After a week away from our television screens to celebrate the July 4 holiday, SYTYCD is back for its first “real” show of the season. The Top 20 dancers are all partnered up, styles have been chosen and their fates are left in the hands of the voting public. But this time around, the audience will be voting for individuals, not couples, since two winners will be crowned.
Here are the Top 5 moments from this week’s episode:
1. The Opening Group Routine — Working a daytime desk job for the summer, I can relate to the frustration of working in such a confined space. This routine, choreographed by Christopher Scott, exemplified this wonderfully. The dancers movements were so sharp and contained, and I loved the angular way they moved around the stage. The desk and coffee mug props were used well and throwing the papers up at the end was a nice touch. Doesn’t everybody wish they could do that sometimes?
2. Witney and Chehon’s Samba — Alright, so it’s not quite fair that Witney got her style right off the bat, but I guess that’s just the luck of the draw. She killed this flirty samba routine that was energetic, sassy, and right up her alley, and earned first class tickets on Mary’s Hot Tamale train. But what about her partner, ballet dancer Chehon? The judges were kind, focusing on what he could improve on instead of ripping him to shreds, but Witney was the clear star of the show.
3. “The Love Cats” — Amelia Lowe and Will Thomas were purr-fect in this feline inspired Jazz Hip Hop piece by NappyTabs. Amelia’s silent movie star looks were given a sexy makeover in a leopard print body suit that left little to the imagination. Tall contemporary dancer Will was able to get down and dirty and groove with this funky piece. These two certainly pulled it off and it was one of my favourites of the night!
4. Eliana and Cyrus do Hairspray: This Broadway routine, choreographed by Tyce Diorio was so much fun. Cyrus, a popper, definitely held his own in this. While the moves he had weren’t very difficult, he really played the part and hit everything with precision. Ballet dancer Eliana’s high kicks and flips added the technical element, but she lacked the natural personality Cyrus had. But they certainly had chemistry as a couple so I hope they’re still around next week!
5. Lindsay and Cole’s Paso Doble — What are the chances both ballroom girls got their style on the first week? Well, considering how many ballroom dance styles there are, more likely than you think, but it still gave them an edge on the competition. In this dark and fiery piece, Cole’s ninja cool added a unique element and Lindsay was hot, but I still think she could have been a little fiercer. But the judges loved it, calling it the best Paso Doble on the show ever. Big talk for the first show; hopefully these two can keep it up.
