Hip Hop round

How many times will Nappy say swag? So, so many times. Too many times.

Oh, Chyna. Wow. She completely lost it. That is a terrible, terrible feeling. Do they normally give chances to do it again? Huh. OK. Every dancer knows that feeling. Poor noodle.

Hiro and Patty Anne out on the hip hop choreo round? Awww. I guess I’m not that surprised about Patty Anne. She seemed raw even in her auditions. But I’m shocked that Hiro couldn’t pick up choreo quickly.

Princess Lockeroo? Who didn’t know that? The rest? I barely remember them.

Wally/Waddy? Cramping is tough, but seriously, push through it. It’s not a career ending injury. He was, once again, fine I guess. But if they are pushing him as a presence this season, then I am just not seeing it. At all.

I saw the larger sister up there killing it. She’s so fierce. I think whatever happens to her to cause her to be carted off in an ambulance will make me very, very sad.

Re-dancers. OK. Chyna turned it out the second time around. Ivetta got through it.

Previews for the Broadway round: Why is Miss Debbie Allen so, so awesome? “I don’t wanna see it again.” Come real with it. Oh, she’s so good.

Broadway Round

Why do we have to have Tyce? Why? And now he’s becoming the male BoomKat? Ugh. What the hell is he talking about? All the dancers are looking at them like they hate him.

Why do we have to keep seeing Waddy Jones? Stop pushing him all up in my face. And paired with Jordan, whom I do like. Oooh, Lil O. Love Lil O. But the height will be a problem, no? Well, luckily they all were adorable. The choreo sucked ass. Rebecca Hart and Jeremiah Hughes. Don’t know either one of these two. 5 years running? I have no memory of this girl. And they were both rather ordinary. And the guy practically ran into the wings. Thank you, Miss Debbie Allen. Why put him through with reservations? He may have skills, but he’ll never make this show. Rebecca should not come back. And your sob story doesn’t help. She’s not fierce enough for this show.

Loved the loser montage. And was that the Krumper for Christ on the receiving end of Miss Debbie Allen's "I don't wanna see it" remark? Because that's kind of awesome. This judge panel has some bite to it. Rowr.

That choreo? Sucked ass. This cannot be said enough. You end by having the male dancer pounce on the girl? Oh, Tasty. Just, no.

Ballroom Round

Jason Gilikson and Jive? Oh, they are ready to take some fools out. This is not going to be easy.

Natalia and Josh. Oooh, here we go. I’m so nervous for her. That was not as bad as it could’ve been but not good. He really looked like he was struggling in those lifts and the last slide through the legs just did not get there. They were both just really tentative. I’d agree with the judges that they were poorly matched, but won’t that often be the case if she makes the show? I hope her next partner is a better fit.

Next group all did relatively well. Ryan was lovely. Sasha was cute. Glad Nigel called her out on the technique. I enjoy her, though. The hair. The hair is an issue. But hair can grow. Also, the bowtie. I . . . I don’t understand the bowtie. But it was passable. Enough to get to the next round anyway.

Bryce and Natalia. Were better. The lifts were still not at the level of some of the other dancers, but definitely lots smoother. And she really got the personality and spirit of the dance. Miss Debbie Allen is just enjoying the heck out of her and so am I. And am I loving the Professor? Indubitably.

Alexis dancing for her life? I didn’t know they were still doing that. She’s still making angsty dance face. She has gorgeous technique. There’s no doubt about that. She has all the tools but she’s lacking a performance quality. I just, I had to agree with Nigel and disagree with Miss Debbie Allen. My world is all askew. I would’ve said no.

Group Dance Round

Oh, no. Natalia! Nerves or real physical problems? You make the call.

Ricky Jamey is adorable. Why is Wadi all up in my face again? That routine was twelve different flavors of adorable. But seriously, enough with Wadi. Some of those other groups in the montage looked better than this group. I would’ve preferred to see the grey dress girls or any of the seemingly hip hop kids groups. The group that was having fun with backpacks? I want to laugh along with Debbie! But no. I have to have more Wadi, Wadi, Wadi all in my face. Boo.

Also, I like Natalia, but will she or won’t she drama or more good dancing? Hmmm, I know which one I’d choose. Dashi does not equal “Duh-shay”. Their group number was OK. I wasn’t blown away. Natalia definitely kept pace with the others, but the snippets that I saw of other groups looked more special. Down with storylines. Show me the best dancers.

Contemporary Round

With your Peanut and mine, Travis Wall. Why did he bring Robert back with him, though? Ewww. Badly done, Peanut.

Awww, Cat counseling Ryan? She is love.

That was lovely with Sasha and Professor Lock. Just lovely. Great lines and strong center. Good toe point. Professor Lock kind of blew me away. Is he a hip hop dude? Because he’s the business.

Ryan Ramirez looks kinda like a blonde Julia Roberts. And she was amazing. Talk about being able to pick up choreo quickly. Wow. Go somewhere and ice that little butt.

Marco got through. The pretty black girl got through and got love from Miss Debbie Allen. Lots of wow there and I have not to this point been a fan of pretty black girl. I did not even realize that DC, with his hair braided, was Cat Daddy. From that final group, Arielle was gorgeous. DC was ridiculous. Jeremiah was there. Love that Shankdaddy whispered “Oh, he took her to the floor.”

Hmm, with respect to Arielle and Jeremiah, I was the exact reverse of the judges. I’m just not impressed with this Jeremiah kid at all. Aww, I hope DC does go to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and just tears shit up. He’s a cutie, but he was just not good enough.

