Work Of Napoleon, Tabitha Stands Out On "So You Think You Can Dance?"


One of the aspects of watching a show like FOX's So You Think You Can Dance? each week is that not only do we grow to like certain dances, we grow to like certain choreographers and styles.


Specifically, I'm talking about Napoleon and Tabitha, the hip-hop duo. I'm particularly on board with their slow routines, which were appropriately tabbed as "lyrical hip-hop" routines by this week's guest judge, Adam Shankman.


In the first week of the Top 20, we get Joshua and Katee performing to "No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, and this week we get Chelsie Hightower and Mark blowing the roof off to Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love."


Hate the song. Loved the routine.


It was one of four great routines tonight, two of which were from the aforementioned Nap and Tab. The other great routines came from Joshua and Katee, who killed with a samba from Tony and Melanie to "Baila, Baila" from Angela Via. The Fort Worth kid (Joshua Allen) continues to prove he can do all.


However, for my money, both Mark (Kanemura) and Gev (Manoukian) are on the way up big time. While I have always like Hightower (gorgeous legs), Mark's ability to portray any emotion in dance is winning him fans. Last week, he was the strong, condescending leading man, and this week, he was a master manipulater, literally thieving Chelsie's heart.


And, little Gev. What can I say? He comprises what I'm calling the SYTYCD Underdog Duo, made up of him and Courtney Galliano, who reminds me a ton of somebody who would have been in Saturday Night Fever 31 years ago. Gorgeous. Definitely has an East Coast, New York vibe going, and she and Gev have a very charming chemistry.


Their rumba from Tony and Melanie to "Wishing On A Star" by 1970s group Rose Royce was stellar. I graded each routine after it was done but before the judges spoke, just to see how I'd compare. I thought my A was going to be nullified by the fearsome threesome, but Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Shankman liked it just as much as I did.


Twitchington were on their game again tonight. Kherington Payne, looking cute as a button as always, had to don her cape and hip-hop shoes to keep up with Twitch, who specializes in the style. They worked a solid Nap and Tab routine to Busta Rhymes' "Don't Touch Me Now."


It was light and bouncy and fun to watch. See, my technical terms are awesome.


Jessica was again carried by Will Wingfield this week, although even the Debbie Allen protege made strides in the personality department, according to the judges. They performed a Doriana Sanchez routine to Bonnie Pointer's "Heaven Must Have Sent You," and while the gentlemanly Will did his best to insist to America how good Jessica is, she manages to look completely inferior next to him.


Perhaps he's that good. I don't know. She's cute though, and I'm a sucker for cute, so I'll shut up now.

While there will be three couples in the Bottom 3, there are two sure bets. Comfort and Chris, who did a Tyce Diorio jazz routine to "Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson. Judges said they needed to be a bit more animalistic, and I agree 100 percent.


Comfort and Chris, by a mile, are the worst pairing of the season. They could have paired her with Will and Jessica with Chris, and perhaps Susie and Marquis would still be here. Or Rayven and Jaime.


Chelsea Traille and Thayne will be in that Bottom 3 as well. It's funny because just two weeks ago, they earned a spot on Mary's hot tamale train. Murphy told Chelsea she was plum off it tonight and that Thayne was holding on for dear life.


Mary did give Joshua and Katee two first-class tix to that train.


And, I would too. For the record, I thought Chelsie and Mark were the best. Joshua and Katee were close behind, and Courtney and Gev trail only slightly. Twitchington is comfortable in fourth position, but not by much. They were very solid, too.


Kourtni Lind and Matt were fun and quirky on a contempoary routine from Sonya Tayeh, who made her SYTYCD debut tonight. However, I'm not sure they'll be able to escape the Bottom 3.


No worries. If there is any justice, this week's elimination is a slam dunk, and Comfort and Chris will be headed home.


Here's my video recap:


Labels: , , , , ,

0 Responses to “Work Of Napoleon, Tabitha Stands Out On "So You Think You Can Dance?"”

Post a Comment




© 2008 ryanwelton.com | Blogger Templates by GeckoandFly.
No part of the content or the blog may be reproduced without prior written permission.