Soooooo happy it's the Top 20 finally! I blogged this show long ago and I figured, why not do it again! Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on twitter!
Top 20 Dance:
"Stalker Ha" by Kingdom
Choreographed by Sonja Tayeh
Does the stage looker smaller to you? Or is it just because there are 20 dancers on it? Not sure about the leisure suit/80's neon outfits, but I guess I'd rather save the good costumers for later on. This dance is just meh for me. I've already forgotten it, actually. Super surprised Sonja choreographed that.
Intros:
The intros are always so boring. "These are the girls....and here are your guys." Zzzzzz
Cat's wearing a saucy little red dress with cut away pockets. She can honestly wear anything, but I think I can see undergarments and that's weird.
Jason Derulo is there! I wish he would sing out his name before every comment. "Jassoooon Derulllooo, that was a great contemporary, guys!"
Brooklyn and Serge dancing the cha cha:
"Hell Yeah" by Midnight Red
Choreographed by Dmitri.
Great dress on her! Wow! Really shows off her super long legs. Serge gives great expressions, so I like that. This dance felt really long, but in a good way and I thought Dmitri did a great job of making it feel like it had difference sections especially with the breakdown towards the end. Loved it.
Emily and Casey dancing contemporary:
"All of Me" by John Legend
Choreographed by Travis Wall
I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH! Eh, rough start in my opinion. It looks a little disconnected and like it's just steps. The dancing is great once they get going, though. I'm just not feeling much of a connection between them as well as between them and the audience. I kinda wish they'd saved this song for later on in the season. Also, now that I think about it, Travis described the story as a couple who fights and I just don't get that from "All of Me".
Valerie and Zack dancing tap:
"Sing" by Ed Sheeran
Choreographed by Anthony Morigerato
Love this song, too! Perfect for a tap routine because of how the music allows for their own beats and moments to show off. OMG the stairs are making me so tired just looking at them! Mad props for getting through a routine on them. I felt like they looked a little awkward at times getting up and down the stairs, but they never once seemed to be off the beat so that really wasn't a problem with me. Fun fact, did you know Anthony Morigerato is a Guinness world record holder for most taps in one minute?? 1,163 taps in 60 seconds. Whoa.
Bridget and Stanley dancing contemporary:
"Doesn't Mean Goodbye" by Jon McLaughlin
Choreographed by Bonnie Story
I like this a lot. I think that in the beginning of the competition the dances with a lot of synchronization do better because we don't know the contestants as well so we need something to notice. They're not always going to have the chemistry they need to tell a story so it's good to be able to point out exceptional dance steps and moves. That said, I thought this couple DID have great chemistry! This dance was great because it was filled with technique and chemistry.
Jacque and Jourdan dancing ballet:
"Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky
Choreographed by Marat Daukayev
This pairing really loves the letter U. Wow, they pirouetted for about a minute of that routine! Did they get off in the middle, though? It felt like it got a bit out of control. As much as I love Swan Lake, this kind of disappointed me. It was awesomely choreographed, but it was such a tiny glimpse that I didn't get enough connection with the dancers. Can I just say how much I loved Marat and his complete lack of emotion when introduced and praised?
JASON DERULO TIME!!! I love this song "Wiggle". I love how Snoop Dogg comes out and all I can think is "What has he been doing in the dressing room all this time? Watching the routines?" Wiggle!
Marlene and Marquette dancing samba:
"Morning Drums" by Gregor Salto
Choreographed by Louis Van Amstel
Love the green outfits! Their legs are moving so quickly, they're almost a blur! Ooooh, love the breakdown moment towards the end with it got slower and quieter. The end was a little less smooth than the beginning, but it was hot hot hot! OMG, I want her dress.
Carly and Rudy dancing contemporary:
"Take it Easy" by Jetta
Choreographed by Stacey Tookey
Rudy doesn't seem to have the best extension, but he makes up for it with every other movement he does. He seems like he is a great partner! This routine seemed more fluid than the other contemporary ones, but maybe it's the long flowy dress she is wearing (JK, it was actually great!). I really liked this one. I felt like they realllly gave it their all. So apparently Mary calls Rudy Scarlet and when she called him that, I looked up like she was talking to me. Oops!
