and bounds this season but he is not a contender for the title. Sorry Robert!

Lauren and Twitch perform a Hip Hop piece by Nappy Tabs

Interesting political debate concept by Nappy Tabs. Very unexpected. I agree with the judges, Lauren did an excellent job with this piece. She brought energy, precision and athleticism to this piece. The judges seem to be campaigning for Lauren to win this competition. Mia thinks that Lauren hasn't had a bad performance all season... that might be true, but I remember a few performances from early in the competition that did not win over the judges and cause them to ooze with compliments. Are we forgetting that Lauren lacked maturity and was a prime example of a competition dancer? Perhaps that is more support for Lauren because she has definitely experienced outstanding growth, especially in recent weeks.

Well, it should be interesting to see how she does in future pieces. Will she show that she is indeed super consistent as Mia claims or will she open the door for one of the men to steal the show?

Kent and Lauren perform a Bollywood piece

This Bollywood piece was a more moderate tempo than previous Bollywood pieces which I think allowed Kent and Lauren to hit the choreography consistently throughout the piece. Fun piece. The choreography definitely made good use of Kent's tumbling ability. It was a soft start to the evening, but I don't think it is going to hurt Kent at all.

FINALE WEEK! Top 3 Perform!

So, it is down to Kent, Lauren and Robert... each contestant will dance four pieces and a solo tonight.

Looking back on this season definitely reminds me of all of the great performances we got to see over the past few months. There was a lot of talent on this season.

FINALE NEXT WEEK!

I can't wait! I am looking forward to seeing a lot of repeat performances of this season's best pieces!

Robert is the third dancer in the finale

So AdeChike goes home, as predicted and Robert joins Kent and Lauren in the finale. Well, if you would have asked if Robert would be in the finale back in week 2 I would have said no way. The kid was in the bottom 3 almost every week until recently. Crazy how things end up.

AdeChike should be proud of himself. I really believe that he is going to get some amazing opportunities to dance in an arena that makes him shine.

Flo Rida Performs

This song is so darn catchy. I have had it stuck in my head all day! I really enjoyed watching the All Stars dance during the performance. It is such a fun song it totally makes you want to get up and dance.

PS - I think if I could be any All Star I would want to be Courtney. She is super talented and has a bit of edge to her performance style.

Which All Star would you want to be?

Kent makes it into the finale

Surprise, surprise. The season favorite with tons of personality will be dancing in the finale next week. He is going to be hard to beat.

Robert's Solo

Weirdly similar music choice to AdeChike's instrumental pick, but Robert highlighted a bit more of his strengths in his solo. I found Robert's solo to be more entertaining and technically challenging than AdeChike's.

AdeChike's Solo

Hmmm... nice musicality, but he didn't really show us much. I guess since their fates were decided by the audience and there is nothing riding on this performance the contestants decided to not spend a ton of time on their solos for tonight.

Lauren makes it through

Lauren is the first contestant to make it into the finale. Not surprising that she made it in, but it is a surprise that she had more votes than Kent. Apparently there was only a 2% difference between first and second place. So, maybe Lauren does have a chance to win it all.

Kent's Solo

Clearly Kent came out to have some fun tonight. Really? Dynamite? His choreography lacked originality and was filled with tumbling, but he had fun. I wasn't entertained, but he had fun. It looked like an after thought. He definitely did not take much time preparing this.

Lauren's Solo

Lauren's solo has come a long way. I actually enjoyed her performance this week. It was raw, emotional and not filled with a ton of tricks... but there were still a few tricks. They were just much more artistically presented. Nice work, but who is Kat kidding. This was not Lauren's last performance on the show. Come on. She is totally going to make it into the finale.

The Top 4 become the Top 3

Great opening number by Dee Caspary, but please... can we stop using Florence + the Machine? I know that they are the hottest, under the radar band right now, but please leave some awesome music for the rest of us!

Ok... that's it. I am just going to throw it out there now... this fall I hope to choreograph to Cosmic Love, Falling and the remix of Rabbit Heart. Yes, all three from Florence + the Machine. Please... don't use any them. Please!

But really, awesome routine by Dee. I am so glad that the opening number included the All Stars as well as the remaining contestants. The larger group really brought so much energy to this piece. Plus, the All Stars are kinda awesome.

My prediction

Kent and Lauren will definitely be safe. It is really between AdeChike and Robert. If it is based on tonight's performances alone, AdeChike will go home. If the pattern of the season keeps up, Robert will go home. I hope people vote for Robert because he performed wonderfully tonight. He deserves to stay for the finale in my opinion.

Kent and Neil perform a Contemporary piece by Travis Wall

Stabbed in the back. Ouch!

Wow, Neil threw Kent like 10 feet in the air!

As usual, captivating choreography by Travis Wall backed by a storyline full of depth, emotion and sophistication. Kent and Neil were outstanding together. Their technique and artistry make a killer duo. Brilliant. Wow.

Are you kidding me... I have really missed having Tyce on the panel of judges. Mia was left speechless. No doubt, it was strong yet beautiful.

Robert and Dominick perform a Hip Hop piece by Nappy Tabs

Ok... these are all of the things that I loved about this piece:

1. Concept of creepy hip hop clowns
2. Balloons all over the stage... totally helped set the scene
3. Urban inspired clown costumes with jeans... patches of funky fabrics... awesome
4. Freaky clown make-up and hair... how did they get Robert's hair to do that?
5. Super creative choreography
6. Robert doing Hip Hop... who knew!
7. Robert and Dominick together doing hip hop... really, who knew!

Adam though Robert out danced Dominick and Mia agreed... a little bit. Crazy!

AdeChike's background

Grew up in "the hood" of Brooklyn. Had to defend his love of dance throughout his life. Went to the LaGuardia Arts High School. AdeChike receive a prestigious award from the high school in '05... Arthur Mitchell, founder of the Dance Theater of Harlem, was the first person to win the award.

AdeChike with Kathryn perform a piece by Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rohden

Ok, I was not expecting a musical selection by Melissa Etheridge. That was a surprise.

I did not love this piece. I am not sure about the choreography... which I feel super guilty saying because of the amazing choreographers. There was just a bit of awkwardness about the whole thing.

I would like to thank Tyce for trying to celebrate AdeChike's achievements in the midst of so much constructive criticism of his performance. AdeChike is an amazingly talented dancer, he just needs more time to grow and the other contestants... mainly Kent and Lauren (but Robert somewhat too) have taken things to another level. AdeChike just needs some time to catch up.

Lauren and Ade perform a Jazz piece by Sean Cheesman

That was one fierce cat suit that Lauren had on. Damn... she looked HOT!

What was that hanging reverse back bend over Ade's shoulders? Crazy awesome choreography from Sean Cheesman. It was strong, sexy and creative. I agree with Tyce, I too would have preferred a stronger ending from Lauren. A killer strong pose at the end would have put the period on the end of the sentence.

Also... did anyone else notice the fumble in choreography that occurred about 30 seconds in? There was a definite moment of unintentional non-unison movement.

Ok... I have always thought Lauren was good, but tonight she is winning me over a bit, but I haven't made any final decisions yet.

Kent's Background

Country boy from Wapakoneta, lives on a farm in a super small town. Also plays soccer, but quit soccer junior year of high school in order to focus on dance. The Mayor of Wapakoneta said that Kent is known as a dancer and if he is ever in a show the whole town shows up to support him. How adorable!

Kent and Courtney perform a Disco piece by Doriana Sanchez

Interesting twist, a disco piece to contemporary club music. Although I really enjoyed the piece, I missed the traditional music. Fun choreography as usual from Doriana.

Kent is simply amazing. He totally lights up the stage. He has a performance quality that you can't teach. You either have it or you don't. However, Mia found it to be Kent's worse performance this season and Adam agreed. Adam found it too cheesy and not suave enough. I can see it, but I really liked his performance. It was super fun... It's disco people, not contemporary. It is supposed to be cheesy and fun.

My favorite interchange between a judge and Kent after the piece...

Nigel: How many lifts did you lose in that piece Kent because I only counted two and Doriana usually has 7 or 8?

