Jordan and Jess are going home

As predicted, Jordan and Jess are sent packing. It is not that either of them are bad dancers, the competition has just gotten so tough at this point that everyone left is incredible. I can't wait for next week!

After the solos...

I think Jordan and Jess should go home tonight. Frankly, I am sick of seeing Jordan throw her legs around and swing her hips. On the guy side of things, the judges love Tadd too much to send him home yet.

Week 7's bottom four dancers

Caitlynn and Jordan are the bottom 2 ladies... not surprising. It would be insane for Sasha or Melanie to be in the bottom.

Jess and Tadd are the bottom 2 guys... this is a surprise. I can't believe that Ricky was able to beat out Tadd. What?!?! I can't believe it.

Week 7 Results Show

I would like to apologize for blogging a bit late this evening.

The opening number by Tyce was outstandingly creative. The costuming and make-up created an intriguing turn-of-the-century circus-like vibe. The music choice was enchanting and unexpected. I was shocked to hear that it was Tyce's creative genius that created the piece because it was nothing like anything we have seen from him before. I loved his use of 3 ropes hanging from the ceiling to provide opportunities for the dancers to soar and defy gravity. Loved it!

My week 7 prediction

I think the bottom four will include Ricky, Jordan, Caitlynn and... I am not sure about the last spot. Performance wise I would put Jess in the last spot, but I think he has a really strong fan following that could pull him through. If Jess stays above the water who would fall below? Tadd? Marko? I don't want to loose either of them!

What do you think? Who do you have in your bottom 4?

Melanie and Sasha perform a Jazz piece by Sonya

From their faux-hawks to their finesse, the two of them are on FIRE!!!! Power and strength in every ounce of execution. Beautiful work by Sonya. As usual, her creativity astounds me.

My heart is breaking for Sasha's sister right now. She has got to be swimming in a sea of emotions feeling more than ever in the shadow of her sister's artistic perfection. So tough.

Jordan and Jess perform a Rhumba by Jason Gilkison

Interesting choice for Jordan to perform barefoot. I have never seen that in a ballroom piece before.

I agree with Nigel and Mary, there was a complete lack of chemistry. The backwards rotating arabesque lift was pretty cool though.

I agree with Gaga in regards to the interpretation of the music. I don't think the choreography reflected the conflict presented in the song... "Set Fire to the Rain."

Marko and Ricky perform a Nappy Tabs Hip Hip piece

Hmmm. Entertaining? Yes. Street? They tried. Marko and Ricky definitely had fun with the piece and did their best to bring a genuine hip hop style to the forefront, but what can you expect? They are not going to be street overnight.

Did anyone else catch Tabitha's facial expression at the end of the piece? The camera got a close-up of her clapping and her face looked seriously concerned about the judges' reaction.

Rough night for Ricky too. He might be in some trouble tomorrow.

I would like to apologize to Marko for spelling his name with a "c" instead of a "k" this season. It wasn't until tonight that I noticed the mistake. Oops!

Caitlynn and Tadd perform a classic Fox Trot by Jonathan Roberts

Tadd's port de bras really impressed me. His graceful, full-extended arm lines make him look like a well-trained dancer.

It was a nice piece, but that was about it; nice. There was nothing amazing, nothing horrible, just classic ballroom styling with Fred and Ginger grace.

This has been a rough night for Caitlynn. I don't think her hip hop or ballroom performance will earn her many votes this evening. Both of them lacked the memorable quality needed to keep this dancer-on-the-edge safe.

Marco and *Allison* perform a Contemporary piece by Sonya

I love how Sonya can create a piece with so many dynamics when the music has such a monotone nature to it. The juxtaposition of highly emotional movement over the static tones of the music created such beautiful dissonance and tension. Marco and Allison had a performance of a lifetime. Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable.

Tadd and *Lauren F* perform a Jazz piece by Mandy Moore

Hello folks and welcome to a dance about a hat. I felt super bad for Tadd when he lost his hat after getting smacked in the face early in the performance.

He did a great job with the style of the piece. His natural mojo melded nicely with the music and choreography intention. Outside of a handful of moments, Tadd's lack of classical technique was not obvious.

