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.

I think Ricky would be amazing as Frodo in a musical version of LotR.

Ha! Awesome.

Brilliant.

I think Ricky would be amazing as Frodo in a musical version of LotR.

This is perfect. Someone should get on this right now.

I watched. I loved both Zach and Ricky. I thought both Jessica and Valerie's worst dance flaws were exposed. Jessica is such an empty vessel. I never feel anything when she dances. In the Broadway, Zach was really giving it and even during the times where they were supposed to be looking at each other and smoldering, all of Jessica's energy was still out to the audience. She comes closest to being emotionally present in contemporary pieces with a partner who pushes her. She was there in that jazz piece with Ricky and also really present with Robert, although I didn't care much for the piece, but otherwise, it's all technique and competition face. And Valerie is just a tick below the others technically. Seeing her dance with Aaron really brought it home. She seemed so heavy dancing next to him and she was constantly looking down at her feet which made her seem unsure of her steps. And it didn't help that Zach and Aaron's dance was a joy. I've watched it seven times already. Seven! Also, Aaron is just a man out there. Damn.

It's so close for me between Ricky and Zach. Ricky is the superior technical dancer but Zach is amazing in his own right. He was so clean and neat in that Broadway number. I can see him in On the Town more than I can see Ricky. All that said, I just love me some Ricky Ubeda. He's such a treat to watch. That solo? Was everything. And I so wanted better lighting from the crack monkeys in production on his piece with Kathryn because while it was exquisite, there were points where they were almost dancing in the dark. Truth be told, I am really rooting for a Ricky win, but that's because my heart will always be with the gorgeous, ballet trained dancers with toe point of the gods. I can't help it. But I'd be fine with a Zach win, too. I don't know that I've ever seen a dancer transform more when dancing than he does. Just standing around, he's the kind of goofy that is not my cuppa at all, but dancing? Holy he'll is that boy fine!

Finally, I did not think the hip hop was all that. A lot was made of it, but there were lots of awkward moments in there. Neither one was reaching any Alex Wong levels of fierce, I'm just saying....although Zach was better than Ricky. That boy goes hard all the time.