Mia Michaels is tonight’s guest judge. Tomorrow: Flo-rida and a Shane Sparks group routine.
- Thayne Jasperson and Chelsea Traille – Jazz by Mandy Moore – Song: “Untouched” by The Veronicas – VIDEO
- Mark Kanemura and Chelsie Hightower – Argentine Tango by Alex de Silva – Song: “Mi Confesion” by Gotan Project – VIDEO
- William Wingfield and Jessica King – Hip-Hop by Cicily & Olisa – Song: “What You Like” by Nicole Scherzinger – VIDEO
- Matt Dorame and Kourtni Lind – Fox Trot by Jean Marc Generaux – Song: “A Foggy Day in London Town” by Michael Buble – VIDEO
- Gev Manoukian and Courtney Galiano – Contemporary by Mandy Moore – Song: …Lost by Anouk – VIDEO VIDEO
- Joshua Allen and Katee Shean – Broadway by Tyce Diorio – Song: …All For the Best from Godspell – VIDEO
- Marquis Cunningham and Susie Garcia – Salsa by Alex de Silva – Song: “Aguanile” by Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe – VIDEO
- Twitch and Kherington Payne – Viennese Waltz by Jean Marc Generaux – Song: …A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion – VIDEO
- Chris Jarosz and Comfort Fedoke – Krump by Lil C – Song: “Come and Get Me” by Timbaland – VIDEO
The judges get kinda bitchy while the contestant’s video packages feature what they like and don’t like about each other.
More Recap AFTER THE JUMP…
Thayne Jasperson and Chelsea Traille – Jazz by Mandy Moore – Song: “Untouched” by The Veronicas – Mandy explains that this routine is about “A king and his forbidden love. The outfits have this sorta 80’s “New Romantics” feel, and Nigel actively hates them. Mia thought it was a great concept, but not executed well. She felt Thayne wasn’t hot enough, and that Chelsea was a little “dumpy” and not regal enough. Mary said there wasn’t enough impact. She didn’t believe the chemistry. Besides hating the outfits, Nigel says he didn’t believe It. It’s true, their dancing was not very hot and sexy. Thayne was regal but a bit frilly where he should have been strong. Chelsea was better, I thought, but the chemistry was definitely missing. First performance, not favorites = definitely bottom 3.
Mark Kanemura and Chelsie Hightower – Argentine Tango by Alex de Silva – Song: “Mi Confesion” by Gotan Project – In the video package, Chelsie admits that they missed one of their lifts last week, but that she didn’t think anybody noticed. They dance a Tango–good for Chelsie who is a ballroom dancer. Her moves on the dance floor are just beautiful. Mark, a contemporary dancer, does a great job. The dance is precise, elegant and sexy. After the dance, host Cat Deely has to help Chelsie with her shoe. Mia says, “I am so in love with you two, you are the perfect odd couple…it was fantastical.” Mary says, “Do you know what I love about that? Everything.” Nigel says, “Chelsie I would have liked to see a little bit more fire in your eyes, a little more passion…the Argentinian Tango is a bit sleazy.” Chelsie is never going to play sleazy. She’s the innocent, he’s the quirky one. Their best dances will take advantage of that chemistry.
William Wingfield and Jessica King – Hip-Hop by Cicily & Olisa – Song: “What You Like” by Nicole Scherzinger – Woah, some big time Jessica hatin’ going on tonight, but a great big love fest for William. Mia and Mary love Will. Mia goes so far as to call him a genius. Poor Jessica has to stand there while they both pile the compliments on Will, while accusing Jessica of playing fake and dancing like a cheerleader. Jeez, William is definitely the better dancer, but I think Jessica more than held her own. Nigel finally, comes to her rescue, telling her he thinks she did a really good job considering she only has a few days to completely change her style. He saves the biggest compliment for Will, “I believe you are going to be there in the last 4.”
Matt Dorame and Kourtni Lind – Fox Trot by Jean Marc Generaux – Song: “A Foggy Day in London Town” by Michael Buble – This was a very old-fashioned movie musical style number. Very elegant, very light and very graceful. Really, just the opposite of that heavy goth number they did last week. I loved the airy choreography, and these two giants danced as if they were butterflies. Mia thinks Matt is fantastic, but that Courtney only shows strength when she’s kicking or leaping. Mary isn’t sold on either of them, she loved their kicks and spins, but thinks the footwork was not close “at all.” She says, “I’m slightly disappointed.” Nigel is not disappointed, but has a few pointed criticisms. He finds Matt’s arm movements a little “twee” and criticizes them for putting on a bit of a “veneer”–a fake performance. “You’ve got to learn where to breath” he says. Then, he adds, “I thoroughly enjoyed it. These two may stay out of the Bottom 3 this week.
