I'm not planning to recap this season of So You Think You Can Dance. To be honest, I haven't been super interested in this season. I watched the auditions and the Academy, and I liked the episodes, but that was about it. I didn't feel invested in or connected to any of the dancers. I wasn't rooting for anyone in particular.
I thought the first episode of the competition was good, but night two was WAY better. Every dance on night two was terrific! I'm enjoying the new format of the show - so far there was just one dance from every couple, with no solos, so each episode was only an hour long. I like that better than two hours of multiple dances, solos, filler, etc. I'm hoping this format will continue through this undoubtedly short season.
On nite one the standout dances / performances for me were Ezra and Madison's contemporary and Bailey and Mariah's B-52's inspired jazz routine. Anna and Benjamin's ballroom number was also a hit with me. But Stephanie and Gino's Luther Brown hip hop dance left me cold (if you saw the routine you would get the double meaning there). And I didn't like anything about Eddie and Sophie's dance - the costumes were ridiculous, the premise was silly; it did not work for me at all.
But nite two - as Mary Murphy would say, "Holy Smokes!" All the routines were fantastic, and the dancers were on fire!! These kids are in it to win it! I am also amazed at the connections that have developed so quickly with these partnerships.
I'm going to briefly go through each dance.
1) Stephanie and Gino
What a terrific beginning to the show! This Emma and Sasha Jive routine was fire from start to finish! It was lightening fast, technical, great musicality, with a lot of fun, cheeky moments. Stephanie was in her element, so I knew she'd be good, but Gino was a revelation in this dance! Personality out the ying yang, and as Nigel said, some of the best kicks and flicks the show has seen since Benji Schwimmer, also known as the King of Swing. High praise for a contemporary dancer.
2) Sophie and Eddie
This duo drew a Travis Wall contemporary routine, and Travis Wall dances never disappoint. For me, Eddie is the weakest dancer of the competition, so I must admit I was nervous for Sophie's safety with all the lifts and throws and everything. But Eddie stepped up and protected his partner, and the result was a beautiful, powerful, poignant routine.
3) Anna and Benjamin
This Randi and Hef hip hop number was my least favorite of nite two, but still enjoyable. While on nite one I could not take my eyes off of Benjamin during their ballroom routine (and can anyone blame me for oggling the boy with the open shirt and beautiful hair?), in this hip hop dance my eyes were on Anna, and she did not disappoint. Laurieann thought she wasn't strong enough, and she's a choreographer, but I thought Anna did a great job. As much as I was watching Benjamin during night one, I appreciated the fact that hip hop girl Anna held her own in the ballroom routine, and looked like she was actually enjoying a partner dance in a dress and heels.
4) Madison and Ezra
Holy cow. This Ray Leeper jazz routine can be summed up in one word: S-E-X-Y. I know Madison is comfortable with her alopecia, but it seemed like performing in that hat with her skimpy little outfit turned her into a real vixen. Her chemistry with Ezra was OFF THE CHARTS. I hope her boyfriend isn't jealous. Maybe she was thinking of him when she bent Ezra's head back and ran her hand down his bare chest. RAWR. I agree with Nigel yet again - Bob Fosse would have loved that routine, and specifically Madison in that routine.
5) Mariah and Bailey
The night began with a bang, and ended with a bang, when these two blew the roof off the place with a Luther Brown hip hop routine. They deserved the audience, the choreographers, and the judges losing their shit over this dance - it was LIT!! They were down and dirty, in the pocket, twerking, humping a motorcycle, this dance had it all. Like with the first routine of the night, you knew b boy Bailey would do well in this routine, but contemporary girl Mariah KILLED this dance. With her bob wig and clad in a form fitting bodysuit, Mariah was ready to be cast in any hip hop music video. This was my favorite hip hop number since Nappy Tab's "Hotel" dance with Fik-shun and Amy.
Nite two of the performance shows has restored my interest and enjoyment of So You Think You Can Dance. I hope this level of dancing, choreography, and connection among the partners continues for the rest of the season.
librarianintx
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