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Fruitbat
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 6:19 pm
I let the tivo run for about 30 minutes so I could FF through the filler and commercials. I do not care for the rigid choreography of ballroom. The sharp movements, head snapping, tense smiles and tight posture leave me cold. I loved watching these looser, more creative, versions. Allison and Ivan, Best of the night for me. Excellent and great costumes. It was as Dan said, easy and looked as if they were improving on the spot. Definitely safe. Dimitri and Ashlee. I didn't like the dance but they did do as they were instructed. Dimitri needs some sympathy and you're hot votes to save him from the bottom 3. I like Ashlee, always have. I think she has a huge amount of skill that is going unrecognized. Benji and Donyelle. Delightful couple and beautiful dance. Again who does her hair? No, no, no and no again. sheeeeeeesh. Definitely safe. Martha and Travis. They seem mismatched in every way from head size to personal style. Everything is visually off here. They dance well individually but do not ooze chemistry. Bottom 3 (salsa is not going to drive throngs to the phone). Heidi and Ryan. Heidi looked like a ballroom dancer doing hip hop. Those tense faces, sharp movements and overall perk puts her at the bottom of my list of women. Ryan does nothing for me. Their chemistry is zero. Bottom 3. Natalie and Musa. Okay, now I know it is true. The judges love THEM, not necessarily their dancing, though Natalie is excellent. That wasn't disco or even a dance, it was a lift parade! Jaymz and Jessica. Bottom 3 and both out. They know it too, thus the defensive behavior. They have nothing to loose by taking a stab at some sympathy votes. Jaymz sealed his fate last week with a lousy, unprepared solo propelling him off the stage. Jessica did, as well, by insisting the audience did not know her only to be cut down by Nigel explaining the obvious; well show it then, every time the camera is rolling is a chance to let your personality be seen. I think they all know they are safe because Jessica and Jaymz have done so poorly. This will be the last week that those 6 couples will feel this good on elimination night.
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 6:21 pm
I agree Pamy or they should cut the show back to an hour. I want to watch them dance, not see crappy auditions again and what IS with the crappy audtions? They said the viewers were enjoying some of the judges favorite auditions and then they show us crap ones? At least they put some good ones in, but at this time, they really don't need 2 hrs for this show, not how it's formatted now anyway!
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 6:26 pm
I am late getting here, but I loved the show tonight--although they should have advertised it as TWO shows!!! The first half hour was all audition material, new stuff we hadn't seen. One of the things I liked best was seeing the auditions of the finalists, although wish we had gotten to see more. It LOOKS like Heidi and Dimitri auditioned as a couple?!? And I don't know why, but we didn't actually see their audition, only a glimpse of them at the venue where they gained entry. I was glad they showed the tap dancing audition of the girl who is having her spine fused; she will at least have that memory, and she was good. As to the show, I had trouble figuring out who would be in the BOTTOM three, because I enjoyed them all. But I am thinking maybe Dimitri and his new partner (again, partly the choreographer's fault again, and I didn't enjoy the music for that piece...thought Ashlee made a great "doll"...didn't see where she lost character.) I am also thinking Jessica and Jaymz. I thought Nigel's comment on their "paint by number" hip hop was accurate. Jessica keeps commenting that the public hasn't gotten to know her, but sadly she seems to lack that "X" factor. The difference between Jessica and Heidi in hip hop rehearsal was night and day....Heidi just NAILED it (Shane Sparks commented on "where have you been hiding this)...no one said this, but I thought she outshone Ryan in the hip hop; I was focused on her the whole time! Let's see, Benji hung out with Dimitri and got his Dimtri persona on for a beautiful Viennese waltz, which even Mary liked. Musa and Natalie sizzled up the floor with their great chemistry and Natalie's wow dancing in a disco number. Trying to remember who else...Ivan and Allison took on the salsa, Ivan was good, Allison was GREAT! Martha and Travis, oh dear, I think they did a good number, but not so good that I can't remember what it was at the moment! Have I got everyone? Comments, anyone else?
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 6:32 pm
Oh, drat, the 2 Benji-Heidi videos with links above on YouTube? After getting Fruitbat's advice, I was going to try again, but there not there anymore!! Instead it says: "This video has been removed due to terms of use violation."
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 6:35 pm
OOPS, it looks like one of them is still there, the first link, from 2005.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:10 pm
I loved the doll routine!!! Heidi and Ryn rocked..Musa love him...I think they are all great so far
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:13 pm
Benji and Donyelle were the most boring but that's not their fault, I just prefer the fster stuff
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Smokey
Member
07-08-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:19 pm
Allison and Ivan, Best of the night for me. Excellent and great costumes. It was as Dan said, easy and looked as if they were improving on the spot. Definitely safe. I completely agree with your entire synopsis, Fruitbat. I love Ivan and Allison. They get better each week. I loved how you could see the lights go on for Ivan when the choreographer made him think about West Coast Swing in terms he could understand--hip-hop lingo. You could tell he totally "got it", then. I agree that it will be Jessica and Jaymz who go. And, I do think that if Dmitri and Ashlee are in bottom 3, the judges need to look at why Dmitri is there every week. I didn't think he was very good tonight. He's great to look at, but that's it for me. The judges really seem to love him. But, he probably brings ratings.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:31 pm
really?? i thought they moved too slow for swing....like them as couple though.....I really enjoy all of them and its gonna be tough to see any of them go
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:36 pm
loved James and Jessica...thats my kinda dancing 80s funk!!!!
