So You Think You Can Dance: The All-stars Have Arrived!

This season of So You Think You Can Dance has been a little lackluster. There have been a few standout performances, but last night the show (and the dancers) really started to shine. It's no coincidence that the upswing happened when the all-stars came on board.

Many of my favorite dancers were back: Katherine, Melanie, Neil, and Robert.

My favorite routine was, not surprisingly, choreographed by Travis Wall, and featured Tucker and all-star Robert Roldan. A few years ago Tucker was in an automobile accident and was temporarily paralyzed. He didn't know if he would be able to walk again, let alone dance. Last year Robert was also in an automobile accident, and he also didn't know if he would ever dance again. Travis created a beautiful routine about two brothers, one who has hit rock bottom, and the other supporting him as he tries to get back on his feet. It was truly inspiring.

Enjoy.



Welcome back all-stars!

So You Think You Can Dance: Thanks for Listening to the Fans

The producers of So You Think You Can Dance listened to the fans and changed the format back to the way it was last year. They announced the bottom three girls and boys, the dancers "danced for their life," and then the top 18 (or 17) did their routines. Then we found out who was going home at the end of the episode. It was so much better than announcing the dancers who were going home at the beginning of the episode and then making them do their routines.

I enjoyed many of the routines in this episode. Two of them were really good. One of my favorites was the contemporary number by Malece and all-star Marko. Malece's regular partner, Jade, had to withdraw from the competition because of an injury, so Marko stepped in. I feel bad for Jade, but Marko was great. My other favorite routine was Mackenzie and Paul's contemporary routine.

Because Jade had to drop out, no guy was cut this week. However, the judges cut Jasmine Mason. I totally disagreed on her being cut, but I disagreed with their decision last week too. So, so far they've been consistent. *wink*

Mackenzie and Paul:



Malece and Marko:



And now, a favorite from a past season. Since my two favorites from last week's episode were contemporary, I decided to choose another contemporary routine. This is Eliana (season 9's favorite female dancer), and all-star Alex Wong. Incredible dancing. That is all.

So You Think You Can Dance: What was Nigel Thinking?

I do not like the new format for So You Think You Can Dance.

I don't like that they announced who would be eliminated at the beginning of the show and then made the two eliminated dancers still dance their routines. Especially since they had to listen to comments after their routines that their partner did such a great job. However, I do like that individuals are put into the bottom six, instead of couples. Sometimes I've felt that a dancer deserved to be in the bottom three, but their partner didn't, so I think this new way is more fair.

Nigel annoyed me with his "You're not dancing for your life" crap. He didn't even base his decision of who would be eliminated on the dancers' solos. He based them on the Vegas auditions, last week's performances, and discussions with the choreographers. The choice had already been made before they performed their solos. Don't have the dancers "dance for their lives," and then accuse them that their solos weren't good enough if the solos are not even going to be taken into consideration.

If Nigel had based who was going home on their solos, he would have sent the other two dancers home. Did you see Carlos's solo? That was amazing. How could Nigel accuse him of not dancing for his life, and then send him home after that solo? And then Carlos danced a beautiful Stacy Tookey contemporary. When Christina said that America got it wrong that he was in the bottom three, I wanted to say that Nigel got it wrong to choose to send him home. Badly done, Nigel. Badly done.

Carlos's Solo:



Nigel talks about keeping the dancers who have room to grow instead of keeping dancers who are already good. Why are they punishing dancers for being good already? If their goal is to keep the ones who have room to grow, why don't they just fill the show with so-so dancers and then see who learns the most? And what does this show have about hip-hop dancers, and krumpers, and animators? They don't ever seem to want to eliminate them, even if they don't do very well. Mariah and Jade's solos weren't as good as Carlos and Brittany's, but I'm sure they were kept because she's a female krumper and he's an animator. I'm not saying they aren't good dancers, I just don't think they are good as Brittany, and definitely not as good as Carlos.

After BluPrint's dance, Nigel told Blu Print to "fake it till you make it." What he really means is, "You don't have the dancing chops in all genres, but don't worry, we won't cut you because you're an animator."

I love So You Think You Can Dance, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by the routines so far. I've been watching some past favorite routines, and I don't think any of the routines come close to those routines. I want to see routines that are emotionally filled, and that have unique and mind-blowing choreography. I've been entertained by some of the routines, but not yet blown away. I'm waiting...

So You Think You Can Dance is Back!

Oh yes!