Pure World of Dance Season 1, Week 9 (Divisional Finals) – Power Rankings
Well, surprising just about nobody at this point, the Les Twins love affair continued and they seem to be poised to win the whole thing…*yawn*. I think I’m just trying to enjoy the rest of the show for what it is: a great platform for great dancers where we see some great dancing. Not sure I really agree with the politics of it all, but it is what it is.
I was pleased last night with the fact that every single act at least made an attempt to up their game and really go all in for their spot in the finale – everyone seemed to think a bit bigger with these routines. Not sure that the judges got it right all the time, but again, I guess I’m just at the point where I feel like “it is what it is” and just hope that next season leaves things a bit more open-ended.
1.) Keone & Mari – These two won the night, and should have won the whole competition, in my opinion – they were the one act that not only improved week to week, but also showed us something completely different each week and had probably the best and most creative choreography of any of the acts this season. They timed their growth arc perfectly – each successive routine was better than the last. Saw a lot of bitching and moaning on Twitter about Ne-Yo giving them a perfect score (mainly from insecure Les Twins fans that seemed to fear their fave getting ousted); but really, I think Ne-Yo saw the writing on the wall where Keone & Mari were concerned: I think he kinda knew that there was no way Jennifer was going to put them through over her precious Les Twins, but he knew just how strong their choreo and overall presentation was…and so he did it to show appreciation. And really, I don’t think a perfect score was too far off – the only minor bobble I saw was the slightly sloppy lift Derek mentioned. I really think WOD’s best chance at a nomination in the Outstanding Choreography Emmy category next year lies with these two and their body of work on this show – I’m guessing their duel, cut, and divisional final routines. Every piece really did feel like performance art.
2.) Swing Latino – I appreciated that they managed to stick with what they’re good at, while also injecting in some homages to other dances – it may have been a tad messy in spots, but it felt fresh to me, and as always, everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives up there. Loved the dress set-up at the beginning; also loved the couple dancing on the platform. Not a whole lot else to add, just liked how they stepped their game up while staying true to themselves…
3.) Eva Igo – I’m not all that wild about contemporary – or at least the kind of contemporary we’ve seen on WOD this season – but I was glad that both contemporary ladies left did seem to at least try to step out of the flailing/stretching comfort zone we’ve seen them in so far this season. And of the two contemporary ladies left, Eva is the better of the two at properly emoting and really connecting to the routine – I believed the aggression in this routine, and thought the post-apocalyptic vibe was unique and interesting. Not sure she’s got the juice to win, and I’m still salty about The Lab not being here at this phase of the competition…but of the two ladies left in this division, I think the right one went through.
4.) Les Twins – Was this my favorite of the four routines we’ve seen from them? YES. It was nice to finally see them trying to do something at least a little bit different. Just kinda sucks that it took one of them getting injured to thrush them into unfamiliar waters and make them adapt! Yes, it was a creative concept – I dug it, but I’m not sure it was as stellar as J. Lo would have you believe…seemed like it took awhile to actually get to the dancing portion, and I feel like we’re still seeing the same steps over and over again. And when you compare it to the likes off Keone & Mari, it just PALES in comparison. But whatevs, I guess – I think they’ve been marked as the winners from day 1 and that’s not likely to change. But man, they better wow the hell outta me next week – if they’re truly a million-dollar act, I need to see something mind-blowing. My mind has yet to be blown by them…
5.) Kinjaz – I actually really enjoyed the Kinjaz performance as I was watching it – even teared up a bit, because I could tell how much it really meant to them. But in the grand scheme of last night’s show, I find that they were a bit unmemorable – I think this routine was just a bit too subtle and cerebral to really stick out and compete with Swing Latino’s high energy. I think they unfortunately had a bit of a different problem than Keone & Mari, in that they didn’t really plan their growth arc well – I think their duel routine was the strongest and most impressive, and probably should have been the one they did for their divisional final. I think this round was one where you really needed to go all out and leave it all on the floor – and this was just a bit too chill. Great idea, but maybe not the best timing.
6.) Diana Pombo – I just think that, next to Eva, Diana kinda paled in comparison – and we unfortunately saw a bit of her emotional immaturity in this routine. It wasn’t a bad routine, per se – I just found that some of her emotions seemed incongruent with the music itself/the set/the overall tone of the piece. She was more angsty than anything, and I thought the aim of the piece was more to show off a sense of childlike wonder. I did notice that she seemed to town down the many displays of flexibility, though, and seemed to focus more on actual choreography, which I appreciated. I think Diana just needs more time to mature in both her emotions and her dancing, more than anything else.
So who is your pick to win the whole thing? Did the judges get the divisional final results right?
