I would like this Ricky/Zach hiphop number more if they weren't wearing ridiculous low-crotch pants. Or if, y'know, it were different people. (I think I really like the choreo, just...not for these two)

I also feel like Zach and Jessica got a much better deal with the Broadway (which HAS been so much better this year in general, probably due to the prize) than Ricky and Valerie on the African jazz. Oy. I haven't really been a fan, but I liked Jessica quite a bit in the Bollywood and the Broadway numbers.

Hmm--think that "on the town" had something to do with the lack of hiphop folks in the top ten? I'm suspicious.

The lighting on this Katherine/Ricky number is awful. You can barely see him. Which might be an interesting concept if he was the all-star, but no.

I felt like Valerie was outshone by Aaron, while he and Zach weren't so unequal. Possibly that's choreo or guy vs girl but...

When I saw JTF was the guest judge, I was annoyed that it wasn't a dancer, but honestly, I think he's been great, and it's nice to laugh when they all get so fraught.

The lighting on this Katherine/Ricky number is awful. You can barely see him. Which might be an interesting concept if he was the all-star, but no.

Srs.

African jazz

Not a thing. Kill it with fire. Down with Sean Cheesman.

Well, I sometimes like Cheesman but never when he's trying to promote the nonsense that is African jazz.

Haven't seen last night's show yet but I am excited. I really like this F4!

I realized last night one of the things I like best about this season is how excited Ricky gets when he and his partner or the group really nail a piece. He is just so happy, and it seems like it rubs off on the others.

Well, I sometimes like Cheesman but never when he's trying to promote the nonsense that is African jazz.

Hah--I also find the costuming to be borderline offensive on many of the "African jazz" pieces. I mean...

But not in the Bollywood?

I don't have a problem with the costuming for the Bollywood pieces. I am not Indian, however, and so I don't know how true to form those costumes are. But in general, when one is doing traditional ethnic dances, I think it is OK to wear ethnic costumes. So for example, when Twitch and Joshua did that truly horrible Russian dance, it made sense to me to dress them in traditional dress.

This takes us back to the problem that African jazz is really not a thing. In fact, African dance in and of itself is far too broad of a category, although it is used as a shorthand in the dance world and is a term that I'm pretty OK with. Most of what we see on US TV and/or take in a local dance studio is probably some variation of West African dance, of which there are many styles, or even Caribbean dance styles, although this crazy show has also tried to make Latin Jazz happen - another thing which is not a thing. And I promise you that aside from the Lion King group dance in S3, which was labelled Broadway and not "African jazz" and therefore presented a highly stylized version of what Hollywood thinks African garb looks like but hey, that was true to the style of the piece and so it gets a pass - also it was glorious, I have yet to see the cracktastic wardrobe team from SYTYCD put these kids in authentic West African costumes for any "African jazz" piece they have ever done. Normally, it just seems like an excuse to do some extreme face and body painting and/or use kente cloth in an attempt to make the kids look "savage" or "fierce" or "wild". Insert icon for flames on the side of my face here. For me, that's the distinction between the African jazz costuming and the Bollywood costuming on this show. I can't speak for anyone else.

I have yet to see the cracktastic wardrobe team from SYTYCD put these kids in authentic West African costumes for any "African jazz" piece they have ever done. Normally, it just seems like an excuse to do some extreme face and body painting and/or use kente cloth in an attempt to make the kids look "savage" or "fierce" or "wild".

This is exactly what I was getting at. I don't know how accurate the "bollywood" outfits are, but even being completely ignorant, I KNOW that's not how anyone in Africa dresses. Instead the costuming is all face paint and savagery and sticks and bones, which is bullshit. Yeah, sometimes he's trying to tell a story (I think in last night's they were supposed to be animals in a race?) but even still, it's less "animals" and more "african SAVAGE animals!!!"

And then Mary has to call it "animalistic," which just doubles down on the offensiveness!

In fun news, I'm seeing the (presumably Broadway-bound) musical of Finding Neverland soon, and it's choreographed by Mia Michaels, and Melanie Moore is in it! So that should be fun for dancing.

SYTYCD NotQuiteFinale: Oh, my the opening group number was beautiful! Love. JTF makes a great finale judge - actual judging isn't really necessary, so just being appreciative and funny is perfect. I do love Zach doing Broadway but I did not love that choreography. Aw, and JTF was in On the Town, that's great! Did not care for Tyce's choreography, either, but Zack and Valerie danced it beautifully. Valerie's face was perfect. I think I liked the Ricky/Jessica jazz? I definitely liked the costuming. The Bollywood was cute and fun. Loved the hip hop! Wow! And they were so happy when they finished and knew they'd killed it. Love. Aaron! That was fun. Huh. The editing got really weird or my broadcast got messed up for a little while there, but I don't think I missed any dancing. Ricky and Valerie solos, both very nice. More Aaron! Oh, wow, that was great. Makes me think a little less of Valerie's number, sadly. We've seen Jessica's solo before, yes? Did not care for the Jessica/Robert piece. It's not a genre of dance that I appreciate, the bad relationship contemporary duet. I do love Kat's dress, especially as it reminds me of the winning dress from last week's PR. Zack's solo, very nice.

Zack might be my favorite based on tonight's (and by tonight i mean, of course, three days ago) performances. He tore it up every time.

choreographed by Mia Michaels, and Melanie Moore is in it

Oooh! Very nice.