Jess and *Lauren G* perform a Nappy Tabs Lyrical Hip Hop

Interesting all-star choice for this piece. Lauren is primarily a jazz dancers, not a hip hop dancer... she definitely did a good job though, I am just surprised by the choice.

Jess did a great job working the rhythmic dynamics of the choreography. The judges think he abandoned his signature facial expressions, but I still saw some evidence of them. However, I wasn't distracted by them.

Nice high top sneakers BTW.

Ricky and *Anya* perform a Jive by Jason Gilkison

In the beginning of the piece I thought Ricky looked like a boy dancing with a woman, but as the piece progressed he really started to bring it. He had a rough time with a shoulder lift/flip in the middle there which was scary, but he didn't miss a beat. Great music choice by Jason Gilkison. It is hard not to enjoy a performance when Celine Dion is belting her heart out. He did OK, but this performance showed us that despite his incredible growth over the past few weeks Ricky is still a developing dancer.

Melanie and Neil perform a Contemporary piece by Mandy Moore

Wow. This is one of the best pieces I have seen from Mandy Moore. Of course, she had two OUTSTANDING dancers to work with which had to help. Melanie is just on a totally different level than the other dancers. She is OUTSTANDING. My jaw dropped when Melanie soared through the air into Neil's arms!!!! She flew at least 10 feet as if she was wonder woman. Neil is an OUTSTANDING dancer too and Melanie was not overshadowed by him at all. Melanie was the art and Neil was the canvas. A solid foundation to showcase beautiful artistry and remarkable technique.

Lady Gaga... "you are incredible. I would hire you tomorrow to dance on my tour."

Jordan and *Ade* perform a Jazz piece by Tyce

I hated the music choice. The choreography was OK considering the music choice. Overall, I was not a fan of the piece. There were some cool moments.

Yes, Jordan has amazing leg lines. We got it. Can we please move on? Can we please highlight some other strengths? I think Jordan did a good job with the piece all things considered. The judges glowed about her performance so maybe it is just me who was left cold.

Caitlynn and *Ivan* perform a Hip Hip piece by Marty Kudelka

It is nice to have Ivan back on the SYTYCD stage. He has some serious swagger.

I think Caitlynn did a respectable job. My problem with her performance came in her faces not her movement. Her faces look forced and contrived. I wish she was able to match her facial expressions to Ivan's more. Ivan brought so much maturity to the performance and his faces had a natural intensity behind them. Unfortunately, Ivan's strengths made Caitlynn's weaknesses look even more weak. I think Caitlynn looked like a very "green" dancer next to Ivan's well-seasoned performance.

Sasha and Pasha perform a Quick Step by Jonathan Roberts

Really awkward misstep during the final lift. Oops! Otherwise, Sasha continues to prove why she is a favored to win the whole thing. She brought her personal style and entertaining spirit to the piece which made the performance really enjoyable to watch. According to Mary Murphy, her technique was pretty impressive as well. Lady Gaga spat on Nigel's criticism of Sasha's stiff upper body saying that she enjoyed Sasha's interpretation of the choreography and saw the stiffness as an artistic choice. Take that Nigel!

Week 7 - The top 8 perform

Lady Gaga and Rob Marshall are the guest judges tonight. This should be interesting! Plus, new all stars come back tonight including Lauren and Neil!!!!

MItchell and Clarice are going home

I am sad to see both Mitchell and Clarice go home, but I think the judges had a really hard to decision to make this week. I probably would have chosen Clarice to stay over Jordan. Ricky has had such a transformation recently and I think the judges want him to have some more to time to grow. Mitchell is a great dancer, but his rough performance last night was enough to make them feel comfortable dismissing him this week.

Oh! I can't believe we are down to 8 dancers! Can't wait for next week :-)

What do you think? Did the judges get it right?

Week 6's bottom four dancers

Mitchell, Clarice, Ricky, and Jordan are the bottom four dancers.

I am surprised that Jess is safe, but I guess it is clear that he has a strong fan following. Ricky has always had trouble connecting with the audience so I am not shocked by his placement in the bottom. I think it is a shame because he is so talented. Clarice and Jordan have officially been highlighted as the less-favored girls.

