Look for the All-stars to stay on stage during the new-stars critiques tonight. Nigel has been telling reporters to watch for that change.
Nigel is doing the whole backstage footage thing to open the show–just like Idol.
Here are the “panel of distinguished experts”…your judges! Adam, Mia and Nigel. Oh, we see the contestants picking names out of a box to determine which all-star they’ll be paired with this week. Jose looks thrilled to be dancing Bollywood with Kathryn! Neil and Twitch will not be dancing this week.
The contestants will be sharing childhood memories in their video packages.
Cristina Santana and Pasha Kovalev – Jean Marc Genereux and France – Paso Doble – “Ira Deorum/ Sanctus” by James Dooley – Cristina manages to keep up with the fabulous Pasha. Nigel says, “It needs passion, power, fire and control. Yes, Cristina brought it tonight. A great start to the show. Thank goodness you didn’t go home.” Mia says, “It was everything. It was the perfect partnership. Fabulous. Thank you for that.” Adam avoids the Pasho Doble joke. “Your confidence and commitment to your character was extraordinary. You set that stage on fire.” 1-888-623-7801 – VIDEO
Adechike Torbert and Allison Holker – Mandy Moore – Contemporary – “Listen to your Heart” by (EDMEE’S UNPLUGGED VOCAL EDIT) D.H.T. Feat. EDMEE – His dad was a dancer! His family lost everything in a fire in 2004. This week’s dance has no story. It’s all about connecting to the emotion. Mandy tries to help him with that connection. Adechike is still total awkwardcakes when it comes to connection and inhabiting character. I can’t see him lasting much longer. Nigel says, “I can see a major improvement. Don’t interrupt the flow of your emotional side. You’ve got a beautiful style.” Mia says, “You need to tap into that joy that’s in there on a more consistent level.” She calls his smile dishonest and false. I felt the same way! “Dance is a heart form. That’s what was lacking for me.” Adam says, “You’re technically so good…you’re dancing from your head. You need to get out of your head. Let go and be there.” Adechike feels he improved. – 1-888-623-7802 – VIDEO
Alex Wong and Lauren Gottlieb – Tyce Diorio – Broadway – “Summertime” by Sylvester – He started out as a tapper when he began dancing at 7. He hated ballet at first. Tyce says the dance is inspired by the Fosse style. Snaps! Alex feels he has a lot to live up to after last week. OMG. Alex? Still fabulous. Wow. Nigel tells Alex to check out some of Fosse’s You Tubes. “You need to try and bring a little more power to your performance. Everything technically is there. You were dancing with your shoulders up a little bit. Some nice things going on. You’re going to have to work hard in changing genre now.” Alex DID You Tube Fosse. Mia says, “Fosse is so internal…your physical perfection and huge, I want it to be more inside. It isn’t always about the tricks and the power.” She does this snake thing to illistrate her point. “It isn’t about your ability, but about your versatility and growth. It was the antithesis of Fosse, it was all at 11. A lot of flash and no smoulder. Without question you are an extraordinary dancer.” Alex says he’s come her to learn as much as he can. Nigel says he’s doing a brilliant job. – 1-888-623-7803 – VIDEO
Ashley Galvan and Mark Kanemura – Travis Wall – Jazz – “Wonderful” by Annie Lennox – The story line is about the couple breaking up. – Ashley’s mom dressed her all girly girl. She did her first competition at the age of 4. Ashley worries about connecting to the dance. That was fantastic. A great partnership! It’s Ashley’s 20th B’day on Saturday. Nigel says, “We’ve got to be careful that we do separate jazz from contemporary. I really didn’t get the fact that it was jazz. I don’t feel I’ve learned anything new about you. I want to see you push in other areas.” Nigel loved the dive lift. Mia says, “I loved the walk in the beginning.” She didn’t think it was jazz either. “You’re one of my favorite girls…keep the story alive through the transistions. But you delivered.” Adam says, “There was a lot of lifts, really challenging. I would have liked to see more of you breathing and just dancing.” Hm. The critiques were really about Travis Wall’s choreography…which they didn’t seem to like. – 1-888-623-7804 – VIDEO
Billy & Comfort – Lil C – Krump – “S U Think You Can Krump” by Tha J-Squad – He was a fat baby. Billy’s going to have to be tough. Good luck with that. Billy B. Buck! And, erm. Yeah, Billy just is never going to be the tough guy. I never got Nigel’s love for Comfort. She’s got no charisma. Nigel says, “I hate that music!” Cat says he’s not supposed to like it–it’s for the kids. “I think that this is the toughest style that you will find on this program for you. It’s a warrior’s dance, you haven’t found the warrior yet. But I celebrate that you gave it everything you’ve got.” Mia says, “You knocked on the warriors door, but you didn’t open the door. It was an awkward moment for me. But, I still love you.” Adam says, “You were trying so hard out there.” Comfort says he was “buck to me.” Adam continues, “That was a failed experiment to me, honey. You didn’t have enough hit and rebound. You’re a great dancer, who cares.” – 1-888-623-7805 – VIDEO
