What the… Hey!

SYTYCD for 8/10: Top 4 Perform August 11, 2011

Here it is, the final performances.  As I said last week, I was really looking forward to this night.

Melanie & Marko (Disco by Doriana Sanchez, danced to I Feel Love (12th Version) by Donna Summer) I wasn’t in love with  this. Unlike their earlier performances, there wasn’t a lot of emotion in Melanie & Marko’s performance, they seemed to just be going through the steps.

Sasha & Mark (Contemporary by Sonya Tayeh, danced to Raise Your Weapon by Deadmaus) This started out slow, but picked up and Sasha’s unique style started coming through.  Still, her performance didn’t have the emotional level that she usually brings, and I missed that.

Tadd & Joshua (Hip Hop by Lil C, danced to Hustle Hard by Ace Hood) I was great to see Joshua (The King) back onstage.  Tadd looked like a little boy next to him and never achieved Joshua’s level of commitment to the choreography. Tadd struggled with the style of the dance, often falling back to his own goofy style instead of the hyper-seriousness that the routine needed.

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At this point, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be the night of great performances that I was hoping for. sigh.
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Melanie & Robert (Contemporary by Stacey Tookey, danced to Sacrifice by Sinead O’Connor) Once again, there was something missing from Melanie’s performance; the emotion of the dance seemed subdued.  Still, her technique was flawless.

Sasha & Marko (Broadway by Spencer Liff, danced to Whatever Lola Wants by Ella Fitzgerald) Marko stole the show on this one, not an easy task when dancing with Sasha. But, Sasha never seemed to rise up to Marko’s level here.  Marko’s characterization through his expressions and style was fantastic to see, it looked right off the Broadway stage.

Sasha & Tadd (Cha Cha by Mark Ballas, danced to Raindrops by Basement Jaxx) This didn’t seem like a Cha Cha at all. For the level that these dancers should have been working at, it was a disaster.

Marko & Lauren (Contemporary by Tessandra Chavez, danced to Shirk by Me’shell Ndegeocello) This was probably Marko’s most emotionally challenging work of the season, and he nailed it while also meeting the challenge of the intense physicality of the choreography. This was what I’d been waiting for, a magnificent performance.

Melanie & Tadd (Jazz by Ray Leeper, danced to Show me What You’re Working With by Sista Monica) This was what I’d come to expect from Melanie; she was on fire!  She grabbed us at the start of the performance and pulled us through the whole thing.  Tadd was secondary, but still showed what he could do, providing his great characterization to the overall performance.

Sasha & Melanie (Contemporary by Stacey Tookey, danced to Heart Asks Pleasure First by Ahn Trio) This was a tremendously emotional piece that both dancers brought their best work into.  The last time they danced together, they brought an aggressive power; this time, it was a wistful grace, appropriate for the ’50s period of the piece.  These two ladies showed everyone why they’re the top of the heap this year.

Marko & Tadd (Gumboot Stepping by Chuck Maldonado, danced to B.O.B. by Outkast) This was not as strong as it should have been. The style is an aggressive one that required more technique than the two dancers brought to it.  All through the performance, both dancers kept falling short.

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Well, it didn’t turn out to be as good as I wanted (or as good as previous finals). I think Kenny Ortega had it right when he said that there was just too much to learn for the evening (four dances apiece, plus their solos). Including the dance with the All Star probably broke the camel’s back for the night.  It was too bad, and I don’t think it changed the outcome at all.  It’s still down to Melanie and Sasha, too close for me to call (though I’ll be rooting for Melanie, sorry Sasha).