Solos

And they still have to cut down from 55 to 20? Damn.

Natalia’s solo was pretty. A little more amplitude in the jumps would be wished for. I don't think she'll make the show this year, but I would agree that she's maybe a year away. (She's 18!) I hope, if she doesn't make it, she comes back next year and tears the building down. Girl has skills.

I loved Miss Debbie Allen's "Oooh, nasty. Shut it down. Just shut it down." Reminded me of Fame when she was watching Leroy's audition. Memories light the corners of my mind, y'all!

Clarice Ortiz is a cutiepie. Love the pirouette that turned into a penche turn.

Yeah, Kate Gosselin is gone! I knew Miss Debbie Allen wouldn’t let me down. They keep teasing me with snippets of nekkid jeans flippy boy. I want more.

Alexis just kept serving the angsty dance face. I can’t take it. She’s just not that special. I'm glad she didn't make it. Maybe maturity will help, but I'm not sold on that one.

Is it tomorrow yet?

Wooohoo, posting my thoughts and then going back to read:

OK, Vegas week for SYTYCD!!

Ivetta the ballroom dancer scares me. (Oh wow, I wrote that even before I saw the cop outfit). But damn, girl has some thighs.

OK, dude, really? Unitard bad enough but with the random black short sleeve shirt? Love the horrified looks from the girls in the audience.

How many dancers are there in Vegas? It looks like a LOT. (OK, they cut ~half of them and there's 114 left? Wow. Oh, no, only cut a third--46)

I say this every year, but...i could just watch the whole Vegas week in real time. I would love it.

HipHop Round: OK, NappyTab, you do not have "mad swag". WHAAAT? Patty Ann going home after the hip hop?!?!? So wrong. (And the step dancer, that's kinda sad, would've liked to see her get farther) Love the sisters. Iveta STILL SCARES ME. Why is she wearing HammerPants? (Oh no! No not the EMTS for the sister! NO, commercial break!)

Broadway: OK now I want to know how short the shortest contestants are!! Ooh, I do not want temper boy back. Ew. (Oh, but in the clip i see redhead who was ...Katee's? roommate, and I want her back. Sad) Ouch, poor girl whose 5th time this is in Vegas. Geez. (She's only 22? I would've guessed older)

Ballroom: Damn, they made them JIVE? ...I'm actually kind of impressed at a few of the kids, but some are just NOT killing it (but maybe doing well enough to go through) Also (when dancing) I HATE those through the legs pulls--they're so hard if you're not used to them.

I think if I ever had to do Vegas week (not bloody likely but), the group round would killllll me.

I don't love the baby Mason. I think she needs to come back in a year or two. Sans stankface.

Oh lordy, group is after jive? I'd die.

Do they get costumes? Or do people just manage to bring matching things?? That seems unlikely, but if they're picking costumes, I'm a bit taken aback at the groups that don't match at all!

Contemp: OK, sister with the awesome hair, I'm loving her in the contemp. Not sure I love her partner, but I"m assuming contemp is not his thing? Aww, Ryan was lovely in the contemp round. I wish they'd show a bit more of the "you're so awesome!" dancers they're talking about right now. Wow, that was a weird rejection of Ariel. And they kept creepy Jeremiah? I'm kinda sad about the guy with the pregnant girlfriend, but admittedly, he probably would've been a mess in a lot of the partnering on teh show (but hella fun when dancing for his life!)

Ugh, looks like Ivetta made it to the end here...I'm all for some awesome ballroom folks, but she just freaks me! Oh, looks like tiny broadway boy is in.

Oh, girl. With the stank face again! Are you choreographing to angsty songs so you can try to justify it? There is no justification for the stank face! (Oh, whew. I hope she does come back, more seasoned).

God this show makes me wish I'd grown up a dancer, that I'd had any of this as a kid. Sigh. Much as I love to dance, there's only so much I can do with the body I've got now.

meara, the angsty dance face on Jeanine, Jr. was killing me. Killing me!

And I'm digging Ivetta, even though I admit that she is kinda Ivan Drago, "I must break you." But I like that and homegirl is fierce.

This show makes me miss dancing all the time.

I was staying at Planet Hollywood in April when this was filmed... I basically freaked out at the airport when I saw people at baggage claim with SYTYCD signs meeting the dancers. Since the area where they practice all the group stuff is just glassed in and off the Miracle Mile shops I stopped to see what was going on every time I walked by. Did see a couple people crying and being filmed after they were cut. I also wish they showed more of Vegas-- at least enough for 2 episodes!

I also wish they had explained why Arielle went,especially when it looked like she was so much better than her partner.

Ooh, that's so cool, Sassy!

Professor Lock kind of blew me away. Is he a hip hop dude? Because he’s the business.

Yeah, that one.

Frankenbuddha - I agree with you about the challenges this week. Loved the quickfire family thing and I think that the soldiers' meal challenge was the best one of this sort that I remember.

I hope Traci wins the show.

SYTYCD - the guy with the awful unitard - he said his mother made it for him. And then a friend painted it for him. WTF? It did, however, make him stand out ....

I enjoyed the hidden relative one quite a bit.

That was great, but I can't believe no one recognized their relative.

That was great, but I can't believe no one recognized their relative.

I thought that was kind of weird, too, but then I thought that they were focused on the challenge, not so much figuring out who the person was.