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Curlyq
Member
07-10-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 9:29 pm
I thought the swing number was slow, too. Granted, I was distracted for half the routine by Alison's costume. Since I remembered those fringy pants from a fast-paced latin routine on that PBS ballroom series, I just kept wondering why Alison was wearing them for what felt like a slow-motion swing number. When the dancer's moving fast, the fringe emphasizes the speed and movement of the hips. In this routine it just distracted from what they were doing. The judges loved the dance, but I just didn't get what they were reacting to. I usually love swing, but this I found boring. Last week just about every performance was amazing, and this week none of them really stood out. The most memorable part of the evening was watching Benji try to imitate Dimitri in rehearsal. I'd guess the bottom three to be Alison & Ivan, Jaymz & Jessica, and Dmitri & Ashlee, in which case Jessica and Dmitri might go.
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Fruitbat
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 2:31 am
The costume department needs a shake down. The hip hop costumes looked like they were from a high school recital of Grease meets the Big Top. At least dress them street to help camouflage their lack of ability. The night they put Martha in heels and shorts for hip hop was a tradegy and it hurt her. It did not match Travis either. Get an African American hair stylist and if you have one fire them. Donyelle has beautiful hair; there is no excuse for it to look so bad. She is big for a dancer and needs some volume and height. The Bridget Bardot teased top/pulled back and up look is hot now and would be good for her. I loved the slower, softer swing, loved it.
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Smokey
Member
07-08-2003
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 4:49 am
I loved the slower, softer swing, loved it. Me, too. Granted, Ivan isn't Benji when it comes to swing, but I really thought he came through with it. Much more than others who were out of their element. I so agree about Donyelle's hair. Those spit curls on her forehead just have to go. Didn't the contestants say they pick out their own costumes? I thought they said that in one of the episodes. Next week, the Wednesday night show is cut to one hour.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 4:56 am
Jaymz and Jessica were horrible at hip hop. They were too technical. Just didn't feel it. Loved my usual favs.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 6:00 am
that hip hop was old school, imo, like the kind Rerun and his crew used to do. yeah, they werent perfect but I loved it, maybe cuz it reminded me of some of the dancing we did back then I rewatched Ashlee's doll and thougth she kept in character. I really loved that routine and usually dont like the contempary stuff
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 6:03 am
I have to disagree with ya Ms Bat. I thought Donyelle's hair looked fine last night and last week. She has microbraids though which is a very flexible braided style. Those may not be styles I would've chosen but they looked fine. I thought Ivan didn't have to do too much with that dance. He has good personality but dance wise he's just meh to me. Heidi did great but still has that cheerleader perkiness that's kinda bizarre lol. I missed the doll routine so can't comment on that. Martha looked hot, I thought they did ok but will probably be in the bottom 3.
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Fiat
Member
10-07-2004
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 8:33 am
Did anyone else notice that there was only one option--Lyrical-- in the hat for Ashlee and Dimitri? After Ashlee picked the paper out of the hat, Cat put the hat down at her side, and then put the hat on her head. Either of which should have revealed other pieces of paper inside. So, either they don't really get a pick, or they were picking last and that's what was left. Anyone have any insight into this?
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Jeneane
Member
05-18-2005
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 8:48 am
worst of the night for me was the Disco and it was partly the choreography again. Sorry but this lady does not seem to come up with moves that complement the style of dance or the dancers. It was partly the dancers as well. the lifts looked labored and awkward.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 8:57 am
I'd love to see a real disco outfit, too. The women need dresses that move with them.

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Fruitbat
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 11:37 am
Smokey, they choose their own solo clothes, not for the competition. They may choose their opening number costume, as well. My guess on the hat draw is that there were 7 pieces of paper in there and the last one choosing gets the last choice. That way there will be no duplicates unless the judges want that. If everyone drew a waltz it would be disaster. The two hip hops were planed, clearly.
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Beachcomber
Member
08-26-2003
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 12:06 pm
Last week I loved Martha's body, but last night the dress she wore made her look like those women who oversculpt their bodies and become masculine looking. It was most noticeable on her back shots. She is beautiful, but a less muscular back would be more feminine IMO.
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Luloo
Member
11-08-2005
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 12:49 pm
I have a question about the hat picking thing too. Am I being too cynical in thinking that's probably set up? For example, the producers want Benji and Donyelle to do the Vienesse Waltz this week, so all the pieces of paper in the hat say that. Either way, I think it's such a fun show to watch.
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 12:50 pm
my favorites were Donyelle and Benji (that dance was so beautiful). I liked Musa and his partner, but yes, she basically carried him figuratively while he carried her literally. This is the first week that I've liked Heidi and that's because she seemed to shelve the diva personality for the week, lol. I didn't like the last couple, the girl was just too soft for poppin', and I wasn't really crazy about Dmitry and Ashlee. I don't have the Dmitry love.
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Beachcomber
Member
08-26-2003
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 2:41 pm
I never realized that Heidi and Dmitri auditioned as a couple in Charleston. Are they dance partners (or more) in real life?
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 5:12 pm
cousins
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