Robert Roldan and Anya Garnis – Jean Marc Genereux and France – Argentine Tango – “Libertango” by Bond Quartet – Robert was a crazy kid! Robert looks awesome up there. He continues to establish himself as the dark horse. He’s really charming, too. Nigel says, “This role was the dominant male taking on the woman…without question, you did that this evening. You looked magnificent up there. You had some great choreography. One of the best routines of the night.” Mia disagrees. She says, “Robert you looked like a young Pablo…your carriage and your groundedness….I felt like Anya devoured you. It was a little skritchy.” Anya disagrees. Adam says, “I know what each of them are saying. Beautiful footwork, you look fabulous, but you looked really stressed out. You’re amazing. Stretch your steps.” – 1-888-623-7806 – VIDEO
Melinda Sullivan and Ade Obayomi – Stacey Tookey – Contemporary – “Squander” by Skunk Anansie- The dance is about exploring the relationship between mother earth and mankind. – Melinda was a quirky kid! I don’t know…the judges loved it, but I thought it was a little awkward. I was not feeling that. Nigel says, “Lovely idea, for a tapper, you’ve got some fantastic lines. But with this you’ve got to be on it, and it was absolutely tremendous tonight. Ade you are a remarkably strong dancer.” Mia says, “I loved the concept, the dress was a little something for me (not good), I thought your lines were ‘gorg-wah'” Adam says, “Honey, you were great. I thought you were fantastic. I’m so glad we kept you.” – 1-888-623-7807 – VIDEO
Jose Ruiz and Kathryn McCormick – Nakul Dev Mahajan – Bollywood – “Marijaani Marjaani Kasame” Billu Barber (Soundtrack) – Jose was really into sports and martial arts with he was a kid. The story is about a Genie in a bottle Jose has no idea what Bollywood is. Jose is keeping up. NOT ridiculous. Plus, he’s so lovable. Kathryn is magnificent. Nigel says, “This really is taking people out of their elements. Did you get there? Not quite. You got as far as South Africa.” He makes a World Cup analogy. He tells Jose to be persistent, and that his performance was tremendous, even if the fingers weren’t right. Mia says, “I love you so much right now, you made us smile. You were so wrong, but it was so right. Was it really Bollywood? I don’t know. I had a good time.” She says his smile will take him far.” Adam says, “I need my clothes back after the show. If there were a prize for the brightest light on this show, you would have won it already. Absolute joy. It was totally wrong, but so much fun.” – 1-888-623-7808 – VIDEO
Lauren Froderman and Dominic Sandoval – Lyrical Hip Hop – Tessandra Chavez – “If I Were A Boy” by Beyonce – The dance is story is about an abusive relationship. Lauren says it’s really important to connect emotionally on a deep level. Lauren drops the pageant moves to really dig into her role. She really improved this week. Nigel says, “I believed the performance. Welcome Tessandra to the program. That was a really fine performance for both of you.” Mia says she’s got a really good butt (not a sway back like Nigel suspects) Mia says, “Outstanding performance from both of you. The only moments I wanted to feel more, was the abuse part–take it so far into reality, that it’s really disturbing. But, one of the best of the night.” Adam says, “You’re so technically adept. You took my notes. You listened to me. You just got better. You are in such a raw space right now. Celebrate that. You are an actor.” Lauren says she listened, and really wanted to get to a deeper place. – 1-888-623-7809 – VIDEO
Kent Boyd & Courtney Galiano – Tyce Diorio – Jazz – “Amy Amy Amy” by Amy Winehouse – As a child, he was toothless with a huge head! Here, Kent’s going to have to bring on the sexual tension with Courtney. Can he drop the sweet little boy routine? Well, he tried. Nigel says, “Your journey is moving very fast. I really enjoyed it. That was a jazz routine. I don’t think that you were having as much fun as you were with your cha cha, which you weren’t very good at.” Nigel says Kent was thinking too much. “She’d probably eat you alive.” Courtney defends Ken’ts sexiness. Mia says continues, “I think there were great moments. You have such a big personality, it kind of stays in Kent world. You needed to eat her alive. You need to step into a more mature world now.” Adam says, “It’s about finding that connection between you two. You are a fantastic performer and a great dancer.” Kent admits to being nervous. “I’m cute Kent, but I need to be sexy Kent. He’s so adorbs, it doesn’t matter how he dances, he’ll get the votes. – 1-888-623-7810 – VIDEO