Kent: Um, yeah... I'm just not big... but I got her up there.

Robert's background

Parents divorced when he was in middle school, mother remarried and his step father has had a really positive impact on him. Moved to the LA area after high school and currently lives with season 6 contestant Channing Cook.

Robert and Anya perform a Viennese Waltz by Jonathan Roberts

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for this greatly overused piece of music. I found the choreography to be just as soft, beautiful and intimate as the music. Robert and Anya were beautifully romantic together.

I think Robert did an excellent job with this piece. From Nigel's comments, it sounds like his ballroom technique was even on point. Robert was a perfect partner and was never overshadowed by Anya... not easy to do!

AdeChike and Lauren perform a Afro Jazz by Dave

There is something so joyous about African drumming. Great music and really fun choreography.

Lauren out shined AdeChike in stamina and performance quality in my opinion. As Tyce expressed, AdeChike did a good job, but he is capable of more. All of the judges shared the feeling that AdeChike needs to release his tremendous control and get lost in the piece. Right now, the control and center that make him so strong and technically excellent is holding him back from going to the next level. Technique should be at the core, but artistry has to take over... he is just not getting there yet. Overall, it was a good piece, but it was also a bit disappointing.

Lauren's background

Cheerleading, dance line, elementary education teaching club, vice president of her class... just graduated from high school...

Lauren and Pasha perform a Tango by Miriam & Leonard

I really enjoyed the slow, sultry quality of this piece. I think Lauren and Pasha really connected to create a dramatic performance full of tension and intensity. It is 10x harder to make a slow dance interesting than a quick one... and they did a great job of capturing the attention of the audience. You could hear a pin drop in that theater it was so quiet. Great choreography!

The judges are glowing about Lauren... Tyce's "um, ah, ooh and umpf" couldn't have been more descriptive of Lauren's exceptional performance.

Top 4 perform a Broadway piece by Tyce - Guys and Dolls

Eh. It was ok. I was kind of bored by it. I expected more from the lot of the them. Perhaps there wasn't enough storyline in the choreography?

I agree with Tyce... Kent definitely does stand out in this classical Broadway style.

Top 4 Perform Tonight!

Only one person will go home this week... the last week before the finale!

The lady stays and the gents go

As expected, Lauren is selected to be one of the top 4 dancers for season 7.

It is a really sad night. Tonight we say goodbye to Mr. Billy Bell. We were devastated when he was not able to join us for season 6 and elated when he showed up in the top 11 dancers for season 7. Without a doubt, Billy has a super successful career in front of him. So long good friend... hope to see you and your sky high extensions soon... tear.

Great work Jose, you stayed much longer than I expected. Good luck to you.

Well, the judges made their final decision and now it is fully in the hands of the viewers. Oh my... only two more weeks!

The solos

Jose - He is definitely a talented breaker, but the boy is still going home tonight.

Billy - What a creative and contemporary way to showcase his classical technique. It was interesting, captivating and technically awesome. Great work Billy... but will it be enough?

Lauren - Ok, fine... the girl is damn good and that is exactly why the judges won't send her home tonight. Not to mention, having a girl in the top 4 would help add variety to the performances.

Step Up 3 Dancers

First, did anyone notice that huge chain Adam Shankman had on during the movie preview interview? What was that?

Fun performance, definitely gets me excited for the movie. Makes me think Step Up 3 could end up as a touring show...

My prediction before the solos

Ok - After all of the judges' rave reviews last night there is no way there are going to send Lauren home tonight. It will have to be Billy and Jose. However, I think it is INSANE to send Billy home after his "perfect" performance last night.

The Bottom Three

Jose is the first person to earn a spot in the bottom three tonight. No surprise there.

Billy joins Jose in the bottom... what? Are you serious? How could Billy be in the bottom after his STUNNING performance to Mad World last night? I am a bit perplexed by this. What are viewers thinking?

Lauren [SHOCKING] rounds out the bottom 3. Really? Am I in a parallel universe?

Robert is safe for the first time in like... well, I think for the first time ever...

The top 6 will become the top 4 tonight!

Really interesting opening number by Mia Michaels. I loved the harlequin inspired styling to this crazy creative concept. The movement was so original and out of left field... I would love to spend an hour inside Mia's head to have some sort of clue where this stuff comes from!

Good news, Lauren is ok after her visit to the Medic last night. An injury will not impact tonight's elimination for the first time in weeks.

My Bottom 3 Prediction

Ok - they pretty much told Jose that he is going home tomorrow so I think he is a definite. Joining Jose will probably be AdeChike and Robert. Robert had a good night, but I don't think he has the fan following.

However, it was just announced that Lauren had to see the medic at the end of the show so maybe an injury will come into consideration in tomorrow's elimination after all.

Robert and Billy perform a Bollywood piece by Nakul

They looked like they were auditioning for Aladdin in those crazy costumes. Robert's crazy faces just made it all the more cheesy. I think they did a good job, but it was a bit forced in my opinion. They tried real hard.

Lauren and AdeChike perform a Fox Trot by Jean Marc and France

Jean Marc and France said that his Fox Trot was sultry, hot and meow... Maybe it is just me, but a sweater vest doesn't say hot and sultry to me. Call me crazy...

I loved the lighting for this piece. The strong white spot with the interspersed speckles of red did help convey the heat of the dance.

The piece was good, but you could tell that they do not have much experience in this style. It was a little fumbly and awkward for me.

Kent and Jose perform a Broadway piece by Spencer

Wonderful choreography by Spencer. I agree with Adam. Spencer totally captured the Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor era.

What a great character for Kent. He is ready for the Broadway stage in my opinion. Outstanding acting and beautiful dancing. How darn adorable is he in that cap?!?!

Jose is not a trained dancer and I thought it was clearly apparent next to Kent's huge, trained talent. Yes, Jose did a great job considering, but can't we get past the "considering" aspect. Listen to the judges... they said that it was cleverly choreographed to make it work for him. How is that ok? It was cleverly choreographed to hide his lack of ability... anyone else see a problem with this?

AdeChike's solo

AdeChike needs to join the Alvin Alley Dance Company and we just need to call it a day. His athleticism and performance style just screams it.

Billy and Ade perform a Contemporary piece by Stacey Tookey

Really cool interpretation to Mad World. I loved the socioeconomic dialogue that was expressed through Stacey's choreography. Beautiful, significant work.

Ok, both Billy and Ade are amazing dancers individually, but together... WOW! The two of them created such a meaningful piece of art. I can't even isolate a moment because the whole piece was completely captivating beyond the context and platform.

Mia called it "sheer perfection"... do we really need to say anything else?

Robert's solo

I know I have said it before, but Robert does an outstanding job of extending his energy beyond the confines of his body lines.

A strong solo, but nothing to write home about.

Lauren and Allison perform a Broadway piece by Tyce

So, can Lauren hold her own next to All Star Allison? On the surface, yes, below the surface... no.

This dance was great, but it reminded me of one of those sister competition duos where the younger sister is clearly good for her age, but the older sister is the real diva. Allison's performance and movement is so much more mature than Lauren's. Lauren needs to grow to obtain more depth behind those great extensions and beautiful turns. Hey, usually the younger sister ends up growing up to be even better than the older sister.

Clearly, the judges and I have differences of opinion where Lauren is concerned.

Kent's solo

Another great song selection! I heart Elliott Yamin.

Amazing front tuck to the floor. It was so unexpected it was like receiving a present not on your birthday. The choreography was a little tricky which I usually hate, but Kent gave those tricks integrity by weaving some emotional intensity throughout the piece. Nice work.

Billy's solo

Billy is back from injury and he is on fire! That was a great solo. He totally capitalized on the rhythmic complexity of the music and did an excellent job communicating both strong and subtle suspensions of movement. Outstanding balance of technique and artistry in a 30 second package. Way to come back Billy!

Jose and Comfort perform a Hip Hop piece by Marty Kudelka and Dana Wilson

What an awesome song selection!!!!!!!!! I am totally into Marty and Dana's creativity with this old school throwback.