Week 6 Results Show!

Fun opening number from Smokey Joe's Cafe choreographed by a new SYTYCD choreographer. I enjoyed the traditional Broadway styling in both movement and costuming. Two dancers go home tonight and only 4 dancers are going to be placed in the bottom.

My week 6 prediction

This is going to be tough. No one really bombed this week so it is going to come down to fan following.

Mitchell and Jess are my bottom two guys. I guess Clarice and Jordan are my bottom two ladies. Too tough to call though. Also... are they still going to get rid of one guy and one girl or are things changing with the eliminations too?

Clarice and *Robert* perform a Bollywood piece by Nakul

It is kind of funny to me that Robert is the closest option the show has to an authentic Bollywood dancer... no doubt that he did an outstanding job though!

Loved the piece. The two of them had solid energy and precision throughout the piece. Fun piece.

Marco's Solo to Gavin DeGraw's "More Than Anyone"

Two of my favorite things together... a live performance by Gavin DeGraw and a performance of natural artistry! Marco was spectacular in his solo. He attacked from the beginning and kept us interested with a comprehensive use of stage and body. I was surprised by his floating back walkover and elated by his higher-than-high leaps. Love him... oh and his knee lifts to Gavin's syncopated scat was to die for.

Ricky and *Allison* perform a Jazz piece by Tyce

Before this piece began I was scared that Ricky's age would prevent him from being able to hold his own next to the maturity of Allison but that was not the case at all. Tyce did an great job with the choreography of the piece. Way to bounce back after the lack lustre Fosse piece by earlier tonight.

Ricky was incredible in this piece. He drew on his classical technique and brought strength of character in order to dominate the stage. He attacked everything and his one arm lift when he grabbed Allison's leg while she laid on the floor and hoisted her to her feet was A-MA... wait for it... ZING!

Caitlynn's Solo to Florence and the Machine's "Cosmic Love"

Hmmmm... I love this song and I don't think her dancing matched the huge sound of the music. She tried to build the intensity but it didn't get there. She also fell out of her triple coupe turn at the end. Not impressed.

Melanie and Pasha perform a Viennese Waltz

Flashback to the late 90's with this Tina Arena music choice. I particularly enjoyed Melanie's costume. It had contemporary styling and lacked the usual cheesiness of ballroom dresses. I loved the flow of the skirt. This piece reminded me of two people floating on air, dancing on a cloud. The lifts were gorgeous and the flow of the phrases was elegantly mesmerizing. Melanie is definitely a favorite to win it all!

Tadd's solo

Impressive b-boy tricks and interesting music choice.

Jess and *Kathryn* perform a Contemporary piece by Stacey Tookey

Kathryn is every bit the dancer I always dreamed of being. She is absolutely breathtaking in her artistically emotional performance. Amazing choreography by Stacey Tookey. Every bit of emotional contemporary goodness that we have grown to love from her. I think Jess did well, but this performance was all about Kathryn. I wish Jess had as much presence in the piece as Kathryn. He was in Kathryn's shadow in my opinion.

Jordan's Solo to Lykke Li's "Tonight"

Oh shucks... Jordan covered up her own stomach for once! Tonight is a very special night. Good solo... nothing amazing.

Oh wait!!!

I loved their costumes too! They totally kept the 1976 pedestrian vibe going!!!

Sasha and *Twitch* perform a Hip Hop by Christopher Scott

The Aretha-like soul-full sound of Dorothy Moore's 1976 performance of Misty Blue became a tension filled and untraditional backdrop for this jaw dropping performance. Kudos to Christopher Scott for choosing music outside of the Hip Hop box and created a choreographic masterpiece. I loved the movement, dynamics and storyline...oh, and their performance! WOW! I don't know if there would be two better dancers for this piece. Sasha and Twitch took the heat from the previous tango and made a fire on the stage! Wow!

Mitchell's Solo to "This Time" by John Legend

Horrible costume choice. His shorts kept getting bunched up around his thighs which was really distracting. It was a solid solo filled with his signature jumps of high elevation.

