Who’s excited? More importantly, who is going home? Is JT going to win this whole thing? Big questions, I know. Join me tonight, and comment below!
Two Weeks off after this? Whaaaaaaa….
TWO DANCERS leave tonight.
Remember, to vote, you can use the Fox app or go to Fox.Com/Dance.
Top 8 and All-Stars- Ain’t Playin With Ya
COSTUMING. OMG. They are all dressed like toys. It’s like a hip hop version of The nutcracker. I’m in love. Seriously, I think this might be my favorite group number of the season. What an excellent way to start the night. And ending with Fik-Shun’s creepy face as he closes the door, come on now. Perfection. If you tuned in late, this is definitely a video you’ll want to catch up on later. That was a Pharside and Phoenix number. – Click to Watch Video
Nigel, Paula, Maddie, and Jason are our judges.
1) Emma and Gaby- Tap by Anthony- Walk Like An Egyptian
Anthony wants to push their technique to their limits. Emma is keeping up with Gaby, an she’s grown a lot in her maturity as a performer over these past couple weeks. It’s a cool number, due in part to the quirkiness of the music and the lighting, as well as the personality of the performers. This should be enough to keep Emma safe if she’s in danger tonight. Standing O from the judges. Nigel says these two were “made in heaven” for each other. Nigel loved the “out and out tap technique”. Nigel says Emma is going a long way. Paula says Emma is prime for television. Maddie says they are perfect for each other. Jason says Emma keeps getting greater and greater. – Click to Watch Video
Jason plugs his new song, Kiss The Sky, which is the official track for the animated Storks movie coming out in September. We’re treated to a preview of Storks.
2) Tahani and Comfort- Hip Hop by Tabitha and Napoleon- I’m Going Down
Daddy walked out. That’s the number. There’s a wall on stage. They are mirroring each others movements like mother and daughter. It’s impressive because they really can’t see each other. They just have to trust that this whole gamble is paying off. I think it is. I love it. It’s really a lovely piece that showcases both how Tahani has a lot of maturity for her age, but really also how far Comfort has come over the years. Loved it. Standing O from the judges. Tahani is crying a bit. Paula says they were doppelgangers, ad she felt their pain. She says it’s her favorite performance of Tahani’s and tells Comfort she’s brilliant. Maddie says it’s their best dance, and she relates to the dance. Jason loves the vulnerable side of hip hop, and agrees that this was her best performance. Nigel says it amazes him how much emotion you can get out of a hip hop routine. Nigel says Tahani is one of his favorites. – Click to Watch Video
On a side note, I saw Jacob Lusk from Idol in a Honda commercial. Glad he’s finding work. Not quite as cool as Justin Guarini’s Diet Dr Pepper commerticals, but hey.
Saturday was National Dance Day. We see some videos taken from around the country.
3) Ruby and Paul- Pasa Doble by Jean Marc- Echelon
Ruby was on the bottom last week, and most in danger to go home, and she’s got a really difficult routine this week. Maddie says this is a great opportunity for her to show a different style, but not really. It’s a chance for her to show how good she is at her style. I normally enjoy Ruby, but there’s a bit too much face pulling and pursing of lips for me. Technique wise, she comes across very strong, which is a viable option when these girls can’t be sexy. I think it was a good dance, but she really needed great. Standing O from the judges anyway. Maddie says they are a phenomenal pair together. Jason says it was visually stunning. Nigel says that was one of Paul’s best dances, and he got better because of Ruby. Paula says she handled that with total control. Was it enough to save her? – Click to Watch Video
4) Jordan and Jake- Hip Hop with Pharside and Phoenix- Bad Man
They’re trying to make Jake born to do hip hop. They’re in a battle in this dance. Jordan thinks Jake is cute. Both dancers are out of their styles. Some really cool tricks here, but the height difference makes it hard for me to take Jake seriously. If I had to pick a winner, I’d pick Jordan, instead of Jake, who is like a dancing Christmas elf in this. Not his best routine. Jason thought it was fun, and it had moments. Jason says Jake has some swag, but acknowledges Jordan was more comfortable in the routine. Nigel says it was dope, fresh, and some other nonsense. He says Jake was pretty good, but doesn’t need to smile all the time. He thinks Jordan’s personality is finally coming out. Paula says she’s proud of them. Maddie says they did a great job. – Click to Watch Video
Cat has reminded me that two dancers go home tonight. So who will it be? Who is most vulnerable? After that dance, I’d say Jake, who really needs to slay his routine. Yes, Jake is adorable, but he’s also a ballroom dancer, and they haven’t been getting the votes as much as dancers in other genres. Would the judges send home both Jake and Ruby and lose their remaining ballroom dancers in the same week? Probably not. Would they save Ruby twice? I don’t know. I can’t see Jake AND Ruby leaving, but I think one of them is going home for sure.