Crazy mixed reviews by the judges. Nigel and Mia felt like Jose did not execute the swagger that was intended by the choreographers. It definitely did come off more bouncy and fun than sexy and cool. I enjoyed their performance, but agree that the music and choreography demanded a cooler feel than what was displayed. It had too much "boy" and not enough "man."

Lauren's solo

Great song, but so overdone... I don't think Lauren has the power or artistry to do this song justice. Sorry.

However... did any of my students see the ponche into the forward roll into the single legged rise off the floor while doing a 90 degree front leg extension? That is what it is supposed to look like ladies... I have been trying to get my students to do that for years!

AdeChike and Courtney perform a Jazz piece by Tyce

What a fun piece full of sass and body rolls. I am really digging Tyce's creative interpretation of this Dizzy Gillespie piece. The choreography really matched the harmonic complexity of the Afro-Cuban Jazz movement.

Although I think AdeChike did a great job, I understand Mia's comments about his strong athleticism and lack-luster stylistic execution. I don't think he fully understands all of the subtle nuances that need to be showcased between the powerful movements. Although there is dimension in his movement, it just isn't at the depth that it could be.

Jose's solo

He is adorable and very talented, but I am not left wishing his solo was longer. Nice music selection though.

Robert and Kathryn perform a Contemporary piece by Stacey Tookey

I was expecting a lot from this combination of dancers and choreographer... and they delivered. I got chills. Thank you TiVo for allowing me to rewind and watch it again.

Beautiful front extension from Kathryn during the opening. Oh, to have those legs! Stacey made great use of Robert and Kathryn's beautiful arabesques and attitudes throughout the piece. The choreography was soft, intimate, deep and surprising. Like Nigel, I loved the twist at the end that Kathryn was the one going off to war, not Robert. Their movement was strong and their emotions matched the grittiness of Katie Thompson's voice. I think it could have had more continuity during transitions, but that is me being super picky. Beautiful job!

Big fan of Katie Thompson by the way. I had the opportunity to choreograph to Katie Thompson a few years ago for Molly's solo it was an awesome experience. The rawness of her vocals combined with the intimacy of her solo piano creates a powerful musical composition.

Kent and Anya perform a Cha Cha by Jean Marc and France

Jean Marc and France got saucy with this pop music selection by 3OH!3. I was not expecting that.

The dance was fun to watch and Kent did a decent job, I just wasn't blown away by it. The costuming was interesting. I found Anya's open, sheer button down shirt distracting and Kent's leather jacket, sans sleeves looked like it was borrowed from Grease. I agree with Mia about Kent's facial expressions. They were cheesy and did not help him sell the masculine vibe. Overall... not bad, but not a great start to the show.

Top 6 Perform Tonight... Again!

Special thanks to Molly for doing such an exceptional job as the guest blogger last week! I knew I could count on Molly to bring you witty comments and technical analysis of each performance. Thank you for calling out Cat on her questionable fashion choices last week too! What the heck was that red ball of tulle anyway? Thank you also for all of your sweet comments Moll! Your words are like a lyrical hallmark card that went straight to my heart... tear...

A very exciting week as for the first time in SYTYCD history, no dancers were eliminated last week... but two, yes two will be hitting the road tomorrow night! eek! Pressure is on!

Finis

... and so ends my short-lived career as a blogger. I lauged, I cried, and I developped some new calluses on my hands from all the typing.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with my scatterbrained thoughts and critiques.
Thanks to my roommate Ashely for listening to me babble on about what I should write.

And most of all, thanks to Mrs. Britt, for giving me the chance to temporarily hijack her blog. It's been a great deal of fun, and I want to thank you for thinking of me!

Signing off from the big apple, this is your friend (and new blogging buddy) Molly. You know you love me. xoxo Gossip Girl

A Surprise Twist!

What a shocker! No one is going home this week, and two dancers are going home next week.

I definitely did not see this coming, and I can't say that I really see the point of the judges making that decision. Why postpone the inevitable? Ay carumba. I just don't get it.

The Solos

Robert - His solo impresses me again tonight. Although I wasn't the biggest Robert supporter at the beginning of the competition, I must admit that I am a converted fan. I think he still has a lot to offer to the competition. It's not time for him to go home yet.

Jose - It's clear that Jose is very talented, and he is probably one of the best b-boys in SYTYCD history. But I think he may be past his expiration date in this season's competition. His lack of formal training is no longer passable in the routines, and his adorable smile can't work enough magic to cover it up. Sorry Jose, I think your time has come.

DJ Smart

I'm so glad to see a UArts dancer representing on SYTYCD!!!

DJ is an incredible dancer and it is truly my honor to have had the chance to take class with and watch this talented young man dance on numerous occasions. He is an inspiration. An inspiration with abs of steel.

The Bottom Three

Clearly no one will be hiring me as a psychic anytime soon, because it's pretty apparent that I'm no good at making predicitions. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Jose and Robert join Billy in the bottom three. I have to say I'm very surprised. I thought that Robert did amazingly well in all three of his performances last night. And Jose, who's not usually my favorite, actually impressed me yesterday evening. I guess I'm not on the same page with the majority of the voters...

American Ballet Theater

So stunning. It's very nice to see SYTYCD feature classical ballet dancing. You don't get to see traditional ballet much on television these days, and I love that the show is broadcasting it to such a wide audience. Plus, you just can't get much better than ABT.

All That Jazz

What an amazing opening number!

I loved the quirky twist the choreography brought to the traditional Fosse style. After spending many years on the competition dance circuit, it's very hard to be inspired by any incarnation of All That Jazz, but this one threw me for a loop. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Results Show

It is Thursday night, and you know what that means... it's time for your SYTYCD results!

Before I begin blogging this evening, I want to once again apologize for my tardiness in posting. This week I have been given the opportunity to work at The Pulse's final event of the season, and therefore am working an endless number of hours at the dance convention. Since I just got home for the day, this is the earliest I could get anywhere near a computer. I once again apologize for the INCREDIBLE impact I'm sure this has had on your life.

Over and Out

Thanks for putting up with my first attempt to blog! I had a great time sharing my opinions and can't wait to see what happens with tomorrow night's results show. Don't worry everyone, Brittany will be back next week ;)

My Bottom 3 Predictions

1. Billy - Clearly that's a no brainer. Unfortunately due to his injury, Billy will be up for elimination tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that he makes a quick recovery, because I'm definitely not ready to see him go home!

2. Lauren - I don't think Lauren was on her A game tonight. She definitely improved with her Samba, but I don't know if that's enough to get people to pick up the phone and vote for her. We'll see.

3. Kent - This is a shocking statement, and I am definitely one of the many girls across America that has fallen under Kent's spell, but I wasn't impressed with him tonight. His incredible fan base might be enough to keep him safe, but we'll see.

Kent and Twitch perform a Stepping routine by Chuck

SYTYCD meets Stomp the Yard

Not such a match for me. I thought Kent looked a little ridiculous. The outfit probably didn't help. Personally, I have never really felt that stepping can be that powerful unless it's performed in a large group. The number just didn't work for me. At all. Sorry Kent.

AdeChike and Jose perform a Paso Doble by Dmitri

Can you say cape-ography?

I'm mixed about this one. Strong dancing and performance from both the guys. I'm just not sure how much I was buying into the male paso doble duet. I just couldn't get into it. Maybe it was the fringe on their pants? I'm not really sure.

Lauren and Robert perform a Samba by Dmitri

For two dancers performing outside of their styles, I thought these two did an amazing job with this routine. Sure, there were a few awkward transitions, but overall I was very impressed.

The only problem for me was that the energy seemed to die down a bit about halfway through the piece, but they seemed to pick it back up by the end. Robert's on fire tonight. Maybe his birthday wish was to not be in the bottom 3?

Kent's Solo

Boys II Men. I was definitely not expecting that one. Well at least it wasn't Motown Philly...

Back on topic, I wasn't too wowed by Kent tonight. His solo a few weeks ago was so moving and pure, but this week felt a little spastic and without direction. Don't get me wrong, he's still technically great and has awesome elevation on his jumps, but there was something missing.

Jose's Solo

What a fun solo!