Caitlynn and *Pasha* perform a Tango by Leonardo and Miriam

I loved the around the back swing lift that they did right at the end. The way Caitlynn's leg movements mimic-ed the rhythm of the music was really cool.

Caitlynn rocked this piece and totally held her own next to superstar Pasha. The whole piece appeared smooth, yet syncopated, difficult, yet effortless. There was a smultry heat underlying the performance which was undeniable. Ouch! That was hot!

Clarice's Solo

It is really nice to see Clarice perform a Jazz solo. It is a nice break from the numerous contemporary solos performed by the other contestants. She did a really great job and her musical and style choice should make her memorable among the rest.

Ricky's Solo

6 solid rotations into a carefully balanced suspension is pretty darn impressive. Whoo! Ricky had highlighted his musicality in his performance as well.

Mitchell and *Melody* perform a Broadway piece by Tyce

It is a little hard to not find this piece a little dated due to the recording. I have to agree 100% with Neil Patrick. The composition of this piece was disjointed and awkward. Mitchell and Melody tried to sell the piece by adding over-the-top cheese which broke the integrity of the Fosse style. I think Mitchell and Melody didn't understand the idiosyncrasies of the Fosse style and took it to the wrong place. The result, an over-baked, clumsy flop of a performance with some nicely executed jumps and turns.

Melanie's Solo to a cover of "You're the One That I Want"

I loved how carefully this was choreographed to emphasize the dynamics of the music. She is pretty darn amazing. Her ponche into the forward roll was hot! I am continuously dazzled my Melanie's artistry. I can't believe that she is a talented visual artist too! Crazy!

Tadd and *Comfort* perform a Hip Hop piece by Chuck Maldonado

I don't know how I feel about this piece. The two of them were not together during some of Busta's vocal section. It was just OK for me. I think Tadd has had more impressive performances in past weeks. Apparently, the judges disagree with me. They all loved him and thought he out-danced Comfort. Maybe I am missing something?

Jess's Solo

Damn! Jess pulled into a decuple after his straight leg foutes. At least, I think it was a decuple (10 turns.) It was hard to count accurately since the camera angle changed halfway through. I guess that is his response to Ricky's Octuple pull-in that got rave reviews during his solo last Thursday.

Classic Jess styling and entertaining piece. Besides his impressive pull-in... nothing else to write home about.

Jordan and *Brandon* perform a Contemporary piece by Dwight and Desmond

Great music choice! I love this live cut of Jessie J's "Who You Are." Really intense and beautiful choreographic interpretation of the music. I adored the phrasing.

Watching Brandon perform is like a dream. He is so dynamic in his artistry and strong in his movement. It is the perfect balance and sweet and salty. Yum!

Jordon was fantastic, but I am a little sick of seeing every choreographer highlight her beautiful legs. Yes, her legs are incredible, but I want to see her bust out with other some other memorable assets.

Sasha's Solo to Duffy's "Syrup and Honey"

That was a lot of really interesting floor work. Sasha definitely does an excellent job of combining strength with artistic and innovative contemporary choreography. I appreciate her solid classical technique too. Way to go Sasha! I hope your duet is just as strong.

Marco and *Chelsie* perform a Salsa by Jason Gilkison

Wow! Chelsie is one HOT allstar! She definitely made the dance. I think Marco did ok. He wasn't the focus of the piece but he was a solid partner (those lifts were incredible) and his salsa technique only looked a little awkward. All in all, I think it was respectable. I hope his solo is super memorable because dancing this early in the show makes it hard to get a good amount of votes.

Top 10 dancers perform!

I am back from a super relaxing vacation in Maui and can't wait for tonight's show! I am really excited to see them dance with the all stars. The best part of tonight's show is Neil Patrick Harris on the judging panel!!!!!! I adore him on How I Met Your Mother and think he rocked the Tony Awards as their host. I am sure he is going to be super entertaining tonight!

Special thanks go out to my awesome guest blogger from last week! Thanks Brian for keeping the blog going while I was away :-)

Top 10 results

Ryan and Alexander were sent home which leaves the top 10. They announced tonight the format for the top 10- Each week the contestants will perform a dance with a randomly drawn fellow contestant and then another dance with an all-star.

