We've made it DanceFans! The performance finale. The last chance for the dancers to impress the judges and get votes from America. Nobody goes home tonight. We'll crown a winner next week. You'd think this would make for a more relaxed show, but typically dancers get a case of the yips around this time every season. There are more routines to learn in the same amount of prep time. Filling 2 hours airtime with only 4 contestants left means it's likely (at least) one routine hasn't gotten enough time to really come together. Now that the live episodes don't go on as long as they did in earlier seasons, there's less burn out or struggles with injury. But the tension and nerves connected to the approach the finish line remains a real thing. Let's see who can keep it together, shall we?
Top 4 and All-Star Group Routine - choreographed by Mandy More to a music Medley of CATS, inspired by the upcoming movie. Are we getting Broadway-style CATS costumes? Movie-style CGI-fur? No, we're getting regular clothes! What? not event headbands topped with cat ears? The routine itself is charming. Mandy combines the imagery of the white cat with Grizabella's song which feels like a no-no, but I'll excuse it. The end is pretty joyful and ends (a little abruptly) with a focus on our cutie pie Top 4.
Cat takes the stage in a striking yellow dress from Givenchy. She talks at length about the upcoming CATS movie out at the end of the year. Who on this show is a producer on the movie? We get some extended commercials for the movie throughout the show. Tonight we're seeing each of the final four do a routine with the other three, plus an all star routine, plus solos. We'll also be be presented with two slightly competing narratives. The judges and choreographers will be focusing on the two final couples' ongoing chemistry and the contestants will talk about how they all now realize they are each others' competition and they are focused on winning over romance. I rank the solos this way: Bailey (the audience chanted his name afterward), Gino, Mariah and Sophie.
Gino and Sophie - Jazz routine choreographed by Ray Leper to “All Nite (Don’t Stop) [Sander Kleineberg’s Everybody Club Mix]” by Janet Jackson.
This routine is about meeting someone and having instant chemistry. Ray is trying to instigate another kiss between them. They just went there last week. Look, if they're in love, let them announce it in their own time, and if not, leave them alone. Their parents are watching in the audience! Don't make them all uncomfortable. This routine feels nervous to me. Gino gets a little off-balance at times and has some unsure foot placements. Sophie feels a little in her own world. This is what I meant about finale nerves. In judging, Mary loved it. Dom says he was disappointed they didn't kiss, even though it clearly would've been gratuitous! Laurieann liked their fierce attack during the routine and Nigel appreciated the chemistry and thought it was brilliant. I feel like they could've called out the obvious nerves here and reminded them to breathe and shake out the nerves. After all, nobody's going home tonight!
Bailey and Mariah - Jazz routine choreographed by Jonathan Redavid to “16 Tons” by Leann Rimes.
Another romance-y dance-y. It's stronger than the Gino-Sophie routine, but again it feels like they're a little tight. They might just be pacing themselves for all the other routines still to come. Bailey looks like he's concentrating during the tricks. Mariah seems to be operating at 90% instead of 100%. It's still very entertaining. I've just seem them more relaxed in the movement. D-Trix is blown away by Bailey and his growth this season. Laurieann finds them both inspiring to anyone. Nigel doesn't think whatever Bailey might lack in technique stops him from being totally entertaining. Mary thinks Mariah is full of soul and that Bailey soars in every routine.
Sophie and All-Star Marko - Contemporary routine choreographed by Talia Favia to “90 Days” by P!nk featuring Wrabel.
Marko and his mustache are here to throw Sophie around the stage. Marko is a beautiful dancer in his own right, but he's also gotta be Top 5 in the show's history in terms of partnering. He just has an innate generosity in showing off his partner. Unsurprisingly, Sophie looks great here. There is no hesitancy in her movement, and she's being asked to do some difficult moves that require a lot of strength and trust. She exudes emotion throughout. Bravo. Laurieann thinks she found her strength as a “world-changer” and credits Nigel for being the one on the panel who first saw the potential she had as a dancer. Nigel thinks Sophie proves female dancers are just as strong as men. Mary thinks she's peaking at the right time. D-Trix thinks this is her best performance and also that the choreo deserves an Emmy nomination.
Bailey and All-Star Comfort - Hip Hip choreographed by Luther Brown to “Tell Me When To Go” by E-40 featuring Keak Da Sneak.
Bailey’s crying throughout rehearsal because it means so much to him to do this routine with Comfort. This routine is interesting to me because Comfort's and Bailey's energies are so different, but so complimentary here. He is sharp and energetic and Comfort is so effortlessly smooth. The contrast really works here. Nigel scares us all with a gold grill in his mouth. Mary thinks he couldn’t get any further down in the pocket.” D-Trix notes that he nailed the Bay Area style of hip hop in the routine. Laurieann bestows on him bragging rights for representing the Bay Area. OWN IT! OWN IT! OWN IT!
Gino and Mariah - Quickstep routine choreographed by Artem Chigvintsev and Sharna Burgess to “Bad Boy Good Man” by Tape Five featuring Henrik Wager.
Artem Chigvintsev and Sharna Burgess have landed on the their (dancing) feet from DWTS (after not being included in the pro roster for the upcoming season) and are happy to be here choreographing the dreaded quickstep. It's traditionally a dance that's hard for dancers to pull off the hold position properly. Gino and Mariah do a good job here. The routine is light and joyful and they bring their personalities to it. They end with a side by side one-armed forward flip that impresses. Standing O from the judges. Mary will always be tough but fair with this style, and she thought they did a respectable job with it. D-Trix says everyone on his season wanted to avoid the quickstep because it's so hard. Laurieann thought they did a great job. Nigel says the quickstep can be a dancer’s downfall, but not tonight. Better luck next season, Quick Step!
