Learning You Cannot Just Dance Alone in Your Basement

Learning You Cannot Just Dance Alone in Your Basement…and for God’s Sake, Dancers, Drink Some Water! by Roxanne McDonald

A special guest judge but no special treatment for the emergently ill.

With guest judge Debbie Allen, the panel says goodbye to two more dancers. Mz. Allen had expressed her opinion of the dancers this season, saying they are not only trained,

skilled, and talented, but good people. Mary had discussed the surprising contestant—who to her is Dominick—and Nigel had acknowledged how pleasant this season’s dancers are as well as are the choreographers.

Sara and Jesus had danced first (after yet another “what are your ambitions” interview question), having trained for crumping [including sliding, chest-popping, and doing the “bathroom stall”] with choreographer Lil’ C.

Debbie had told them it was a great way to start the show, with a lot of face…which is, she had said, what dance is also about.

Mary had done her signature wow squeal, and told Sara what a contrast it was for her and that Jesus had “hit it hard.”

Nigel liked where crumping was going, loved the slides and all, and Sarah she was a “gangstah” and Jesus he made Nigel thoroughly enjoy a style he would otherwise normally be scared of.

Shauna and Cedric (who each lost a partner in week two eliminations) had trained for a contemporary number with choreographer Mia Michaels.

Debbie had been shocked that Shauna had been in the bottom three, and questions the choreography from that last week dance. She advises Cedric that dancing, and this competition, are about so much more than technique. This is evidently not a left-handed compliment, for his spirit and soul touched her every time he danced.

Mary loved the dancing but told Shauna hers was not good enough…, while Cedric’s, she continued, was extraordinary in solos but likely out-danced again this week as he was last.

Nigel had agreed, but added that this competition is for people without formal training and Cedric was, yes, an inspiration, while Sara had put herself on the map [of obviously untrained? What?].

Lacey and Kameron had not only danced, but advertised their hooking up? They had trained with Tony Meredith for the quick step.

Debbie had praised their performance—saying it was classic, timely, and fun to watch. Great feet and a sassy dress made it even more so, she added.

Mary acknowledged how Lacey doesn’t really do the quick step but that she did a great job. She missed Kameron’s Mohawk, but also told him that since the quick step is known to be the “kiss of death on this show,” Bravo, he, too, did a great job.

Nigel said that he kept his shape well (hopefully, after all that bike rack training). Nigel would have liked to have seen a professional skim across the floor, but Cedric led…, and Lacey’s difficult to lead, he noted.

Anya and Danny did hip hop with Dan Karaty’s guidance and choreography.

Debbie started her critique by saying they ["So You Think…" people] needed to come up with something else to “level the playing field, because, she believes, there is nothing Danny can’t do. Danny is to her the idol of the competition, and together they were the Dream Team.

Mary agreed that they might have to give the other couples a handicap…, but the dancers will be changing partners later on, so…. There were a few things—the flips, the booty moves—that were for her a lot of fun.

Nigel had remarked that hip hop style could be their downfall: it is tough to go from classical backgrounds and then instantly get that muscle memory into other places for hip hop. Then, getting even more serious, Nigel closed in on them by saying he was speaking to them on a “higher level” than he would the other dancers—as he wants to see them improve on their level as much as others do on theirs…because they can, he said.

Sabra and Dominick had done the rumba, under the tutelage and choreography of Jean Marc Genereux.

Debbie had determined that was hot, they all had so much fun, and Dominick was so foolish with his B-boy techniques which are perfect for this style—what with his upper body strength, balance, and that which, she concluded, speaks to the value of the competition to broaden the audience’s vocabulary.

Mary called it a wonderful partnership, a wonderful connection we can see developing. She told Sabra that everything she does is so great, so natural, so rhythmical, and beautiful; and told Dominick that he was hanging in there for his partner. Her hat was off to them, she said: last week she called them a force to be reckoned with, she reminded us, and this week, they have two tickets on her Hot Tamale Train!

Nigel asked them if they surprised themselves, but then kind of steamrolled over their responses by defining their performance as not over the top but focused and

passionate. He could not believe some of the lines. He also called Sabra a gorgeous pixie with great control, and told Dominick that though he knows D is a B-boy, he didn’t know ‘B’ stood for “Ballroom”!

Lauren and Neil had done a tango, as choreographed and guided by Jean Marc Genereux.

Debbie had told them that there were moments where it was not as smooth as she would have liked—and she recommended it be tighter.

Mary had discussed how we could easily see the cat/mouse thing going on at the start, which was best with the passionate at the beginning; but then they got sloppy, she felt, once they got into the close hold. The thing with the tango, she added, is that one dances INTO the floor…and Lauren and Neil’s toe hopping was NOT tango.

Nigel called it pretty good, but said Neil over-danced it—his adrenaline too large, Nigel determined. He told them they “danced like DUDES;” and they had to be careful that shoulders don’t come up around ears and that the head thing gets adjusted accordingly.

Hok and Jaime had done an eclectic jazz/ballet combo number, as choreographed and led by Wade Robeson.

Debbie was full of praise, calling their performance wonderful, sharp, fluid, and in tone/tune…saying it was “like water” watching them.

Mary had remarked that it was definitely a step up from the previous week: she told Hok it was hard for her to remember he dances mostly on his hands and head; and told Jaime she was wonderful.

Nigel had said that when he first started watching, he questioned what this was all about…, but as he kept watching, he found it beautiful and brilliant. Hok, Nigel said, had taken style and culture to make a wonderful performance, and Jaime had risen from the plie in a way that showed control. This performance, he had found, was one of the scenes we will remember for a very long time.

Pasha and Jessi were slated to cha cha cha under the direction of choreographer Tony Meredith. There are scenes where crumping becomes “crapping”, though, and then a shot of an ambulance arriving to take Jessi, who is feeling chest pains and having trouble breathing.

That left Pasha to dance with Tony Meredith’s assistant, Melanie. We were told not to “judge” her, but she rocked that larger-sized bod!

Debbie acknowledged the “show must go on” attitude; and told Pasha he did indeed go on…and on…and on. He didn’t miss a beat, she said, and while she knew they were not to judge Melanie, she was on top of it…while Pasha faced the challenge of an emergent new partner very well.He played the sensuality part so well, Debbie added, he deserved the Oscar for the night.

Mary had called it fantastic and sexy. This girl, a U.S. Champion, stepped in, Mary noted, but the performance was all about him, him, him…, and he was hot.

Nigel had first reported to us all about Jessi’s situation: she was still testing, but there was some issue with an “abnormal heart”. He then told Pasha that whatever happened—if Pasha ended in bottom three he would still have to dance for his life as Jessi will have to, but, he suggested, Pasha had nothing to worry about.

The third eliminations night had the following line-up:

SAFE

Lacey and Kameron
Shauna and Cedric
Hok and Jaime
Sabra and Dominick
Pasha

DANCING for THEIR LIVES

Lauren
Neil
Sara
Jesus
Jessi

Eliminated in round three: Jessi and Jesus

Jesus was told that while he had been outstanding the week before, he was not so much this time—which was decided by the judges as unanimous.

And Jessi is just told she is going home. [The shock at lack of explanation is one thing, but the speculation is another: could be that the dancer who doesn’t drink water, gets dehydrated, and can’t perform needs to go home, drink water, and rest up.]

SirLinksAlot So You Think You Can Dance links

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