Recap: So You Think You Can Dance Performance Show: The Power of Synergy

Ivegotit

This week there's another very special guest jidge in the form of the ADD-addled director of the movie Hairspray, and So You Think You Can Dance proves once again it is a whore for any dance movie. Well maybe that wording is a little strong. I mean, Nigel is just trying to bring DANCE to AMERICA in any way he can. Question though, who paid who for all the Hairspray plugging this week? Or are both owned by the same umbrella-entity, thus giving us our title this week? Discuss!

After a week off, I'm so excited to see Cat greets us from the rafters, welcoming us to SoYouThinkYouCanDance!

Ah, so nice to see their shining, sweaty faces again. Missed you guys! Before we can get to the dancing, Nigel takes a moment to address all the Jessi fans out there (I know, right? Those exist??) who decried her being booted off the show since America didn't vote her there. Nigel's all, yeah, but she didn't dance either, so that's why she's gone.

Then Cat gets down to business, introducing this week's special guest jidge, Adam Shenkman, director/choreographer of the new movie musical, Hairspray. I'm not a fan of these special guest jidges. The show worked so well without them, so why change something that isn't broken? The first words out of his mouth are to Cat Deeley and they are: "You look cat-astrophically cat-tastic!"

Well, Adam, I officially don't respect your opinions. This guy's good. It took me three couples worth of comments before I lost all respect for Debbie Allen's commentary. Adam Shenkman does it before anyone's set foot onstage.

Spazjudge
Spaz-tacularly spaz-tabulous!

Our first couple tonight is Lacey and Kameron doing the Hustle. The getting-to-know-you theme tonight is tell the audience something they don't already know about you. Kameron is a daredevil, Lacey actually has short hair and a weave. No shit. Fascinating.

There are rumors swirling around this here interweb that Lacy and Kameron are dating. They've since been refuted, but I do know that if they are dating, I pity Kameron because Lacey suddenly seems very high maintenance and whiny this week. Both of them comment how hard the dance is, but Lacey's doing a lot of bitching at Kameron in the clips we see. Interesting.

Their actual performance is spectacular, as ush. I was a little wary of the Hustle, but I'm actually enjoying this. Kameron's adorable, but Lacey is literally dancing circles around him.

Caboose
The Hot Tamale Caboose

My God, Adam Shenkman has a lot of energy. He loved the showmanship and partnering skills exhibited by both of them. Mary lthought Kameron looked a little uncomfortable at times, but Lacey is so dependable that it didn't matter. Nigel agrees that Kameron looks a little weaker and once again calls Kameron a prop in the routine. He says Kameron's missing the magic that Lacey has. I bet that's good for the partnership.

When Nigel references Benji in his comments to Lacey, the camera pans over to our favorite slice of ham sitting in the audience. And hey, there's Heidi! It's like a family reunion. Also, what happened Benji? I'll get into this later because there's so much more Benji to come, but he's really lost all the goofy charm from last year and gained so much... blond hair.

Douchier
Benji in 2007: now 50% douche-ier.

Next up are Cedric and Shauna. Shauna snowboards, Cedric was his school's mascot - a giant purple and orange cat. Lol. I get the feeling Cedric has no friends at home. Cedric gains points with me when, after they draw Mambo as a style, he references West Side Story while trying to figure out what the Mambo is.

Well, their choreographer, Alex Da Silva, explains it as a spicy, hot dance from Puerto Rico and Cuba. Alex explains that normally he brings one assistant, but when he heard he had to teach Cedric, Alex brought three. See, that's why Cedric probably shouldn't have been in the Top Twenty to begin with, and certainly shouldn't be here still - he can't pick up choreography and is clearly less technically proficient than so many other dancers. Rehearsals look frustrating.

Their dance is not great - pretty much what you'd expect. Shauna's just hoofing around the stage while Cedric kind of does the moves, but not really. They're slow in the transitions and totally not in unison later in the routine.

