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PHILLIP & JEANINE - Overall, the routine worked, but I actually liked Jeanine a lot more than Phillip tonight. She was more restrained and contained and didn't overplay it. He, on the other hand, got a little overexcited and pushed every move past the point where it felt natural and organic. His face is already so extreme that unless he is very conscious of keeping it simple, he risks looking cartoonish. Still, there was a nice connection between the two (aided by the choreography) and Jeanine's dazzling smile at the end overcame most of the little problems with the routine. She's very likable on stage.

ASUKA & VITOLIO - No surprise that Tyce gave them a cheeseball routine, but the biggest problem is that they were choreographed so separately that they didn't have to play the connection. Unfortunately, they didn't add that in on their own, and as a result, it came across as two dancers separately dancing their own routines on the same stage. When they were supposed to be together, their individual lines may have been nice, but the angles and the intensity didn't match up. When they were dancing apart, there was no invisible cord linking them together. Aside from the choreography, the artistic difference between them made the whole exercise cold and clinical. Asuka is adorable, but this was not good for her at all. On a side note, Vitolio must be REALLY short, because he barely looked taller than her and she is tiny.

JONATHAN & KARLA - I was reminded of the famous Fred and Ginger maxim about him bringing the class and her bringing the sex. Jonathan is clearly the more experienced Latin Dancer, but it was Karla who provided all of the heat and the personality. Jonathan never went into a character, so all we were left with was technique. His technique was okay, but he does have a problem with stiffness (everywhere but his hips). Karla's technique was probably worse, but you didn't notice as much because her performance was so much more engaging.

EVAN & RANDI - Evan is one kind of dancer that I really like in that he is always connected and in character on stage, so the movements seem entirely natural and not choreographed. I won't say that this was my favorite routine - it was a bit boring and not particularly sexy - but it gave me a lot of hope for the type of dancer Evan will be over the course of the competition. I pretty much watched him the whole time. Randi didn't distract me from watching him, so I guess that's a good thing…

TONY & PARIS - I actually have to disagree with the judges here. I really liked the way that BOTH dancers danced into the stage and gave a lot of power and weight to the movements. Their legs were constantly bent and they were driving down in a way that this kind of hip hop requires. It's the very antithesis of the fluidity and smooth glide of a waltz, and I thought it was incredibly appropriate here. Tony has tons of charisma, and that helps a lot. Paris is not an attractive woman, but she looks a million times better when she dances, so that is a good thing. She danced great for the first two thirds, then hit a rough patch, but overall it was pretty good. I'm not mad at 'em…

JASON & CAITLIN - I will admit that I'm so enamored with Bollywood dancing that unless they totally screwed up, I was bound to be delighted by this performance. And I was. However, I do think there were a lot of problems. To be fair, Bollywood requires a degree of precision and synchronization that is above and beyond what any of the other styles call for, but through most of the dance, they were not in perfect unison. Jason was always moving onto the next phrase before Caitlin had finished the previous one. I'm not sure if he was anticipating or she was dragging, but it was off. I suspect the latter and that she was sloppy… I think this couple is probably one of the more evenly matched in terms of appeal and star charisma. They're both adorable, (and both have really attractive abdomens). Now, they need to bring their dancing together a little better and they'll be a force to be reckoned with.

BRANDON & JANETTE - I'm sure the fact that they danced a ballroom style had a lot to do with it, but this was BY FAR the best-partnered dance of the evening. There wasn't a fraction of a second that they weren't wholeheartedly connected to one another. They were ever so clean in their movements, but it never felt technical or devoid of emotion. Janette was remarkable in how she used her costume and made it flow like an extension of her body. I will say [admittedly prematurely] that I suspect that Brandon may just be the most talented dancer who has ever been on this show. He has all the technique of a Danny or a Will, but he doesn't lack warmth or character or personality the way both of them did. More importantly, he connects with a partner better than either of them did. I'm very excited to watch these two in other styles.

ASHLEY & KUPONO - I'm a huge fan of Wade Robson. What I like the most about his pieces is how he expands the vocabulary of dance every time and creates movements that go beyond how a human being moves. To that point, I was much more drawn to Kupono, as his character was far less 'human' than Ashley's. I know that Ashley was directed to be in a different style, but I wish that the end result had been more extreme in the way that Kupono's was. This style DOES show a ton of physical control and technique and both partners had it. However, Kupono has more of the transformational performer in him, and that is something I love to see in a dancer. From the introductory package, I didn't find Ashley's personality particularly magnetic. I'm going to make a prediction and say that the partnership will last to top ten, but that Ashley will be the first girl eliminated at that point.

ADE & MELISSA - I'm going to say that this was the best designed routine of the night with the perfect amalgamation of choreography, music, costume, lighting, and (most importantly) wind machine. All of these elements combined with fine dancing to make a number that really worked. However, I don't know that Ade and Melissa are good enough that it would have worked without all of the other elements. I hated the thing with Ade's pick in his hair in the intro package (stupider than Twitch's stupid glasses). Fortunately, he proved to be a solid dancer. Still, I think he lacks a lot of life and intensity in his face as well as personality. He'll need to find that if he wants to make it anywhere near the top. Melissa was a bit inconsistent for me. Some of her technique was excellent (her weightless leap into the lift they showed repeatedly), while at other times, she broke frame and came across weak and floppy. She has a lot of talent and even some soul and personality, but she needs to strengthen her dancing.

KAYLA & MAX - I have not been a fan of Kayla up to this point, but this number went a long way towards making me like her. I was deeply impressed by her comfort and facility in a style that is unfamiliar to her. The dancing was great - the character work, not so much. Her youth showed. Samba should be danced by a WOMAN, not a girl, and Kayla faked the maturity and sexuality, but doesn't really possess it. Max is pretty much a quintessential ballroom guy. Unfortunately, that carries with it a whole lot of cheese. Dmitry and Pasha were both a little cheesy (somehow, Artem never struck me as cheesy), but they had the charisma and charm to get past it. Max doesn't.


In all, there wasn't a single individual or performance that I hated, so I'm incredibly hopeful about the season. It's hard to rank them so soon, as most pairs had some strengths and some weaknesses, but here's my attempt:


1. JANETTE & BRANDON
2. MELISSA & ADE
3. CAITLIN & JASON
4. KUPONO & ASHLEY
5. RANDI & EVAN
6. MAX & KAYLA
7. PARIS & TONY
8. KARLA & JONATHAN
9. JEANINE & PHILIP
10. VITOLIO & ASUKA


I expect Karla and Jonathan to be in the bottom three tomorrow, but I don't know which other pairs will be joining them (hopefully Vitolio and Asuka, who were CLEARLY the worst routine of the night). It's starting off a tight race…