Ivan & Martha

1. Popper/hiphop:  She didn’t have it.  Ivan outdanced her. His moves were clean and sharp and big; hers were not. They weren’t together, except in the last bit, when they did the mirror thing with their hands, and I said, okay, now I know what the rest of it was supposed to be.  Looked like they had gotten the routines correct but there wasn’t any heart in them.
2. Smooth Waltz: a soft floating movement with lots of intricate turns – again there’s a problem with his boyisness – they’re all fatootched in tails and gown, dancing to Dolly Parton, which is kind of a contradtion in terms or a mixed metaphor or something.  Nice lines.  No chemistry.  The judges weren’t very impressed.  Didn’t think they were very good. 

Martha solo: a lot of posturing…eh – her costume was a mishmash of color and garment – what was the point of it?  Whatever, her clothes outshone her dancing. I think she’s in danger this week.

Ivan solo:  gimmicky, used skates – cute, but not much.

 

Dimitri & Donyelle

1. Lindy Hop:  will he be the kiss of death again to her?  Very energetic.  I thought some of his footwork was sloppy.   Judges felt he struggled, while she pulled it off and energy was due to her. 
2. Samba: Again with the open shirt.  He is a good partner, but there is something incredibly sleazy about him.  Snake oil salesman. 

Dimitri solo:  I’m not liking him.  Maybe because he’s had to dance his solo so often after being in the Bottom Three, it now seems predictable. There’s no question he is fleet of foot, fancy-stepping and writhes well, but he is starting to trade on sex in the same way that Natalie did, and I find it a cheap trick.  Smacks of desperation.  Especially taking his shirt off. 

Donyelle solo: Pop hiphop whatevever.  I know because she’s wearing the cammie fatigues.   It okay. This is her speciality – I didn’t remember– and as Nigel said, that fact made her other dances look incredible.  But the solo was so short, I never really could get into it.  Just seemed like she was writhing a lot.

 

Travis & Heidi –

1. Paso Double:  The camera work ruined their opening when she was on his back upside down like a cape.  Now this is a dance.  The emotion is organic and the choreography makes it look totally natural.  This is one of the best I’ve even seen on this show.
2. Contemporary:  Dynamic.  He carried the lion’s share of the dance.  But she raised to the occasion.  Mia’s choreography is so original.   Her stories are never hackneyed.

Heidi – solo:  she is such a ball of energy.  Considering she’s a ballroom dancer used to a partner – Judges loved it

Travis – solo: He is such an incredible dancer.  Putting his solo against Dimitri shows how lacking Dimitri is.  Travis’s lines are clean, his lifts are high.  He is athletic and he has heart.  Fantastic.

 

Allison & Ryan

1. Contemporary: He is fantastic, his movements sharp and strong.  His leg lifts are incredible for a guy.  She must be having an off night, but she is, in comparison, wan.  Yeah, I don’t see what all the hoohah about her is.
2. Broadway: He is so much the better dancer.  To me, she is just perky and I find perky wearing.  The judges again like her better.  I just don’t agree.   Are they seeing something up close that isn’t coming across on my 52” television???  They are so critical of him that I’m wondering if something else is operating.  And judging by the grim look on his face, so is he. 

Allison – solo: technically much better than her partnered dances, but it didn’t really move me.  She doesn’t dance feeling, and at this point in the competition, technical proficiency isn’t enough.

Ryan – solo:  I like him.  Judges did too.  Yeah.  He is such an incredible dancer.  Just watching his body move is exciting.

 

Natalie & Benji

1. Jazz: She’s a better dancer.  The feeling is more in her work.  His is technically proficient, but I don’t believe it.  The choreography is showing.
2. Hiphop:  They’re great to watch.  Equal partners on this one, I think.  Nigel was critical: they weren’t dancing together.  The other judges thought it was good.  Me too.

Natalie – solo: Whew! Technique and passion.  This is what dance is about: the ability to

Benji – solo:  Just an incredible dancer.  Nigel pointed out that Benji did it without gimmicks.  He had no wheels on his shoes and his shirt wasn’t open.

 

For my money, Dimitri and Allison could go home, but I think the judges accolades will save her.  More likely, Martha will be the girl to go and Ivan the boy.