Thanks Brittany for letting me post my thoughts. I am curious to see if when you get back and watch the show on dvr that you share some of my opinions.

After the solos

It has to be Ryan going home. That solo was pretty bad. For the boys I'd say Mitchell or Alexander because Ricky was off the hook and by far the best of the 6.

random solo thought

I think Mitchell borrowed that outfit from Caitlynn...

Tap that... dance

I think i saw Melinda (from last year) in that tap dancing group. It was pretty fun to watch and they had some impressive footwork. The 6 different shoe colors kept me focused on their feet. During the dance I thought of another random thing about SYTYCD that annoys me. At times they try to work in a moving camera that swings around the dancers. In my opinion this rarely, if ever, adds any value. During a football game this kind of thing provides a unique look that provides additional insight as compared to the normal view. But when dancers are twisting, shaking, spinning, and doing all kinds of crazy things, I want a standard and steady camera to watch. Whenever they do that moving camera I do not have as good of a perspective on the dance and I can't always appreciate the moves. I feel like SYTYCD thinks this is a really cool feature, and I disagree.

Bottom 3 announced

Sasha/Alexander, Ryan/Ricky, and Caitlynn/Mitchell were in the bottom 3 couples. I will stick with my original guy pick and go with Alexander. Although he hasn't been in the bottom 3 yet, the other two guys are pretty tough competition. In terms of girls I think it will be Ryan, though I would not be that surprised if it were Sasha. I would be pretty surprised if Caitlynn went home and I consider her the safest of the 6.

Opening Number

I thought the opening dance was pretty fun. Started slow as they circled around Jordan's dress (perhaps an indication she is going home so they featured her?) Then it got more exciting and was kind of latin salsa pop-ish kind of thing. Two-thirds of the way through they paused and pump faked the ending, then moved into more of a hip hop dance which was equally as enjoyable. Now we get to hear about the Emmy nominations from Nigel... Also noteworthy in the group dance was how at one point Sasha and Jess (yes, if you were reading this for the first time you'd thing Jess was the girl) were matched up and she towered over him.

Top 10 Predictions

I really have no idea who is going home but I am leaning towards a bottom 3 of Alexander/Sasha, Jordan/Tadd, and Ryan/Ricky. Of those 6, I think Alexander and Jordan will get bounced tonight.

Final thoughts

Guest judge was very good. I could see getting tired of him for an entire season (a la Ellen on AI) but his humor worked tonight. I also totally agreed with his compliment of Cat when speaking about the Emmy award nominations. I watch kind of a lot of reality TV, and she definitely deserves to be nominated.

I think this could be the week they finally send home people who are not a couple. There is no risk in doing that since they will compete individually after this week. Check back tomorrow for results!

Rock and Roll Jive

The last dance was a rock and roll jive by Clarice and Jess. I thought they did a good job, but perhaps not as good as I was expecting as this was in Jess' wheelhouse. Clarice was impressive and did a great job. My problem with Jess was clear in this performance. He has good quick feet, even I can tell that. Therefore, he has to know that. Yet when Nigel complimented his kicks he put on a big surprised face. What is surprising about that- enough with the faces guy. Just dance. Another semi-related question that I though of during the rehearsal was regarding wardrobe. Do all dancers wear v-neck t-shirts? I ask because I have never seen a dancer wearing a normal style t-shirt.

Contemporary Melarco

Choreographed by Dee C, M&M did a great job on the lightbulb routine. I feel like 'real dancers' (aka not me) will enjoy that one more than I did. I appreciated the number and thought they did a great job with it. But from time to time I find myself, during a contemporary dance, thinking that the dancers look like they are just smoothly flailing around. I realize that is a form a dance, it just crossed the abstract line for me at times. I am not hating on this routine or any others; i did like it. I just didn't love it more than the previous two routines.