Emilio and Teddy dancing hip hop:
"Nightshift" by The Commodores
Choreographed by Christopher Scott
Guys, I love Christopher Scott. I liked this routine a lot! It was so fluid and fun and I thought the two guys did a great job in it. I appreciated that this was a less hard-hitting routine because I felt like it allowed them to connect to the audience more.
Jessica and Ricky dancing contemporary:
"Vow" by Meredith Monk
Choreographed by Sonya T.
Loving the beginning with its quietness. Oh wow...I couldn't even type during that. That was extraordinary! It felt like we were watching a dance being performed in a cathedral by angels. Part of that comes from the music, which was so pretty, but it was also their outfits and the movement and the connection they had. SO so so so good. My favorite of the night!
Tanisha and Nick dancing cha cha:
""I'm a Freak" by Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull
Choreographed by Louis Van Amstel
Great dress on her! Love the pink and orange. They both really come alive while dancing. They both seem quite young when interviewed, but they totally pulled this off! And did you see that kiss?? (I think they're hooking up!)
So, what do you think? I thought it was a great Top 20 show and it will be hard to send two home. It always is, isn't it? I'm guessing that one of the ballerinas goes as well as maybe a hip hopper? Man, I have no idea!
XO,
SVR
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Middle Sunday
A lot of the magic with Wimbledon is the tradition. The strawberries and cream, the required white outfits, the Royal Box, and Middle Sunday, which we are about done with.
It's tough to be off work an entire day with no tennis because it feels like such a waste, but it was also kind of nice to have a day for some errands and catching up on other TV. Oh, and I watched the Murray match I missed the other day. So, I guess I cheated a little on Middle Sunday.
Starting tomorrow, the tourney really heats up with the 4th rounds (and, because of some rain on Friday, the conclusions of some 3rd round matches). So let's see where we're at:
The Gentlemen
Djokovic vs Tsonga- I picked Djokovic to get through this one, but Tsonga is a great player. Tsonga will probably be tired from his super long (and rain-delayed) match, but also, who knows if Djokovic's arm was affected by his fall the other day. Head to head Djokovic owns him so I'd put money on him.
Chardy vs Cilic- I had originally picked Gulbis to get through this round after his great French Open, oops! So, Chardy vs Cilic? They've only played once and it was years ago so not much to go on there. I'm gonna go with Cilic based on his winning over Berdych, a tough player, and he has that great serve.
Murray vs Anderson- I, of course, picked Murray to win the tourney so he better make it through this round! Anderson will be tough because he has a great serve, too, but Murray is one of the best returners and he has been looking super sharp so far in the tourney. They've played twice and split the wins, in 2010 and 2011. I can see Anderson getting a tie-breaker set, but I do think Murray will come through this one in 3 or 4 sets.
Dimitrov vs Mayer- Dimitrov is my other favorite player and I've picked him to get through, too. They've never played, but I think Dimitrov will get through in 4.
Note: Wawrinka/Istomin and Lopez/Isner, both in this part of the draw, have 3rd round matches to complete.
Robredo vs Federer- I'm not a big Federer fan so I'd love to see an upset, but Robredo just had a long 5-setter. He has beaten him once, at last year's US Open, but the 10 times prior, Federer won.
Raonic will await the 3rd round match of Botelli/Nishikori.
Kyrgios vs Nadal- Super excited for this match up between the rising and on-fire Kyrgios and Nadal who is a relentless competitor. I think Nadal will win, but I'd love to see Kyrgios get a set (or 2!) off him. I had originally picked Gasquet to be in this match and to actually beat Nadal so what do I know?
The Ladies
Cornet vs Bouchard- I picked Bouchard to win the tournament, but I definitely thought she'd have to beat S. Williams to do it. I think this match might go 3, but Bouchard will come through in the end. They've only played one time before (in 2013) and Cornet came through in 3, but Bouchard has been awesome lately. (Although...so had Cornet!)
Kerber vs Sharapova- Sharapova will probably lose the first set and then find some freakish way to come through and win the thing. That's her thing. Their head to head is 1-4 in Sharapova's favor.
Halep vs Diyas- Halep should get through this. She beat her in the Australian Open this year and has been cruising lately.
Ivanovic/Lisicki and Keys/Shvedova have 3rd round matches to complete from this section of the draw.
Smitkova vs Safarova- I think Safarova will get through this one on experience as the older player who is ranked 23. This is the section of the draw where I thought Cibulkova would have gotten through so these are all just guesses now.