5) Tahani and JT- Cha Cha by Emma and Sasha- Bom Bom
They are vogue models. I’m scared for this routine. JT hopes to show he’s a well rounded dancer. I’m not crazy about the arms. Not straight enough for me, and npt creating the right line, from either of them. Otherwise, I think Tahani is dong really good for a hip hop girl paired with a much shorter boy, who is also out of his style. JT is always entertaining, but he (like Jake) was outperformed by his girl. Nigel accidentally calls JT “Jake”. JT has had about 10 ballroom lessons, Tahani says she’s had around 7-10 lessons. He says they don’t really have the basics. He says America loves JT, but he needs to tuck his butt in more. No rise and fall in the cha cha. Paula can’t keep her eyes off of them, even though the routine exposed their lack of training. Maddie agrees and says she was distracted by their technique. Jason agrees, and says they have to get the technique together. – Click to Watch Video
6) Jordan and Sasha- Contemporary by Sean Cheesman- Amazing Grace
Shaun choreographed this piece for his father, who is in the hospital. Very simple arrangement off the song. Beautiful costuming. Jordan always matches Sasha in these routines, which always makes Jordan stand out more as a contender. She never feels dwarfed by her all-star. Great choreography, raw emotion, and beautiful control and poise. I’d still give the edge to Tahani/Comfort, but this was great too. Paula says her heart is with Shaun, and the two of them shined, and tells Jordan she’s gorgeous and did Shaun very proud. Maddie loved it. Jason says they executed it really well to an acapella vocal. He said it felt like they were one being. Nigel is positive that Sasha is pleased that she chose Jordan, because they compliment each other so well, and Jordan found her emotion in that dance. – Click to Watch Video
7) Jake and Jenna- Jive by Jean Marc
A football themed dance. Jake struggled a bit in rehearsal. Jenna is the hottest football coach ever. LOL. Jake is doing good back in his style. The tricks are good, and Jake is endlessly entertaining. He might have redeemed himself for his hip hop routine. I’ll know after I see Ruby out of her style. Maddie says Jake’s partner work gets better every week, and “how about that cartwheel?” Jason says the partnership is cool. Nigel says all the football players will be doing this dance. Paula says they’re one of her favorite couples. She’s proud. – Click to Watch Video
How has Kida not danced yet tonight? Literally, Tahani, Jake, and Jordan are all “done” for the evening, and Kida hasn’t danced once. Are they trying to save him by having him perform both times near the end of the show?
