<p>Does anyone know if dance for your life solos are coming back?</p>
<p>I am hoping that they will be back next week when they have to send 4 home.</p>
<p>I really think the ballroom dancers have a disadvantage when they have to dance solo. It just looks wrong to be doing ballroom by yourself.</p>
<p>But the tappers only ever get to tap when they DO solo. Unless they decide to make tap one of the weekly things….which would be really hard for the other dancers.</p>
<p>I think you’re right, tap would be very hard to learn in a week. But I think they should do it. That’s what this show is supposed to be about, taking them out of their comfort zone and seeing how they do with a new discipline.</p>
<p>Agreed, ballroom dancers are at the biggest disadvantage come solo time. </p>
<p>Agree about Tanisha’s appearance. They need to “soften” her. I didn’t like Meryl Davis’s look during the Olympics either but then thought she looked beautiful on DWTS. If Tanisha continues, they will hopefully change her hairstyle.</p>
<p>Not a fan of Valerie the dancer, who lucked out having Ricky as her partner along with good choreography.</p>
<p>Casey, one of my favorites, got bad choreography this week.</p>
<p>The continual theme each season of turning a hip-hop “frog” into a dancing “prince” is growing tiresome for me.</p>
<p>Emilio is not a “one-trick pony”!</p>
<p>Nigel will continue to let the voters decide… that is until he disagrees with their decisions.</p>
<p>I have mixed feelings about the dancers that come in with “niche” styles like ballroom, crumping, etc. I think it gives them an advantage early on in auditions and exposes the viewers to forms of dance that they might not have seen much of before. But if they don’t have a solid foundation of training, especially in ballet, it begins to show before long and, in my opinion, can really take away from the routines. That is my thing with Valerie. It just doesn’t look pretty when she dances. The way tappers hold their upper bodies is so stiff and tense, and she has a hard time letting go of that in other genres. I haven’t watched every season so I don’t know–has anyone other than a ballet/jazz/contemporary dancer ever one?</p>
<p>I also understand what people are saying about dancers’ looks. Valerie is adorable. Tanisha has a sharp face, but you sort of don’t notice when she is dancing (as with the alien-looking skater Meryl Davis, as jshain noted above). I think a lot of people consider the appearance of the dancers as well as personality before deciding who to vote for. Obviously, the show knows this or they wouldn’t do so many profiles/life story interviews with the contestants.</p>
<p>It seems the contemporary dancers have the edge. Sally - quite a few seasons had non traditional winners. They usually have charming personalities but watching those dance without training is like watching any man off the street dance, imo. What I admire is the training, not the people who manage to pick up the choreography but never point their toes or lumber around the stage. </p>
<p>I thought the judges made it extremely clear who they were going to save tonight, so there was no suspense at all for me. I thought the group dances were excellent, and most of the others were, too. </p>
<p>I think Valerie is very likable, but other than tap and hip hop, I don’t like her dancing. For lack of a better word, I find her clunky. In the package before they danced, Ricky described her as a tomboy and that’s how she dances to me. I was surprised Christina Applegate complimented her on the group number. She definitely caught my eye, too, but not in a good way. </p>
<p>Impossible for me to guess who will be going home. I’m sure it will not be Valerie because she was great in her number with Ricky. That style suited her well.</p>
<p>Good post from musicmom above! Glad to see Emily finally going home. Thought Teddy’s solo was the best of the season so, from that standpoint, was sorry to see him go home. </p>
<p>Re the girls’ number at the end: After sitting through years of countless lyrical numbers at dance competitions, how nice to see a compellingly beautiful piece. I loved it. </p>
<p>I wonder if Valerie was purposely paired with Ricky BECAUSE she is the weakest of the female dancers? It’s so hard not to notice him. </p>
<p>LasMa, I thought the exact same thing you did! I would love to see my daughter in a piece like that. Only one more year as a competition mom. 
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<p>Most of them are absolutely wonderful. I really only notice Ricky. I’m not a huge fan of Valerie and completely agree with the clunky part. I’m sure she’s in amazing shape, but next to Ricky’s more petite stature it makes her look bigger. I think now that they’ll be with all starts we’ll see some really amazing dancing from a few of them. </p>
<p>I like Christina better as a judge than Misty. I don’t think the public at large needs to hear such specific critiques on technique. </p>
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<p>I watched the show on the DVR starting at about 9:15 pm. I opened the app to vote before the show was over and it first gave a spoiler alert (because you can only vote for those still on the show.) I went ahead and voted, because I absoutely knew (before it was announced) who the judges saved.</p>
<p>I really like Jessica. See, her partners are not cursed!</p>
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<p>I was a dance company mom for years. The lyrical segment was always nappie time for me. (Luckily, I always mangaed to always wake up before D’s company danced.)</p>
<p>Oh man, missypie, in our area senior lyrical solos could go on for HOURS. My D the tapper always stood out if only for that reason. Well, that and she was the best darn tapper around. ;-)</p>
<p>sally, I didn’t know you’re a dancemom! Does your D want to pursue dance in college?</p>
<p>Yup…actually just got back from our first “nationals” in Las Vegas. It is such a racket but my D loves it and will miss the competitions and camaraderie after she graduates next year.</p>
<p>I agree about the lyrical solos. They all look the same and use much of the same music. If I had a dollar for every solo done to some female cover of “Wild Horses”…well, let’s just say it would have made the dance hobby a lot more affordable.</p>
<p>Nationals lol. Yes, quite the racket, but fun.</p>
<p>D got heavily involved in the rec dance group at her college. She was so homesick her first semester, and the dance room was the only place she felt good. It was like home.</p>
<p>Here in the Bible Belt, you get a lot of lyrical to contemporary Christian music, all in flowing virginal white. Talk about being the same! Of course, later the same company will come out later in the Jazz category, wearing very little.</p>
<p>Wow I miss that world. </p>