In case you did not see the press release, Cat Deeley will be taking over for Kerry Butler in “Xanadu.” She was in the middle of a costume fitting when tonight’s show started.
The Wade Robson solo concept is interesting. Everyone dancing the same choreography levels the playing field. I don’t think Wade could play to any particular dancer’s strength. Also, I think he crafted a beautiful dance, filled with emotion and meaning. (I think, however, that Mia may be right about no dancer truly owning the piece and making it his or her own.)
Lauren & Pasha (hip hop): You go, Pasha! Whatever shortcomings he may have in the style, he makes up for them with an almost unequaled performance level. I have said it before: Pasha is the best all-around male ballroom dancer that I have seen on the show. Lauren, as expected, also did very well.
Jaimie (solo): Dang, I wish I liked her better. She may be the best female dancer on the show this season, though I thought her emotion was a bit forced. (I agree with Nigel and Mia about Jaimie’s emotional quality.)
Dominic (solo): Not Dominic’s best effort. That was tough to be asked to follow Jaimie, a far more trained dancer. Apart from the obvious screw-up, Dominic was not quite up to this challenge.
Sabra & Kameron (contemporary): While I think they worked very well together technically, I expected more connection from them, especially after the lead-in montage. Sabra is definitely still my favorite. She is simply exquisite.
Sara (solo): Well done, but nothing special.
Pasha (solo): Not the strongest of the solos, but a good effort.
Lacey & Danny (samba): Very sexy choreography by my husband Dmitry! (He was thinking of me when he was working with them.) I disagree with Nigel; Danny needed to step it up to meet Lacey’s performance level. Step it up, or she will leave you in the dust in that regard.
Lauren (solo): Tremendous energy and emotion, with fantastic technique. Very well done. The best soloist tonight. (Ah, what a good point Nigel! I noticed that Lauren did have a different look at the end. Nigel said “hope.” That, indeed was it.)
Neil (solo): I cannot put my finger on why, but Neil is not my favorite. There is something odd in his technique ... but he sure is pretty. (It could be, as the judges said, his shoulders ... at least in part.)
Sabra (solo): I just love this girl. Her passion, her energy, her joy. A close second in the solos tonight. As much as I watch this show, I don’t always vote. I voted, I voted, I voted ...
Kameron (solo): Well done. The only man with powerful emotion behind his movement. I think this may be the best male solo tonight.
Jaimie & Dominic (Viennese waltz): Dominic and a Viennese waltz ... uh oh ... “Man of La Mancha” as a Viennese waltz ... uh oh ... nothing about this worked for me. Dominic looked like a little boy acting like a man trying to get the style of this dance. (And everything that Nigel said ... including not paying attention to Jaimie.) This may be the poorest number this season. (You gotta love Cat Deeley playing the big sister with these kids ...)
Lacey (solo): She did very well, but without a little something extra to set her apart from Lauren and Sabra. She is still a frontrunner.
Danny (solo): This was one of those numbers where Danny’s superior technique worked against him, in my opinion. Some things were too placed, too controlled, when he should have been really letting go.
Sara & Neil (disco): Hmmm ... I am not sure about this one. It left me a little cold, though it was well danced. They both did well, but neither one blew me away.
The top performers for me tonight were women: Lauren and Sabra. There was no real male standout for me tonight. Pasha did very well in his partner dance, but fell short in the solo. Kameron fell short in the partner dance and excelled in the solo. Danny did well in both, without wowing. Neil, as usual, left me cold, and, without a doubt, the weakest performer overall tonight was Dominic. He should be the male to go home tomorrow night. As for the women, it should come down to Jaimie and Sara.
"I am open, and I am willing,
For to be hopeless would seem so strange.
It dishonors those who go before us,
So lift me up to the light of change."
Holly Near