Makarova vs Radwanska- This is really a toss up. Makarova won their last meeting on a hard court and has been playing really well, but Radwanska is the type of player who can get through tough matches. I'm gonna go with Radwanska.
Kvitova vs Peng- Kvitova has owned her in their past 4 meetings and I think this won will go the same way.
Wozniacki vs Zahlavova Strycova- Head to head this goes to Wozniacki and I think that will continue. Zahlavova Strycova just beat Li Na, but it was a tight match and Wozniacki is so consistent that I think she will pull through.
So, my initial picks for winning the tournament are still in play: Andy Murray and Eugenie Bouchard!
It's tough to be off work an entire day with no tennis because it feels like such a waste, but it was also kind of nice to have a day for some errands and catching up on other TV. Oh, and I watched the Murray match I missed the other day. So, I guess I cheated a little on Middle Sunday.
Starting tomorrow, the tourney really heats up with the 4th rounds (and, because of some rain on Friday, the conclusions of some 3rd round matches). So let's see where we're at:
The Gentlemen
Djokovic vs Tsonga- I picked Djokovic to get through this one, but Tsonga is a great player. Tsonga will probably be tired from his super long (and rain-delayed) match, but also, who knows if Djokovic's arm was affected by his fall the other day. Head to head Djokovic owns him so I'd put money on him.
Chardy vs Cilic- I had originally picked Gulbis to get through this round after his great French Open, oops! So, Chardy vs Cilic? They've only played once and it was years ago so not much to go on there. I'm gonna go with Cilic based on his winning over Berdych, a tough player, and he has that great serve.
Murray vs Anderson- I, of course, picked Murray to win the tourney so he better make it through this round! Anderson will be tough because he has a great serve, too, but Murray is one of the best returners and he has been looking super sharp so far in the tourney. They've played twice and split the wins, in 2010 and 2011. I can see Anderson getting a tie-breaker set, but I do think Murray will come through this one in 3 or 4 sets.
Dimitrov vs Mayer- Dimitrov is my other favorite player and I've picked him to get through, too. They've never played, but I think Dimitrov will get through in 4.
Note: Wawrinka/Istomin and Lopez/Isner, both in this part of the draw, have 3rd round matches to complete.
Robredo vs Federer- I'm not a big Federer fan so I'd love to see an upset, but Robredo just had a long 5-setter. He has beaten him once, at last year's US Open, but the 10 times prior, Federer won.
Raonic will await the 3rd round match of Botelli/Nishikori.
Kyrgios vs Nadal- Super excited for this match up between the rising and on-fire Kyrgios and Nadal who is a relentless competitor. I think Nadal will win, but I'd love to see Kyrgios get a set (or 2!) off him. I had originally picked Gasquet to be in this match and to actually beat Nadal so what do I know?
The Ladies
Cornet vs Bouchard- I picked Bouchard to win the tournament, but I definitely thought she'd have to beat S. Williams to do it. I think this match might go 3, but Bouchard will come through in the end. They've only played one time before (in 2013) and Cornet came through in 3, but Bouchard has been awesome lately. (Although...so had Cornet!)
Kerber vs Sharapova- Sharapova will probably lose the first set and then find some freakish way to come through and win the thing. That's her thing. Their head to head is 1-4 in Sharapova's favor.
Halep vs Diyas- Halep should get through this. She beat her in the Australian Open this year and has been cruising lately.
Ivanovic/Lisicki and Keys/Shvedova have 3rd round matches to complete from this section of the draw.
Smitkova vs Safarova- I think Safarova will get through this one on experience as the older player who is ranked 23. This is the section of the draw where I thought Cibulkova would have gotten through so these are all just guesses now.
Makarova vs Radwanska- This is really a toss up. Makarova won their last meeting on a hard court and has been playing really well, but Radwanska is the type of player who can get through tough matches. I'm gonna go with Radwanska.
Kvitova vs Peng- Kvitova has owned her in their past 4 meetings and I think this won will go the same way.
Wozniacki vs Zahlavova Strycova- Head to head this goes to Wozniacki and I think that will continue. Zahlavova Strycova just beat Li Na, but it was a tight match and Wozniacki is so consistent that I think she will pull through.
So, my initial picks for winning the tournament are still in play: Andy Murray and Eugenie Bouchard!
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