SYTYCD 2010, June 23: Season 7’s Top 10 dancers danced with partners they randomly drew from the All-Stars Pool, comprised of twelve popular dancers from past seasons- the all-star chose the genre. The two dancers not drawn this week were Neil Haskell and Stephen tWitch Boss. The host is Cat Deeley. The judges are executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels, and Adam Shankman.
Cristina and Pasha: Cristina Santana (Salsa) danced the Paso Doble with all-star Pasha Kovalev, choreographed by Jean-Marc and France Généreux. Music: ‘Ira Deorum/Sanctum by James Dooley. Nigel said the routine- which had many lifts, flips, and turns- needed passion, power, fire, and control. Cristina, he said, brought all those elements. Mia said the routine was ‘everything’, ‘a whole package’, ‘a perfect partnership’. She ended with, “Fabulous, thank you for that.” Adam said, “Mucho caliente.” He said Cristina had brought confidence and commitment to her character. He shouted, “You set the stage on fire.”
AdéChiké and Allison: AdéChiké Torbert (Contemporary) danced Contemporary with all-star Allison Holker, choreographed by Mandy Moore. Music: ‘Listen to Your Heart’, Edmee’s unplugged vocal edit featuring Edmee. Nigel said there was major improvement in AdéChiké’s bringing out of emotion. Yet, he felt the emotion was interrupted by the steps. He advised AdéChiké to let the muscle memory take over so that the movements are second nature and the emotion is consistent. Mia advised him to tap into the joy that’s there. She said that dance is not only an art form but also a heart form. Adam said AdéChiké is technically so good and had danced beautifully. Yet, he also advised him to dance from the passion in his heart.
Alex and Lauren: Alex Wong (Ballet) danced Broadway with all-star Lauren Gottlieb, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. Music: ‘Summertime’ by Sylvester. Tyce wanted Alex to dance in Bob Fosse’s quiet internal style. Nigel said Alex is technically there but needs to add more power to his performance. Mia agreed. She said Alex lacked that internal subtle Fosse stuff. Adam said Alex’s talent is expansive. Yet, now, it was not about ability but about versatility and growth. He said Alex had shown ‘a lot of flash but no smoulder’.
Ashley and Mark: Ashley Galvan (Lyrical) danced Jazz with all-star Mark Kanemura, choreographed by Travis Wall. Music: ‘Wonderful’ by Annie Lennox. Nigel loved the dive lift but he said, “We haven’t learned anything new from you.” He criticized Travis’s choreography by saying that he didn’t see any Jazz in it. Travis usually garners high praise. Mia told Ashley, “You’re one of my favorite girls by far.” She advised her to be aware of her transitions. She said, “You delivered.” Adam was in agreement with both Nigel and Mia.
Billy and Comfort: Billy Bell (Contemporary) danced Krump with all-star Comfort Fedoke, choreographed by Lil C. Music: ‘So U Think U Can Krump’ by Tha J-Squad. Nigel said, “This must be the most alien style for you.” He said that Krump is a warrior’s dance but he didn’t find the warrior in Billy. He also said Billy gave it everything he’s got. Mia said, “You knocked on the warrior’s door.” Adam said, “You were working so hard.” Comfort interjected that she thought Billy was buck. But Adam called it a bad experiment. At the same time, he said it was one of the best dances on the show.
Robert and Anya: Robert Roldan (Contemporary) danced the Argentine Tango with all-star Anya Garnis, choreographed by Jean-Marc and France Généreux. Music: ‘Libertango’ by Bond Quartet. Robert with his leading man looks and Anya with her fiery sexiness are a hot partnership. Cat said she doesn’t usually get chills from Ballroom but she did with this routine. Nigel said Robert did what he was supposed to do in this dance, control the woman. He said, “You looked magnificent”. He said it was one of the best routines of the night. Mia said she needed more power from Robert’s performance. Adam advised Robert to stretch his steps.
