1.) Phillip/Jeanine-- Hip-Hop: I LOVED this routine. Very on the mark and SHARP. However, were we expecting anything different? On the first show, the first ad last performances are ALWAYS the best.
2.) Vitolio/Asuka-- Broadway: I kind of agree with the judges on this one. It just didn't settle right with me. Slightly slow, and just didn't seem to "grab" me. I like Asuka though, so I don't wish for them to go home yet.
3.) Jonathan/Karla-- Cha-Cha: It was good, but not great. I did really enjoy that split thou Karla's legs though. They seem to have REALLY good chemistry, so it will be nice to see them evolve.
4.) Evan/Randi-- Jazz: Let me say first off, Evan's been my favorite even from Auditions. Part of that is cuz he was my favorite dancer, the other part may be because he went to school a block away from where I went to school
Anway, on to the dancing! Another "good" performance. I've seen better "seducing, love you" pieces, but that's the storytelling aspect. Let me say though, I'm glad this year, they put the "vertically challenged" man with another short girl so it still looks normal. Season 3, they had the short guy with a taller girl and it just made them look bad.
5.) Tony/Paris-- Hip-Hop: Tony distracts me because he looks like someone know. Another good performance, although I thought, towards the end, they lost kind of their "edge" and some of their sharp jabs became softer. At one point Tony stuck his tongue out and I liked that, however, Paris smiled and looked pretty at one point, and I didn't like that. I agree w/ Mary that this wasn't a "memorable" performance.
6.) Jason/Caitlin-- Bollywood: OMG Bollywood! I'm sooo happy they started this last year. And let me say, I loved that performance. I thought Caitlin was a little soft hitting at times, but I still loved it!! Jason did great. I wish I could dance bollywood style.
7.) Brandon/Janette-- Foxtrot: Oh no... poor them getting the Fox Trot... that's something they should introduce on a later show, not the first one. It's maybe one step up from the "quick step." (I love ballroom, but it's a hard style to get people to vote for) On that note though, I will say that they did a beautiful job. And it helps that I like that song
. Their personality on the floor was wonderful and coy. I really liked that last lift they did where Janette was just spinning in the air.
8.) Kupono/Ashley-- Jazz: Oh Wade, what do you have for us this year? He always comes up with the craziest stuff. I guess what I can say is that it was...unique. I liked it, and they danced it very well.... but it was kinda weird. Did anybody else think it was a little short? I must admit though, it was hard for me to focus on the dancing w/ the funky music and the costuming and the puppy (I loved the puppy) but what I saw, I liked.
9.) Ade/Melissa-- Contemporary: Wow, Melissa is gorgeous, I did not think she was "old" (which, she is not.) Mandy is also another one of those choreographers that can be kind of out there at some points
However, for her debut on this season, she kept it kind of low key. I liked the lifts and tricks they did in this one, though I think dancing to "Right Here waiting" is a little over done. It was a beautiful piece, but again, didn't "grab me" like other contemporary dances have done in the past.
10.) Max/Kayla-- Samba: That was a hot dance. Not the hottest I've seen, but good. I tend to like "story" dances better, so I don't really have much to say on this one, but it was good.
Overall, I'd have to say my favorite dance of the night was Jason and Caitlin's Bollywood. Honerable mention would be Phillip and Jeanine's Hip-Hop.
I liked all the dances. Historically though, the first show has always had the most number of good dances. I suspect because the stresses of the show have not really started getting to them yet. There were no dances that I didn't like, though if I had to choose my least liked, it would have to be Max and Kayla.
See everyone after the next episode!! Ready for a great season!
Nigel always talks about how he wants "masculine" males on the show, and I think this year he's really got them. This year they seem to be really heavy on contemporary dancers, and light on hiphop and ballroom/salsa dancers...
. They played to each of their strengths, and worked very well together. They made it look so effortless and fluid. Beautifully done.
