SYTYCD: Week 7

Memo to me: Threats of pain and torture DO work on the DVR... I have a full recording to watch tonight! Huzzah! As a side note, I did watch much of this while running & taking mental notes, so if things seem scattered at times, it's just that my thoughts got lost amongst the profuse sweating and gasping for breath. :)

First thought of the night: Sometime before the show is over... I shall have my Neil back.  **giddy dance of uncontrollable joy (and a smidge of lusting :D)**

Second thought of the night: I most deeply love the dress that Caitylyn is wearing for the opening bit!! I want it, along some context in which to legitimately wear it. Say, competing on SYTYCD??  hehe  If only. And if there's anything I love more than Caitlyn's dress, it is every single thing about Cat tonight. She looks radiant, her hosting is at some brilliant Gaga-induced level, she is simply divine! Let's see if the rest of the show can keep up!

Sasha & Pasha, quickstep: You have to wonder if they paired her with him just so they could have that one moment of name-twin-geekiness to share with all the world; I wouldn't put it past them. I enjoyed this dance, and I thought Sasha did a really respectable job with it. (Pasha's always great, but I certainly didn't appreciate his costume too much... hehe) Apart from that little lift faux-pas at the end, she really hit everything she needed to in the quickstep. She's such a wild dancer, and I feel like coming from her background as a dancer, it's an even bigger accomplishment to master the frame and shape of the quickstep. Good on ya, girl!

Caitlyn & Ivan, hip-hop: The return of Ivan, I'm so thrilled to see him! He was one of those that bugged me for a while during his season, and suddenly I was in love with him. And I loved him again tonight, he's got a really unique hip-hop "voice". I adored Caitlyn in this number, and can I just say I want her hair/figure/smile/skills/everything?? She's stunning! Tonight she shined and I always love how her own personal style meshes with other styles, but doesn't get totally swallowed up. It was very hip-hop, but still very Caitlyn. That said - it could have been just a touch less... cheery? Not happy-cheery - but like pep rally, cheerleader cheery? Just a touch; a little more weight and slink in some of the motions would have put it right over the top.

* It's a lovefest all around tonight - I'm loving Rob Marshall and Gaga (especially) as judges! Like, seriously! She was all right as a judge on Idol in the spring, but tonight she is so honest and well spoken and has such valid feedback for everyone. Brava, weirdo. ;)

Jordan & Ade, jazz: Maybe the judges aren't supposed to say anything about the All-stars, but I'm a free agent baby! Ade, what the?! Apparently he like hasn't danced in 14 months or something because he is outta shape & outta touch. that may be a tad harsh, but I truly barely even noticed him there except for when I was noticing him for the wrong reasons! Jordan was of course right in her element, didn't have much of a character to play except for the juvy-sexpot that she is. :) But she played it to the bone, every inch of it was pushed to its steamiest & sauciest! Not really anything new from her, but that's not what was asked of her in this dance, so I'm certainly not gonna fault her for that. Win for Jordan tonight, bus ticket home for Ade. :(

Melanie & "I-COULD-DIE" Neil, contemporary:
I COULD DIE! I COULD DIE! I COULD DIE! I COULD DIE! (btw, "could" doesn't look like a real word anymore.) I COULD DIE! I COULD DIE! I HAVE DIED! HAPPY!
Finito. Cut the lights; close the curtains; end of show. That, for me, is the end-all be-all of this entire program. I think I've rewound that death-defying leap about 43 times with chills racing over me EVERY SINGLE TIME, and I'm headed back to count one to live the whole thing over again.  Every single movement moved me; every single breath took my breath away.  FLAW. LESS. (memo to me: find out how much it would cost to buy Neil... also, research what kidneys are currently going for on the black market...)

Whew.  I need a breather....

Okay, continuing on; I suppose we do have several more dances to go.