I loved the James Brown music, but most of all I loved how he didn't just fall back on the b-boy standard of spinning on his head for 75% of the solo. He showed his personality, along with some impressive and original moves. Good job Jose.

AdeChike and Comfort perform a Hip Hop routine by Nappy Tabs

I had really high hopes for this routine, and have to admit that I was a little bit let down. But apparently I am in the minority, because the judges went crazy for this number.

I will say that I thought AdeChike was great. I think he is finally starting to break through in the competition, which is nice to see. However, I didn't really believe his relationship with Comfort, and I thought that a lot of the movement's staccato qualities contrasted too much with the jazzy nature of the music.

Nigel compared this dance to Season 4's "Bleeding Love" by Tabitha and Napoleon, but personally I don't think it comes close to the same level. What am I missing?

Lauren's Solo

I'm not impressed.

Ever since Lauren's fabulous solo in Vegas, I have been patiently waiting for her to match that level on the live show. Unfortunately, this wasn't the week for it to happen. Her movement was way too thrashy, and she hit her battement quota for the week during the first 5 seconds of that routine. Hopefully Lauren can step it up during her final routine, or she may be in danger.

Robert's Solo

An excellent solo from Robert tonight.

He has the ability to show his technical prowess without allowing the steps to get in the way of his emotional performance. Plus he did an awesome variation on the new contemporary knee drop fad. He's growing on me more and more every week.

Kent and Katherine perform a Jazz routine by Sonya Tayeh

I'm on the fence about this dance.

One one hand, I really like both of these dancers and their performances were technically sound. There was some original and fun partnering in there, and I liked the element of joy.

However, I'm left uninspired. The choreography as a whole didn't wow me, and the connection between the two dancers, although present, felt forced and unorganic. Eh. I'm still wanting more.

AdeChike's Solo

What a cute message from his mom! A nice personal touch.

AdeChike really manages to prove with this solo that his artistry equals, if not outshines his technique. He truly is a unique dancer, with a rawness to his movement that is very captivating. Unfortunately for him, I think that to the untrained eye of most of the viewing audience, his lack of tricks may be considered unimpressive. However, as a dancer myself, I really appreciated his performance.

Robert and Lauren perform a Jazz routine by Tyce Diorio

After getting comments last week from the judges that he wasnt masculine enough in his performance, Robert totally redeemed himself tonight. I was actually shocked to see how much chemistry there was between the two dancers, and thought that both Robert and Lauren were on point in terms of both emotion and technique.

My one complaint about this piece is the musical selection. I loved the dancers, the choreography, the concept, and the costuming. The music on the other hand, completely blah. I guess you can't win 'em all.

Jose and Allison perform a Contemporary routine by Sonya Tayeh

I really enjoyed this piece. Coming from a person who often finds Sonya's choreography repetitive and unremarkable, I thought the choreography was extremely beautiful and creative.

Yes, I agree with the judges that it was to Jose's benefit that he wasn't forced to show his lacking of technical training thanks to the pedestrian nature of the movement. However, I think that considering his unfamiliarity with the style, he did an exceptional job with his performance. I'm on team Jose tonight.

P.S. - I have no words for Allison. She is brilliant.

Lauren and Twitch perform a Hip Hop routine by Nappy Tabs

The judges really enjoyed the performance. Adam said that Lauren, "tore it up" out there. I have to disagree. Although I think she executed the choreography of the piece well, I was completely missing any sort of performance from her. Plus, I felt zero connection between her and Twitch, which could have helped out with the (in my opinion) boring choreography. Oh well. To each his own.

Tonight's Show

Kenny Ortega will be joining the judging panel this week. It will be interesting to see what kind of advice he has to offer the contestentants, considering his recent amazing success in the dance world.

Seriously? Another injury? Poor Billy Bell. If nothing else, this season is sure proving to America that dancers are real athletes. Just like sports such as football or basketball, dance places an enormous amount of pressure on the body, that can have a seriously detrimental effect over time. Hopefully he will experience a quick recovery so that the competition's best dancers don't continue to go home before it's their time.

On a side note, what the heck is Cat wearing? And why is she rocking the Starpower dance competition side part hairdo? Jeez. Someone call the fashion police.

Let's Start from the Very Beginning...

... a very good place to start! Right?

The opening number looked good as usual, with some impressive suspended pirouettes from both Kent and Robert. It's interesting to see how they slightly change up the choreography now that the boy to girl ratio is so off.

It's the 150th show. What exciting news! It's so great to see that a show that truly celebrates the art of dance can be commercially successful in the entertainment world.

It's Showtime

It's the moment you have all been waiting for! It's time to start the reviewing. So sit back, relax, and grab some popcorn. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Random Fun Fact

I bumped into Jeanine Mason (SYTYCD Season 5 Winner) in the bathroom of the Sheraton in New York City today. It's a small world after all.

Background Check

Just so you can get an idea about where my thoughts and opinions are coming from, here is a tad bit of information about myself for you to mull over before the critiquing officially begins. Feel free to skip over.

As I mentioned before, my name is Molly. I had the immense pleasure of dancing with Brittany, or Mrs. Britt (as I still call her), for six great years during middle and high school. I can’t say enough great things about this amazing lady, and owe so much of what I have become as both a dancer and a person to what she has taught me. Cue the violins…

Today, I am about to enter my junior year at The University of the Arts, where I am working towards earning my BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. While in Philadelphia, I have also had the amazing privilege of dancing for both the NLL Philadelphia Wings’ Angels Dance Team and for the Xhale Dance Company.

That’s more than enough about me. Hopefully the above information will provide you with some sort of insight into where my ideas and critiques are developing from as the night goes on.

Technical Difficulties

As I'm sure you've realized by now, my blogs tonight are not occurring in real time with the show. Unfortunately, due to some unforseen technical difficulties (aka: no television access), I will only be able to start watching tonight's episode after it is actually off the air. So even though I was born ready to provide my honest thoughts and opinions about tonight's performances, I am going to have to wait a little bit longer for the excitement to begin. I apologize for the inconvenience. But hang in there, because I will try to make my witty comments more than worth the wait.

The Big Reveal

The secret is out! The surprise guest blogger for tonight will be… ME!

Hello fellow SYTYCD lovers. My name is Molly and I am thrilled to be filling in for Brittany while she is on vacation this week. The competition is really starting to get exciting as the dancers continue to grow and mature, so hopefully we are in for a night of really great performances. Fingers crossed!

Guest Blogger This Week!

I will be on vacation later this week so I have invited a secret guest blogger to share his/her opinions. Check back on Wednesday to see who he/she is and what he/she thinks about this week's performances!

An injury sends Ashley home

Well, that was super anti-climatic. Another girl bites the dust. Doctors order Ashley to take 3 to 5 weeks off to rest and heal. I think Ashley would have lasted many more weeks if it wasn't for this injury. I hope she rests and heals quickly. We will miss you Ashley.

Christina Perri performs Jar of Hearts

Beautiful performance by all stars Neil and Allison. Allison's performance quality has grown tremendously in maturity since her season. There is so much more depth there. She was great before... she is really outstanding now.

I really like this song by Christina Perri and can't wait to hear more from her. Hopefully a full album will make its way online soon! I love the rustic and raw tone of her voice.

The solos

Billy - I'm not really sure what to say. He didn't do anything that we haven't seen from him before. It was good and it was definitely representative of Billy... it just didn't move me.

Jose - His performance brings back my same complaints about his b-boy routine last night. He just needs to become more polished in both technique and performance.

But wait...

But wait... was that Ashley standing next to Jose and Billy on the side platform before the commercial break? Perhaps she is well enough to be in the audience... Perhaps she is well enough to continue in the competition!

The Bottom Three

Billy is the first contestant to join Ashley in the bottom. Despite his fabulous night with two great performances he was not able to win the hearts of enough viewers to keep him safe.

Jose has also earned a spot in the bottom 3 for the first time this season. I think it is definitely appropriate for him to go home at this point in the competition.

However, considering that Ashley isn't even well enough to be in the audience tonight I have a feeling that her injury is fairly significant. I will be surprised if she is well enough for the judges to feel comfortable keeping her in the competition for another week. If Ashley is not chosen to go home, I think Jose will be sent packing.

