I don’t know if it’s because I’ve come to have such high expectations from the four remaining dancers on this season’s So You Think You Can Dance, but I have to say that I was just the tiniest bit underwhelmed with tonight’s final performance show. Is it me, or have the final performances from previous seasons of So You Think You Can Dance been way more impressive? Maybe I’m just remembering wrong.
But really, it’s all good. I still love all four remaining dancers. They still work incredibly hard. They all had an extremely challenging night tonight, each one dancing a routine with each of the others, plus a solo, plus a final group performance. It’s no wonder that they looked exhausted tonight. Read on to see how I ranked all the performances.
1. Courtney, Joshua, Katee and Twitch – Contemporary, choreographed by Mia Michaels
This performance closed the show, so all four dancers were completely exhausted by the time they had to perform this challenging and athletic Mia Michaels routine. It didn’t necessarily tell a story, as her pieces often do, but it was visually stunning to see all four dancing together, turning and lifting and leaping. Well done, all of you!
2. Katee Shean and Joshua Allen – Lyrical, choreographed by Wade Robson
Katee and Josh were back together again tonight and Wade Robson came down from heaven, or wherever he lives, to choreograph a great lyrical routine for them. It wasn’t as dramatic as some of his other famous routines from the past, but it still evoked a lot of emotion.
3. Joshua Allen and Twitch Boss – Russian trepak, choreographed by Yourie Nelzine
A So You Think You Can Dance first, these two hip hop boys traded American street dancing for 19th century Russian street dancing in this extremely difficult, extremely athletic Russian trepak. They both gave 100 percent to this piece, leaping higher than I could ever imagine, and doing endless, thigh-burning floorwork. My only criticism of the piece, which was danced to the “Russian Dance” from the Nutcracker Suite, was that I wish it had more of an emotional impact on me. But you know what? It was still amazing.
4. Courtney Galiano and Twitch Boss – Hip hop, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D’Umo
Normally, I love Courtney and Twitch and the D’Umos choreography, but maybe I was just expecting a whole lot, tonight being the finals and all. Although it didn’t make me swoon as some of the previous D’Umo routines have earlier in the season, I was still very impressed with how well Courtney and Twitch pulled it off. They have come so far this season, haven’t they?
5. Katee Shean and Twitch Boss – Foxtrot, choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Katee and Twitch were superbly elegant and smooth in their foxtrot tonight. They executed some difficult lifts, showing off their great physical strength, and they also showed off their excellent chemistry together.
6. Courtney Galiano and Joshua Allen – Jive, choreographed by Jason Gilkison
Courtney and Josh performed this jive toward the end of the tiring evening, and you could see how exhausted they were while they were performing. The jive is supposed to be fast-paced and fun, but their fatigue turned it a tad plodding. Still, a valiant effort, nonetheless.
7. Courtney Galiano and Katee Shean – Broadway, choreographed by Tyce Diorio
This Broadway routine was a fluffy confection that was cute and cutesy. Courtney and Katee did well with what they were given, but frankly, I was underwhelmed with the lack of substance in the routine. This wasn’t Courtney or Katee’s fault, though, but rather, Tyce should have given them something meatier to work with.
Solos:
Courtney Galiano
Twitch Boss
Joshua Allen
Katee Shean
-Debbie Chang, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of FOX)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