New favorite dance

That cha cha held the top spot for exactly 1 routine, until it was topped by Travis Wall's second dance of the night which was performed by Caitlynn and Mitchell. Caitlynn looked super hot and the dancing was too. The dance had a lot of fun tricks that seemed difficult and were executed to perfection. I was positive Nigel would say something creepy about Caitlynn, and he only half came through making a joke about himself being creepy as opposed to actually saying what was on his mind.

Ask Cha Cha

That was my favorite dance of the night. Ricky and Ryan were sporting the best costumes so far and rocked a super fast cha cha by Louis. I knew it was going to be good the second I heard Enrique. Although I am not normally a fan, I thought the judges were too harsh on Ryan, who did a pretty good job. It is strange because normally I do not like her performances and the judges do, while tonight seems to be the opposite. Mitchell from ModFam continues to entertain and is doing a solid job as a guest judge.

Spencer is now 1-2

In their second routine, Taddan didn't do so well. Jordan continued to lead the world in number of times she went into the spread eagle position. The dance was ok, but kind of all over the place and not particularly enjoyable. I get annoyed when the judges (as Nigel did) criticize they style of the dance. He said they should have been more quirky. But I attribute that to the choreographer, not the dancers. I always thought they are instructed and taught by the choreographer. I think if it was supposed to be quirky, then Spencer would have instructed them to be that way. It was Spencer's dance, and Nigel blamed the dancers for doing what they were taught to do. Bah.

Alexasha- or is it Sashander?

Performing a Tyce D number, these guys really worked the pole. I thought the number had good musicality. Ok, I admit that I don't know what that means. But what I mean is that the dance moves were really tied to the music and felt appropriate with the song. I don't often feel that way, so high five to the dancers and choreographer. I am pretty sure the number ended with a fall (or the most unusual and least smooth move ever) by Sasha.

Clarice and Jess

I liked the music, which i assume was a cover version of Bruno Mars. I also really liked the dance. It was a fun sort of jazzy (maybe I say that because Jess was dancing) hip hop piece by Chris Scott. These are probably my second and third favorite dancers. Clarice seems to always impress me, especially when she is outside her comfort zone, and Jess always nails it. The problem that I have with Jess is that I find him quite annoying. I don't enjoy his facial expressions or gestures while the judges talk, or the sounds he made in the behind the scenes clip tonight. However, I have not seen a style that he has not been able to perform really well.

Melanie and Marco in an American Tango

This Tango by Louis got strong reviews by the judges. That should come as no surprise as they two are very strong every week. I enjoyed the dance, though I didn't love it. As opposed to the dance, the part that I will remember most is that they had their hair styled exactly the same way.

Caitlynn and Mitchell in the congo

Caitlynn is my favorite contestant this season, but this wasn't her best performance. Her and Mitchell did the Christopher Scott dance, but for me they weren't hitting it hard enough and the timing was off on a few key moves. I did enjoy that the guest judge Jessie made a comment about not "getting" the story. In the preview we were told a story but I didn't really see how that related o the dance.

Ryan and Ricky stroll down Broadway

R&R performed a Spencer Liff number that was pretty boring. 30 seconds into the dance I still felt like they hadn't started, and then nothing really changed the rest of the way. It sort of seemed like my wife and I could do this dance if we practiced for a week. The good thing is that they executed the moves and did not mess up. No firepower, but no bombs either. And on another bright note, it was the best that Ryan has looked this season.

Jordan and Tadd, Travis style

The second this dance started, my wife said "finally, her stomach is covered up." And she is right. Not sure if other people notice, but Jordan wears a sportsbra just about every second she is on the show. Anyways, I was not disappointed with the dance, but I didn't love it as much as the judges did. It is kind of annoying to a guy like me when they rave on and on about the choreographer. I know Travis is really good, that is not news to me. And on the flip side they never seem to really blame the choreographer when things go really badly. I really liked a ninja-like spinning flip that Tadd did, and it was nice work by T-Wall to utilize his skills. I guess for me expectations are high whenever Travis is in charge. Jordan and Tadd will benefit from that more than their dancing.

Sasha and Alexander, 2 matadors?

First my wife wanted me to point out that she likes Cat's dress. Also, there are 4 judges on the panel tonight, Nigel, Mary, Sonya and Mitchell (Jessie Ferguson) from Modern Family.

