Grrr, African Jazz (also sometimes billed as afro jazz) is so not a thing! Boo. Down with made up styles. It's just an excuse for Sean Cheesman to throw in a few moves from actual West African dance (that for the most part these kids can't do) and then the crack hos in wardrobe get to continue to demonstrate their cultural ineptitude by putting the dancers in bondage gear, painting their faces with "tribal" symbols and calling it a day. Oh, and then Nigel can talk about how the kids all did better than he thought they would considering that they weren't brought up in the jungle and who could dance West African style if you weren't born in a jungle and raised by chimps like Tarzan, no? Ummm, jigga what? I refuse!

There may have been some strong opinions expressed in casa kat on Tuesday. I'd had a lot of wine at that point.

Eh, this top 20 show did not really move me. I was disappointed in most of the routines and for the most part, the kids were adequate but not inspiring. I haven't even watched it again, but from my hazy memory, here goes.

Things I liked

1. Amy and Fik Shun/Contemporary - This Sonya piece was the only one that made an impact. I don't know what kind of story they were supposed to be telling but the dancing itself was lovely. Amy continues to be a favorite of mine. She has gorgeous feet and y'all know I love a gorgeous feet. Her technique is also exquisite. Fik Shun was a pleasant surprise. He really stretched here and did some difficult choreography. Sonya didn't dumb this down for him overmuch (unlike Peanut who really let me down this week). Yes, she did throw in some moves that played off of his strengths, but there was lots of partner work in there, too, lots of turns and the quirky body positions Sonya favors. Still, I wouldn't watch it again...but I liked it.

2. Jasmine M. and Alan/Contemporary - The blindfolds were unnecessary and it maybe wasn't Peanut's finest work, but I liked this dance and I thought Jasmine and Alan crushed it. I'm super impressed with Alan (though not with his hair and what is up with the janky hair on these boy children this year?). He seems to have some cross training, which is exciting because it's been a while since we had a really good ballroom boy on the show. They had a good connection here and there were some lovely moves, some really pretty, take a picture moments. Both of them have good centers and nice turns. This dance was a piece of fluff and it's not going in the pantheon, but these two have talent and I want to see more from them.

3. Other Jasmine and Aaron/Jazz - Sonya had a solid night because I liked this one, too. Other Jasmine really surprised me. I was kind of on the fence about her and wondering whether her whole Top 20 placement were just a Cyrus engineered ploy, but she turned it out here. Her legs are so long. Seriously, so long. And she showed great flexibility and musicality. She has a great grounded quality to her dancing. That girl gets down in those plies. Aaron was also a nice surprise. Very solid partnering and he's clearly had training beyond tap. However, he kind of disappeared for me here. That may have been because Sonya kind of defaulted to using him primarily as a forklift for Jasmine (they used to do that with Ade a lot, too). These two had really good chemistry. I think they'll be a great couple. That said, maybe I'm just tired of Sonya's typical dance vocabulary, but I was kind of over this routine. It had a very been there, done that quality. But I liked it.

Things I wanted to like more than I did

4. Hayley and Curtis/Hip Hop - Curtis was killing it. I was pleasantly surprised. Very sharp. Very in the pocket. And Christopher Scott's movement sat very well on him. Christopher Scott's choreography tends to work better for taller, lankier dancers because he himself is a tall drink of water. Discuss. Hayley was...well, she was kind of giving me Hip Hop for White Girls. But she tried. She didn't embarrass herself a la Nico and tap girl, but we'll get there. Anyway, I (continued...)

( continues...) would've liked this better with a better partner for Curtis. And the whole thing was a little bit light, kinda NappyTab influenced and that's never a compliment.

5. Makenzie and Paul/Viennese Waltz - Paul was really lovely here. He's a great lead, though there was barely enough dancing in hold for you to tell. Great posture for ballroom. Makenzie is a pretty girl. The costuming did her no favors. You couldn't even really see what was going on with that poofy gown flopping around everywhere. And Jason really cheated on the theme here. There was a lot of side by side dancing. I think these two were capable of more than what they were asked to do. That said, it was pleasant. It didn't make me stabby. But for the love of god no more waltzing to I'm With You. It's so, so done.

I didn't Like it and I was sad about it

6. Mariah and Carlos/Jive - Utah krumper is one of my faves so it pained me that this dance was so heavy and sloppy. In this case, Jason Gilikson did not take it easy on these two. This was a fast routine with lots of kicks and flicks and lots of dancing in hold, lots of lifts. Sadly, these two could not handle it. They lost stamina pretty quickly and the result was a cute but sloppy mess. They really need to turn it up a notch. I'm also not convinced that this is a good partnership. They really didn't seem to be connecting a lot. It could be my hate hangover for this kid Carlos. He exhausts me and I'm just not all that impressed with him as a dancer. And he needs to stop all that mugging immediately. Ummm, good news? Mariah's outfit was super cute. Seems she caught the crack hos in an up moment.

Opening Group Dance - I don't want to see the choreographers up in my opening group dance. No Christopher Scott, no matter that you are smoking hot. No Peanut, not even serving in a feather boa. No Mary and Jason although you are both individually amusing. And hell no Tabitha and Nigel of any stripe or flavor. The group dance is about the kids, as is the whole show really. Judges and choreographers should know their place. as for those kids, once I got past the eye searingly bad Hammer pants, the choreography was less impressive than the cinematography it must've taken to pull it off. And this is not So You Think You Can Shoot an Opening Sequence. I want to see these bitches dance.

