'So You Think You Can Dance': Grab your pillows 'cause we're almost home

I love “So You Think You Can Dance” but I confess I won’t mind having a break from these two-hour Wednesday night shows after this week.  I’m sure the dancers feel the same way: Tonight they each performed four choreographed numbers in addition to their solos. No matter how you feel about this season’s dancers, you can’t argue that they were put through the wringer: Lauren, Kent and Robert are lucky just to have reached this point in good physical health.  

I disagreed with the judges right off the bat tonight regarding Kent’s Bollywood routine with all-star Lauren. Adam called it “literally perfect” but I felt otherwise. Although Bollywood dances can be over the top and dramatic, I thought Kent was clowny and cheesy and actually a little sloppy in his performance. Actually, only Adam really praised Kent to the heavens: I agreed with Nigel that the dance had great choreography, great costumes and great dancing (in that order) and with Mia that it was “very Kentish.” I’d say it was my least favorite Bollywood performance to date.

By comparison, I thought Lauren did a great job embodying the character in her hip-hop dance with Twitch by Tabitha and Napoleon, who once again did a great job. I wasn’t sure at first that the concept of their dance about a political debate could work, but they did a very clever job (the vague resemblance to Barack and Hillary didn’t hurt either). I especially liked the move of Twitch trying to muzzle Lauren and her escaping his grasp. The judges all praised Lauren for her consistency and her balance of masculinity and femininity.

Next, Robert performed a Tyce Diorio jazz routine with Mark, a fun routine to “Whip It,” where the duo looked like a pair of New Wave twins.  I liked it when Mia Michaels said the two reminded her of Adam Ant (and even more when Cat danced and sang “Stand and Deliver.”)  I used to compare Robert unfavorably to Mark, but I think he matched right up to the all-star this time, and the judges agreed.

I loved the next dance, a Dee Caspary contemporary number for Robert and Lauren about the relief of going home after the show. It was a beautiful, peaceful dance with lots of gentle, delicate catches, and was, to me, rather sexy in a comfortable, restful way. I thought Robert especially demonstrated how far he’s come in the competition: I used to complain that he didn’t command enough onstage, but I agree with Mia that he’s the most improved in the competition.

Poor Mandy Moore. I was kind of glad that I wasn’t alone in thinking that the teenagery “Hip to Be Square” jazz dance Kent and Lauren did was rather cheesy and shallow for the finale, but the judges felt the same way, to the point where Cat even seemed to agree with Mia, who said she didn’t like the dance. Adam refused to even comment on the dance.  Even though I’m not rooting for Kent to win, I thought it was very sweet and classy of him to stick up for his choreographer after the judges’ critiques.

Kent further endeared himself to me with the contemporary dance he did with Allison to Stacey Tookey’s choreography. I found myself watching Allison a lot at first, but I realized that Kent was really dancing like a man and not as a funny young guy. I especially liked the moves where the pair, playing the perfect couple that’s not so perfect behind closed doors, manipulated each other like puppets. Moreover Kent was really able to capture a scared, sad vulnerable man. Adam declared that Kent became an artist, not just a dancer tonight.

I enjoyed Robert and Kathryn’s Spencer Liff Broadway dance to “Cool” from “West Side Story”: I liked how Spencer took the song and changed the story to it, this time setting it in an interrogation room.  The dance didn’t shake my soul or anything, but I thought Robert smoldered (and it’s hard to compete with Kathryn in that category). The judges praised Robert, in particular for showing off the different sides to his technique.

Although I wouldn’t necessarily have picked a ballroom dance for Lauren to finish the competition, I thought she did a great job with Pasha on the cha-cha.  She’s come a long way in terms of harnessing her sensuality and she made the most of her hips and rear in the performance, which also featured some death-defying lifts choreographed by Tony and Meredith. Nigel declared her the show’s best contemporary female dancer to take on ballroom. Mia said that if she were still dancing, she’d like to dance like Lauren and Adam called it “exhibition-style perfect,” so, yeah, I think the judges liked it too.  

Although Kent and Robert’s Malevos fight dance wasn’t my all-time favorite guy-guy dance on the show, I know the boys were exhausted and it was exciting to see this new, tango-style dance, so I don’t have much to really pick on. The footwork was impressive at times as were the lifts and twirls. Nigel pointed out that the dancers in this finale performed more than those in any other “SYTYCD” finale in history, and Adam proclaimed tonight’s three his favorite of the entire series.  

