<p>parent56, I feel the same way. My DS is the same way, but at least he has a reason. He says they are all so good that it is difficult to root for one particular person. I don’t think the personalities are as stong as in previous years.</p>
<p>Anyone who has not seen the results show yet or who missed the performance by Daniil Simkin, I strongly urge you to catch his performance. For me, he was the highlight of Thursday night’s results show. He is beyond amazing.</p>
<p>Blush, on the other hand…
They could have gone home any time. Thank God for mute buttons.</p>
<p>See, I very much think that the “difference” this year is that ALL the dancers are so technically great that it’s really difficult to distinguish between them at times. Personally, I love that we don’t have someone who is clearly getting by on their personality rather than dance ability/training as there have been in years past. I am enjoying this season!</p>
<p>Does anyone know how old Daniil Simkin is? He could be very young or 20-something that looks 15. Technically, he was great, as I would expect from an ABT soloist. I was hoping for a little less acting/theatrics and more dancing, but he did show some amazing stuff in the last 8 seconds … it just made me want him to keep going. </p>
<p>As far as who went home, I am okay with it. Ricky’s solo’s are simply the best, so that likely saves him every time. All the girls are so good, so it is too difficult for me to say who should go home. The top two girls for me are Melanie and Sasha, as I have not seen a dance from either of them that wasn’t strong all the way through. I also felt that Marko’s weaknesses showed more without Melanie there, but he’s so good looking that the tweens can forgive him more.</p>
<p>Am I the only person in the world that thought Marko looked kind of stiff and awkward in the Samba? Obviously Mary, who is the expert, thought he was great, but to me he just did not look as smooth as professionals I have seen do that style. His upper body was bouncing around an awful lot, or at least it seemed so to me…</p>
<p>well glad to hear i’m not the only one… that could be it…they are all very good and no one is standing out to me to stay involved and root for?</p>
<p>Snowflake, According to Wiki, Simkin is 23 years old.</p>
<p>I’ve read elsewhere that the judges go to rehearsals (maybe the dress rehearsal?) and make up their comments at that time. So the actual performance may not quite match their commentary if the dancer doesn’t match that rehearsal. It would also explain why the producers are able to insert the clips that match the comments.</p>
<p>I do like Jess but he does need to work on his facial expressions. I would say it’s because he’s young and overwhelmed, but he’s been dancing since age 3 and has done Broadway shows and TV. So maybe just the emotion of the moment.</p>
<p>I skipped last season because I couldn’t stand the judges but am holding up this year. In general, this year’s contestants don’t seem to have the personality of other seasons - maybe a question of charisma? Or audience connection? Or the dances themselves?</p>
<p>I agree with the comments about the lack of connection with the dancers. I enjoy watching them dance, but there is no one I am dying to vote for after the show. </p>
<p>I also miss those “memorable” performances of past seasons; the Twitch and Sasha number was (I think) the first one I’ve watched multiple times. I can’t believe there’s been only one so far for me.</p>
<p>Who would have thought that you could do a hip hop routine to Misty Blue? That was absolutely fascinating how they made it work!</p>
<p>To me the choreography has a been a bit less engaging, more uneven, maybe my expectations are too high. Not enough “moments”…
(Unless I am becoming jaded and spoiled and it has reached a pinnacle LOL)</p>
<p>Jess is young. While it’s true that he has a lot of experience, he was extremely young in The Boy from Oz so I wouldn’t necessarily translate that Broadway experience at age 10 or 11 to the likelihood of maturity and ‘finish’ at age 17 or 18. He is scheduled to study musical theatre at Pace in September, so it’s clear that he feels he has much to learn. :)</p>
<p>The memorable numbers in past season have come very late, in the last few weeks. We’re just getting into that region, so I have hopes for things to come.</p>
<p>IMO Marko was nothing special this week, and I disagreed with the judges’ rave reviews. I was sorry to see Clarice go. Technically, I think she was the strongest girl left except Jordan, but she was just so flat in interviews and critiques that she didn’t engage. Too bad.</p>
<p>^Clarice sure was a beautiful girl!!!</p>
<p>I’m confused – I thought Jess was a high school senior? Or did he graduate in May, and they’ve just been calling him a high school senior?</p>
<p>He graduated this spring.</p>
<p>Just came here to say that I thought Jess was really, really good tonight! I have never voted before, but I think he deserves to stay so I will vote.</p>
<p>I thought Sasha was fantastic and then came Melanie…WoW!! She is my favorite.</p>
<p>Melanie wowed me tonight. That flying leap!</p>