The top 7 are dwindled down to 6!

Fun Broadway piece choreographed by Tyce to open the show. It was nice to see the All Stars and the contestants perform together.

So much pump up about National Dance Day... I need to decide how I will celebrate it!

My Bottom 3 Prediction

It is getting tougher each week...

I think Ashley (easy one,) Jose and Robert will be in the bottom this week... however, Billy is also a contender for one of those bottom spots.

Robert and Kathryn perform a Disco routine by Doriana Sanchez

Although Robert delivered a sharp, energetic and enthusiastic performance, I was missing a sense of masculinity. Admittedly, it is not easy to look masculine while finger pointing and bopping.

Mia and I totally see eye to eye on the masculinity issue! Nigel disagreed.

Oh Robert, I wish his first performance was ending the show instead of this disco piece! I hope this doesn't hurt him!!!!!

Kent and AdeChike perform a Contemporary piece by Dee Caspary

How hilarious were Kent and AdeChike in the preview segment during rehearsals? They crack me up!

Yeah, you don't see male contemporary duets very often. This dance was definitely not the norm, but two of them were outstanding together. They are both such talented contemporary dancers. I loved AdeChike's reindeer jump. Talk about elevation. His power and technique made my jaw drop. Kent was captivating as well. He had some lusciously soft moments of tension and release. Like gooey yummy caramel. Both of their performances and movement have grown tremendously in maturity.

Jose and Dominic perform a B-Boy piece by Nappy Tabs

Cool piece by Tabitha and Napoleon. I don't think the sword and the stone were really necessary though. The opening floor sequence was A-MAZ-ING! Their upper body strength makes me salivate.

Ok, sure... Jose did an excellent job, but I think Dominic out shined him. Dominic's lines were longer and his movement was more polished... more finished. I think Jose needs more refining. At this point, I think Jose has lasted too many weeks in the competition. He just doesn't have as much cultivated talent as the other contestants. The good news is that his innate and captivating performance quality is something that can't be taught. He can learn technique, he just needs the time to do so.

Lauren and Billy perform a Jazz piece by Mandy Moore

Super fun, laid back, funky piece with a little signature Mandy Moore funky partnering at the end of the piece. It was a total "feel good" piece. This is the dance that people want to do in front on the mirror in their bathroom. Yet, it wasn't easy choreography. Sure, it wasn't super athletic, but there were some feet and arm twisting moments that they both executed with precision.

Both Lauren and Billy did an excellent job of communicating the blissful funk of the piece.

Kent and Neil perform a Broadway piece by Tyce

Ok Damn Yankees! When I saw Kent in the baseball uniform before the commercial break I was questioning his ability to sell the character, but he did a great job with it. I could totally see him performing on Broadway. Excellent performance, dynamic choreography. Great moments of interaction between the two of them. Their athleticism is so impressive. I heart musical theater.

My baseball-loving hubby thinks the logo on their jerseys is "a little ridiculous." He is such a purist!

Billy and Anya perform a Jive by Louis van Amstel

A traditional competitive Jive huh... well, it was definitely competition cheesy and super duper quick. I think Billy did a good job. He was filled with energy and hit all of the choreography. The two of them had a nice connection which was a surprise. I don't think it is going to keep Billy safe though. It just isn't going to be a fan favorite. Sorry Billy! Hopefully your second piece will help you out.

Anya got caught in her skirt in the very beginning of the piece which resulted in a bit of a "tail" coming down from the back of her costume. It was kind of distracting...

Does Billy remind anyone else of Sean Hayes? There is something back his face that makes me think of Sean Hayes...

Robert and Allison perform a Contemporary piece by Travis Wall

BEAUTIFUL choreography by Travis Wall!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the music choice. I heart Coldplay. True art! Amazing performances from both Robert and Allison. Nigel put it on the same level as Mia's Addiction pice and Tyce's Breast Cancer piece... that is quite a compliment.

If that performance doesn't keep Robert safe I don't know what will! This is one of the first times that Robert was truly showcased and his talent glowed. Robert really tapped into his personal experiences and brought extreme artistry and passion out in each arm movement, jump, hand touch, etc. I was completely captivated by the purely inspirational movement.

I am in awe... please note... there was intention behind each movement. There was not one cheesy turn, needless foute combo or selfish jump. Instead, there was flow, continuity, passion, emotion and innovation... that is what creates ART! That is what dance is all about.

Jose and Courtney perform a Broadway piece by Joey Dowling

Chicago is one of my favorite musicals :-)

Nigel certainly did not beat around the bush with his comments. However, I think he hit the nail on the head. I think Jose did the best job he could do without classical dance training. He definitely performed the character aspects well... they also could have been a little stronger, but that was the best part of his performance. I really appreciated Adam's constructive comments to Jose. Telling him to stretch his legs, finish his lines and add spring in his jumps will hopefully give him something to think about during future weeks. Sorry Jose!

AdeChike and Anya perform a Salsa by Liz Lira and Danny

Rough opening trick... it was scary for a moment there. Nigel liked it, but I found it clumsy and choppy. You could tell how much they were struggling with each trick step. Thank goodness, Mia saw the same "bumps" that I did and commented on the lack of fluidity. Adam put things in perspective for me though... he thinks AdeChike did an excellent job considering the choreography's high level of difficulty. I can be ok with that verdict.

Poor AdeChike, those bright blue pants with the racer stripe down the outside hem looked like the bottoms of a bad hip hop costume from a ballet, tap, jazz recital costume catalog. Oh, and don't get me started on the deep-V sheer white shirt trimmed with a lime green collar. Really costuming? What were you thinking!?!?!?

Lauren and Mark perform a Tahitian routine by Tiana

Woah! Those were some seriously authentic costumes... minus the mini-skirt and bra top of course. Lauren has a row of shells going across her head like a headband. That head dress has go to be heavy. The strategic placement of feathers and grass really emphasized the rhythmic hip movement.

Like Nigel, I too have no idea what to say. I know NOTHING about Tahitian dance. It looked great to me. I thought they did a good job creating chemistry through the storyline and movement. I have to say that this cultural piece was much more entertaining and engaging than previous cultural dances (remember the authentic Russian folk dance from a couple of seasons ago... that dance was rough!) Mark's fake tattoo looks awesome by the way. Although, I have always liked Mark as a dancer I have never found him particularly "hot," but he was looking pretty good in that costume with that tattoo on his chest... Anyone agree?

The Top 7 Perform

Um, why is there only 6 dancers? Where is Ashley?

After rehearsals on Monday, Ashley was taken to the hospital with intense rib pains. She has been advised to not dance tonight. As a result, Ashley will automatically go into the bottom 3.

As for last week's injury, Alex had surgery on Monday and is doing well. Hopefully he will recovery quickly.

Alex goes home due to his injury

A lacerated achilles tendon will send Alex straight to the operating room on Tuesday. He is expected to make a full recovery, but he will have to rest and recuperate for several months.

The judges have invited him back next season so I guess we all have something to look forward to. Personally, I can't wait to see him dance again. I am just glad that he had such an incredible performance show last week with his Hip Hop duo with Twitch.

Alex, WE WILL MISS YOU!!!!! Get better so you can come back and win next season!

Natasha Bedingfield perform with the All Stars

I loved the body rolls/releases when she sang the word "touched." It created a really dramatic effect because of the dynamic contrast from the rest of the movement. What a fun piece. This had to be a blast to perform. The music and choreography combined to create a dancer-bation moment. Nothing but dancer happiness. I want to get up and dance now!

Ashley's Solo

Did she already dance to this song or did someone else? Someone has used the same piece this season and I can't remember who. Anyone know?

Beautiful straight leg foute turns. They were technically flawless. Ashley is a gorgeous dancer. Her solo did not have as much natural artistry as Billy's did, but it was good. I just wish she didn't feel the need to shove her technical abilities down our throats so blatantly. You don't have to do a tricky step to show us your technical ability. Dance with heart, be inspired by the music, connect emotionally and there will be no way to miss your technique because it will be the strength behind every move you make.