Melinda and Ade: Melinda Sullivan (Tap) danced Contemporary with all-star Ade Obayomi, choreographed by Stacey Tookey. Music: ‘Squander’ by Skunk Anansie. The theme was the abuse of Mother Earth by Mankind. Melinda showed great improvement this week. Nigel said she was ‘absolutely tremendous’. Mia said her lines were gorgeous. Adam said, “You were fantastic.”
Jose and Kathryn: Jose Ruiz (B-Boy) danced Bollywood with all-star Kathryn McCormick, choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan. Music: ‘Maarjane Maarjane Kasame’, from the soundtrack to Billu Barber. The theme was a ‘genie in a bottle’. In the beginning, Jose let Kathryn out of the bottle. At the end of the dance, she put him inside the bottle. Of the routine, Nigel said it was not quite Bollywood but the ‘performance was tremendous’. Mia said to Jose, “You made us smile.” She said he was so wrong, he was so right. She said he’d added his own groove. “Congratulations.” Adam told Jose that he’s the ‘brightest light’, ‘absolute joy’. He agreed with Mia that Jose was totally wrong (re finger techniques and Bollywood style) but fun to watch.
Lauren and Dominic: Lauren Froderman (Contemporary/Jazz) danced Lyrical Hip-Hop with all-star Dominic ‘D-trix’ Sandoval, choreographed by Tessandra Chavez. Music: ‘If I Were a Boy’ by Beyoncé. The theme was about how some women are in abusive situations. Lauren seemed about to cry at the end of the dance. Nigel said, “I believed the performance.” He did say that her feet were sometimes too close together. Mia said, “Outstanding.” “I felt you guys so much.” Yet, she also said she had wanted to feel the abuse more-for Lauren to lose the steps in that part of the dance, go beyond the choreography, and be raw. She however considered it one of the best performances of the night. Adam told Lauren that she’s so technically adept. He also said, “You are in such an incredibly and emotionally raw space. I just want to commend you on an extraordinary performance.”
Kent and Courtney: Kent Boyd (Jazz) danced Jazz with all-star Courtney Galiano, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. Music: ‘Amy Amy Amy’ by Amy Winehouse. Nigel advised him to have fun with what he is good at. He was referring to Kent’s so much trying to exude the sexual tension that Tyce wanted that Kent may have forgotten to have fun. Mia admired his technicality but said, “You need to transform yourself to every piece. You needed to eat her (Courtney) alive.” She said he needs more mature roles. Adam advised Kent to find the emotional connection with his partner for every performance. He said, “You’re a fantastic performer and a great dancer.”
Tomorrow night, after tonight’s votes, three dancers will be in danger and will have to dance for their lives. The judges will send one of them home. Out of the four girls and six guys, the dancer most likely to go home is Ashley Galvan.
The 12 All-Stars (with season & dance styles):
Ade Obayomi, 5; Contemporary/Classical.
Allison Holker, 2; Brooklyn, NY; Jazz/Contemporary/Broadway/Cultural.
Anya Garnis, 3; Ballroom/Latin.
Comfort Fedoke, 4; Hip–Hop/Krump.
Courtney Galiano, 4; Contemporary/Jazz.
Dominic ‘D-trix’ Sandoval, 3; Hip–Hop/Breakdancing.
Kathryn McCormick, 6; Jazz/ContemporaryBroadway/Cultural.
Lauren Gottlieb, 3; Hip–Hop/Jazz/Contemporary.
Mark Kanemura, 4; Jazz/Broadway/Cultural.
Neil Haskell, 3; Jazz/Contemporary/Broadway/Cultural.
Pasha Kovalev, 3; Ballroom/Latin.
Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, 4; Popping/Locking/Krump.
Related articles:Top 11 and All-Stars Premiere Performances June 10 2010;
Top 10 Means Top 11; Second-Chance Dancers; New Format;
Cristina Santana & Nathan Trasoras Are Hot Stuff;