Ricky & Anya, jive: In the wide world of musical creation, I think this may be one of the last songs that I would pick for the jive; no lie. Um, what can I say - I still don't like Ricky & it was like watching a ballet dancer try to crump; the natural extension and lift really get in the way of rocking good time, as it did here. And it's been a while since I really liked Anya, so that wasn't helping. Meh, wasn't very special. And, btw, Gaga's crazy is rearing its ugly head as she declares her unexplainable affection for Ricky - you don't know why you like him, dearie, and neither does anyone else.

Jess & Lauren, hip-hop: Sometimes I really love the NappyTab numbers that are easy on the eyes, and give just a gentle tug on the heartstrings. This was soft and smooth, full of genuine emotions and wonderfully subtle hip-hop. Classic NappyTab! So so so glad to see Lauren back, and I liked them as a pair. And once again, I like Jess even more tonight! Every week I can see him learning more about himself and his dancing, and dance in all forms. You'll hopefully be around next week, so keep it up!

Tadd & Lauren F., jazz: Is there some job out there where I can get paid to watch Mandy Moore jazz routines? If anyone hears of anything, please send me a heads up. :)  I think perhaps the coolest moment of that came right at the beginning, with Tadd bringing the King back into the spotlight with total aplomb - delicious! I of course spent too much of the time watching little Lauren, which I could do all day long; but Tadd totally owned that stuff right there, and so far he's the guy of the night! (Competing guy of the night. Just to be clear; no one touches you, Neil.) :)

Marko & Allyson, contemporary: Well well well, Melanie's former-other-half does a little show-stopping of his own! I think Lady Gag in tears says it all, frankly. That was an impeccable collaboration of Jeff Buckley's words, Sonya Tayeh's moves, breathed into life by the dancers' forms - resulting in a real-life statement with such a level of power as to truly inspire change. Several congratulations go out for that piece, but certainly Marko gets his fair share!

Caitlyn & Tadd, foxtrot: Since we're back in contestant-on-contestant mode, I think I'll give that dance to Caitlyn, by a hair. They both did really well with the technique and musicality; but Caitlyn found a bit more success in really bringing the spirit and essence of the dance to life. It was certainly classic and elegant; not necessarily memorable or particularly touching, but a lovely moment.

Marko & Ricky, hip-hop: Marko wins that, but not by as big a margin as I was expecting! Ricky did a far more respectable hip-hop than I would've guessed, so that makes me happy. And Marko yet again is King Midas, popping out gold right and left. And more than anything, I just loved having a guy-guy number; it's my favorite format change in recent seasons, throwing in same-gender dances to mix up the monotony of guy-meets-girl story variations. That made me happiest of all, largely because it also means there's a girl-girl dance coming up, yahoo!

Jordan & Jess, rumba: *sigh, how I love Adele...* I started to type that this was quite anti-climatic, and then they started into a gorgeous spin that had me pulling off the keyboard - but then the dance ended. So I'm back to anti-climatic. I don't know if I wanna assign a winner on this one, because I didn't perceive even one ounce of chemistry between them - that prevented me from getting drawn into the dance. Kindof a miss on this one; we'll see where that takes them tomorrow.

Sasha & Melanie, jazz: I'm tingling with anticipation right now... Okay so I just read a book called Divergent, which among many other things is about some fiercely fearless young people clad in black, and I had that on the brain while watching this. This dance kinda brought that feeling to real life, with these warrior women who could take down walls with a flick of their finger. They certainly brought the house down with that dance!


I did get a chance to go back and watch last week's episode, and overall I was a bit underwhelmed by it - but this week went into orbit! I have to think it may be the mere presence of Neil in the studio that elevated the entire night. hehehe  Serious, though.

But at this point, only half the dancers will be safe tomorrow, and it's a little tough to say who that'll be. I'm gonna try, anyway!

• Ricky
• Jess
• Jordan
• Caitlyn

Now, to screen-shot "THE LEAP", as it will be known henceforth, and make it my new screensaver! G'nite all, don't forget to brush your teeth & put out the dog!