The opening number was a pasa doble (sp?) from Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin. Instead of your normal matador/cape routine this was more like a ballroom breakdance fight. They were mostly synchronized but did some partnering. I felt like the dance was ok, but I kept thinking to myself that Sasha was leading the dance, or that she would win in any sort of fight. It was capped off when Sasha kissed Alexander and awkwardly got lipstick on his teeth. eee

Substitute Blogger

With tonight's show just moments away, I though I would start by telling you a little about myself. I began dancing seriously about 15 years ago in a friends basement. Only months later I was on stage being filmed in a memorable duet. I have traveled to several countries. I have rehearsed with some of Brittany's friends and performed moves they had never seen. I also danced at Brittany's wedding. I should probably mention that the basement dancing was a spoof on a scene from dirty dancing...and that i was wearing a wig and playing the role of Baby. It also might be relevant that I was being filmed on stage as part of a talent show and that my travels out of the country were vacations unrelated to dance. But the joy I felt rehearsing for and performing at Brittany's wedding was real. I always figured Brittany, as an experienced dancer and judge, could see my passion for dance that night. That suspicion was confirmed earlier this week when she asked me to be the guest blogger and fill in for her while she auditions for the next season of American Idol.

Ashley and Chris go home tonight

As expected, Ashley and Chris go home tonight. The two of them just weren't as strong as the other contestants this week.

I will be on vacation next week and am hoping to secure a guest blogger so check-in next week to see who it is. Will last year's guest blogger make a repeat appearance? We shall see...

Florence and the Machine

I am a huge Florence and the Machine fan and Cosmic Love is one of my favorite songs however, Florence did not sound so hot performing live. Talk about pitch issues! I guess her producers did some serious voice corrections in the studio for her recordings. A friend of mine just saw them open for U2 when they came to Baltimore and said he was disappointed in their live performance as well. Sadness... it is like discovering the wizard behind the curtain is just a normal person.

My prediction

Chris better be going home tonight for the guys. After the way he messed up the guys' group number last night he doesn't deserve to stay.

What a hilarious music choice by Tadd. How many hip hop dancers do you know that like to perform to Gloria Estefan?

The girls are a toss up. Personally, I think Ashley should go home but the judges could be disappointed in Ryan after falling out of her turn and could send her home. They could be sick of Jordan's bra tops and send her home. Who knows. They have made some surprising decisions in the past.

Week 4's Bottom Three Couples

Ashley and Chris - not surprising. Their salsa was awkward and cheesy.

Jordan and Tadd - As I thought, their waltz was forgotten among the other strong dances. I think Tadd probably has a solid fan following, but Jordan is flying under the radar a bit. Either way, their fan base did not do enough to keep them safe despite their solid performance.

Ryan and Ricky - Surprisingly Sasha and Alexander are safe and Ryan and Ricky drop to the bottom after their strong zombie-inspired jazz performance.

Week 4 Results Show!

Fun opening Bollywood number by the 13 contestants... yes, I said 13. Did anyone notice that there was one guy missing? I didn't see Chris dancing. I wonder if he is injured.

My week 4 prediction

Sasha and Alexander - Alexander killed this one for the two of them thanks for his lack of hip hop prowess.

Ashley and Chris - The bland salsa will definitely send them to the bottom.

Picking the last couple is tough. I think Marco and Melanie could be in jeopardy since they performed so early in the show but I am going to go with...

Jordan and Tadd - I don't think their waltz is going to be remembered after so many great contemporary/jazz pieces tonight.

Post who you think will be in the bottom. Do you agree with my predictions?

The girls perform a Jazz piece by Ray Leeper

What an awesome, super clean piece. The subtle intensity of the stylized movement and continuous formation changes created a captivating dynamic. The girls are just so darn strong. Every body angle was perfectly aligned in each body hinge. That is not easy to accomplish.

Caitlynn and Mitchell perform a Contemporary piece by Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore breaks through the 80's and into the 90's with this beautiful piece of contemporary choreography to Celine Dion. That was my favorite Mandy Moore piece ever. Not to mention, I can always take a good Celine Dion moment.

