Pbmom's Blog

Opening Number

Song: “Dimman Kryper Sakta In” by District 78
Choreographers: Sonya Tayeh and Dmitry Chaplin

That is a unique pairing of styles! I enjoyed it. It wasn’t my absolute favorite but it was different.

Judges For Tonight

Cat has bad news. Curtis injured his shoulder and the doctors said he cannot perform this week. Nigel, Mary and guest judge Anna Kendrick.

Bottom 6

Jasmine, Alan, Alexis, Curtis, Makenzie, and Nico. Jasmine? Are you friggin’ kidding me America? This is a GROSS injustice. She is one of the top 3 girl dancers! The judges do not want to see any of the guys dance a solo. Makenzie is going back to safety. Jasmine and Alexis are dancing solos. Jasmine is phenomenal, so you know at this point Alexis is going home.

Alexis dances a wonderful tap routine to the song, “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. She is a wonderful tap dancer. Jasmine dances to “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves. She is a force of nature. She is safe. If she is not, then I question the wisdom of the judges.

Couples Dance

Dancers: Jenna & Tucker
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Luther Brown
Song: “Slight Work” by Wale featuring Big Sean

Jenna did a better job than Tucker but I did not like the routine. Personal taste issues. Tucker was too stiff. Jenna was less so but still needed more. The bendover-bottom move will get some votes. Also dance moves that Tucker needed to be tighter and more hard-hitting in fell flat. I was bored. My interest was re-ignited when they went to the platform, but it was short-lived.

The judges: Nigel thought it was unconvincing. Mary agreed but paid them some compliments. Anna thought it was not their strongest but it was a little cute.

Dancers: Alexis and Nico
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: “Ashes” by The Bengsons

The story is it is at the point of a relationship where it all falls apart. it was fantastic. Alexis really channeled some intense emotions. I always love Sonya’s routines but it did not elicit goosebumps. I found my eye drawn more to Alexis this time than Nico.

The judges: Mary gave specifics about what she loved and thought it was spectacular. Anna said it was lovely. Nigel felt that Sonya gave them a vehicle to show emotion this week.

Dancers: Hayley and Curtis
Style: Tango
Choreographer: Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo
Song: “Estes Es El Rey” by Juan D’Arienzo

The story is that they meet for the first time on the dance floor. Leonardo is subbing for the injured Curtis. And THAT is what it looks like when dancing with the real deal. It was fabulous. Still did not give me goosebumps but I think Curtis really would have had trouble with the lifts even without a shoulder injury.

The judges: Mary was on her feet. Anna felt if she had Hayley’s body just for one day she would be invincible. Nigel felt she nailed it and it was stunning. Mary said it was impressive and gave the more technical descriptions of the dance. Mary wants to be her today too so she could dance with Leonardo.

Dancers: Makenzie and Paul
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: “You’ll Find a Way (Switch & Sinden Remix) by Santigold

I loved it 5 seconds into the song. I knew then it was going to ooze sexy and sultry and heat and passion. I got my goosebumps on.

The judges: Nigel said they were brilliant. Mary feels the same. She enjoyed every second of it. Anna felt Paul was pulling an MVP and Makenzie was powerful in this.

Dancers: Jasmine and Aaron
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Justin Giles
Song: “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” by Birdy

A piece based on “The Giving Tree.” I already have goosebumps and I haven’t even seen the dance yet. I am already welling up with tears in my eyes and they have not started dancing. It is without a doubt my favorite book of all time. It is even more special in that I got to read this book to my niece’s classroom on one of my trips up to New Jersey, a special honor I will cherish forever. Because of the severity of my son’s autism and my first child dying I never got to experience many things that parents with neurotypical children get to do in regular classrooms. My damn mascara is running and I now have raccoon eyes. Ugh. Okay, let’s get past the first 5 seconds or their practice. Deep breath. My goosebumps runneth over. That was my favorite routine of the night.

The judges: Mary gives props to the prop and to them for making it look effortless. The dance was endearing and she loves watching them dance. Anna believed the emotions. She loves Jasmine’s grace. She told Aaron that she roots for him. And she wants a piggyback ride on Aaron’s back. Nigel tells them the story. He feels that as partners they have unconditional love for each other just as the tree had for the boy. He loves them as a couple (and so do I).

Dancers: Fik-Shun and Amy
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Song: “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye

Fik-Shun orders the catch of the day at a restaurant (which is Amy). This was fun and quirky and flirty.

The judges: Anna thinks they are cute. Amy is her favorite dancer on the show. Nigel felt it was tremendous. He worries that they are playing similar characters each week. Mary agrees with Nigel and Anna. She did not want it to be over.

Dancers: Malece and Alan
Style: Salsa
Choreographer: Jonathan Platero (season 5 contestant)
Song: “Pa’ Los Rumberos” by Tito Puente and His Orchestra

This dance had a lot of acrobatics and tricks but I was bored. Sorry I am just not excited by ballroom most of the time. It’s like country music for me–every now and then I pay attention but it takes a phenomenal song (or in this case dance).

The judges: Nigel thought it was well choreographed and danced. Mary said the routine was insane. Anna said it made her want to take lessons or have an affair on a tropical island. She wants them to make a baby.

Dancers: Malece, Curtis, Alan, Jenna, Nico, Hayley, Makenzie
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Spencer Liff
Song: “Come Together” by Joe Cocker (Across The Universe Soundtrack)

Spencer substituted for the injured Curtis. I enjoyed that. I never heard that version of the song before. Very sexy. I don’t know why Mad Men was springing to mind because I have never watched the show, only promos. Spencer looked like he really enjoyed doing that.

The judges: Anna wanted to give a shout-out to the steady-cam operators. She also gives the group kudos. Nigel said his eye was on Spencer. He thought the girls were tremendous. Mary thought Spencer was great. She thought the girls killed it.

Dancers: Aaron, Amy, Paul, Jasmine, Tucker, Fik-Shun, Alexis
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Bonnie Story
Song: “Tears of an Angel” by Ryandan

A story about being bullied and people walking by and ignoring it. No words, only tears. That was so beautiful. It was SO powerful.

The judges: They were all on their feet. Mary thought it was a beautiful piece. Anna thanked all of them and thought it was fantastic. Nigel called attention to cyber bullying (Oh gosh Nigel if you only knew, and some of those bullies pretend to be victims in a sick, twisted way to control people insidiously).

Who goes home

Curtis and Alexis are going home.

Who is in the bottom this week/my picks

I hate to keep picking on Alan, but–fooled you. This week Tucker is on the bottom and that may be just because Alan got a dance in his own style this week. Nico might also be in the bottom 2. For the bottom girls, I am going to have to say this week Malece and Jenna and only because the other girls were just a little bit better.