Bailey and Sophie - Bollywood routine by Nakul Dev Mahajan to “Butterfly” by Pritam from Jab Harry Met Sejal.
Another routine, another almost-kiss. The performances in this routine feel a little under-baked. Bailey and Sophie are bringing energy, but not a lot of specificity - especially in the hand gestures which are usually such a signature component of this style. Here they are almost non-existent. The partnering feels disconnected. There's an extended bit where Sophie just sits in the wheelbarrow... swaying? I dunno. Nakul's facial reaction in the audience reads like, "Uhh, okay..." D-Trix comments on how much stamina it takes to get through Bollywood. Laurieann admired the storytelling but felt they both lost the details. Nigel agrees and says he’s seen both dancers do better than what they just did. Mary tries to spin it more positively, but also acknowledges the lack of attention to detail.
Gino and All-Star Melanie - Contemporary routine by Jaci Royal to “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi.
This routine is about a break up. Melanie has broken Gino's heart. Time for Gino to express himself! Break down those emotional walls, buddy! Melanie is a force and she will accept nothing less. I'm happy to say that Gino rises to the challenge! Great movement, pacing, and emotion. Another Standing O from the judges. Laurieann has been praying all season that Gino's walls would fall and now that they have, he tells him not to look back. Nigel congratulates Gino on his performance and thinks vulnerability is a dancer's great power. The audience knows when you’re putting up a veneer and will reject it. Mary loves Gino's passion. D-Trix thinks it was perfection and showing such vulnerability is its own win.
Mariah and All-Star Robert - Contemporary routine choreographed by Mandy Moore to “Grey” by Ani DiFranco.
In this routine Robert is representing the path of life (which seems super intense to me, even though there have been crazier dance concepts on this show, for sure.) Gorgeous work between these two. I'd say Robert is also Top 5 ever in terms of partners on this show. Sometimes the lighting design combined with their height differential means Mariah's face gets lost in darkness and I am sad to miss her expression, because when she's in the light I'm getting so much from her. Aside from that, it's a total win. Nigel thinks she is an amazing talent and it's been his privilege to watch her dance all season. Mary considers it dance heaven. D-Trix thinks she is wonderful. Laurieann tells Mariah she has always seen her and she should own her victory tonight and know that she deserves it.
The boys are playing friends who are both in love with the same woman. It's a very fun routine and the energy between Bailey and Gino is great. It's too bad they only get one routine to play off each other. I'd enjoy seeing more of them. Great individual character work and dynamic interaction. The execution of movement is great too. Side by side back flips! Nigel thinks this is the best top four across a season ever. I'm not going to argue with him, because they are very strong. Nigel already says this will be one of his picks for the Encore Finale next week. Mary declares them the real couple to beat (I think they'll be the Top 2, honestly). They are the first pair of guys to get tickets on the Hot Tamale Train together! WOO-WOO!!! D-trix thanks them for their great work. Laurieann calls out the partnership between Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov as comparison. Next season, a contestant/all-star gay love dance routine, please!
Mariah and Sophie - Hip Hop Routine by Luther Brown to “Sally Walker” by Iggy Azalea.
This routine is about “catty girls who like each other, but really want to beat each other,” So not exactly women supporting women, but I'm into the costumes so let's see what happens. This is a lot of fun and has great attitude from both women. Mariah grabs my eye more that Sophie, but she is by no means left in the dust. D-Trix especially loved the bench twerking, and the outfits made him want Fruity Pebbles, which made me laugh. Laurieann was into the shadiness and the ratchetness, and she knows Mariah was gonna kill LB's choreo but takes an extra moment to praise Sophie. Nigel thought it was incredible routine and thought they were fabulous and urges everyone watching to vote for their favorite dancer because these kids deserve to be supported by the audience for all the fantastic work they've done this season. Mary praises these, "two young women from "TENNESSEE!!!" I had forgotten they came from the same state until Mary screamed the reminder at us. She thinks they they brought it and tore the house down.
And that's a wrap on the competitive routines for season 16. Next week it's all celebration for the art created and for the journeys each finalist went on throughout the season. Nothing left to so except use Mariah's extended braid as a limbo stick during the final dance out to the theme song (Sophie makes them lower it more before she goes under so it's a challenge. That was awesome and made me laugh, especially since the braid is still connected to Mariah's head!). It's a very strong final four. I'm not sure how the final vote will go, but I put my votes towards Bailey. I thought he was the best throughout. I'm excited to see what they all do in the future. I wish them all long and successful dance careers.
Tonight's Routines Ranked in order of my preference:
1. Sophie and Marko Contemporary
2. Bailey and Comfort Hip hop
3. Gino and Melanie Contemporary
4. Bailey and Gino Broadway
5. Mariah and Robert Contemporary
6. Mariah and Sophie Hip Hop
7. Gino and Mariah Quickstep
8. Bailey and Mariah Jazz
9. Gino and Sophie Jazz
10. Bailey and Sophie Bollywood
Predicted Finish:
4th - Sophie
3rd - Mariah
Runner Up - Gino
Winner - Bailey
Tonight's Routines Ranked in order of my preference:
1. Sophie and Marko Contemporary
2. Bailey and Comfort Hip hop
3. Gino and Melanie Contemporary
4. Bailey and Gino Broadway
5. Mariah and Robert Contemporary
6. Mariah and Sophie Hip Hop
7. Gino and Mariah Quickstep
8. Bailey and Mariah Jazz
9. Gino and Sophie Jazz
10. Bailey and Sophie Bollywood
Predicted Finish:
4th - Sophie
3rd - Mariah
Runner Up - Gino
Winner - Bailey
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