Since Kent was criticized a bit for his Bollywood dance and the judges didn’t love the dance he did with Lauren, it could be argued that Robert had the best night tonight. I have come around on him since the beginning of the season, and since he’s improved so much, I’d be happy to see him win, although I’m a Lauren fan as well. I don’t think that Kent is less deserving than they are, but you can’t want everyone to win! Who do you pick to win, or rather, who would do you hope doesn’t win?

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo: Robert Roldan, left, Lauren Froderman and Kent Boyd

Credit: Frank Micelotta / Fox

   

Comments

[my2cents]

Robert! no wait, Lauren! no, Kent! How to pick? They are all fabulous! I have been a fan of Robert from the very beginning, so I would love to see him win but I will be happy for any of these 3 wonderful dancers. I think they each bring a different strength and style to the floor so it's just going to come down to personal preference by the voters. I wish them all the best and hope we see more of them in the future. I will miss Cat - favorite host ever!

[Mathew]

Whoever wins, I really won't be disapointted because they are all REALLY good. I agree that Robert is probably the most improved.

I'm been rooting for Kent all along, but I think at the end, maybe I would put Lauren first.

She's just killed everything that has been thrown at her. I've been especially impressed at how she picked up hip hop. She hits VERY hard, and keeps up with Twitch, which isn't exatly easy. And I wouldn't mind at all seeing her in something like Step Up 4 !

Anyway, overall I'm pretty happy with the season. We've gotten some really great routines (nappy taps seems to have suddenly become REAL good), and it's been great to see some of our old favorities in the all stars.

[Jan Mintz]

I'm a Robert fan from the beginning as well. The three really were put through an exhausting and rigorous number of routines. I enjoyed the show, but I have to miss tonight's show, so I will just see who wins after I get home from "Into the Heights." I actually don't think I will be missing too much, so a great season with some of the best dancing of any season!

[Jerry Fullerton]

If you take the season as a whole, Lauren has been by far the most consistent performer. I vote for Lauren (actually I voted for her about 25 times). Go Lauren!

[PoorMelanie]

" She’s come a long way in terms of harnessing her sensuality and she made the most of her hips and rear in the performance, which also featured some death-defying lifts choreographed by Tony and Meredith."

It's Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin! Not Tony and Meredith!!

[Jack Scribe]

Ditto my2cents...except I've been a Kent fan from the beginning and think his peeps will come through with the votes. Isn't Cat terrific! If Nigel had the cajones, he'd refresh the American Idol show by having Cat host and moving Ryan to a judge spot (and bring back Paula).
:o)
There, I've said my3cents worth.

[Donna]

I loved the show. It was so hard for me to decide, but I voted for Lauren because she was the most consistent dancer..... so incredibly talented. And Lauren's solos have been the best in my opinion.

I thought it was rude the way the judges talked about Mandy's choreography, and also the way they referred back to Russian Folk Dance. That seemed so disrespectful to that culture and to the guest choreographer who brought Russian folk.

I also wish Adam didn't interrupt Kent when he was opening his heart up about how he felt after the performance. Kent really seemed like he had some internal struggle going on, and I would have loved to hear what he had to say. Kent's parents also looked sad or down..... I don't know what that was about.

I love all 3 dancers!

[kate]

Kent! Kent! Kent! I saw it from the very start .. he is just a stunning dancer. Lauren is awesome but something about her vibe just doesn't move me. Robert, though .. talk about Dark Horse .. he TOTALLY won us ALL over! I'd be happy for any of them to win : )

[cshargeit]

robert and kathryn did the best in "cool". kent did the best solo. the season best has been censored off you tube with the injured dancer and twitch. it was so golden - they won't let one see it freely. shame. i can't get it "out of" my mind.

[Grace]

They're all good, and while they make me feel insanely old at 23, they all also seem quite genuine and modest, couple that with the talent and who ever wins will be absolutely worthy in my eyes. I suppose this show is more about getting exposure than receiving one fifth of what mr. Lythgoe makes per episode (??), but I almost feel awkward about watching two seemingly sweet teenagers lose after having worked so hard for so long.

Perhaps for his "what will you do with the money if you win" answer, Robert gets my vote. He was so fast in giving that answer that I think he genuinely meant it, but that being said, they're all good.

Looking forward to the results tomorrow.

[Benjamin]

Meh. Stopped watching when Alex Wong and Billy Bell were off the show.

[Benjamin]

@Donna That "internal struggle" is about acceptance and coming out. The boy is gay and clearly in denial.