- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 0
- 10
-
Sparkle (1)
Alternate headline: Rob Marshall may be an Oompa Loompa, but at least he sticks up for the So You Think You Can Dancechoreographers!
Last night was, as my BlogHer colleague put it: A lotta show.
Starting with the guest judges: Rob Marshall, whose liberal use of the tanning salon has left him looking like John Boehner, or maybe an Oompa Loompa; and another guest judge, who would rather explore the significance of the Oompa Loompas as a critical treatise on cultural enslavement by the patriarchy...all while adorning herself with the accoutrements of bondage herself: Lady Gaga.
Image courtesy FOX
(Did that even make sense? I was really just going for pretentious hipster talk.)
Don't get me wrong. There was also a whole lotta great dancing last night. These are all talented dancers, and I can't really say I'd be too upset with any of them making it all the way to the final. But I do think Gaga brings this air of the surreal to any endeavor. And given I'm not much of a fan myself, the way everyone was acting like it was having Jesus or, I don't know, Stephen Sondheim on the judging panel was a little disconcerting. Chacun a son gout, right? (Yes. More pretentious talk.)
Last night each dancetestant first danced with an all-star, and they were put into pairs and danced with each other. Here's how it went down.
1. Sasha and all-star Pasha danced a Jonathan Roberts quick step to Terry Snyder's cover of "Puttin' on the Ritz."
I think Jonathan might have oversold the quirkiness on this just a tetch. It didn't strike me as that weird. Now, if one of them had been dressed like Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein? That would have been the appropriate level of weird, given the song choice. So, not that quirky, but there were a couple of odd moments (like was that supposed to be a lift at the end?). All in all it was fun and snappy, and she pulled off looking like she'd done the Quick Step 100 times. I just didn't think it was that weird!
2. Caitlynn and all-star Ivan danced a Marty Kudelka hip-hop routine to "Mario's Let Me Love You."
Well, let me channel Len from Dancing with the Stars and say that this routine took a really long time to get going. And even when it started to heat up, it seemed to feature Ivan way more than Caitlynn. She was totally competent. But this was a total throwaway number. The most interesting part came during the judging. NO, I have to say: I don't like it when Nigel tells girls to "open their legs a little bit more," either. However, I do think Gaga pointing it out only made me think about him saying that to young girls more, and that is not OK.
3. Jordan and all-star Ade danced a Tyce Diorio jazz routine to Tina Turner's "Nutbush City Limits."
Yes, yes, Jordan is a sex kitten who can kick really, really high. I get it already. I mean, this was, again, competently done, no complaints. Well, OK: one complaint. I didn't think there wasn't a ton of connection between them. She was playing out to the audience most of the time, and it meant there wasn't a ton of the infamous chemistry you hear about. My main issue is just that I'm tired of it. I guess you could blame the choreographers. They're playing the same keys every time they work with her. Either way, I'm all Evil Willow "Bored now!" about Jordan.
4. Melanie and all-star Neil danced a Mandy Moore contemporary routine to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Much as it pains me to say it, I think I'm starting to suffer a similar ennui with Melanie. Now, let's be clear: That ennui is about a level of performance and technique that, in my opinion, is among the best they've got up there. This number was really good. Excellent. But I'd like to see Melanie do something fun and light. I'd like to see her do hip-hop. I'd like to see her do a frothy foxtrot or jumping jive. Is it just me? I feel like it might be just me.
5. Ricky and all-star Anya danced a Jason Gilkison jive to Celine Dion's "River Deep, Mountain High."
This had some stellar moments, particularly some lifts and releases that were breathtaking. And yet I felt Ricky didn't have the bounce. I agree with the judges that he was quite
