best of sytycd season 4!
So, tomorrow is the finale of season 4 of "So You Think You Can Dance." In honor of that, it's time to reflect upon my favorite dances of the season (excluding solos and group performances). Here is last year's list for those who are interested (though the video links no longer work =\)
And, for the record, Katee FTMFW.
5. Comfort/Mark - Hip-Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo)
Admittedly, it was a little weird watching them because of the height difference. It made their movements look very different even though they were, for the most part, together. What I liked about this routine is that it was a lot grittier and meaner than the other hip-hops of the season (especially from Napoleon and Tabitha). Nothing's better than when you can mean mug through an entire dance. It was nice to see a harder side of Mark. Comfort hit everything right on the button and Mark's fluidity really balanced the routine out. Plus, we were graced by the flawless dancing of Tabitha in the pre-dance package.
Highlight of the dance: Comfort's desk lean and the flip lift.
4. Courtney/Gev - Cha-Cha (Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis)
While I may not have actually enjoyed this routine as much as some of the others, it deserves my recognition. I'm not particularly a ballroom fan, but this routine really caught my attention. The desire that Gev had for Courtney and her flirtatiousness really worked in favor of this number. Additionally, their footwork was pretty damn good for a contemporary and break dancer. Compared to other non-ballroom dancers on the show, Gev was probably one of the strongest technically out of the males and Courtney was one of the sassiest of the females. It's sad that Gev didn't get the praise he deserved for consistently performing well in all his ballrooms (even when he was overshadowed by Chelsie in the Jive). In addition, this routine is full of neat turns and their synchronization was probably second only to Katee and Joshua.
Highlight of the Dance: "The Message."
3. Kherington/Twitch - Contemporary (Mia Michaels)
Last year, I struggled a bit with putting Danny on my list because I wasn't really a fan of his. But, his contemporary routine with Anya was so beautiful to me, that I did it anyway. This year, I had the same struggle with this Mia Michaels routine. Unlike last year, I'm not a big advocate of either of these dancers. I believe that Twitch has been consistently weaker than the other male dancers in technique, but has somehow managed to scoot by each week with stories and dances adapted to his style. Kherington was strong at the start of the competition, but quickly got outshone by Katee, Courtney, and Chelsie. But with the help of Mia's brilliant choreography, they managed to pull off one of the best routines of the season. Twitch really committed to the emotion of the story, even if his dancing could've been better. I even found Kherington's impish character cute. The choreography was clever with all Twitch's failed attempts to grab hold of his imaginatory girl.
Highlight of the Dance: The staredown between Kherington and Twitch as he ponders whether he's awake or dreaming.
2. Courtney/Gev - Hip-Hop (Cicely Bradley and Olisa Thompson)
So what if Gev was a little lackluster in a style that was supposed to be his specialty? Courtney had enough funk to cover the both of them. A lot of people hate on Cicely and Olisa's routines (including the judges), but I find it refreshing to have a little East Coast hip-hop every once in awhile. It's fun and fresh and cute. Once I saw Courtney on the stage in the cap, jersey, baggy shorts, and Timbs, I was sold on the routine. Then she started dancing and I was stunned. Courtney may be a little stiff sometimes and may not be the best dancer on the show, but nobody can deny her star power in this number. She managed to be sexy, sassy, cute, and hard all at the same time. I didn't even notice Gev most of the time, but that didn't really bother me (sorry, Gev).
Highlight of the Dance: Courtney's hip-shaking!