Recap: So You Think You Can Dance Performance Show: The Power of Synergy Sections:  1  |  2  |  3 

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Comments (17)

Rock Star Author Profile Page:

God, i'm such a fucking loser. I'm always the first one to post on these. Anyway, yes, Danny is arrogant. And no, not deservedly so. I don't think being a good dancer is a reason to be arrogant. Or being a good football player. Or piano player. Or a good singer. It's not like he's doing the world a giant service by dancing. If he cured AIDS, then yes, he would have a reason to be cocky. He's not very likeable, and while he may be one of the best dancers there, he can go home, I wouldn't miss him. Neil can also go.

princesspeapod Author Profile Page:

Hok + Jamie = Homie.
And if they're not already doing it, they will be soon. I think Lacey and her partner are already bumping uglies.

Should I be ashamed to admit that I am in love with Neil and have girl crushes on Sara and Lauren?

bambinoitaliano Author Profile Page:

I enjoy talent base reality shows purely for the talent. Good performers, great talents and of course a good personality would help in that order. Danny and Neil perhaps are the better trained dancers among the bunch. I actually enjoy all of the dancers. But this is a competition. At the end of the day, the winner should be solely base on performance and talent. Otherwise we would have Sanjaya come out of every corner of the street. Let's not make this show into a cheesier version of America Got Talent. It would not be fair for someone like Cedric and Hok be the winner of the show, as much as I enjoy some of their performances in the past.

SignKitty Author Profile Page:

This show is more about performance than actual dance skill. They always say they are looking for "America's FAVORITE dancer" not "America's best dancer" Likeability is a huge part in the equation.

Wandawoman Author Profile Page:

Ok so I didn't like the guest judge either but good for him for calling out Danny. Danny is an arrogant prick that is going to be the nail in Anya's coffin because no one wants to continue to vote for a guy that doesn't think he needs your votes.
He is an excellent dancer but man...that guy is a total jerk.

Shollia Author Profile Page:

Dom and Sabra have easily become my fav couple to watch.
I hated that DOm was kept in the first week.... I mean I was PO'd!
But now I'm totally glad that he did stay b/c he has grown so much and is doing so well.

Candyland Author Profile Page:

Wow, first off I totally disagree about Danny. I dont think that he has done anyhing to make himself seem arrogant, he comes, he dances, he leaves (after all this is a dance competition, there is nothing in the rules about telling dumb jokes or hitting on Cat) Yes he can dance, REALLY DANCE, and when you audition for a professional dance company they want someone who is confident and who is sure of themselves not someone who dances there hardest and then goes into total shock when they discover that it was good enough to get them votes. What the contestants are really competing for is not to be the most liked by america but to get as much exposure as possible so that they can get picked up by a reputable dance company. And the irony of the whole thing is whether America likes Danny or not he would definitely be chosen over all of those guys when it came down to a real audition. Oh and BTW Danny, Anya, Pasha, and Lacey ALL dance like they know they are good (thats because they ARE) and they have all won championships before, this is not just a side dream for them but what they do with there lives everyday.

georgiababe Author Profile Page:

I wholeheartedly agree about Danny - he has always given off this air of "This show is beneath me". I don't dislike him, I just am not a huge fan.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOOOVE Neil!!! He and Pasha have been my favorite guys since the beginning (although I do like Dominic and Kameron) but this performance sealed Neil as my favorite. I also LOVE Wade Robson, although I do think that his stuff gets repetitive - it's always cool and stuff, but it's always the same music style and the same jerky style movement. Ah well - it was awesome just the same.

As for my favorite girls - I like Anya and Lacey, but I also really love Sara and Sabra. I think Sabra's my favorite though - I still can't believe she's only been dancing for 4 years!

Great recap - thanks!

jennm926 Author Profile Page:

I can't help but feel that Wade's routine is PROOF that he can make a silk purse out of sow's ear.

While I do feel that Neil is a talented dancer, I don't know if he has what it takes to win the whole thing. And Lauren? She doens't - plain and simple.

That said, their routine was AWESOME!

I heart me some Wade!

bdos88 Author Profile Page:

Candyland - totaly agree with you. I have yet to see Danny do anything that warrants the label of 'arrogant'. Self-assured? Yup. Confident? You bet. If they have footage of him being a total tool then I would like to see it because up until this point the only thing I've seen him do is dance incredibly well and take the criticism (both about his dancing and personality) with class. Yes, he's not all bubbly and sh*t, so what? Are people just getting a bad vibe from him? Because I haven't actually seen him do anything nasty yet.

