So You Think You Can Dance: Week 2

Week 2 in “So You Think You Can Dance.” I’m breaking it down this week. I’ll recap a bit of last week since I was cheering on the Beet in Lala land. This year this show really rocks the house and the dancers are the best yet. If you aren’t watching this show then I have no idea what you are watching. “On The Lot” blows and other than my fascination with “Army Wives” we are in the doldrums of summer television.

Lauren and Neil– Neil and Laura are a fun youthful little couple. Last week their Samba was adorable but just a little too cutesy for the judges. This week they do Hip-Hop and they are quite awesome at getting down with their bad ‘selves. Lauren seems a bit inhibited by her weird 80s prom outfit that they have put her in and Neil kind of rocks her in the performance. He’s got an electric smile and really hits all of the moves. They throw in a few acro tricks for him and are shockingly good and I find myself really enjoying the performance. I’m kind of nostalgic however for Benji and Donyelle’s Hip-Hop last year because it was so fun to see them flirt and interact. This Hip-Hop routine seems kind of like they are both in their own little worlds. Mia lost a lot of Lauren in the performance and Mary really thinks they are getting a good chemistry. Nigel is impressed at how the night has started. I’m a bit sad because usually Mary is a bit Paula drunken crazy and tonight she seems a bit tame.

Jessi and Pasha– These two dancers are so freaking sexy. Pasha is a Russian Ballroom Champion and Jessi has a cool funky earth mother style. They are so well matched and have enough chemistry that last week their waltz was heavenly. This week they are given Jazz and Tyce choreographs one of the cooler routines I’ve seen in the history of this show. It combines Pasha’s sex appeal with Jessi’s earth mother sexy and once again they mesh beautifully. They are totally committed to this weird tribal bird dance and are perfectly in sync the whole time. Pasha now officially is the “dancer that all the girls want to have sex with” in the competition. Those Russian Ballroom boys really do it for me. Mia thinks they are just amazing and is quite impressed at Pasha’s growth. Mary also thinks it is terrific and is just taken by Jessi’s unique style. Nigel loves them as well. I think he has a bit of an old man crush on Jessi.

Jaimie and Hok– They are a bit of a mismatched couple but I am just in love with Hok. Their Samba was adorable and just a bit messy but for a man that has never partnered a girl before he did a stand up job. Hok’s smile can really light up a room and no matter what he does I feel like I’ll be voting for him every week. He really seems quite perky doing the Samba and I’m impressed that he tries the whole sexy hip rotation thing. I much rather watching him do the whole B-boy thing. Mia is all in love with everyone tonight. Sometimes I feel like she is smoking the herb…she is just wayyy to mellow. Mary obviously has some issues with the fact that Hok has some footwork issues with it comes to ballroom but still gives them an “At” for effort. Nigel loves the performance but also thinks that they need to work on perfecting their ballroom technique.

Dominic and Sabra– I’m shocked to learn that Sabra just learned how to dance four years ago. She really reminds me of Allison from last year. Last week this couple barely survived the 70s Disco and had to dance for their life. Mandy Moore (I seriously laugh every time they say her name, I really think that actual Mandy is going to come out and teach a routine to “Candy”) teaches them a Contemporary routine. They win at the get go because they are dancing to “I’ll Stand By You.” They are incredibly fluid together and have an amazing connection while partnering. I’m super impressed by them tonight. Dominic really warms my heart and Mia thinks that he really is what “this competition is about.” He is a breaker who is opening himself up and learning some new stuff and I even had a tear while watching them dance together. Mia thinks Sabra is a “heavenly little creature” and starts crying as well. Nigel points out the fact that Dominic shaved his toes, which really shows devotion. Honestly they are electric and by the end of the judging I am really moved. Really this is the couple that makes me cry tonight.

Faina and Cedric – Foxtrot is never a good idea when you are working with dancers that don’t really mesh well together. Unfortuneatly this is the dance that Faina and Cedric are given this week and I’m a little worried. Cedric is really good at what he does (Funky Pop Lock Thing) but to be honest I don’t know if he really does well in other styles. I have to say I’m not impressed by this performance. It seems a bit amateur and just not very compelling. To illustrate this fact during this dance my roommate painted her nails and I looked at birthday gifts for my dog. After some shockingly good performances I’m pretty sure that this routine will put them in the bottom 3. Mia calls it “Ginger Rogers and an insecure Michael Jackson.” Mia doesn’t like Cedric’s arm lines and thinks that he isn’t moving from his Hip Hop into new styles of dance very well. Nigel thinks Cedric let his partner down and that he needs to step it up.

Lacey and Kameron – This week they are given a Tyce Broadway routine which is great since they both have super fun personalities. They really have meshed as a couple and have crazy chemistry. We also found out this week what Lacey was hiding under all those baggy dance clothes. She has a hot little body and is a bit naughty. Last year’s winner Benji and his family is in the audience cheering Lacey on (if you haven’t figured out she is the little sis of Benji). Mia critiqued Kameron for hot having enough jazzy jazz hands. Mia loved it and Nigel loves their partnership. They cut to Lacey’s dad who has one of those digital reader boards. I love it when they show people’s dorky parents. I think they were just lovely and even though they were not the best this week they will be safe for sure. I kind of want Lacey to dance for her life, however, because one of her specialties is Crumping.

Anya and Danny– Their dance this week is the Viennese Waltz. They have some problems in rehearsal with the romance. Danny is a bit aloof and Anya kind of has that perky “I don’t speak English well” thing going on. The combo in the studio is a bit odd. Many folks fail when it comes to the waltzing but they rock it out. They both have lovely graceful lines, which really make this work. Anya seems to be rushing it a bit but I really am obsessed with Danny’s extension. Mia and Mary love their dancing. Mary is very impressed by their moves and I understand that this was an amazing dance because for the first time ever I was not bored to tears watching the Viennese Waltz.

Shauna and Jimmy– Dave Scott is going to be teaching this couple to get down Hip Hop style. He is going to add in some stepping…yikes. This couple I have to say is the least dynamic of the whole bunch and I can’t really get excited about them. Their dance kind of reminds me of a high school Pom Pom squad. It is all over the place and really in my opinion not that exciting. As cute as Shauna is the other girls just blow her out of the water. Mia wants Shauna to let go a bit more and Mary also was pretty impressed by their routine. Nigel was impressed and thought their routine had a lot of fun to it. I have a feeling that if they don’t go next week they will be gone soon.

Sara and Jesus– Last week they rocked the house doing a Wade Robson routine. Sara is a B-Girl so this week’s Paso Double should be an interesting challenge for her. Jean Mac Generaux, aka “Frenchie” as I like to call him, is one of my favorite choreographers. The music choice for the Paso Double is a little odd (We Will Rock You By Queen) and I think the non-Latin music makes the dance lose power. They do well on the tricks but Jesus really out-dances Sara. Sara seems nervous and really has a problem looking super feminine. Mia finds the dance awkward and can’t really figure out why…she thinks it is the music and I totally agree with her. Mary loved the routine and gives props to Sara for dancing in heels for the first time. She loves Jesus’s fire Nigel enjoyed seeing Sara out of her normal baseball cap and sweatpants. I worry they might be in the bottom 3 next week but I think no matter what the judges will keep them going through. Note to the show: you can go outside the box only so much. Don’t take away my hot Latin music…that makes me sad.

Favorites of the Evening:
Jessi and Pasha
Dominic and Sabra

Should Go Home Tomorrow:
Faina and Cedric