The judges made it obvious who they want in their Top 3 for the final: Robert, Lauren and Kent. Adechike got lots of criticism topped off with the “congratulations you should be proud of yourself but now goodbye” speech from the judges. Thing is, Adechike hasn’t been in the bottom all season, while both Robert and Lauren have. I would not be surprised if Robert or Lauren are eliminated Thursday night.
Lots of overpraise for Robert Roldan tonight, I thought. I kinda hated that clown routine. But then I despise clowns, so there’s that. Still, not a great routine by Nappy-Tabs standards. And his Viennese waltz was nice, but not jumping up and down over that.
Adechike Tolbert danced the way he always does–with great strength, but very little connection to his audience or to his partner. So. Meh.
Kent Boyd danced a decent disco routine. I was on Team Nigel here. I don’t get this whole you-must-have-serious-face-while-dancing-disco deal Adam and Mia were advancing. Since when? And that was some absolutely beautiful choreography from Travis Wall on Kent’s last number with Neil–a very beautifully rendered story of betrayal and a relationship irrevocably broken. Kent and Neil danced it beautifully, too.
But the star of the night, if you ask me, was Lauren Froderman who danced a sexy Tango with Pasha and a totally fierce Jazz routine with Ade. She’s come a long way from the smiling pageant-bot we saw in the first few weeks. Her ability to adapt to different styles has been impressive, and as the judges’ have commented, she’s strong but still retains her femininity. I really hope she makes the final.
Live blog and Videos after the JUMP…
We’re down to the Top 4 dancers! Next week? The finale!
Cat Deeley looks STUNNING tonight. But then, she always does. Each of the Top 4 will dance 3 times. This week, the judges CAN’T SAVE ANYONE. It’s about time.
Cat introduces the judges’ panel. Tyce Diorio joins Nigel, Adam and Mia at the table. They chat a bit about Saturday’s National Dance Day.
Group Dance – Tyce DiOrio – “The Crapshooters Dance” from Guys and Dolls – choreographed a Broadway routine for the Top 4. The boys in spats, and Lauren looking very 60s chic. Tyce says it was great choreographing the Top 4. “You’re in charge–Kent you really do stand out. Robert good job. Adechike I want to see the fight.” “What’s not to love” says Adam. – VIDEO
Lauren Froderman and Pasha – Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo – Tango – “Oblivion” by Astor Piazzolla – Lauren has to play somebody seductive and sexy. She says it’s not her. LaureShe’s really left the pageant competition dancer deal behind. Nigel says, “My eyes steamed up…the intensity, the control…but you showed why you are here in the top 4. Pasha, I wanted to dance with you! Lauren, you stayed there with him. Magnificent.” Tyce says, “I want to give you exactly what you deserve, I want to give you your props. Mia says “You literally became a woman…it was simmering. It was absolutely mesmerizing.” After that Prop 8 had been overturned by the courts in California, Adam says, “I would like to take this opportunity to ask Nigel Lythgoe to marry me.” Ha ha. Adam continues, “Lauren, to quote Sting “Every Little Thing You Do is Magic”…There was a moment you were so lost, I thought I was watching a movie. You used your legs like they were arms. It was just brilliant. Art baby.” Adam liked Pasha’s eyebrows! 1-888-623-7801. – VIDEO
Adechike Tolbert and Lauren – Sean Cheeseman – Afro Jazz – “The Path” by Ralph McDonald – The storyline is the path to freedom. Sean says it’s like a metaphor for his journey on SYTYCD. The promised land is the finale! Adechike’s strong dancing is a perfect match for this choreography. He really lucked out this week. But, he still looks a little wound up. Nigel says, “Good fun routine, Adechike, you have to watch..loosen up a bit. Good job. I’d like to see your next routine be even stronger.” Tyce says, “Lauren, I love you. Adechike, The heart of the dancer lies in the story line. There’s using your center, and deepening within in it. I think you could have taken it that much further. Tired is not in there. You needed that exhilaration. I think you dance it very well, but it could have gone…out the door.” Mia says, “I didn’t care for that. It’s about the celebration, it’s about the bigness…because of the tightness in your upper body, you can’t expand to the heavens…I want to feel full body, full mind, full heart. There were moments…but you should be perfection.” A “l think it’s about losing your center…I felt conscious of you being in the choreography. In the next one, just forget yourself and dance for your life.” 1-888-623-7802
OK. the filler tonight is going to kill me. Video package before (with the choreographer) and after (personal bits) the dance. – VIDEO