Billy's Solo

Thank you for reminding us why we love you! What a beautiful example of superb technique and passionate artistry. I can't believe his solo was only 30 seconds long. It had such impact in such little time. It just goes to show you... dancers don't have to resort to cheap tricks in order to make a statement during a 30 second solo. All a truly talented and inspired dancer has to do is dance.

The Bottom Three

Billy - this is a surprise! Billy had an outstanding night last night and um... hello... are we forgetting how we have ALL loved Mr. Billy Bell since last season?!?! The judges won't send him home though, I mean... come on... they love him.

Ashley - as expected...

Alex - due to his injury, Alex joins Billy and Ashley in the bottom.

OMG... what are the judges going to do? I mean, I don't think they want to send any of them home. This is going to be a seriously hard decision to make. I can only hope that they know the results of Alex's MRI so that they can eliminate him if his injury is going to prevent him from dancing next week.

Congratulations

Stacey Tokey, Adam Shankman and Mia Michaels were all nominated for Emmy Awards for their outstanding choreography! Congratulations!

Want to watch videos of all of the pieces nominated for the outstanding choreography Emmy Award 2010? Check out this link!

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/watch_the_emmy_nominees_for_outstanding_FmJS3Sla6EAKB6hF0Z78bO

Results Show - the top 8 become the top 7

I loved the effect of the smoke. It was so cool to watch some dancers enter by rolling on the floor and suddenly emerging from the low lying smoke. I totally felt the heavenly nature of the piece. I just wished it went on longer! Beautiful choreography from Mia!!!! I was scared that we wouldn't get to see much of her work after she took her place as a permanent judge this season. What a treat!

My Bottom 3 Prediction

I think Robert, AdeChike and Ashley will be in the bottom this week. For Robert and Ashley, I think the Quick Step is going to be responsible for their placement in the bottom. AdeChike had a rough night with both his jazz and Bollywood piece. I think Jose should be in the bottom, but I think his strong fan following will keep him safe.

Billy and Jose perform an African Jazz piece by Sean Cheesman

Billy captured me from his first movements. Talk about getting into character. I loved his animalistic and stylized slinking around the stage. His tilted head angles and twisted body lines totally brought the primal aspect to life.

I was left cold by Jose's performance. He looked like a random high schooler with no dance experience who decided to take intro to dance as his art credit. Eh.

Ashley and Robert perform a Quick Step by Jean Marc and France

I know nothing about Quick Step technique so I can only comment on their performance quality which was ok. I think they did the best they could considering the dance style and how far out of their comfort zones they were.

Kent and Lauren perform a Contemporary piece by Travis Wall

Beautiful moment in the beginning when Kent leaped over Lauren as she rolled beneath him. Beautiful starry night effect from the lighting designer. Beautiful choreography from Travis. I loved the sensitive softness of the movement that helped communicate the intimate feel of the acoustic music. It could feel the emotional connection between them. It was genuine and honest.

I have to say, I miss watching two contestants grow together in order to create such art. We haven't seen this much this season with the all star format.

My only complaint about the piece is that Kent came out of character at times when he would anticipate partnering Lauren. He needs to smooth out that tendency. Otherwise, they were both beautiful.

AdeChike and Mara perform a Bollywood piece by Nakul Dev Mahajan

They didn't just call in a new All Star to replace Alex in this piece now did they? I guess they forgot to have a Bollywood All Star on standby for the season. Well, I bet they won't make that mistake again.

Wow on those center split jumps at the end of the piece. Those were outstanding.

Although AdeChike danced with lots of energy and personality, he did not stay true to the style of the genre. I think the judges were a bit harsh with their criticism, but I don't disagree with their sentiments. AdeChike is capable of performing with greater precision and accuracy. I think he tried to sugar it up with his personality which made it look like he was taking the easy way out.

I am proud of Kat for reminding all of us about the praise that Jose received when he did Bollywood and put his own personality into it. Great point Kat!

Robert and Kathryn perform a Jazz piece by Sean Cheesman

They were not very synchronized in the very beginning when they were in the boxes. Unfortunately, that lack of unison continued through the rest of the routine. It seemed clumsy to me. I did not think the concept of the piece matched the movement or music of the piece. I loved the movement, but for me it didn't go with pastel doll costumes or cheesy facial expresions. There was so much more sass underlying that movement and music. Robert did a good job, but the two of them should have been more together.

Interesting PR campaign by the judges to get viewers to vote for Robert. Although they said some really great things about him, I am not sure it is appropriate for them to try to influence the voters so deliberately. Hello... this is a competition!

Ashley and Dominic perform a Hip Hop by Nappy Tabs

Ashley did a great job of transforming into a hip hop dancer for this ninja inspired piece.

Alan thinks Ashley is a serious contender... well, if Alex Wong doesn't come back someone needs to take his spot as the favorite... think you are up for it Ashley?

Billy and Katie perform a Broadway piece by Spencer Liff

This piece totally capitalized on Billy's technical capabilities and brought a bit of passionate artistry out of him. I agree with the judges, this was Billy's best performance of the season. He communicated so much tension and energy through even the quiet moments. Very impressive.

Crazy that they were able to so easily call Katie up and have her sub in for Allison. Was she chillin' at the Starbucks around the corner or something? I guess they have All Stars on standby just in case.

AdeChike and Courtney perform a Jazz piece by Mandy Moore

Really fun choreography by Mandy Moore. I loved the way she worked the early, classical jazz style with the contemporary rhythms of the remix. Nice concept and character execution.

Interesting comments from the judges. Nigel loved it, Mandy hated it and Alan was sort of in the middle. Hmmm... I can see what Mia was talking about with AdeChike's moments of emptiness however, I can also see what Nigel was talking about with the fun moments. I guess I am sided with Alan. I think AdeChike is capable of more, but I don't think it was a bad performance.

Kent and Comfort perform a Hip Hop piece by Dave Scott

This farm boy just schooled us with some Justin Timberlake styling. Lucky for Kent, Dave Scott gave him more of a smooth pop hip hop than a hard core street hip hop so Kent had a chance to make it believable. I expected the two of them to be super awkward together, but they actually had a decent amount of chemistry. Overall, the performance was better than I expected, but it didn't blow me away.

Jose and Lauren perform a Contemporary piece by Mandy Moore

And the 80's music is back... there is the Mandy Moore we all know and love.

Ummmm... Jose really didn't do much beyond partnering Lauren. I mean, did I miss the part when he had a chance to really dance? If Lauren wasn't in the dance, there wouldn't have been anything to watch. Jose did a great job as a partner and as a character. He performed with integrity. He really got the dynamics of the music and movement. He just wasn't asked to do much.

I have mixed feelings about the costuming of this piece. Lauren is in such a "dance" costume and Jose is in such a pedestrian costume. I don't think they mesh well. I wish Lauren's dress was a little more "everyday" in style.

Lauren and Pasha perform a Cha Cha by Jean Marc and France

I agree with Nigel, Lauren did dance with more maturity this week. Despite some clumsiness during the tricky partnering section, I think Lauren did an excellent job. She was able to really communicate the sassy, sexiness of this piece. However, could that be a sign of some repressed naughty/good girl feelings? I don't know... I hope she is able to keep up the greater maturity during her second routine.

Top 8 Perform

Wow! Alex is injured... OMG! I am heartbroken. Let's hope he is able to return next week!

I am super excited to see each contestant perform two dances this week. It should be interesting to see the mix between dancing with an all star and dancing with a fellow contestant.

Please add your comments

If you agree or disagree with any of my thoughts, I would love to know. Please add your comments to my posts :-)

Melinda is going home

Surprise! Shock! That was totally NOT out of left field! I mean, did you ever think that they were even considering sending Billy or Robert home?

Ne-Yo Performs Beautiful Monster

I have always really liked Ne-Yo, but I am not a fan of this song. It is catchy, but it is no "So Sick."

The solos

Billy - gorgeous technique. This solo reminded me of all the reasons why SYTYCD viewers fell in love with Mr. Billy Bell last season. Oh Billy, why don't we see those glimpses of bliss when you dance other people's choreography?