1. Katee/Joshua - Contemporary #1 and #2 (Mia Michaels and Tyce DiOrio)
Just like last year, I cheated for my #1 spot. It didn't make sense to have two back-to-back Contemporary routines performed by the same couple in slots 1 and 2, though. If you weren't aware that Katee and Joshua were in the competition before their Mia Michaels routine, you definitely knew afterward. Tabitha described it best when she said that the presence required from the two dancers to command the stage while doing almost nothing is amazing in itself. Add in the stunts, passion, and commitment and it was damn near a masterpiece. And if you weren't aware why Katee and Joshua were two of the top dancers before their Tyce DiOrio routine, they shoved it in your face. "Katua" put their stamp on the competition with elegant, fluid movements, graceful lifts, and gravity defying leaps. What I like most about both of these routines (and the dancers) is that everything they do is big. They command every part of that stage and leave their hearts on the floor at the end. I really embraced the fact that nothing was really catered to Joshua's style. He pointed his toes and hit those lines like nobody's business. I also admired Katee's commitment to finishing the Tyce DiOrio piece despite the fact that her entire right butt cheek was hanging out of her shorts. Way to go, guys.
Highlights of the dances: The assisted run and dive through (Michaels) and the giant leap and split jump lift (DiOrio).
Honorable Mentions:
*Kourtni/Matt - Foxtrot (Jean-Marc Genereaux)
I thought this routine was severely underrated, especially for a performance early on in the competition. I thought both Matt and Kourtni were graceful and channeled the era and style very well. In particular, Matt's stiffness worked in his favor as his frame and carriage looked good. They both hit nice lines and had a stellar ending. Click to watch.
*Courtney/Joshua - Hip-Hop (Dave Scott)
This probably would've made the list had I decided to cut Courtney/Gev's ballroom routine. The Frankenstein story was quirky and the song was equally cute. Joshua really stole the routine, but surprisingly, Courtney managed to keep up with him. Similar to Mark in his hip-hop with Comfort, it was nice to see a harder, manlier side of Joshua. I would even venture to say he was sexy in this routine. Click to watch.
*Katee/Joshua - Hip-Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo)
When I saw this routine, I thought it'd be hard for the couple to top. Little did I know what was to follow. This routine really solidified them in the competition and began their domination of the show. I would venture to say that no other couple in the history of the show works as well together as these two. This dance showcased one of their best attributes -- their sychnronization. Combine that with chemistry and a moving story and you've got a hit. In addition, I liked that they took a risk in giving Katee a solo to start the routine. Click to watch.
For more, check out iminyourfanclubs's list which includes two of my other very favorite routines -- Katua's lyrical and Gevney's Broadway.
And, for the record, Katee FTMFW.
5. Comfort/Mark - Hip-Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo)
Admittedly, it was a little weird watching them because of the height difference. It made their movements look very different even though they were, for the most part, together. What I liked about this routine is that it was a lot grittier and meaner than the other hip-hops of the season (especially from Napoleon and Tabitha). Nothing's better than when you can mean mug through an entire dance. It was nice to see a harder side of Mark. Comfort hit everything right on the button and Mark's fluidity really balanced the routine out. Plus, we were graced by the flawless dancing of Tabitha in the pre-dance package.
Highlight of the dance: Comfort's desk lean and the flip lift.
Click to view4. Courtney/Gev - Cha-Cha (Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis)
While I may not have actually enjoyed this routine as much as some of the others, it deserves my recognition. I'm not particularly a ballroom fan, but this routine really caught my attention. The desire that Gev had for Courtney and her flirtatiousness really worked in favor of this number. Additionally, their footwork was pretty damn good for a contemporary and break dancer. Compared to other non-ballroom dancers on the show, Gev was probably one of the strongest technically out of the males and Courtney was one of the sassiest of the females. It's sad that Gev didn't get the praise he deserved for consistently performing well in all his ballrooms (even when he was overshadowed by Chelsie in the Jive). In addition, this routine is full of neat turns and their synchronization was probably second only to Katee and Joshua.
Highlight of the Dance: "The Message."
3. Kherington/Twitch - Contemporary (Mia Michaels)
Last year, I struggled a bit with putting Danny on my list because I wasn't really a fan of his. But, his contemporary routine with Anya was so beautiful to me, that I did it anyway. This year, I had the same struggle with this Mia Michaels routine. Unlike last year, I'm not a big advocate of either of these dancers. I believe that Twitch has been consistently weaker than the other male dancers in technique, but has somehow managed to scoot by each week with stories and dances adapted to his style. Kherington was strong at the start of the competition, but quickly got outshone by Katee, Courtney, and Chelsie. But with the help of Mia's brilliant choreography, they managed to pull off one of the best routines of the season. Twitch really committed to the emotion of the story, even if his dancing could've been better. I even found Kherington's impish character cute. The choreography was clever with all Twitch's failed attempts to grab hold of his imaginatory girl.
