Top 3 Girls Routine

The top 6 performance show opened with the top 3 girls performing a hip hop routine choreographed by Juliette ‘Jet’ Verne. Performing to Beyoncé’s track “Freakum Dress,” the girls were dressed in mini dresses and high heels. The story line saw the 3 girls heading out for a night out on the town, leaving their boyfriends behind. The routine was extremely fast paced and “very modern.”

All of the judges seemed to agree that Jess S sat “very comfortably in this style”, Ivy’s face sold the routine and Jessie H was very “crisp and sharp.” Jason thought that the spacing throughout the routine “wasn’t accurate” and Bonnie wanted to see the girls come out from the silhouette earlier. All of the judges commented on the girls high heels and thought they looked like ice-skates.

I agree with the judges that Jess S was very natural in her own style. I thought that Jessie H was excellent too and while Ivy isn't as good at hip hop, she has improved.

Nick & Ivy – 1st Routine

Both Nick & Ivy were well matched when it came to performing their own genre, contemporary. Ivy represented a wilting flower and Nick’s fluidity portrayed the water. The Choreographer Debbie Ellis worked closely with the couple to make the piece “seamless” and the wardrobe department brought the piece to life by creating costumes that represented their characters. Nick & Ivy’s routine was accompanied by 2 live Soprano’s performing Lakme’s “Flower Duet.”

The wilting flowers desperate need for water was clear to see through the couple’s fluid and urgent movements. Matt loved “the concept and the dance itself” and Jason thought this piece was “intoxicating.” Bonnie thought it was an absolutely “beautiful routine, which was acted brilliantly.”

I thought this was a very beautiful and interesting routine, while I'm a Nick fan I will admit that he wasn't perfect in this routine and there were some shaky moments. Overall though, I liked the routine and thought they portrayed the characters well. I think that while the live opera was amazing, it must have been very difficult to dance without a set beat and that it would have been better with a different song.

Robbie & Jess S – 1st Routine

The second couple to take to the stage was Robbie & Jess S. This routine is the first time the pair had been dance partners and saw Jess S in her element as they were performing a hip hop routine. The unique style of choreography, choreographed by Jesse Rasumssen put both dancers to the test. The couple kept the audience entertained as they performing to Jason Derulo’s “In My Head.”

The routine was a mix of hip hop meets Fred Astaire mixed in with a bit of Gene Kelly. The story line saw Robbie asleep at the start of the routine and danced his dream of meeting his dream girl, Jess S. Bonnie and Matt felt the light and shade, whereas Jason disagreed with them and would have liked to have seen more “pop moments in there.” Bonnie gave the nickname “any style Robbie” as he takes on every challenge “and nails it.”

I mainly watched Jess in this routine, I thought she was great (as you would expect). Although I appreciated Jesse's unique choreography here, I'm not completely sure they pulled it off. I disagree with the judges, I think that Robbie is good at a lot of styles (and has trained in almost everything as far as I'm aware) but I'm just not sold on him in hip hop and haven't really had the chance to see him dance ballroom much at all (what little I have seen didn't impress me). I do like him, I just think he gets overpraised at times. He definitely deserves to be in the top 4 though.

Phillipe & Jessie H – 1st Routine

The last couple to perform were hip hop dancer Phillipe & contemporary dancer Jessie H. This time they were performing a genre they hadn’t yet been handed, the Tango. The couple’s costumes complimented the dance piece with Phillipe dressed in a tuxedo and Jessie H in a stunning gown. Robles Dance choreographed this piece with a strong and passionate feel about it as Phillipe is trying to impress Jessie and Jessie H with his movements.

Accompanied by live piano accordion the couple performed to Gerado Matos Rodriguez’s “La Cumparista.” Jason told the Australian audience that it is “much easier to do a contemporary or a hip hop routine” compared to this intricate style of dance. Bonnie agreed that it is “such a difficult dance to do”, however the judges thought the routine was lacking and agreed that the couple did what they could with the routine with the amount of time they were given.

Sadly, this wasn't as good as I was hoping it could be. I think that Jessie danced it a lot better than Phillipe, but agree with the judges that there was no fire or passion. I'm glad that they tried to tell the audience how tough it is to learn a Tango (and an intricate one at that) in a short period of time as I'm worried that Jessie may not get the votes she needs for the top 4 spot she deserves.

