<p>Did you notice how much younger Evetta looked on the “talk about your partner” footage? It’s the make up/styling that makes her look *so much *older than she really is.</p>
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<p>LOL, I guess they have to strike a balance to keep their viewers because I love love love contemporary/modern and wish they would do away with ballroom altogether.</p>
<p>Overall, I think ballroom dancers are at a disadvantage on this show. Since the bottom 3 must do solos, this is usually where non-ballroom dancers shine. Even though Tadd isn’t the greatest ballroom dancer, he will shine if and when he has to “dance for his life” in a solo. The praise Tadd got may have been for him being more a judge’s favorite than for the actulal ballroom execution itself.</p>
<p>and unfortunately, because of his solo skills and his fresh-faced good looks, he won’t be going home any time soon.</p>
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<p>I’m no dancer, but hip hop movements just aren’t conducive to the story line. Now a Viennese Waltz with the same story line would have been fabulous.</p>
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<p>I just couldn’t tell if the guy’s stiffness was supposed to be in character as a soldier, or if was just poor hip hop technique.</p>
<p>Here’s what would have been cool: if both of them had started out stiff - a bit uncomfortable - then both of them loosened up together - then by the end they were doing real down and dirty together.</p>
<p>One more thing. I liked how Nigel said that none of the judges would do well on the show because they would be taken out of their own genres. I’m glad he admits that what all of the dancers are doing (even the ones eliminated early) is very difficult and very impressive.</p>
<p>This show needs more choreographers and better ones. All the lyrical and contemporary looks the same, despite their weird themes, and idk where these choreographers learned about ballroom dancing because they are horrible at choreographing it. Since when do you have lifts in the Viennese waltz? In any ballroom/social dance besides argentine tango, salsa, etc.?</p>
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<p>Easy answer: so the dancers aren’t penalized in the voting.</p>
<p>Lots of little girls take dance and those girls (grown up and still dancing) and their moms watch the show and vote. They know at least a bit about modern and contemporary and jazz. Not as many little girls and boys do ballroom. Don’t you bet that 99% or more of the voting audience couldn’t tell a perfect Viennese waltz from an okay but entertaining one? (I sure couldn’t.) </p>
<p>Most of the voters want to be wowed by lifts and leaps and tricks. A ballroom that stayed true to form would get fewer votes, placing those dancers at a competitive disadvantage.</p>
<p>Could anyone be at more of a disadvantage than the Bollywood couple? [I admit, I didn’t see the whole dance, just the snippet at the end of the show.]</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the last pair, Ashley and Chris, who did the jailhouse dance. That one stood out for me. I think Iveta and the tapdancer will be out tonight for sure. I also think Wadi will be in the bottom 3 but will probably be saved by dancing for his life.</p>
<p>They don’t vote out pairs, do they? Just a male and a female (well, 2 of each tonight), leaving the remaining guy and girl to become a new pair. That’s how they’ve done it in the past but I’m not too clear on whether that’s changing this year.</p>
<p>Judging by what happened on the dry run last week, nobody is voted out. LOL.</p>
<p>The judges love Iveta to vote her out, I am afraid. And I certainly do NOT want the tapdancer guy to go. Though I agree, they may well be in the bottom three couples. </p>
<p>This season is just going to be awful for trying to vote people off.</p>
<p>Besides maybe Wadi, I didn’t see any obvious vote-offs. I’d hate to be a judge this season. The girls especially continue to astonish me.</p>
<p>Last night: Ryan blew me away. The Bollywood number seemed weak only by comparison to the others, although it was entertaining. The Coming Home number: technically well done, but even though I knew the story, it didn’t move me. Maybe hiphop shouldn’t be done to slow, sad pieces – or in military garb. Caitlyn is technically proficient, but she seems somehow not quite developed yet and doesn’t grab me. The girl (I’m also still learning names; why are there so many dark-haired girls this year??) who danced the woodpecker number is a dark horse IMO, you don’t see her coming, but she’s fabulous. Missy is VERY strong; it’s hard to believe this was her first cha-cha – brilliant. And of course, Melanie who can do everything.</p>
<p>I’m afraid tap dancer guy will go which will be a shame because he hasn’t really had a chance to show off in his element or anywhere near his element. I also fear for Wadi since Nigel was so critical of his cha cha.</p>
<p>Girls? No idea.</p>
<p>Of course, I do trust Nigel to eliminate the “worst” dancers, if any of them can be called the “worst.” Just think, of the bottom 3 couples, 2/3 of them will be leaving. I hate that!</p>
<p>SPOILER:</p>
<p>I agree with the decision, i suppose. I HATE to see Nick (I think that’s the tapper’s name) go, though. </p>
<p>I was CERTAIN that Ricky and Ryan would be safe and that Jess and his partner would be in danger… But I am glad he will be around more, though. He adds variety, particularly now that Nick is gone. Bummed.</p>
<p>Wow, it blows my mind that Ryan was saved after that Dance for Your Life number. Are there any dancers left who are not either contemporary or hip hop? I don’t think so. Good job (not) judges, getting rid of the only ballroom and tap dancers. </p>
<p>I am so done with this show.</p>
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<p>I did watch the whole thing and wholeheartedly agree! That was a giant disadvantage.</p>
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<p>Ok, wait, Jess is Broadway. </p>
<p>For purposes of my point – that by eliminating Nick and Iveta they did away with much-needed variety on this show – I am lumping together contemporary and jazz.</p>
<p>So all the remaining dancers, after the first elimination, are either hip-hop or contemporary/jazz, with the exception of Jess. </p>
<p>That is not good.</p>
<p>I’m really disappointed that they kept Ryan after that solo, and that the two really special dancers who brought something different are gone. Iveta and Nick were both amazing, and losing them kind of takes my interest in the show way down. This is more like So You Think You Can Contemporary Dance than anything else. Waltzes with no waltz, angst valued over anything else, and dancers given a pass time after time having not delivered. Yuck.</p>