Last week, ballet dancer Alex Wong was eliminated due to an achilles tendon injury. He had surgery Monday evening, and is recovering in the hospital. This week, the remaining seven dancers will dance with seven of the All-Stars, and each other.
Rib Injury for Ashley Galvan
Contemporary dancer Ashley Galvan will not perform tonight, as she injured her ribs in rehearsals on Monday. Ashley will automatically be put in the bottom three, and if she is unable to dance next week, she will be sent home.
Six of the Top 7 Dancers Perform with All-Stars
The first competitor is contemporary dancer Lauren Froderman, with Mark Kanemura, and a Tiana Liufau Tahitian dance to "Jungle" by Last Voices. Nigel admits that he cannot critique on technique, but the judges agree that the performance was entertaining. There could have been more chemistry and connection between the two dancers, as Lauren seemed to focus on the audience again (which she has been criticized for in the past, but not tonight).
Second is contemporary dancer AdeChike Torbert, with Anya Garnis, and a Liz Lira salsa to "Oyelo Que Te Conviene" by Eddie Palmieri. The choreography was highly challenging with a lot of lifts. However, AdeChike seemed to pull through it. Mia points out some "bumps" that could have been better with more rehearsal (and Anya agrees), but overall the judges are pleased.
Next is street dancer Jose Ruiz, with Courtney Galiano, and a Joey Dowling Broadway to "Mister Cellophane" from Chicago. Nigel thinks the concept of a showgirl ignoring a stagehand is good, but it took away Jose's best qualities - his personality and chemistry. The choreography left Jose vulnerable, and showed that he lacks technique. It was almost as if they were performing two separate dances on two separate stages.
The fourth competitor is contemporary dancer Robert Roldan, with Allison Holker, and a Travis Wall contemporary to "Fix You" by Coldplay. Travis's mother recently underwent surgery, and in this piece Robert played Travis trying to support his mother, played by Allison. The piece received a standing ovation from all, including the judges, and touched on Robert's own mother's struggles as well. The judges agree that this was Robert's best performance, and one of the best routines of the season.
The fifth couple is contemporary dancer Billy Bell and Anya Garnis, and a Louis Van Amstel jive to "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf. Nigel thinks this is the hardest Billy has worked for chemistry, and it paid off. The judges disagree whether Billy's training worked for this piece or not, but it seemed to pull together more at the end. The judges do not mention that the beginning third of the piece seemed as though the dancers were off in counts from each other and the music.
The final competitor in this round is contemporary dancer Kent Boyd, with Neil Haskell, and a Tyce DiOrio Broadway to "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO" from Damn Yankees. In baseball uniforms, the two contemporary dancers showed off their acrobatic tricks and jumps. Adam says that Kent has a huge future in Broadway if he wants it, and the piece showed very well that Kent could match Neil step-for-step and trick-for-trick.
The Competitors Perform with Each Other
The first couple is Lauren and Billy, performing a Mandy Moore jazz to "Boogie Shoes" by KC & the Sunshine Band. The routine was, in Nigels' words, "adorable", and the dancers had a good connection with each other. Adam is happy that Billy did what he asked him to do last week, which was to get lost in the dance instead of competing. Overall the dance may have been too cutesy and boring to make an impact on voters, which Billy may have needed after his sloppy jive. Lauren may be safe in the middle of the pack at this point.
Second is Jose and a "mystery dancer", since there was an uneven number this week. He has a b-boy routine with All-Star Dominic, choreographed by Tabitha & Napoleon. Nigel thinks Jose redeemed himself from the first routine, and comments that no other dancers remaining in the competition could have done that (because they're all contemporary dancers). While the judges are falling over Jose once again, this should have been his signature piece, and it didn't quite hit the mark. His debut routine in the first episode with all the hip hop All-Stars was possibly a better show of his strengths.
The third couple is AdeChike and Kent, with a Dee Caspary contemporary to "You Only Disappear" by Tom McRae. The concept doesn't take precedence over the dancing, which is nice for a change. Nigel is happy that Kent was able to underplay the character, and improve on his subtle techniques. Kent's lines were sometimes stronger and more languid than AdeChike's, but they played off each other very well. AdeChike had a good week, which he needed, but Kent is continuing to grow which bodes well for votes.
The final couple would have been Robert and Ashley, but with her injury Ashley is replaced by All-Star Kathryn. They perform a Doriana Sanchez disco to "Instant Replay" by Dan Hartman. Ignoring the fact that Kathryn learned this routine in less than 48 hours, the piece is just about flawless. Kathryn seems unsure of some of the movement, but Robert is there in full force and backs her up perfectly. Nigel doesn't think the movement was masculine enough, but it was a disco and not a paso doble. Robert should be safe for another week, and possibly even out of the bottom three this time.
America Votes for their Favorite Dancer
Cat reminds the audience to call for their favorite. On Thursday, July 15, the bottom two dancers will join Ashley, and will "dance for their lives", performing solos in their own styles. At the end of the episode, the judges will decide who will be sent home.
Terry Finch - Terry Finch is a dance teacher and choreographer in Central PA with an extensive training and teaching background in many forms of ...
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