How crazy to think we're this close to carving our countries best 20 dancers clean down the middle. Every dancer has their eyes on the prize: whose gonna make it? These performances will decide…
Riding high on the praise of performing the best Contemporary routine so far in the competition (according to Sir Jason Coleman) AND being safe from the bottom three on Monday, Kate and Graeme were the first couple to kick off the show. In wack black Mad Max costumes placing them somewhere in a dystopian sci-fi adventure, the pair owned the stage with their hardcore thrash Jazz routine. The connection between these performers just seems to grow every week, and what better way to start than with a crowd pleasing song like the classic Guns 'n' Roses track, 'Live and Let Die'. First up guest judge Kelley Abbey (who viewers at home will remember from such shows as Top 100 week) said she thought they worked so well together. She said Graeme was clear and plugged in, while Kate was sexy and strong. Matt couldn't tell Kate had pinched a nerve in her neck, and liked the highs and lows, the light and the shade of the routine. Bonnie said the routine should be called 'Live and Lets Dance', while Jason said it had real impact, that he couldn't tell Kate had an injury and that Graeme had done a ballistically good job.
Next up, we bore witness to two kickass challenge routines, cuz this week, each couple had to choreograph and style their own routine for you guys out there in TV Land. Pocket rocket Rhiannon and the supersmooth J.D. got the ball rolling to Mika's quirky disco-flavoured 'Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)' before Jemma and Rhys wasted no time riding their ponies in a cheeky routine which seemed to take that X-rated theatre date and raise it by a dirty weekend away! Hot, hot, hot!
From last week's African Samba to graceful, strong Capoeira. Straight from the streets of Brazil, Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian blend of martial arts, game, and dance. The style requires Vanessa and Henry to be fluid, controlled and poetic. Muscular bodies moving in time to Britney Spears – what would the judges think? Kelley said she assumed this would be a Capoeira-flavoured Contemporary dance – but she (in fact all four judges) couldn't see where the dance was. It needed to be edgy, and it was a bit messy. Matt said it looked like a martial arts routine while Bonnie expressed her admiration for the pair. Wanna see these guys in the Top 10? Vote now.
Look sharp, other states of Australia, Camilla and Anthony are Team QLD! Yes, like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes of Laura and Suri, Team QLD formed this week, and the partnership certainly turned the frowns of these temporarily single dancers the correct way around…and not a moment too soon, because the style delivered to these two via bucket was the luscious, the libidinous Lambada. The sexy partner routine saw these dancers getting up close and personal to Enrique Iglesias' 'Not In Love', and Kelley thought they had a great connection, but warned Anthony not to scowl, but to find sexiness from the inside out, while Camilla was strong and controlled. Matt said they suited each other well, and they did a great job, a sentiment echoed by all four judges. Jason said the key element missing was sex. Was it sexy enough for you? Vote to keep these guys in the competition!
Next up, a gold-draped Demi and b–boy Jack's challenge routine. Yet to experience life in the bottom three, this confident pair ripped it up, supastar style, to bootylicious Beyoncé's classic d-floor anthem, 'Crazy In Love'. Crowd response? A Mary Murphy style scream-fest!
Jazz hands! The only other couple who haven't yet experienced the rollercoaster ride of DFYL, Jemma and Rhys, were back this week with Musical Theatre. Rhys wrote in his blog he couldn't help but smile when rehearsing, and it's no wonder! These kids are Dancing Fools, dancing to a showtime tune of the same name, from the musical Copacabana. Kelley said it was entertaining, but the problem was with unison. All four judges agreed the style sat really well with Rhys, with Kelley praising his warm personality shining through in the performances so far. She thought Jemma was crossing over beautifully and encouraged her to believe in herself a little bit more. Matt said he wanted to see the couple have a little bit more fun. Bonnie said Rhys looked relaxed, alert and energetic. Jason said that while Jemma was on and off the centre of the beat, this was his favourite routine of the night.
Challenge routine kids Kate and Graeme were next onstage in matching blue and red tracksuits, channeling a bit of Fast and Furious 'tude to the Black-Eyed Peas' 'Pump It'. This routine was about personality, fun, and wow-factor, taking the dancers on a journey from competitiveness to lust. The forecast? Hot and humid nights can be expected.
Rhiannon and J.D. got lucky this week with a tongue-twisting Nacho Pop Hip Hop Popping routine. Well in J.D.'s comfort zone, the routine was simple, clean and classic, and all about rocking the beat to Craig David's laidback 'What's Your Flava'. Nacho told us he was "passionate about the technique behind the dance – and there's no goddamn story". With no narrative to tell the story, what did the judges think? Kelley said it was a cute routine, and for J.D. this was his comfortable chair while Rhiannon coped really well being out of her comfort zone. Kelley said she wanted the understated style to inspire more of a feelgood look in Rhiannon, and that she felt a bit flat in the face. Bonnie disagreed – she liked the tough, hard Rhiannon, and that the complete change worked for her. For her, spot on. Matt said TV sucks out 50% of the energy so it was hard to get the energy levels up for the understated style. Jason's problems were with unison and energy. Wanna see these guys in your Top 10? You know what to do!
Fresh from steaming up the floor with the Lambada, it was time for Team QLD to try their hand at choreographing their own routine, after just one week of dancing together. Blue and red tracksuits were quickly cast aside for a crowd-pleasing fight routine that saw both Camilla and Anthony throwing each other around the room, seeing Camilla emerge as victorious.
Next to perform for the salivating crowd were Vanessa and Henry, with their challenge routine to Michael Jackson 'Black or White'. Henry as an undersexed nerd? Vanessa as seductress extraordinaire? You betcha! And the crowd goes wild!!
And the final couple for the night, the always entertaining Demi and Jack. After dipping their toe in the raunchy world of Samba last week, the pair was venturing into the unknown territory of Contemporary. In a stiff tutu and all black attire, the pair performed a complicated, athletic routine to the Beastie Boys' 'Ch-ch-check It Out' Kelley said it was a really different challenge for Demi, but that it suits her b-girl energy… but it became a bit lost it in the end, and she could see her thinking. She said Jack had great energy, but to watch his facial expressions. Matt said the energy was a little manic. Bonnie felt there too much for Demi to cope with - so many lifts, so much floorwork – and as a result she lacked energy. Jason agreed, and felt it was a little under, wondering whether the general public would enjoy the routine as much as the dancing world would. Did you?
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Ready to Watch So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Season 1, Episode 14?