I hated it as all right thinking people should

7. Alexis and Nico/Hip Hop - No. Never again. Christopher Scott, what were you thinking? I was embarrassed for everyone involved. Next.

8. Jenna and Tucker/Broadway - Stop letting Tasty do Broadway. He is not equipped. I don't know what this was. What a waste of two really talented dancers. I look forward to seeing both Tucker (still with the improved hair) and Jenna in an actual well choreographed piece coming to my TV screen soon. And watching Tasty give his pout-y, FIGJAM face on my TV screen just makes me want to wreck shit. Ugh. Why can't he take a break from the show?

9. Malece and Jade/Contemporary - Egregious Cedric-ing by Peanut here. Jade just walked around in a teeny square for the entire routine and lifted Malece up a few times while periodically waving his hands around. No. And no. Malece is just not anything. She's so wan and limp noodle. There is no spark in this girl. I don't get it and I don't get her. I was bored and just waiting for it to be over.

10. Bluprint and Brittany/Afro Jazz - See above. This is not a thing. The dance was a hot, hot mess. Cheesman didn't even take the time to teach the African technique effectively. Bluprint was better at it than Brittany, but they were both way too pulled up with not enough release through the back on any of the African moves that were thrown in. The jazzier pieces were alright, I guess, but the whole thing was just a mess overall. I really wish they would retire this fake style now. It's never been done well on the show. Russell came closest on his season, and that was just 'cause he's magic.

Overall, not a good batting average on the night. (continued...)

( continues...) And I love Wayne Brady, but I need a break from non-dancers on the panel. For real.

Thank god the company was excellent! Kept me from being exceedingly cranky after that Top 20 show.

Eh, this top 20 show did not really move me. I was disappointed in most of the routines and for the most part

Me too. I thought the judges way overpraised some. Ugh. What you said kat on the Afro jazz biz is the TRUTH. All kinds of offense taken in the LN household.

Tnaks for the input about the African Jazz ... I was kind of embarrassed watching it ... the "wardrobe" was bad, worse than usual. I thought the concept was ... words can't really express it.

And I do think that periodically someone will come up with an idea and dream up a genre that will fit their concept, even if it's a style that no one's ever heard of before.

Eh, I probably take it way more seriously than is warranted. I'm kind of a purist. For me, aside from the ballroom styles which are legion, there are really only about six styles of dance that make up the typical western package that most people learn when their parents decide to put them in dance: ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, or breaking. Everything else (contemporary/lyrical, afro-jazz, lyrical hip hop, krump, Broadway, etc.) is just a variation on one of those themes. Most of them take elements from those six base styles and kind of mix them up to make something new, and to make money off of people selling classes or hosting dance conventions and competitions. I mean, it's not like you go to your local studio and at 4 years old start studying "lyrical" dance. No. You start out in ballet, usually, or maybe jazz and then when you're technique gets strong enough, you may start taking classes in other styles, usually "contemporary" which is really just a way to say a type of dance grounded in classical ballet and modern technique but more easily accessible/more commercialized than either ballet or modern. But I know that's mainly my weird ex-dance kid issues coming out to play.

I really don't mind most of the made up styles on this show. It's just Afro-Jazz in particular that sticks in my craw. It smacks of cultural appropriation. There are actually many forms of African dance that one could study if one were so inclined but most of the time Afro Jazz has very little to do with those actual styles, or at least the choreographers don't bother to incorporate and teach the styles effectively, so you just wind up with kids doing lot of contractions and swinging their arms and heads around and all of sudden that's supposed to be African somehow. Feh.

"contemporary" which is really just a way to say a type of dance grounded in classical ballet and modern technique but more easily accessible/more commercialized than either ballet or modern

With lots of hair-flinging.

Hair flinging is essential. With some optional reaching out and walking around intensely if you really want to nail it.

there are really only about six styles of dance that make up the typical western package that most people learn when their parents decide to put them in dance: ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, or breaking.

Preach.

I studied ballet, and then had a class that hit jazz, tap, and modern. Discovered I loved modern, but I sucked at it, what with my genetic natural turnout and everything.

But now I feel all skeevy when I say I loved modern, because it has been all tainted by the hogwash that is "contemporary."

Oooh, I'm watching this on East Coast time, because I'm in Iowa and remembered it was on at 7pm. Not sure I like this new elimination format--making someone still dance knowing they've been cut, could suck. (Also, are they really going to say "no, I don't think I can do that" when asked BEFORE elimination??)

Missed the opening number, got it on in time to hear it was Tasty. Hmph. Wasn't impressed by Mariah's krump solo--she did look like she was relaxed and having fun, but it didn't feel impressive. Kinda missed Carlos's number. I miss my TiVo when I'm in a hotel room...

Brittany was OK, but I always feel like ballroom people are at such a disadvantage in these solos. Jade's was an odd choice of music.

Oh, whew--Kat will be relieved for Mariah, even if not happy about Jade. ...I don't even remember who the third people were that weren't made to do solos. Apparently my memory is just that bad, with no tivo!