Laurie Author Profile Page:

I've never read dany as being 'arrogant', like Nigel I've always seen that as being tied in with rude and disrespectful-and I don't get that from him. Now is he cocky? Oh yea, so much so that it's annoying. Plus he's trained as a ballet dancer and they always just have a clinical cockiness to them.

I still say Lauren is better off being on a dance team. The girl needs to learn you don't have to smile during every single dance number. Plus I haven't forgiven her for dancing a solo to popozau.

georgiababe Author Profile Page:

Hey hey hey. I am a classically trained ballet dancer and I'm not cocky. I work hard for what I do and I feel confident in my work, but there's always going to be better dancers and room for improvement.

Laurie Author Profile Page:

Let me rephrase, some male ballet dancers (at least all the ones that train at the kennedy center that I see around DC during the week) have a cocky attitude. And can come off as being going only for technique onstage. And since danny's apparently trained in the same corps as these guys...comments about his personality don't suprise me at all.

michelle Author Profile Page:

Danny really bothers me. Obviously he's a really incredible, and well-trained, dancer and he should absolutely dance with confidence. However, I see in him an unwarranted self-assurance, like, as whatshisface guest judge said, he's already won the competition, and that just does not fly with me.

Lacey, Pasha and Anya are all trained, successful dancers, but they also seem like they have something to learn. Danny seems to think he's going to breeze right through, like he deserves to win without having to work for it. And THAT is what bothers me about him.

That said, I don't KNOW him, obviously, so that could be completely untrue. He might just be getting the bitch-edit from the network, I don't know.

I would just like to see more vulnerability from him.

keenai Author Profile Page:

"The towels weren't aligned, bitch" made me laugh so hard. All of the captions on the last page are great, actually.

Candyland Author Profile Page:

"He deserves to win with out actually working for it" Wow they give these guys a WEEK to learn from a Professional chereographer a style that they have no experience in and he comes on stage and executes perfectly and with total confidence, if that is not working for it than I dont know what is. I think America expects him to "work for them to like him" and not "work on the dances" whats so funny about this whole thing is Simon ragged on Melinda Doolittle for doing exactly what they want Danny to do, It irritated me (and most of america) that doolittle was so good and everytime someone gave her a compliment she had this "who me" face, like she didnt already know, oh and btw I know thats not what america wants because she didnt win either. Bottom line these competitions dont have anything to do with finding real talent and actually just serve as an upscale popularity contest.
I now I am very passionate about my Danny position, but I have been dancing for a long time and when you go to audition where you have 30 minutes to learn the dance, you would do better to be completely wrong and dance with confidence (like you already have the slot) than to be good and unsure of yourself.
Thats the nature of performance the ability to COMMAND the stage, when a dancer takes the stage there body language is supposed to say "hey everyone look at me" which is why laurie said that all the ballet dancers she sees have the same air. It is TAUGHT not at "bellas storefront ballet school" but at major ballet academy like Kirov for example (where danny studied) there dancers go on to dance with companies that charge $200 a ticket, now if you pay $200 for a ballet who do you want to see Danny or Cedric???

Rock Star Author Profile Page:

Yeah, this show is about America's Favorite Dancer, not America's most technical dancer. And since Danny is not likeable, how is he going to be the favorite dancer? You know what's arrogant? Saying things like "I'm extremely surprised to be in the bottom 3". That makes you arrogant. Yeah, you're a trained dancer, that's wonderful, but you have no emotion in your dancing, and the fact that you think you're somehow a superior dancer since you've been trained means you wont be in the bottom 3 makes you arrogant. I think that while Danny is in the bottom 3, the judges will save him, but as soon as America decides who goes, Danny will be the first one voted off.
Also, while Neil doesn't seem arrogant, i also don't see a ton of emotion his dancing either. It's really like Adam Shankman said, all about his tricks, and while they're fun to watch, they're not going to make you America's Favorite Dancer.

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