n the other hand, I would watch So You Think You Can Choreograph in a heartbeat, if they want to make that show. They could kind of do it like Project Runway. Maybe bring over Tim Gunn, lol.

Here here – I am fascinated with what process choreographers use to come up with this stuff consistently. And Tim Gunn’s tag line would be perfect “Make it Work!.” bwah.

Nigel need another show idea?

but simply having Mia or Wade……..hasn’t ALWAYS guaranteed safety, even when the routines are good.

Has anyone that has gotten praise ever been in the bottom with a Wade or Mia piece? I’ve only watched since last season, so I honestly don’t know.

When you tie an emotional and sensitive subject to a dance, you’re basically saying that the dance defies criticism, IMO, because those who criticize it are deemed by some to be heartless.

I don’t know. People who don’t feel comfortable criticizing the dance still won’t vote for it if they don’t like it. Thinking this way, Melissa and Ade might get more critical acclaim than you think they deserve, but not necessarily votes. I do think it helps get votes just because the subject touches so many people, but I’ve seen a lot of criticism on how manipulative the dance is too. So, it could also turn off a lot of people.

But this kind of manipulation is a whole different beast IMO, because it’s hard to be objective in your praise and/or criticism of the dancers and the way they danced it, due to the subject matter. Not the dancing.

I would have to see them dance it badly before I could say for sure. JMO, but I don’t think the judges would have a problem pointing out how powerful the choreography was, but that they failed to deliver. I don’t think the dance would have affected people in the same way if the dancing had been poor, which, IMO, means that it isn’t above criticism. You still have to have good dancers, and I thought they were.

So that is the problem with the emotional back stories and subject matters. These two on the whole were the weakest of the night and yet the emotional strings that the back story of this dance tugged on propelled, I am sure ,many people to vote for them (especially Melissa) who otherwise would not even be given a second look.

I also disagree that only these two could have danced it. I am sure Kayla and Brandon would have done just a well if not better.

When you tie an emotional and sensitive subject to a dance, you’re basically saying that the dance defies criticism, IMO, because those who criticize it are deemed by some to be heartless. Not so with a run-of-the-mill Wade or Mia or whoever piece.

Giving dancers (who may or may not be in danger) routines from popular choreographers is definitely a form of manipulation that the show employs. But this kind of manipulation is a whole different beast IMO, because it’s hard to be objective in your praise and/or criticism of the dancers and the way they danced it, due to the subject matter. Not the dancing.

Re: “the bus and Evan” Butte009 reminded me that the televised comments are edited from the live performance show. The spoilers at TWOP made it sound really, really bad for Evan. Fortunately, the televised comments appear to have been less harsh than what the spoilers revealed.

Re: The BCD – Someone, either here or on TWOP said it perfectly – this dance should be in exhibition, NOT competition. In exhibition, everyone can appreciate the backstory without cynicism and appreciate it as an expression of dance art.

what Laurie needed these two to do was be in sync with their emotions, with their selves and throw everything they had into this performance

I agree she wanted what you said but with synchronicity in dance too, otherwise it would have been choreographed differently. ( as I watch the tape for the 10 time in the rehearsal they are dancing in sync and the choreographer is not telling not too) Also it was a military piece which would make me believe that being in sync on all levels was required. But you are entitled to your interpretation as I am mine. I never heard the choreographer tell them to not dance in sync. Yes they had all the other elements but I feel that if it was in sync it would have been more powerful.

Jeanine did not have a stronger center and she relied too much on her arms to propel her movement; that’s why she was just slightly behind him in the movement and didn’t quite show the same energy and propulsion.

i’ll have to rewatch the clip (thankgod for MJ)..but i was probably distracted by her “perfromance” that i didnt pay as much attention to the technique as i should have…..also doesnt help that brandon doesnt connect w. me on an emotional level but she does…hence clouding my judgement

hmmm, having wrote all that…i wonder if she, jeanine might be the shocking boot tonite? instead of melissa or kayla?

Exactly^^^^ what Laurie needed these two to do was be in sync with their emotions, with their selves and throw everything they had into this performance – you watched one or the other – not caring that they behaved like performing robots completely one, like the other. They did exactly what she asked them to do and then some.

I dont get the thrown under the bus statements – I read spoilers last night and sent a text to my sister who is three hours ahead, I said beware – Nigel and them are said to be throwing him “under the stupid bus” _ hate that saying, have I mentioned that maybe 90 times before? Anyhow – after Evans dance, she wrote back – nope – Nigel was nice, ok so it must be next song, it was but only that he didnt like his eyes much but each and everyone after that praised and over praised Evan – so I didnt see any throwing of Evan under the pretend bus?

The dance by Melissa and Ade was beautiful although I would have liked the song choice to have been ‘Permanent’  by David Cook. The song is very emotional.

Excellent song choice! I think Nico and Allie from last year’s Canadian version of the show did a contemporary piece to that song. It’s on youtube somewhere. It was amazing.

Jeanine and Brandon – Pop Jazz- Upon re-watching this piece… I think it was Brandon’s best dance for him individually but the piece was a couple piece and they were out of sync so many time that it took away from the power the piece could have been… But there was tons of emotion and Brandon for the first time for me did not over state it.

I agree that the sync was very sloppy. But if you go back to the rehearsal package – that is what the choreographer was going for. She was pushing them harder and harder for throwing every bit of personal emotion they could find into those moves. When you do that, you are sacrificing synchronicity for emotional power, Robots and Rockettes are perfectly synched. Laurie wanted the opposite of that, which is what I think they delivered.

I recorded the show last night and fast-forwarded through all of the rehearsal/backstory stuff and the judges’ comments when I watched each routine. As I watched Melissa and Ade’s piece, I totally got it and I was near tears at the end when it seemed that the woman dies. So, I backed up and listened to the backstory/rehearsal part to see if I was right. I thought it was beautiful and moving without the introduction. Maybe if I’d heard it first, my initial response would’ve been cynical, so I’m glad I watched the dance first. I do agree that the judges’ response, particularly Nigel’s shameless Emmy plug, was over the top.

Mysteriously overpraised: Jeannine ‘” that was the heaviest waltz in the history of waltzes.

First of all, Jeanine was NOT at all praised for the Waltz, but for the Pop/Jazz routine as was Brandon and rightfully so. I did think it was odd that there was very little interaction between them, but it worked for that piece and apparently a lot of people agree by the praise it’s gotten from so many fans online and the in-studio audience’s enthusiasm for it.

BTW – I do think Janette is good, though for some reason, I am getting a little sick of her and would not miss her if she left. But is it just me or is she getting away with murder in her solos because literally, all she does is shake her hips with some tiny bit of variation every single time.