( continues...) Punk – Peanut choreographing ballet? Is there anything he can’t do? Seriously, lighting people? Being able to see the line from hip to toe is kind of the whole point of ballet. I cannot understand what the big idea was behind that lighting scheme. I think Jacque was fine but I thought I saw her cheating the steps a couple of times and off her toe box. Then again, it was hard to tell because I couldn’t see her feet. Chehon was gorgeous as always, and the hair is much improved from his time on the show. I’m not surprised Jacque is B2. She’s just been kind of there for a while now.
Ricky and Lauren/Jazz/Mandy Moore/Bossa Nova Baby/Elvis Presley - I am so glad that this is TBC and not Mischa Chan. I was going to have to get loud up in here. Ricky’s been watching this show since he was 8. Damn. I’m old, family. Second pull through splits in second we’ve seen tonight. Let’s hear it for that! Well, it was fun. I always enjoy Ricky. He’s fabulous. I’m not sure this style of movement sat all that well on him. He seemed to be chasing the beat a little. But it was surprising choreo from Mandy. If I hadn’t known it was her, I’d never have guessed. I think our merry band of choreographers are really pushing each other to another level this season and I do like that. New steps. New steps. New steps!
Casey and Kathryn/Spencer Liff/Broadway/Maybe This Time/Liza Minelli – Ugh. Casey has all the maturity of a blueberry scone. Yes the ronde jambe into the double pirouette was technically impressive. He always is. But I never get the sense from him that he understands what he’s dancing. Lipinski was wrong (as usual). I didn’t feel any chemistry between Casey and Kathryn. Who was stunning. I mean…just stop it. That little high talker is just out of this world. Watched her the whole time, including when she was doing what was supposed to have been an assisted back bend and she had a little wobble re-adjusting her weight because her partner wasn’t there to support her head like he should have been. Saw it. Cataloged it. Will add it to my list of “Reasons why Casey is not all that no matter how the show tries to pimp him, and oh, by the way, he’s no Ricky, Nigel, so suck it.”
Jessica and Twitch/Hip Hop/NappyTab/U Got Me Up/Cajmera feat. Dajae - Jessica lost a lot of steam in the last say 16-24 counts of that routine, but prior to that she was in it like whoa! I was surprised by how good she was. The style suited her just perfectly. She was hard hitting. She didn’t overact with her face. She brought it. And that’s the second solid NappyTab routine in a row. The world must be ending.
Zack and Amy/Contemporary/Sonya/Europe After the Rain/Max Richter – Zack is a revelation. That lift where he was crouched down and then picked Amy up on her side was just not a possible thing to do. He pulled of a controlled double turn like a champ. I forgot that he wasn’t a contempo kid. Toe point on this one is divine. I’m mad that Casey is safe while Emilio and Zack are in danger.
I only watched the musical act to see Chehon and Kathryn dance. They were exquisite and it still wasn’t worth all that caterwauling.
Sad to lose Emilio but Zack is a better dancer. Should’ve been Casey. And now there are no hip hop kids left at all, right? No hip hop kids, no black kids. Latinos gotta hold it down for the gente, I guess.
White Tanisha is really the only girl I’m checking for and she’ll be fine, so I’m good with Bridget going home.
Next week, well, I wish it would be Casey, but Zack probably just held off the inevitable for one more week, what with all the Casey pimping, Rudy’s showmance, and Ricky just being the real deal, legit all that. For the girls, again, I think Natalie will go. She was the weakest this week and without Ricky, I think she’ll be exposed.