Nick & Ivy – 2nd Routine

Nick and Ivy's second routine was a lyrical jazz. The tone was a little lighter compared to their first routine and saw Nick’s nerdy character waiting for the girl (Ivy) to arrive on their first date.

Choreographers Paul White & Anthony Ikin choreographed the “playful” routine to “Hey Soul Sister” by Train. Matt thought that Nick suited the geek character as did Bonnie. Jason thought the acting was “quite forced” and the routine “just didn’t work” for him.

Unfortunately, the routine didn't really work for me either. I think they played their parts well and it was very cute, but when it comes to dancing unfortunately I feel that Nick didn't meet my expectations tonight in both of his partner routines. He certainly was cute and fits the nerdy character well though! Ivy was gorgeous as always but the whole routine just felt a little clunky.

Robbie & Jess S – 2nd Routine

Accompanied by live musicians Robbie & Jess S performed an emotional jazz piece choreographed by Project Moda. This piece was a very different routine for Project Moda who are known for their humorous routines. The couple’s serious clown characters were shown not only through the choreography but also through the costumes. The wardrobe department made the outfits look like an old sepia picture of the clowns, so Robbie & Jess S were dressed in brown clown suits.

In rehearsals when the 2 dancers were told of the storyline behind the routine, both Robbie & Jess S cried. Robbie plays a sick & frail clown who is Jess S closest buddy whom she loses in the end. The suitcase the Robbie holds from the beginning to the end represents his heart, which Jess S realises in the end. Matt “loved the concept” and got “taken on a journey. There were moments where Bonnie “wanted to laugh” and moments where she “wanted to cry.” This performance left the judges “mesmerized.”

I liked this routine (and especially liked the costumes) but I didn't feel anything watching it, which is a shame as I expected to. I'm not sure they managed to convey the sadness and the frailty of Robbie's character as they were supposed to, although it seems the judges picked up on it so perhaps it was something you could pick up on in the audience. I found them both equally good as dancers here.

Phillipe & Jessie H – 2nd Routine

In their second routine, Phillipe & Jessie H teamed up with International choreographer Jason Winters to perform a contemporary piece to ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ by Tori Amos. Jason Winters explained that “Phillipe & Jessie H have been partners have been partners for their whole life, he gets sent off to war and he gets wounded and loses his sight.” Jessie H teaches Phillipe to dance again in a “whole new way.”

The cloth over Phillipe’s eye representing the blindness in one eye had Phillipe getting lost in rehearsals. When it was time for the Judges’ comments, it was “a dance highlight” and all of the judges thought hip hop dancer Phillipe would have struggled with this contemporary piece but “shocked” them all.

This would be my favourite couples routine of the night (on what I think was a disappointing night overall) despite the fact that the music almost ruined it for me! I'm not a fan of the song and while I don't mind some of Tori Amos' music, her version of the song wasn't to my taste (it seems I'm not alone on this one!). Turning the volume down and just watching them though, I think this was really impressive, there's a lot of trust and connection between them both and Jessie is amazing as usual. Hopefully this routine will be enough to get her to the top 4, this is my main concern at the moment.

Top 3 Guys Routine

Robbie, Nick and Phillipe performed a very masculine contemporary piece with their own added flavour within the genre. Choreographed by Sarah Boulter to the soothing James Brown track “It’s A Man’s World.”

Robbie and Nick were in their element performing contemporary, but hip hop dancer Phillipe was completely out of his comfort zone. The judges all praised the boys with Matt commenting “that’s what I call fighting for the Top 4” and they had “great unison.” With this routine, Bonnie found it hard to believe that Phillipe’s a hip hop dancer and that Nick blew Matt away considering he has only been dancing for 5 years. Jason said when it comes down to “technique, effort and ease – Robbie’s the winner of that.”

I found this routine really mesmerising, I wish they'd give the girls a routine like this (hopefully next week) which shows off each dancers strengths. While I do think they really showcased Robbie here, there were highlights from each dancer. Sadly though, I think that Phillipe outshined Nick in each of his performances and in the fight for that top 4 spot (because I believe Robbie is a lock for top 4 already) I think that Phillipe will win. While I do like Phillipe and think he's done very well in the competition, I feel that spot should be Nick's.

Prediction for tonight's result show: Jess S and Nick going home. Hopefully there won't be a shock result for the girls as I think it really should be Jessie H and Ivy in the top 4.