After a month or so of no internet connection and being away from home, updating this ish was unfortunately not to be. Last recap was the Top 18 performance - yikes.
Anyhow, we've come a very long ways in the competition since then, with some fabulous routines churned out along the way. Instead of recapping every single performance last night (grand total of 15, I believe), I'll just thoroughly analyze and review each competitor's performance individually.
VALERIE
Background
Oh, Miss Val. Of the four, the one who feels most like your friend. She's managed to connect with audiences brilliantly through little clips of her life at home and her previous training. Valerie seems like the spunky girl you met at your dance studio. Her story of simply moving to California when she decided dental hygiene was not to be felt refreshingly normal.
There's been lots of criticism that Valerie's spot in the Top 4 should have gone to Tanisha, a more polished performer and technician. However, Tanisha lacked one big piece that Valerie has in droves - personality that shines through the screen.
Best Performances
Again, there's lots of criticism that Valerie only got this far because she was partnered with Ricky. There's definitely some truth to that, but who WOULDN'T have gotten far if someone else was partnered with Season 11's favourite? These are my favourite performance of hers throughout the season;
SING with Zack Everhart, Choreographed by Anthony Morigerato
TURN DOWN FOR WHAT with Ricky Ubeda, Choreographed by Pharside and Phoenix
PEARL with Zack Everhart, Choreographed by Tyce Diorio
Chances to Win
Frankly, I think Valerie's chances are pretty slim to win the competition (I'd peg her coming in at either 3rd or 4th). However, the exposure she got from this thing is unbelievable, and she will absolutely have a career in the biz.
JESSICA
Background
To me, Jessica seems like the dancer who hasn't really found her niche in dance, either on the show or in her own personal style. Technically brilliant, this may be an asset companies and choreographers in her later career may covet, because she's kind of a blank canvas you can throw anything at. However, in a competition like this, you NEED to find your niche. Her solos, are, frankly, very uninspiring, bland, and often uncomfortably sensual. However, she has whipped out very solid routines and is 50% of Season 11's signature routine (her and Ricky's contemporary by Sonya Tayeh).
Best Performances
VOW with Ricky Ubeda, Choreography by Sonya Tayeh (expect to see this in the finale)
LIKE REAL PEOPLE DO with Casey Askew, Choreography by Travis Wall
HERNANDO'S HIDEAWAY with Zack Everhart, Choreography by Spencer Liff
Chances to Win
I think this year's girls were a little weaker than previous years, but of the bunch, Jessica still rises to the top. She's gorgeous and clinical in her movement, but I think her general immaturity in her dancing and her inability to be completely versatile (her West Coast Swing and her Hip Hop were both pretty lacking) will cost her the crown. Expect to see her in 3rd or 4th place.
Actually, now that I think about it, we didn't see her do any ballroom besides her initial West Coast Swing with Nick Garcia, right? Yikes.
Click to see my analysis of this year's top 2 guys
RICKY
Background
Every season has a poster child. It's a special club of people of which Melanie Moore, Alex Wong, Amy Yakima, Danny Tidwell, the Schwimmers, and now Ricky Ubeda are a part of. They were hyped-up and advertised coming in to the competition, and fair extremely well when performing in it. Ricky is well-loved, and for good reason. We've seen him do everything from Hip Hop to Salsa to his trademark Contemporary, and he shines in everything. He's also got good intentions, citing that the praise he receives is only fuel for him to push harder and do better.
Ricky has a very unique ability to be a true androgynous chameleon of dance. Not only can he do anything, but he can portray both masculine and feminine movement very convincingly. The one thing that may cost him the crown that's had his name on it since the beginning of this competition is his perfection, and his seeming inability to fail. Audiences love an underdog, and they love someone who's improved.
Best Performances
VOW with Jessica Richens, Choreography by Sonya Tayeh
BOSSA NOVA BABY with Lauren Froderman, Choreography by Mandy Moore
SKIN AND BONES solo, Pasadena Callbacks Week
I could put in he and Jamie's contemporary or his salsa with Anya, but this is truly the best solo the show has seen in a long time.
Chances to Win
Pretty damn high.
ZACK
When google image searching a fancy picture for Zack's analysis, this came up. How could I not choose it?
Background
This season's dark horse, Zack improved enormously and then ran with it. He's transformed from a good dancer into a wonderful, entertaining one. No one sells performances like Zack does, and he's succeeded in this competition on nothing but talent alone. Is he Orlando-Bloom-hot? No. Was he overly hyped coming into the competition? No. Was his audition mind-blowing and made Nigel cry? No, and he had to go through the choreography round to make it to the show. Zack's made it to the top on improvement and quality of performance within these last four weeks or so, but he has a quiet strength and humility that comes across the screen.
What am I even trying to say anymore? To put it short; Zack has a quality no one else in the Top 20 this year possessed.
Best Performances
EUROPE, AFTER THE RAIN with Amy Yakima, Choreography by Sonya Tayeh
PIANO MAN with Aaron Turner, Choreography by Anthony Morigerato
SAIL with Fik-Shun Stegall, Choreography by Phillip Chbeeb
Chances to Win
Definitely the winner if Ricky doesn't run away with it. And, I think he'd be the best fit for the role the winner receives in On the Town.
Well, there we have it. I'll be happy if either of the guys win. I think this season, and especially last night's show, were marvellous, and I can't wait till the finale next week. Hopefully Nigel will be a little less drunk (? was he, though) and try to teach fewer life lessons to the contestants he's supposed to be critiquing.
Let me know what you think! Who would be your ideal Top 4, your ideal winner, and what routines you'd like to see in the finale. Comment down below or shoot me an e-mail at sytycdfansblog@gmail.com
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