Robert - I really do LOVE how Robert extends through all of his body lines. I know, I mentioned it last night, but he pushes so much energy out through the tips of his fingers and toes. I am a little ho hum about his solo tonight though. Interesting, yet not that interesting at the same time.

Melinda - very talented tapper... it just isn't impressive enough to non-tappers.

Cirque de Soleil's Viva Elvis

Um... hmmm... when did Cirque de Soleil become a dance/tumbling show? The last time I checked, Cirque de Soliel had some crazy aerielists, acrobats and inflatable oversized snails-like things. No? Am I losing it? Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the performance, it was just not exactly what I was expecting.

The Bottom Three

Melinda, Robert and Billy are in the bottom. Well, I predicted 2 out of the 3 correctly. I guess Robert's strong performance from last night was not enough to earn him some new fans. I think it will take a lot for the judges to not send Melinda home tonight.

Results Show - the Top 9 become the Top 8

Carmina Baruna - so unexpected! What a super charged opening piece. I adored the tribal quality of the styling and choreography.

Interesting news... The top 8 will perform two dances next week. One duet with an all-star and one with a fellow competitor. That should be fun!

My Bottom 3 Prediction

I think Billy, Melinda and Lauren will be in the bottom, but in the end... Melinda will be going home. I mean, the judges said that they should have sent her home last week. I guess we will see!

Alex and Twitch perform a Hip Hop piece by Tabitha and Napoleon

I am so glad that they have decided to mix up the genders in the duets. I think it will bring out greater creativity if they choose to continue doing this in future weeks.

I actually think this might have been my favorite piece of the night. It was just so unexpected! Creative concept and choreography by Nappy Tabs! They gave them characters but kept the integrity of the concept and storyline without being cheesy. Great use of the chaise and chair to set a scene and create levels for the choreography. Alex was awesome. He totally held his own with Twitch. What a trip!?!? That was incredible! I loved how they mixed in a back attitude promenade seamlessly with the concept. Craziness!

Lauren's Solo

Hmmm... this solo looked very familiar. It looked just like her solo from Vegas on the last day when she got such rave reviews. This tells me that she is not a real artist because her movement was not inspired by the music. She simply matched her movement to a piece of music. They are interchangeable. That is not creation, that is not artistry, that is not enough. Yuck, I have a sickening taste of disappointment in my mouth. Blah... cough, cough...

AdeChike's Solo

Great night for AdeChike. Smart musical selection that commanded attention and created intensity that was artistically matched by his contemporary movement. Great job!

Kent and Allison perform a Jazz piece by Mandy

Wow! Mandy Moore didn't use 80s music... did she read by blog and decide to mix it up? Interesting musical selection. The disco undertones of this uptempo R&B piece was matched by the classical jazz costume styling.

Good, but not great. I don't know if this style shows off Kent's best qualities. I think the cheesy nature of his approach brought out his competition roots. Yuck Kent! What the heck are you doing? You are capable of so much more!!!

Melinda's Solo

Better connection to the audience than last week's "dance for your life" solo, but still a semi-yawn. The public just doesn't connect with her.

Jose and Anya perform a Samba by Dimitri

It was not as awkward as I expected. There were definitely some clumsy moments, but he tried real hard to absorb the style of the samba. It is a good thing that he has a captivating performance quality, otherwise he would be in some serious trouble. I think the viewers that are voting feel the same way as the judges... who cares about his lack of technique... he is fun to watch. He will be safe.

Robert's Solo

Robert does a great job of extending through his body lines and connecting his movement. He is so on tonight. I hope this will get him out of the shadows of the other guys.

Billy and Kathryn perform a Contemporary piece by Stacey Tokey

Stacey Tokey is amazing! That was some captivating choreography. I loved Kathryn's slide down Billy's back when he was in a long lunge. Great use of musical nuance to create dramatic moments.

I agree with the judges. Billy is technically amazing, but artistically growing. Kathryn was putting so much emotion into her performance and Billy was not able to match it on that level. I am actually disappointed with his performance on the show so far. He just needs to break through this brick wall that he is facing.

Ashley's Solo

Nice job, but nothing surprised or captivating. I am so over watching a series of straight leg foute turns. This is not StarPower Dance Competition people, it is SYTYCD... you need to up your game to a higher level of sophistication.

Lauren and Neil perform a Broadway piece by Joey Dowling

Debbie Gibson... really? Well, isn't that "Out of the Blue?" (Name of her pop album from the 80s) I didn't realize that Debbie was back on Broadway...

Another visually complimentary couple. Lauren and Neil look great together, but woa on the costume malfunction. That could have been...um... interesting.

Lauren did a good job. I was a little underwhelmed by her though. There is just something missing about her performance. Maybe her competition roots are still shining through? Hopefully she will work past it in the upcoming weeks.

Alex's Solo

There is no doubt that Alex is a ridiculously strong technical dancer. He leaves you speechless. I can't... I am amazed... his technique is just... WOW!

Kent's Solo

There is something so beautiful, gritty and honest about his performance. It was a 30 second solo and it had the integrity of a 3 minute solo. He set the tone, showcased his technical ability and drew you in with his emotional articulation of blissful movement. Loved it! I want to drink another nice cool glass of Kent!

Melinda and Pasha perform a Salsa by Fabian

Rough break. Getting your heel stuck on your costume in the very beginning of a dance does not exactly give you confidence for the rest of the performance! I think Melinda handled herself well, not gracefully, but well. She got her costume off her heel and moved on. However, emotionally I don't think she moved past it.

I agree with Nigel. Melinda's performance lacks a sense of flow and continuity. Perhaps the syncopation of tap permeates her articulation of all dance styles?

Wow, Mia and Alan were downright mean to say that they should have kept Cristina instead of Melinda. That was harsh.

Jose's solo

Jose has got some serious b-boy skills, but I don't know if his trick-filled solo can hold weight against the technical prowess of the other, highly trained dancers.

Robert and Courtney perform a Jazz piece by Sonya Tayeh

Robert and Courtney brought some serious chemistry this week. They compliment each other physically and artistically. Another great Sonya routine filled with creative interaction and non-traditional characters. I love how Sonya was able to bring an element of physical violence to the stage with such artistry. Hopefully Robert's strong performance will be enough to win him some votes and keep him out of the bottom.

Billy's Solo

Ok, so doing a flawless triple turn, controlling the ending, staying on releve and extending to a side tilt is so not that hard. Come on Billy, show us something impressive next time please...

Ashley and Ade perform a Contemporary piece by Dee Caspary

Welcome to SYTYCD Dee! I still remember taking my first class with Dee at a West Coast Dance Explosion Convention in northern Virginia. I feel in love with his creepy, intense style of jazz and contemporary choreography. I immediately searched out the imported Tori Amos CD that he used for his piece and danced to it constantly.

OK - I am freaking out a little bit because I have been listening to Cosmic Love by Florence + the Machine continuously for the past 3 months. I even did a little combo to it earlier this month with one of my jazz classes. I have been holding my breath hoping that no one on SYTYCD would use the song so that I could choreograph to it this fall. DAMN IT DEE! Cosmic Love is my song!

It was a good piece, I liked the choreography, Ashley did well. I hated the cut of the music that they used though. It totally disrupted the intensity of the music in my opinion.

Is Dave Scott wearing an ascot?

Maybe it is a scarf, but I think it is an urban, modern ascot... how dapper!

AdeChike and Lauren perform a Dave Scott Hip Hop piece

This character hip hop piece really showcased AdeChike's goofy personality. I enjoyed watching a hip hop piece that didn't require contemporary dancers to act "hard." Smart, creative choreography by Dave Scott.

AdeChike needed this dance to bring him to the forefront. Great night for him.

Top 9 Dancers Perform Tonight

I am really enjoying only eliminating one dancer a week. I can't wait for tonight's dances!

Cristina goes home

I am shocked that they are sending Cristina home instead of Melinda. I can't say I am upset. From what Nigel mentioned, it sounds like some choreographers may have been disappointed with Cristina's lack of eagerness in the studio. I would guess that had a strong influence on the judges decision.