Gev Manoukian and Courtney Galiano – Contemporary by Mandy Moore – Song: …Lost by Anouk – Gev and Courtney dance a really strong routine, with tons of chemistry between them. Mia criticizes Courtney for “jazzifying” the number, and for being too “strong” in the number. “You should have melted into Gev” she says. Eh, I happened to like that she danced passionately, toe to toe with Gev. Mia loves Gev, “I’m so proud of you…you were there for her….I believed you.” Mary says she “LOVED” it, and has compliments for both dancers. She thinks the chemistry is “killer.” Nigel thinks they are a beautifully well balanced couple, but that he didn’t believe the emotion in the routine, although they both danced it well. Eh, Nigel. I think the chemistry is there. I believed it. These two are middle packers at the moment. They could end up in the bottom two, but they won’t go home.
Joshua Allen and Katee Shean – Broadway by Tyce Diorio – Song: …All For the Best from Godspell – Joshua and Katee’s entertaining and fast-paced Broadway number brought the house down. Katee’s entire face lights up when she smiles, and she throws herself into her routines. Joshua is an incredibly strong and versatile dancer. Some of his moves are jaw dropping–like that totally unexpected mid-air flip he did. Huge standing O from the judges, with Nigel screaming “Yes, yes, yes!” at the end. Nigel is awed that a contemporary dancer and a popper could totally kill a Broadway routine. He compares Joshua to Joel Grey and compliments Katee on her “beautiful spirit.” Mary thinks Katee has really come out of her shell, and that Joshua was “right in there like any Broadway dancer, you made me believe it.” Mia thought it was amazing. She noted the strong connection between the two dancers, and predicted that Joshua would be in the Top 4. Joshua is pretty amazing. He’s admitted to taking a few ballet classes, but I’m thinking he’s had more than just a few. Still, he’s dancing his ass off. He deserves to go far. Both dancers are going to go far in this competition, I expect.
Marquis Cunningham and Susie Garcia – Salsa by Alex de Silva – Song: “Aguanile” by Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe – Susie is ecstatic to be dancing Salsa this week. She says she “finally gets to show who Susie is.” And Susie is a Latin dancer…who pretty much sucks. We see her struggle in rehearsal with the dance steps, and once she steps out onto the stage with her dance partner, it’s pretty apparent that her moves are limited. Latin dance is supposed to be uninhibited and sexy, but the entire routine, as danced by Marquis and Susie is super-labored and totally not hot. Mia thought Marquis’s movements were over exaggerated rather than down and dirty. Mia says to Susie, “I expected more from you.” Mary, disappointed, also expected more from Susie, and thinks there is a lack of chemistry between the dancers. Nigel has no kind words, either, “This Salsa should have been fiery.” He feels Marquis was not a strong partner and points out the many technical mistakes they committed in the routine. These two will definitely end up in the bottom 3. And, not a moment too soon, if you ask me.
Twitch and Kherington Payne – Viennese Waltz by Jean Marc Generaux – Song: …A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion – It’s bad enough when the contestants manipulate the viewers with some sappy backstory, but now the choreographers get in on the act too? Jean Marc tells the story of his disabled child who doesn’t speak, but comes alive watching people move. That this particular story gets told with this particular couple, at this particular time, sorta bugs me. Why not tell the story when Matt and Kourtni danced, uhm, just two dances ago? The whole deal feels very set up to pimp Twitch and Kherington, and make their routine criticism proof. In fact, when Mia compliments Twitch (you really stepped it up) but criticizes Kherington for smiling through the whole routine, the crowd turns on her, and Nigel practically bites her head off. Nigel, who seems to have a thing for Kherington, can’t get enough of her smile. Kherington gets chokes up describing Jean Marc telling her the story of his daughter, and Mia now looks like the Wicked Witch of the West. Mary tears up as she tells Kherington that her joyful dancing touched her. She calls Twitch insane, but means it in a good way. Nigel tells Kherington that she “flowed” and had grace and beauty, and that when the couple moved together, they “breathed together…felt the music together.” Thing is, they both danced beautifully, particularly Kherington. No pimping necessary, here.
Chris Jarosz and Comfort Fedoke – Krump by Lil C – Song: “Come and Get Me” by Timbaland – These two are the odd couple–the white bread contemporary dancer and the hip-hopper. Other couples have been able to make their differences compliment each other, but these two? Not so much. It’s painfully obvious this week as Chris is outed as hopelessly dorky as he dances a wipmy Krump routine. Comfort looks anything but as she dances beside him, and I would say these two would be in deep trouble if they hadn’t had the pimp spot. Mia confesses to Comfort that she’s a “huge fan” and that if she keeps going, she’ll go far in the competition. She compliments Chris for working hard and tells him that he “pulled it off.” Uhm. No? Mary doesn’t agree, she thinks Comfort could have hit it a little harder, and that she blew Chris away. Yep. Nigel had no compliments, and the demonstration of how to grab ones crotch effectively after he basically calls out Chris as a sissy made me want to run for the brain bleach. Well, you know, that Nigel is so butch! “I’m not going to grab my crotch, ” Chris says meekly. Yeah, no kidding. Nigel is also disappointed in Comfort, “I expected far more from you than I got…I am so disappointed.”