Robert Roldan and Anya – Jonathan Roberts – Viennese Waltz – “Lost” by Anduk – Robert jokes that he’s ready to take Pasha’s place. Not really! Nigel says, “Thanks Jonathan for a beautiful routine, You’ve got that beautiful carriage, Robert. You’ve worked very hard on the rise and fall. Beautiful lift.” Tyce says, “I think you invested wholeheartedly, to the max. You wore it like a suit.” Mia says, “Like an Armani suit..so romantic. You’re like the prince of this season. I would love to see it again. I want you to relax and enjoy the ride. Sometimes I can see you thinking. I just want to fly with you. Tonight I did. You’re the prince.” Adam says, “You were brilliant. There was absolutely no difference in movement quality between you and Anya. You owned, it, you made it happen. You are in a little surge here.” Robert is really good friends and roomates with Season 6’s Channing Cook – 1-888-623-7803 – VIDEO
Kent Boyd and Courtney – Doriana Sanchez – Disco – “When Love Takes Over” by Dave Guetta – Kent has no effing idea what disco is. Crazy spins and lifts! Kent is irrepressible! Nigel wonders if Doriana had to ditch a few lifts. He commends Kent on not pulling too many faces. “It was a really good routine.” Season 1 dancer, Nick Lazzerini’s in the audience. Nigel said in so many words that Doriana dumbed down the routine for Kent. Tyce says, “You needed to do a little more research. You did well.” Mia says, “That was a little rough for me. It wasn’t the partnering–it was solid. It felt very childlike, bouncy, short and squashy. It was the worst performance from you this season.” Adam says, “Boo me! She’s not totally wrong…” Nigel says he’s not going to marry Adam now! “Kent, it brought out your most youthful performance yet. Your performance was excited. It’s about having a seriousness, ” says Adam. Nigel liked it better than his fellow panelists. Feh! We get a tour of Kent’s “country crib” in Ohio. Kent quit soccer when he was a Junior in high school for dance. – 1-888-623-7804 – VIDEO
One more round of routines with the All-stars coming up!
Lauren Froderman and Ade – Sean Cheeseman – Jazz – “Hide U” – Once again, Lauren has to be vampy, sexy–a deadly black widow! Her kiss is deadly! (Lauren kills him) Nigel says, “I thought that lift was amazing. Really good stuff. It was really strong, masculine work, but still feminine. I hope people will look at your work across the season…you deserve to be in the finale.” Tyce says, “Great Jazz, yes. I think there could have been a little more ferociousness in that ending position, but I think your dancing was spectacular.” Mia says, “You’re a beast. I love the strong female dancers and you are that. You owned it. The sexual chemistry wasn’t as evident, but as a whole, I thought it was amazing.” Adam says, “I want to hire you. It would be my privilege to work with you.” – VIDEO
Adechike Tobert and Kathryn – “Fearless Love” by Melissa Etheridge – Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden – – Adichike worked with the pair about 5 years ago and had a lot to do with why he wanted to become a dancer. Nigel says, “You have showcased your talents across this season. I think you lost a little bit of wind at the end. You’ve got to keep ti going. You’ve done a wonderful job. I’m really proud of you.” Tyce says, “I want to celebrate where you are right now. You have a lot more to go. It needed width and depth and a line that is stellar. Congratulations to you.” Mia says, “I wanted more. I will say, you have the potential of being a super-hero dancer. I saw glimpses…then I found the exhaustion and disconnect come through. You’re moving and you’re growing. Every day is another gift.” Adam says, “You really laid it all out there, you have grown so much on this show.” Well, those critiques were basically a big giant kiss off! Adechike is from the hood! Where homies don’t dance! After his package, Ade is crying. He’s grateful, no matter what happens. – VIDEO
Robert Roldan and Dominic – Tabitha and Napoleon – Hip hop – “Scars” – Basement Jaxx – Tabitha and Napoleon – The routine is about clowns that who find out their circus is closing (I HATE CLOWNS) – Nigel says, “I hope you get to do this routine on the tour, because it really was tremendous. Whatever we throw at you, you just do it. You were brilliant.” Tyce says, “Loved the tab and Nap! Robert, you really showed up to this piece. You took it on and made it magic. Dominic great job.” Mia says, “Hip hop theater, what a concept. Yes. Dope. Completely. You committed to everything. You’ve had an amazing night.” Adam says Robert outdanced Dominic’s ASS. “You were sickness, dude. This night was yours.” – VIDEO
Kent Boyd and Neil – Travis Wall – Contemporary – “How It Ends” – Neil stabs Kent in the back and a friendship ends. That was brutal choreography, but in a good way. Nigel says, “Absolutely chilling piece. The number of the show to me.” Travis says he was inspired by real life. “You danced it brilliantly. Wow. That was outstanding. I hope we get to see that again on the finale. You just booked a place on the finale.” “Excellence was just delivered by the choreographer, the dancer and the all star. Are you kidding me! Amazing. Fantastic.” Mia starts crying, “I can’t find the words. It’s so real. So uncomfortably awful. The combination of the 3 of you was perfect.” Adam says, “Travis you are so brilliant. If this were the finale, Kent, you would have just won the show.” – VIDEO