I don’t think the judges got it right either, Court. I would have rather seen Kinjaz in the finals than Swing Latino. Same with Keoni & Mari than Les Twins. I mean…I like Les Twins and I thought they proved they could step it up even with one of them being hurt and in a wheel chair, but, K & M were and are Emmy worthy and they proved over and over they can mix it up with their dancing. It would have been awesome to see another possible Emmy worthy dance too. I thought the judges made the right decision picking Eva or Diana…though wow, Diana has a huge future. I hope she and all of those who didn’t make it come back next season. Anyway, well done once again with your rankings!
I noticed the amped up routines last night too. The choreography, staging, costumes and ambiance was really wonderful. I guessing the show had a hand in that. Particularly for Les Twins, Diana and Eva. Up to now their routines have basically just been them on stage dancing with no frills.
Kinjaz, Keone&Mari and to a lesser degree Swing Latino, have been bringing conceptual and creative staging from day one.
Either way, I really did appreciate the visuals of all the routines.
That giant dress at the beginning of Swing Latino’s routine was really incredible. I’m impressed that they create such variety in both mood and styling in their dances. I find myself grinning like an idiot when they dance. They’re so vibrantly energetic and fun.
I’m resigned to a Les Twins win. Should’ve been Keone&Mari. I’m hoping that they get a lot of offers and interest and perhaps even like Twitch on SYTYCD, become more well known and respected than the actual winners of their season.
Great dancing overall on Tuesday night! Keone & Mari also tops my rank. Theirs was an almost perfect dancing; the choreography was amazing. Great storytelling from them. Diana was also at the bottom of my rank. Agreed with NeYo regarding her expression not matching the emotion of the dance. I placed Kinjaz second, tied with Eva, then Swing Latino.
I’m like Susan2; resigned to a Les Twins win. Really wanted it to be Keone & Mari. Sigh! After the show on Tuesday, I suddenly felt like rooting for Swing Latino. I might change my mind once I see the dances on the finale. Wonder if the finalists are dancing more than one dance. How would they fill an hour with just three dances?
On Youtube, Keone and Mari posted a pieced entitled DNA that far out performs Les Twins in the type of hard hitting hip hop that people seem to like about Les Twins. Keone and Mari are so much more versatile than any of the dancers on the show and every piece is distinct. Keone actually has danced and choreographed with Kinjaz but as Keone and Mari they went in another Emmy Award winning direction. Unfortunately JLo decided that only Les Twins style was worthy even though it was the same thing week after week. What elevated Les Twins is the expected. I prefer dancers who can tackle any piece of music and evoke a style . I am so disappointed that JLo had another agenda.
Agree 100% with you @Casanova. Keone and Mari can out dance Les Twins any day. They are such smart choreographers, they can make a dance so impactful with just a small movement. They are the real deal.
I agree with your rankings too Courtney. Keone and Mari were hands down the best of the night and should have been the winners. Every week they brought something new to the table. Hopefully they can come back next season and compete again but even if they don’t I think they have made a splash to where they will get recognition in other ways that Les Twins among others probably won’t ever get. The one bit of solace I have is knowing that K&M could see themselves get an Emmy nom next summer which will be 100% deserved.
Swing Latino weren’t my fave, probably because of the messiness in some spots but I can appreciate what they were trying to do at the beginning with the flag skirt which was very creative and to me was them stepping up their game. I think they will end up taking third. I can see JLo throwing a perfect 100 their way to try and soften the blow Tuesday but I can’t see them winning.
I think behind Keone and Mari Eva was the second best of the night. Eva I have been back and forth with. I liked her qualifier even though it had some flailing in it, but when her duel performance was pretty similar I was like oh no. But it seems like for the last 2 dances she’s shown growth and stepped up her game. I was thoroughly impressed with her this past week and definitely she was to me the one that the judges got right. I’m still bitter about The Lab being pushed out when they did, but I’m glad that at least Eva was the one to go through between her and Diana. Because while Diana is cute her dance was all over the place. She was trying to make this dance be more happy but her facials didn’t portray that, her face was still showing the angst. Like you said Courtney Eva is very good when it comes to emotions her dance before the divisional final she showed vulnerability and then in the divisional final she showed that aggression pretty seamlessly.
I think at this point it’s safe to say this is a battle between Eva and Les Twins for the million and I think Eva might be able to edge them out. Whoever wins I don’t think it will be by much. I’m guessing a margin of a few points or less. It seems to me Derek and even Neyo to an extent really like Eva I think maybe just maybe she might pull it off. May be my eternal optimism talking but it would be nice to see a dancer who has shown a lot of growth walk away with the prize. And the fact it seems like Les Twins are going right back to the same old same in the promo after one week of showing something different makes me really not want to see them walk away with it.
I agree Kione and Mari should have beaten out Les Twins Producers (J-Lo) obviously wanted them in the finale. I tend to agree with Brittney that Eva may just take it (hoping) Being from Minnesota I know we are all pulling for her. She was clearly the better dancer over Diana 3 yrs at this age makes a big difference She was definitely more polished and techniquely stronger You can tell she has won a lot before. Although I did think it was gonna be closer than it was. Go Eva