The lifts were numerous, but they were seamlessly integrated the movement in order to maintain a feeling of continuous airy flow. There were no tricks in this piece, just art. The piece was beautiful. Just beautiful. Caitlynn and Mitchell drew on their technical strength in order to execute this highly demanding piece. On an emotional level, their performance was on point as well. They should be SAFE this week after that standing ovation performance!

Ryan and Ricky perform a Jazz piece by Chucky Klapow

Really Ryan? Falling out of a triple turn is not ok. You are too good for that. As I watched the footage back I noticed that Ryan's supporting foot was turned in when she prepped for her turn... that alone will mess with your ability to find your center.

Putting that aside, I think the two of them totally got the freaky, thriller vibe that was brought into this choreography. As a result, they sold the piece and prevented it from becoming cheesy or cliche.

Costuming had a field day creating these two tacky masterpieces!

Tonight has turned into a night of new choreographers. It is nice to have some variation on the stage, but I am missing our classic master choreographers like Mia Michaels and Wade Robson!

Ashley and Chris perform a Salsa routine by Liz Lira

Chris had a couple Ben Stiller/Along Came Polly moments in this piece. I found myself laughing through most of their awkward performance. The was a lack of "hotness" and too much "cheese." They tried real hard, but they will be going home this week. Again, this reinforces the fact that Chris should have gone home last week!

Clarice and Jess perform a Contemporary piece by Justin Giles

Interesting choreographic merge of hip hop syncopation with contemporary intention. Justin clearly has a unique artistic vision. I am excited to have him join the show and I can't wait to see more of his work.

I was fascinated how the two of them brought so many dynamics to a piece of music typified by monotony. The consistent beats of the music turned into dramatic tension as a result of their strength of character and interaction. This piece will definitely be a stand out for the evening. Beautiful work.

Jordan and Tadd perform a Waltz by Toni Redpath

Again, I am impressed by Tadd and his ability to transform himself from a hip hop baller to a graceful gentleman ballroomer. He held a strong frame throughout and brought beauty to his performance with his arms. Jordan was strong and beautiful as usual. I am adoring Travis' very detailed constructive criticism. His eye is finding any element that could be improved and he is pushing the dancers to get there. I agree with his comment that there could have been greater continuity in their performance. Despite the flow, there were too many choppy moments.

On a side note... What is up with Jordan's need to always wear an itsy bitsy bra top to dance in?!?! I mean, she wore a floor length skirt and a bra top to ballroom rehearsal. Who does that? Is anyone else bothered by her (lack of) wardrobe?

Sasha and Alexander perform a Hip Hop piece by Shaun Evaristo

Sasha rocked it and Alexander sunk it. Alexander executed the choreography precisely but lacked any kind of hip hop style. I think he tried, I just think he couldn't get rid of his temptation to point his toes and act preppy.

On another note... I can't believe that Alexander didn't start dancing until he was 17! Talk about having natural talent. Please note; these results are not typical for people who start dancing at age 17.

Melanie and Marco perform a Jazz piece by Ray Leeper

Interesting blast-from-the-past choreographer choice by using Ray Leeper. Ray for me is a bit 90's in his choreographic style with his infusion of classic jazz technique with some racy stylized movement.

There is no doubt that Melanie and Marco are both beasts. They brought heat and technique to the stage.

The boys perform a Contemporary piece by Justin Giles

Wow on a couple accounts.

1. Choreography was awesome and emotionally intense.
2. I loved the way they used individual spot lights in order to create a feeling of isolation and separation for each dancer.
3. I loved the creative use of costume accessories to illustrate the tension they were feeling. Cool effect with the hat, suspenders and hood.
4. What the heck is up with Chris! He totally messed up the whole beginning unison section. He was beyond off... he was in his own world. They should have gotten rid of him last week! I bet Nigel is regretting his decision now that Chris ruined the piece!!!! Hot mess!

Top 14 dancers perform!

The top 14 dancers perform tonight. Carmen Electra and Travis Wall join the judging panel tonight. I am excited to hear both of their opinions!