8) Emma and Tate- Jazz by Shaun Cheeseman- Act One: Trouble
I’m feeling some naughty school girl vibes, and I’m not 100% OK with that.As far as the dance itself, oddly enough, I think Ema is stealing this from Tate. I never thought I’d say that, but she just does her moves quicker, and cleaner. Tate has such long legs when she goes to flip them. I think it slows her down. Jason says it wasn’t their best number, but it was fun to watch. Nigel says they sat nicely in the groove, and they had fun with it. Nigel says they know how to be naughty. NIGEL. STOP. Paula says it felt like it was out of School Of Rock. Maddie says the dance showed their versatility. – Click to Watch Video
9- Ruby and Kida- Contemp by Mandy Moore- Over the Rainbow
Ruby and Kida drew Mandy Moore. I think they’re trying to save these two. Kida is REALLY GOOD in this. He’s clearly trained outside his style. One of my favorite routines of the night. I’d save either of these two after this. Standing O from the judges. Nigel says it was beautifully done. Nigel thinks Kida is a joy for the competition, and gives him breathing tips. He felt Ruby the whole way through. Kida is crying a bit. Paula says she was swept away, and didn’t see two children, just two dancers. Paula is impressed and proud by Kida. Paula says Ruby’s lines were exquisite. Maddie was impressed. Jason says Kida needed to point his toes more, but otherwise a beautiful performance. – Click to Watch Video
10) All-Stars- Contemp by Tyce Diorio- A Star In A Stoneboat
Obviously pre-taped, because we just saw Fik-Shun with a bumblebee on his back, and he’s not dressed the same here. nice to see all 10 All-Stars on stage, even Mark and Jonathan still getting their paychecks. A pretty, snowy routine. Not as memorable as the opener, but still a good routine. – Click to Watch Video
I’m leaning toward this being Jake’s last night, but who else?
11) JT and Robert- Jazz by Mandy Moore- Friend Like Me
Not an emotional performance, finally. It’s a fun routine, but I think what made JT a front runner was the fact that his routines were so great, and not fluff. This is fluff, and I can’t help but think it pulled JT back a bit. Paula says if you’re having a bad day, rewatch that performance. Paula says that is Broadway-worthy. She loved it. Maddie says they always wow her. Jason calls them the dynamic duo. They had 20 million views? Really? Nigel says this is where JT shines. Nigel tells JT to check out Shirley Temple. – Click to Watch Video
12) Kida and Fik-Shun- Hip Hop by Misha- The Buzz
This is about bees. Kida has come out of his shell more, and is starting to not be so outshined by Fik-Shun’s personality. It’s really nice to see, finally. He’s had a good week. This is a really fun dance, and how fun dances should be done. I’ll remember this a lot longer than Friend Like Me. Sorry, JT. Maddie says it was amazing, and the front flip was un “bee” lievable, and they are “all the buzz”. Nigel says she stole his line. LOL. Jason says they danced their antennas off. Nigel says real “buzz” on the social media. Nigel says Kida has served himself well tonight. Paula says wonderful night for Kida. – Click to Watch Video
13) Tate and Katherine- Contemporary by Travis- She Used To Be Mine
Katherine is crying in the pre-interviews. it’s about a mom that gave up her daughter, and their first reuniting. Very emotional. Travis wants to “rip your heart out of your chest”. Tate has such GREAT lines. Her legs are magnificent. Tate really gets the emotion of this, and Katherine is INCREDIBLE. My favorite Tate routine, and possibly my favorite Katherine routine. Katherine is ASTOUNDING in this. So much commitment. Best dance of the night. No way is Tate going home. Jason thanks Travis. He takes his hat off to Tate for being able to emote. Jason says it wouldn’t have been the same without Katherine. He felt what they were saying. Nigel thanks Sara Barielles, who performed the piece acoustically specifically for this routine. WOW. Nigel says Tate’s technique is beautiful, and Katherine is one of the best actresses ever on the series. And that’s what she can learn from Katherine. Paula calls Travis the gift that keeps on giving. Paula says Tate has become an emotionally connected, exquisite dancer. Paula says Katherine is a gifted actress that needs to be celebrated. Maddie says Travis is incredible, and this was the best dance of the season. – Click to Watch Video
All the dancers are on the stage. Nigel says the strongest people aren’t always the ones who win, the strongest are the ones who don’t give up when they don’t win.
Jordan and Jake are going home. The judges didn’t get any say. Both of them are handling it well. Jake is crying a bit, but still very optimistic. I’m surprised Jordan went home. She’s such a beast. I liked both of them. – Click to Watch Elimination Video
Join me after the two week hiatus for the Top 6.