Highlight of the Dance: The staredown between Kherington and Twitch as he ponders whether he's awake or dreaming.
2. Courtney/Gev - Hip-Hop (Cicely Bradley and Olisa Thompson)
So what if Gev was a little lackluster in a style that was supposed to be his specialty? Courtney had enough funk to cover the both of them. A lot of people hate on Cicely and Olisa's routines (including the judges), but I find it refreshing to have a little East Coast hip-hop every once in awhile. It's fun and fresh and cute. Once I saw Courtney on the stage in the cap, jersey, baggy shorts, and Timbs, I was sold on the routine. Then she started dancing and I was stunned. Courtney may be a little stiff sometimes and may not be the best dancer on the show, but nobody can deny her star power in this number. She managed to be sexy, sassy, cute, and hard all at the same time. I didn't even notice Gev most of the time, but that didn't really bother me (sorry, Gev).
Highlight of the Dance: Courtney's hip-shaking!
1. Katee/Joshua - Contemporary #1 and #2 (Mia Michaels and Tyce DiOrio)
Just like last year, I cheated for my #1 spot. It didn't make sense to have two back-to-back Contemporary routines performed by the same couple in slots 1 and 2, though. If you weren't aware that Katee and Joshua were in the competition before their Mia Michaels routine, you definitely knew afterward. Tabitha described it best when she said that the presence required from the two dancers to command the stage while doing almost nothing is amazing in itself. Add in the stunts, passion, and commitment and it was damn near a masterpiece. And if you weren't aware why Katee and Joshua were two of the top dancers before their Tyce DiOrio routine, they shoved it in your face. "Katua" put their stamp on the competition with elegant, fluid movements, graceful lifts, and gravity defying leaps. What I like most about both of these routines (and the dancers) is that everything they do is big. They command every part of that stage and leave their hearts on the floor at the end. I really embraced the fact that nothing was really catered to Joshua's style. He pointed his toes and hit those lines like nobody's business. I also admired Katee's commitment to finishing the Tyce DiOrio piece despite the fact that her entire right butt cheek was hanging out of her shorts. Way to go, guys.
Highlights of the dances: The assisted run and dive through (Michaels) and the giant leap and split jump lift (DiOrio).
Honorable Mentions:
*Kourtni/Matt - Foxtrot (Jean-Marc Genereaux)
I thought this routine was severely underrated, especially for a performance early on in the competition. I thought both Matt and Kourtni were graceful and channeled the era and style very well. In particular, Matt's stiffness worked in his favor as his frame and carriage looked good. They both hit nice lines and had a stellar ending. Click to watch.
*Courtney/Joshua - Hip-Hop (Dave Scott)
This probably would've made the list had I decided to cut Courtney/Gev's ballroom routine. The Frankenstein story was quirky and the song was equally cute. Joshua really stole the routine, but surprisingly, Courtney managed to keep up with him. Similar to Mark in his hip-hop with Comfort, it was nice to see a harder, manlier side of Joshua. I would even venture to say he was sexy in this routine. Click to watch.
*Katee/Joshua - Hip-Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo)
When I saw this routine, I thought it'd be hard for the couple to top. Little did I know what was to follow. This routine really solidified them in the competition and began their domination of the show. I would venture to say that no other couple in the history of the show works as well together as these two. This dance showcased one of their best attributes -- their sychnronization. Combine that with chemistry and a moving story and you've got a hit. In addition, I liked that they took a risk in giving Katee a solo to start the routine. Click to watch.
For more, check out iminyourfanclubs's list which includes two of my other very favorite routines -- Katua's lyrical and Gevney's Broadway.