TOP 12: Performance

This one's gonna be short because I'm behind and each couple danced twice!

BUT FIRST:
(WARNING: RANT IMMINENT)
I thought bad news was only on Thursday nights. Nigel informed us that it will not be possible for them to do a Michael Jackson tribute night. The plan was to have each couple dance their styles to a Michael Jackson song but SYTYCD was unable to clear rights for the music. SHAME on whoever wouldn't clear that. Would have been a great opportunity for a very fitting homage. I mean, Michael Jackson is a dancer. Pretty sad that they have so much control. Power hungry, money grubbing jerks. Haven't your hoarded enough for yourself? At least let the people enjoy the spirit of dance. Had that MJ episode happened, I might have been able to confirm Season 5 as better than Season 4. My thought is that SYTYCD could have gotten the rights at quite a pretty penny, but then not had enough money left over to turn the power on next week. Eh, what do I know?

Where were we? Ah, the last week before the partner switch...so bittersweet!

Melissa and Ade, Song: “Move On Up” by Destination
Dance 1: Disco
Choreographer: Doriana Sanchez

Ya know, never been a big disco fan but the routines this season have been pretty fun. (Just don't take it too seriously and you'll be all right). Great energy, crazy outfits. Something seemed a little off to me though. Melissa seems to be able to ditch the stiff ballerina frame when she needs to. Not bad. Ade kept the energy flowin but I think Melissa lost it a bit toward the end. The fall? Eh, it happens. It was more her shoes than anything she did. No biggie.

Dance 2: Waltz
Song: “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Mary J. Blige
Aw, Melissa's sweet when she talks about switching partners. I can tell the two got along well and had a good time.
Choreographer: Ron Montez

One of my friend's despises this song. I really liked it for a Waltz! I don't think this dance will be very memorable but Melissa and Ade did a good job with it. It was entertaining and had some really nice lifts! Ade has complete control of a BEAUTIFUL turn combo at 2:34.

Kayla and Kupono
Dance 1: Contemporary, Song: "Gravity" by Sara Barellis

FINALLY! Someone uses this song! I've been saying it would be a stunning background for a contemporary piece for years! Thank you MIA! HOLY SMOKES GUYS. I ALWAYS say "this dance is my favorite, wait, no this one, their all favorites." Well I'll always have a ton of favorites but I can safely say this is the MOST POWERFUL dance I've ever seen on this show. Props to Kupono for having the courage to face it and get through it. Kayla shines. They both had an amazing mix of spot on dancing and spot on acting. SO much to say, not enough time. Mia should be nominated for an Emmy next year for this one. I love how Kupono's costume had a little red strand from Kayla's costume attached to it as if the addiction had stolen a part of her. :32 gave me chills, and not in a good way. Testimony to the depth of the piece. Other brilliant parts: :46 when the addiction just throws her away and comes chasing back after her; 1:05, OUCH. 1:07, Tears. Kupono's sinister look is some of the best acting I've seen. Kayla's desperation is too. 1:30, Kayla tries to walk on her own but is slightly held up by the addiction.

Dance 2: Broadway
Choreographer: Joey Dowling
Song: "The Dance at the Gym" from West Side Story

Ah, if only they'd had danced this first. It was lacking something. Kupono's movements were not big enough for Broadway, the couple fell out of sync a lot, etc.
:08-:12 is cute. Kupono, why don't you show that fun side more often? This was rough but I feel like their contemporary piece will keep them from the bottom 3.

Caitlin and Jason
Dance 1: Foxtrot, Song: "Minnie the Moocher" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Choreographer: 
Tony Meredith & Melanie LePatin

Hmmm. Elegant but completely forgettable. They both looked stunning but their dance seemed to lack some energy. They looked pretty good in the rehersal. I don't know if they got nervous or tangled up mentally with the steps. They pulled it off but it may not be enough to get them in the top 10. The foxtrot is a tough dance for voters to relate to and it didn't really show of their strengths. I'm rooting for them though!

Dance 2: Lyrical Jazz, Song: "Show Me Heaven" by Maria McKee
Choreographer: 
Mandy Moore

I liked this dance! It's about time we saw Caitlin and Jason in contemporary too! I was watching this with a group of girls and one poor fellow. When they saw Jason dancing sans shirt a wave of SWOON swept over my apartment. (I was also diggin his, "Smile, God loves you" t-shirt. I kinda didn't go with the judges on this one. Maybe I was blinded by my hopeless romantic side. I thought it was beautifully danced and I'd argue that they had chemistry! I do agree that it wasn't quite the knock me out of the part I expected from them in their own style though. Something hasn't clicked for this couple though (not as a couple but as competitors), I don't know whats going on. I'm not sure if this good performance will be enough to pull them out of the threat of the bottom 3.

