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Image courtesy FOX
Is this year the strongest year yet? It's looking pretty good right about now.
Last night was another exhibition of fantastic talent, and performance skills that are coming along nicely. In past years, by this point, you would be able to pick out and remember and discuss maybe two or three of the dancers. This year I feel like it's just two or three that aren't memorable. Now maybe that's because we already know the all-stars, so we're talking about a smaller pool. Or maybe it's because they're allowing already professional dancers like Alex, Billy and Robert to participate. What's your theory?
Anyway, a good time was had by all (well, meaning my viewing companion and me) last night watching these performances:
1. Cristina and all-star Pasha danced a Jean-Marie Paso Doble routine
Cristina has a lot of fire and passion, really the two main ingredients of an exciting and entertaining Paso. Notice I didn't say ingredients for a well-executed Paso. I thought Cristina seemed occasionally unsteady on her feet. She wasn't always 100 percent sure of what came next, or so it appeared, but I saw that in her feet ... not her face. And that's the way I like it.
Bottom line: It's a tough line-up and a tough crowd. And she went first. Might add up to another visit to the Bottom 3.
2. Adechike and all-star Alison danced a Mandy Moor Contemporary routine
Well, Adechike may be this season's Danny. there's no denying he has tremendous talent, great lines, huge leaps, awesome extension. But yeah, he's a bit cold. A bit unable to truly deeply connect with his partner. He was trying really really hard to smile and project that personality. But that was the problem. It looked like he was trying really really hard.
Bottom line: It was better than last week, when he didn't wind up in the Bottom 3, so perhaps his abs of steel will carry him through again?
3. Alex and all-star Lauren danced a Tyce Broadway routine
I thought the judges were smoking some crack on this one. I thought Alex definitely pulled it off, and frankly seemed more on target than Lauren. His movement was truly perfection. Could he have had a tiny bit more edge, and been a tiny bit sharper? Yes, OK, he could. But I thought he had exactly the kind of small, defined, precise, isolated movements that Fosse work requires.
Bottom line: Not that most of the audience will know whether he was on-Fosse or not, so I'm thinking the judges comments might not mean that much. I think he's safe.
4. Ashley and all-star Mark danced a Travis Jazz routine
And yes, Nigel was right: Didn't see much Jazz about it. And not just because there were no jazz hands. This was a good routine, but didn't love it like I've loved previous Travis numbers. It was all very staccato, and I didn't see the story Travis said he was trying to tell. I didn't see a development of the relationship...didn't see the together-breakup-together concept. I will say that Ashley and Mark looked really good together, but that wasn't really enough to pull me in.
Bottom line: Hmmm. Not memorable. And Mark's partner ended up bottom 3 last week. Perhaps that spells trouble?
5. Billy and all-star Comfort danced a Lil C Crump routine
Um. Yeah. OK, first of all,the routine itself wasn't that exciting. Maybe Lil C did the best he could with the dancer he had to work with because, frankly, Billy was marking it. it's not just that he couldn't pull off the attitude, it's that he didn't seem to be trying that hard. And not in a good chillaxed kind of way.
Bottom line: Yeah, but it's fan favorite Billy Bell. The voters will probably just think it's so cuuuute that he tried.
6. Robert and all-star Anya danced a Jean-Marie Argentine Tango
Again, didn't agree with (some of) the judges here. Robert has quietly and out of nowhere become one of my favorites. I didn't really notice him at all during the audition/Las Vegas portion of the season, but he has really impressed me these last two weeks. I thought he was both very precise and very committed. I bought it. So there!
Bottom line: I think America will side with me, not Mia :)
7. Melinda and all-star Ade danced a Stacey Contemporary routine
Oh thank GOD Mia brought up the elementary school art project dress that Melinda was wearing. That thing was HEINOUS. Look, she's Mother Earth, she has