Guest Artist Debbie Nova

What an awesome way to use the all stars! It makes the musical performance so much more fun to watch and is less of a shameless promotional piece for the guest artist. Great idea producers and great performance all stars!

The solos

Cristina - another boring ballroom solo... eh

Melinda - I don't think her tapping is going to keep her on the show for another week. No one really gets how impressive her tapping is. She needs a larger, more engaging personality to come through in her dance... unfortunately, this solo did not show any personality at all.

Robert - great music selection and fairly strong solo. It will be enough. The judges aren't going go to send him home.

Guest Artist Remote Control

They are completely unreal! The descending head and body rolls by the guy on the left of the screen at the end of the dance was out of control. I loved his hinge!

My prediction before the solos

I think Melinda is going home tonight. They need to keep the ballroom dancer around a few more weeks and frankly, the just really like Robert.

Sorry Melinda! Another tapper bites the dust!

The Bottom Three

Cristina is in the bottom despite her outstanding ballroom performance. Perhaps viewers are having a hard time connecting to Cristina... I am...

Melinda is the in the bottom due to her awkward performance of Mother Earth. The fake flowers and vines obviously did not help her win any votes. I don't think she did a bad job, I think she just has a hard time connecting emotionally with the audience. I wasn't drawn into the performance... I guess other viewers weren't either.

Robert is in the bottom despite his strong ballroom performance with Anya. I just don't think viewers have noticed Robert. He is completely overshadowed by the uniqueness of the other guys.

Thursday, June 24 Results Show

I love the intense red flood lighting on the beginning of the opening number. What a cool effect! Awesome choreography by Sonya. I could tell it was her piece after about 10 seconds. I adore how affected and stylized her choreography is. It is so out of the box, innovative, athletic, musical and creepy! I adore the unconventional nature of her inspiration.

My Bottom 3 Prediction

I predict that Melinda, Cristina and Robert will be in the bottom 3. I don't think they had the worst performances, but I think they do not have a big enough fan following to pull them through.

Kent and Courtney perform a Jazz piece by Tyce

How adorable is Kent?!? He is so funny. I am just glad that he is also immensely talented.

I loved his performance. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but it was pretty captivating. He was stronger and more masculine in his performance than I expected from him. I think this is a classic example of what I would like to call the "All-Star-Complex." If Kent just had the same performance with another contestant I think the judges would have been much more complimentary of his performance.

Lauren and Dominic perform a Lyrical Hip Hop piece by Tessandra Chavez

Lauren is a prime example of the technically strong, artistically weak competition dancer. Her performance last week really brought this out. However, we saw a little growth with this performance.

I agree with Mia. I did not see enough of the "abuse" coming through during the piece. It never traveled beyond the choreography to a deeper, more artistic level.

I think Lauren needed this so clearly defined and easy to understand on a surface level character in order to convey some drama on stage. I am not sure that she will be able to pull off a character with more subtle attributes though.

Jose and Kathryn perform a Bollywood piece by Nakul

I am still trying to digest that performance. I don't think it was bad. Jose did a pretty good job getting the rhythm of the movement, but he definitely struggled with the precision of the movement. There are some serious details that were missing. He tried really hard though and sold it the best he could.

Kathryn wasn't that great either so don't feel bad Jose!

Melinda and Ade perform a Contemporary piece by Stacey Tookey

Man Kind vs. Mother Earth

Hey costuming department... could you get a little more literal when you create a mother earth costume next time please? The fake flowers and vines from JoAnn's really didn't communicate the message.

Another good job, but not great. I feel like there was a disconnect between body, mind and spirit of her performance. There were some nice moments and impressive body lines, but it didn't all come together for me.

I think she will be in the bottom again. I don't think it will be memorable enough to grab her votes.

The New All Star Format

Ok - I love watching the all stars perform again. However, I think it is creating an unfair evaluation system for the contestants. The all stars have had the chance to grow through the competition and since the competition. So the all stars are not only dancing in their style of expertise, but they are also better than they were during their own season. As a result, the contestants have to shine at the same level of the all star in order to stand their ground and not suck. Well hey, that is a tough position to be in especially when performing a foreign dance style. I think the judges end up with unrealistic expectations of the contestants. Any contestant is going to pale in comparison to the all star when performing outside of their trained dance style.

In previous seasons, I think many performances that were criticized tonight would have received acclaim if the contestant's partner was a fellow contestant instead of an all star. I just think we need to take the new format into consideration a little more when passing judgment on these new contestants.

Robert and Anya perform a Tango by Jean Marc and France

They both performed that tango extremely well. It was pretty captivating and I am not a ballroom fan. As mentioned last week, Robert is a sleeper in the competition.

Mia's comments were interesting to me. LOVED Anya's response! Feisty!

Billy and Comfort perform a Krump piece by Lil' C

It is good to know that Billy had a strong elementary school study of Backstreet Boys hip hop. That clearly helped him in this piece ;-)

Ok, Billy did MUCH better than I expected... but I didn't expect much so I don't know what that says. Hey costuming department... the skinny jeans did not give Billy much street cred. Can we please think twice before doing that again???

I think he did a great job of getting the physically movement down, it just lacked the authenticity and artistry of the style behind it. I think he did the best he possibly could in the short amount of time he was given. The dance was pretty darn clean though. He didn't totally screw it up.

Ashley and Mark perform a Jazz piece by Travis Wall

Ashley and Mark physically complement each other really well. Their coloring and body lines were very aesthetically pleasing.

I think Ashley did a good job, but she clearly needs to artistically mature a bit. I think we have that problem with a lot of these contestants. I will comment more on that in a future post though. Good job, not great. There could have been more articulation of the rhythmic, sharp moments to create greater dimension in the piece.

Nigel, you should keep your constructive comments for the choreographers for behind the cameras. I found his comment to Travis completely inappropriate. The choreographers are not on trial here, the dancers are.

Alex and Lauren perform a Fosse inspired Broadway piece by Tyce

Alex received rave reviews for his performance of Sonya's contemporary piece last week, but he was not able to continue the trend this week.

I think he did a good job. The dance simply was not as stunning as last week's piece. However, you can tell how talented his is technically and musically. He captured some of the stylized tension and release of the Fosse style, just not in every moment. There was a disconnect between different dance phrases. I was not impressed by the transitions out of his trick steps. It was like "trick step" - "stop" - "back to the dance now" - "stop."

I am not worried about him though. He has enough fans, even this early in the competition, to keep him out of the bottom. I am sure that there are plenty more people out there like me who were super excited to see him return this season after being heartbroken last season when he couldn't get out of his Miami Ballet contract.

AdeChike and Allison perform a Contemporary piece by Mandy Moore

No storyline for Mandy Moore... is she feeling ok? At least she stayed true to her love for 80's music... otherwise I would be worried.

Loved Allison's dress, hated AdeChike's pants; awkward and super high-waisted. I will try to get past that though.

Allison totally over shadowed AdeChike in this piece. He simply does not possess the stage at the same level. I agree with Mia, his expressions seemed forced and fake. I got caught up in the bits of choreography and never got to the artistry of the piece. There was a lack of intention behind the movement. I don't know if I would blame the choreographer or the dancer though....

Cristina and Pasha dance the Paso Doble

I best she was excited to get a ballroom routine this week after her unimpressive performance last week. As one would expect, her comfort with this fierce Paso Doble was clearly evident. Stunning choreography and great music selection by Jean Marc. Cristina did an outstanding job executing the technique of this style as well as the character. Kudos. Hopefully this will keep her out of the bottom this week!

Side note - there is something about Cristina that doesn't sit right with me. She seems really sweet, but something about her just sort of bothers me. The worst part is that I have no good reason to feel that way. Sorry Cristina!

Panel of Judges for the Season

I am so glad that Mary Murphy got the judge boot and was replaced by the much less annoying Mia Michaels! I can't say that I will miss the hot tamale train.

First Blog of Season 7

I am super pumped to bring back my SYTYCD blog for season 7. I am one episode behind thanks to an amazing vacation in Hawaii, but don't worry... I have caught up on previous episodes. Speaking of which, how outstanding was the Wade and Amanda Robson opening routine two Thursdays ago???!!!