The top 10 dancers performed on So You Think You Can Dance and a few things changed from the preceding weeks. First, the top five girls opened the evening with a Indian Bollywood style piece and the top five guys closed the show with some rather authentic African dancing. Secondly, the dancers were randomly paired up as new couples and each dancer also performed a solo. Lastly, the voting style changed. The viewing audience could call in after the show to vote for a single dancer instead of a couple and, more importantly, the dancers with the fewest votes are off the show regardless of the judge's opinions.
The first couple to dance was Kayla and Evan – the tallest girl partnered by the shortest boy – and they danced a Viennese waltz. The problems that could have been presented by the height difference were overcome with some man-heels for Evan, while Kayla danced without shoes. The illusion of equal height was created and Kayla, like an alabaster apparition, carried the piece. Evan supported her well, showing his great strength and stability in the lifts. Nigel Lythgoe didn't think the waltz was Venetian enough and Mary Murphy said that they "plopped along" as they held each other close during the basic waltz step.
Brandon performed the first solo of the evening which started with a leap dive roll and continued as a dynamic treat. His movements were both silky smooth and as sharp as Damascus steel. He was able to to suspend his movements and then flow to the ground only to spring up again like a tiger, freeze, and then pop away. He clearly established why he belonged in the top 10.
Janette, the smallest girl, was then partnered by Ade, the tallest guy. He used a hair pick to hypnotize her and turned her prissy character into a super freak. She hit it hard with sharp, robotic and captivating moves and nearly out-performed the super funky Ade in this fresh hip hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo.
Ade Obayomi and Janette Manrara serve up a hot hip hop routine choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo.
It was then Randi's turn to dance solo. In a white dress, she wove together a couple of turns in an adequate little contemporary solo. This delightful hors d'œuvre showed that Randi could deliver a sequence of moves in a pleasing, even if forgettable, fashion.
Kupono got all tribal on us and looked like a raver at the Burning Man festival in his tattered, ripped clothing. His great line made sharp, hieroglyphic poses in between his more primitive movements – all to a driving percussive beat. The manic pace seemed to evoke the spirit of King Julien, the dancing ring tailed Lemar from the animated movie Madagascar. Kupono likes to “move it move it.”
Travis Wall, the runner-up in season two’s So You Think You Can Dance, debuted as a choreographer with an emotionally moving piece about two friends in love. Jeanine and Jason were spectacular and committed. The piece worked even though an annoying prop seemed to get tangled in the dancer's hands or otherwise constantly dangled, detracting from the dancer's wonderful lines, and the literal choreography mimicked the words of the music "hold my heart in your hand" as Jason pulled out the prop, a heart fob on a key chain – guess what that symbolized? Despite getting hit over the head with this metaphor, the superb choreography could have easily stood on it's own without the prop; The meaning would have been equally clear. Judge Lythgoe said that Jeanine and Jason became stars that night.
Melissa performed her solo in pointe shoes and flashed her almost perfect arabesque and ideal attitude lines with a big smile pasted on her face. Perhaps it's a nervous affectation because she wore the smile inappropriately during her recent performance as Juliet, which forces the question: Will we ever see another expression from Melissa? The need to smile constantly is the rookie mistake of a competition kid. Except, she's old enough to know better.
Evan performed an eye-popping split jump at the start of his solo, the kind that seemed to suspend even longer when the momentum of his legs reached the split. In a white dinner jacket, his solo was reminiscent of the cool social dance craze Big Apple. He had the unmistakable air of Gene Kelly.
Kayla, like a beautiful creature, spread her long lines and took the stage in a leggy modern dance solo. She proved, once again, her ability to go full out in her attack, to dance with abandon, and to express something about the human spirit which is universal.
The evening took a downturn when Kupono and Randi danced a Paso Doble. It started as something you would see at Epcot Center or on a cheap cruise ship. The music, the costumes and the choreography were all bigger than the dancers. Neither of them took the space and both seemed tentative. It was painful to watch and it only got worse. Kupono could have channeled the power he presented last week in Mia Michael's addiction piece. Instead, he floundered and didn't appear strong enough to partner Randi effectively. They lost their balance a couple of times. At the crucial ending pose, they literally fell apart.
Randi wore a blonde wig for the performance and Nigel commented that it was a bad choice because it made her less recognizable right when she needed the audience to know her. Judge Murphy said "I didn't believe the wig...the dancing...the choreography."
With a bare chest and body like a Renaissance sculpture, Ade demonstrated with his solo why he is a contender for finalist in this competition. He punctuated the fact with an impressive spin and a vaulting, tumbling flip like an Olympic gymnast. Jeanine showed some rock solid technique and training during her solo, too. She performed fouette turns and interesting, unexpected leaps. She’s also a contender.
In white knickers that made his legs look short and an untucked shirt that made his back look too long, Jason danced a bluesy solo. He's a good dancer but not good enough, or long enough, to overcome such ill-advised costuming choices. His flat cap also cut off his line and heightened the disproportionate effect. But he need not worry, his ample fans will propel him to the next round – they don't care about costumes!
Kupono Aweau and Randi Evans fall apart in a Paso Doble choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin.
The final couple to dance, Brandon and Melissa, showed what it means to be professional. With only a few hours of rehearsal, their Broadway routine to the song Age of Aquarius from the musical Hair was completely believable and could have been put right on a Broadway stage. The performance featured moments of spectacular athleticism from Brandon as he did some deep knee bends and huge flips. It also contained plenty of lovely lines from Melissa. Her ever-present smile almost worked as a tripped out flower child. Guest judge Debbie Allen said they were both "amazing, powerful and different."
The final solo was without split leaps, spiny turns and not even one single wacky leg extension (which are are so prevalent in dance competitions). Janette didn't rely on any tricks. Her solo was based, instead, 100 percent on sex appeal and the hypnotizing, rhythmic motions of her hips and feet. Basically, she fried it up on the stage while dancing to fast techno music with lyrics that kept repeating "This is Miami." The music choice reinforced her branding. She demonstrated what it takes to close a show well.
All in all, the stage is set for an exciting show-down between the dancers. Unfortunately, Kopono and Randi will probably not be there to participate.
Eric Wolfram appeared on renowned stages like the Paris Opera in Paris, The Kirov in St. Petersburg, Lincoln Center in New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. while performing with the critically-acclaimed Royal Winnipeg Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. Today he films dance in New York City.
*Disclaimer: The views of Eric Wolfram are not necessarily the views of Voice of Dance*
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