The judges say they love it, but it's totally reverse psychology they're pulling on America. Like, NO WAY Mary Murphy really loved Cedric in that. She babbles about growth and how she really wants him to stay this week and it's ALL LIES.
What we didn't know about Anya is that she used to be blond and was in law school in Russia, so she was "Legally Blonde." Heh. Danny has a secret obsession with sunglasses, which I'm sure is endearing him to America. Not.
No. Just... No.
This week Danny and Anya are dancing a contemporary routine by Tyce DiOrio. This is another painful goodbye contemporary dance, about a man who says its too late to say you're sorry. In the interview, Anya talks about passion, while Danny talks about movement. That will be relevant in a minute.
They're polished and professional as always. They're dressed all in black and throwing themselves around the stage. Anya's certainly bringing the passion, though I don't think Danny's getting to show all he can do, which is a shame.
Adam thinks that Danny is a beautiful dancer, but felt he was disconnected from Anya. Mary thought it was tremendous and comments on Danny's great technique. Nigel liked it with caveats. He reminds the contemporary choreographers that relationships do work sometimes, so their dances don't always have to be tragedies. He goes on to say that Anya was terrific, but thinks Danny is lacking some magic.
Suddenly Adam is back in the discussion and says that everyone knows that Danny has tremendous technique, but America isn't voting for him because he's arrogant. Nigel disagrees about the arrogance, just the x-factor, and calls Adam out for "talking crap." HA! AGREED. The judges are still going back and forth, but Danny keeps his poise. Hey, whatever Danny, who cares what they think? The New York Times is on your side!
Next up are Sara and Pasha. Sara was a competitive figure skater until 7th grade. Pasha likes computers. Seriously, can we get rid of these segments in favor of more rehearsal footage? Sara and Pasha pull West Coast Swing, choreographed by Benji Schwimmer. Oh and Heidi's assisting him. There's a ton of mugging and bad skin and reminiscing from Benji. I think my favorite part of the whole episode is when Benji remembers aloud how Dmitri taught him to be sexy last year. "Well it didn't work." Pasha snarks, causing the whole room to LOL.
They're dancing to "The Rockafeller Skank" aka, "Funk Soul Brother" by Fat Boy Slim. I hate this song, but the routine is pretty fun. If you missed the episode, just picture any solo or routine Benji did last year in his style. All his favorite moves are there: the heel slide, the cartwheel with partner, ass-slapping, and quick feet abound. It's actually much better than I was expecting and uses the music really well. There are parts where they go into slow motion and it's cute.
These shoes are killing me!
Nigel points out that this is what he means by "the magic." Adam thought the pair got the job if this was an audition. Mary gives some hoots and was so impressed that they partnered so well for their first week.
Sabra was in High School Musical and they show a still of her. Lol, they have to circle her head or else you'd never find her. Dominic's secret OF COURSE revolves around a secret crush. Can someone fuck him already? I'm so tired of his sad loser routine. Turns out his secret crush is on Cat Deeley, who he describes thusly: "7-feet tall, white teeth and a French accent? Can't get better than that." I don't know, Dominic, would a British accent be better?
This week the pair are performing a Shane Sparks hip-hop routine. Shane says they've got "a hot boy, a hot girl, a hot song and hot choreography." Something tells me this routine is going to be... what's the word? Hot?
It is very cute. Both are dressed in red and white and black and chairs are involved. It's a slower, softer hip hop routine, but there's plenty of popping to be had. The routine takes a slightly abusive turn as it looks like he chokes her down to the floor. Random. Sabra's "freeze" in an upside-down handstand goes off without a hitch and it's another really solid performance from this pair. And to think I wanted Dominic gone that first week!
The towels weren't aligned, bitch!
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Comments (17)
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.
1 of 17 | Posted by Rock Star
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Posted on July 16, 2007 8:40 PM
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?
2 of 17 | Posted by princesspeapod
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Posted on July 16, 2007 10:59 PM
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.
3 of 17 | Posted by bambinoitaliano
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Posted on July 17, 2007 6:38 AM
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.
4 of 17 | Posted by SignKitty
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Posted on July 17, 2007 10:18 AM
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.
5 of 17 | Posted by Wandawoman
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Posted on July 17, 2007 11:19 AM
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.
6 of 17 | Posted by Shollia
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Posted on July 17, 2007 3:18 PM
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.
7 of 17 | Posted by Candyland
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Posted on July 17, 2007 7:59 PM
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!
8 of 17 | Posted by georgiababe
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Posted on July 17, 2007 10:00 PM
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!
9 of 17 | Posted by jennm926
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Posted on July 18, 2007 6:35 AM
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.
10 of 17 | Posted by bdos88
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Posted on July 18, 2007 7:46 AM
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.
11 of 17 | Posted by Laurie
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Posted on July 18, 2007 8:29 AM
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.
12 of 17 | Posted by georgiababe
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Posted on July 18, 2007 11:42 AM
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.
13 of 17 | Posted by Laurie
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Posted on July 18, 2007 1:57 PM
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.
14 of 17 | Posted by michelle
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Posted on July 18, 2007 3:09 PM
"The towels weren't aligned, bitch" made me laugh so hard. All of the captions on the last page are great, actually.
15 of 17 | Posted by keenai
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Posted on July 18, 2007 3:23 PM
"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???
16 of 17 | Posted by Candyland
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Posted on July 18, 2007 7:24 PM
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.
17 of 17 | Posted by Rock Star
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Posted on July 19, 2007 11:25 PM