Jeanine and Phillip, Song: "Kalinka" by Barynya
Dance 1: Russian Folk Dance
Choreographer: Youri Nelzine & Lilla Babenko

Really? REALLY?! No offense to Russian dancers. I mean, I think Jeanine and Phillip pulled it off quite well but I'm pretty sure the only Russian dancing I'll ever want to see (if I want to see any after this), is Russian dancing done by Russians! It's just too much of a cultural and different dance for contestants to master in that short amount of time. I feel REALLY bad for those choreographers, they must have been so insulted at all the Russian dance bashing. It also would have helped if they had used more contemporary, less cheesy music. To echo Ryan Kasprzak's sentiments, they'll take a chance on Russian dancing on SYTYCD but never a tap routine or a tap dancer?! This was completely unfair to Jeanine and Phillip and in my opinion, will undoubtedly land them in the bottom three.

Dance 2: The Jive, Song: "Stuff Like That There" by Bette Midler
Choreographer: Tony Meredith & Melanie LePatin

Phillip finally shows a little versatility. I think that will be vital in him sticking around. He looked pretty dapper in his blue pants and shirt and tie. HOWEVER, he really could have used a lot more energy. Some of his moves just felt like he was going through the motions. He had a couple good moments though and really a pretty good go at it. Jeanine was a little firecracker and brought it once again; she's starting to soar! Good thing they danced this one second.

Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak

Dance 1: Hip Hop, Song: "Halo" by Beyonce
Choreographer: Tabitha & Napoleon

GASP =) Had it not been for the "addiction" dance and the "bank robber dance," this would have probably taken the top spot for me. In the romance category, one of the sweetest dances ever. I cannot get enough of this song now too. Tabitha and Napoleon's musicality is simply UNPARALLELED. Evan and Randi may not be your most powerful, hard hitting hip hop dancers, but their "adorable-ness" conquered any technical issues. I was pleasantly surprised by their effort as I was preparing myself for a train wreck before they danced. Evan's faces are stinkin' melt my face off adorable; great acting! (1:38, 2:31). Randi did so much better than I was expecting! She out danced Evan and was givin it all she had. Check her gettin it at 2:52! There was a moment of choreography she did well too that I think was missed because of the bad camera angle. At 1:53 there's a violin part in the music and both Evan and Randi mimic the movements of playing a violin. Loved that. At 2:33 EVERY girl in my apartment squealed.

Dance 2: Samba, Song: "Ritmo De Bom Bom" by Jubaba
Choreographer: Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis

It's great to see two former contestants choreographing for the show! Pasha and Anya did a great job. This could have been a lot worse (though they were pretty cute, rehearsals scared me a bit), but I think Evan and Randi started off strong. The dance began to fade a bit though as they got into it. The sexy costumes helped but I was screaming at Evan to move his hips more. Randi was pretty strong to me, though not the best Samba dancer by any stretch. I think they might make it to the top 10 by the skin of their teeth. One of my friends made a comment that this song is a hard one to dance to but this is some of the best stuff to dance Samba to if you know how to shake it! Props to Evan for those knee spins at 2:53, that's not easy.

Janette and Brandon Bryant

Dance 1: Argentine Tango, Song: "Libertango” from Forever Tango

Choreographer: Leonardo Barrionuevo & Mariam Larci

Man. Those two looked like professionals who'd been doing this for years. There's not much else to say after a standing ovation from the judges! Brandon maintained excellent and intense eye contact with Janette. Janette was sultry, sexy and stunning! As far as technicality, I do think this was flawless but if I'm totally honest the first time I saw it, it left me wanting just a little more passion. I don't know what they could have done to make it more passionate. I think they had the intensity but I think they (Brandon?) could have added a little more sultry. Maybe it's because I'm comparing his sexy with Mark's sexy? Maybe it was the lighting? (See 1:15, 1:38, 1:10) Maybe I'm totally off, or totally biased. Maybe I should go back and watch it again. I'm not arguing that this was a better tango but I think Brandon could have had a smidgen of room for more "scandalous sexy"........I'm bad.

Dance 2: Jazz, Song: "Ruby Blue" by Roisin Murphy

Choreographer: Wade Robson

Also another arguable best dance of the night. Certainly the most fun. Great song! Fit the theme and dance so well. LOVED the costumes with the red gloves and shades. Brandon and Janette nailed it. Again. Wade Robson, thank you for keeping the dance world creative and quirky. I LOVE IT. LOVE. LAHV! Janette is so fun! I love her spunk and it was perfect for this piece! I'm really going to miss these two as a couple. I'd love to see them both in finals. There, I said it. I'd like to see them there with a couple more peeps but I'll let you guess those.