Friday, August 29, 2014

SYTYCD Live Review: Ep. 9--The End is Nigh--Near--NOW! Part 1

Welcome to Maroon Mondays’ review of the Live Shows of “So You Think You Can Dance”.
As with my reviews of Rising Star and America's Got Talent, the opinions are less professional than those of the TV-show websites.

Well, folks, the time has almost finally come. THE FINALE IS (almost) HERE!! The Top 4 dancers have reached the final hurdle before fighting one last time for the choice to become the winner of the season and the title of “America’s Favorite Dancer”.
So, which dancer was my favorite and which dance captured my attention? Let’s find out.

We start of the finale with a Group Dance, in which the Final Four give an emotional performance by this Contemporary dance choreographed by Travis Wall.


Valerie & Ricky start off the competition phase with an African Jazz routine by Sean Cheesman to "Voices of Savannah" by DJ Chus. It looked vibrant and quick, but not really great. Of course Ricky was the better of the two as I found Val to be lacking in some parts.


Next up, Jessica & Zack do a Broadway bit to “Hernando’s Hideaway” by Ella Fitzgerald. I was hoping this would be a great dance when Jess showed up strutting her stuff; her sexy, super stuff. But I was satisfied anyway. The fire, the passion and the power; this dance had them all. Zack commanded his parts, while Jess just walked the walked.


Val later teams up with Zack to do a Tyce Diorio-Contemp dance to Sade’s “Pearls”. The story here is some guy who helps a blind woman find her way, which is very emotional. And the emotion chemistry between them is perfect; so perfect it made me tear up immediately. This is definitely Jess’ better dance and Zack also did an awesome job.


Jess later switches up with Rick for this Ray Leeper-Jazz bit to “F for You” by Disclosure feat. Mary J. Blige. I thought Jessica was the better woman to dance with Rick. The synchronicity was amazing and the moves were simple, yet still powerful.

These next dances are gender-bending--at least since the first live show:
The guys and the girls switch it up again, this time joining the other same dancer for the dances that make it awesome; at least, I see it that way.

First, Jess & Val perform Bollywood bit by Nakul Dev Mahajan to "Ghahra" from the Yeh Jawaani Jai Deewani Soundtrack.

And Rick & Zack do a Pharside/Phoenix--Hip-Hop Rappin’ Routine (a-ha, alliteratives) to District 78’s “The Antidote”. Although I felt the parts in the beginning were a little dull, this dance was bangin’ cool. Especially the part where Ricky jumps onto Zack, and Z just doesn’t hit the floor; Rick stops him in time. That was suh-weet.

I really don’t have time to type the dances with the All-Star contestants who’ve appeared in series past. Your opinions matter here.
Valerie with Aaron Turner

Ricky with Kathryn McCormick

Zack with (again) Aaron...and…

Jessica with Robert Roldan.


Well, no eliminations were given this week, as we’ve reached the Final Four. We’ll know who made it to the top of the heap as America’s Favorite Dancer next week during the final show of Season 11. Tune in for the review on Thursday for my Favorite Dances of the Season and my thoughts on the season. See you then, everybody. Goodnight!!

No comments:

Post a Comment