Guest blogger Lenni G catches the rhythm of the night:
Guest judge last night was Toni Basil who, though she dresses like an opera diva, is actually a big expert on street dance.
The theme for the night was for the dancers to tell us what they would be doing if they were not into dancing. So, using their alternative career choices and rating their performances from best to worst, here are my thoughts for the evening.
Definitely first and fabulous were the Pilates teacher and the sound engineer (Melissa and Ade). The Tony Meredith rumba they did to "Emotion" by Destiny's Child was amazing. Mary said it all - "If you're selling emotion, I'm buying. I saw what was going on out there." Loved Toni's remark that, "Tony was hot cuz' they were hot." Even Cat got into the act, complimenting Pilates teacher on her "Great frock."
Second best had to be the elementary ed teacher and the "gear head" (Randi and Evan). Dancing to a Mia Michael's contemporary routine with music by Koop Feat-Ane Brun, with the teacher proving Mia's theory that "It's all about the booty." Nigel complimented Mia on keeping it simple and complimented them on their beautiful dancing. Mary even thanked the teacher for letting 10 million people look at her butt. I thought Toni's comment was great - "Every dancer on this show wants to get Mia and you two absolutely lived up to her phenomenal choreography.
Coming in third and fourth were the loan processor and the lighting design guy (Janette and Brandon) and the jewelry designer and lead singer (Asuka and Vitolio). Dave Scott's hip hop (with rock) routine for the processor and the designer finally put the genre back in good stead after last week's disasters. Both Mary and Nigel agreed that they really hit it even though hip hop is not even close to either of their usual styles. Toni's comment said the most - "You nailed it. What a great connection."
Mandy Moore did a great jazz routine to Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker" for the bauble designer and the lead guy. Nigel liked it and complimented them for "doing the work." Mary said it was not as good as last week, but they are really growing as partners. Toni said they have real potential and need to, 'Let their emotions take them to the next level." That could be verrrry interesting.
In my opinion couples ranked fifth through eighth and last were: The broadcast journalist and the soccer player (Caitlyn and Jason) doing a Jean Marc and France Genereux pasa doble. I agree with Nigel that the passionate music (O'Fortuna) made this sorta work. As Toni said, "It was not perfect but it was a good performance."
At number six were the new couple, the model and the costumer designer (Kayla and Kupono) doing another Genereux routine, a Viennese waltz, barefoot!, to country! singer Jewel's, "Sweet Dreams for You." Guess I'm just too much of a purist about the waltz though Mary, the ballroom expert, thought it was "elegant, flowing and endearing" and put them on the Hot Tamale Train. I have to think that if they were, in fact, on the HT train, it had to be the caboose.
Coming in seventh were the actress and inventor (Jeanine and Phillip) doing a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine. The actress really did a good job but the inventor was just a mess. His supposed "leap" over the couch was more like an angular jump from right to left. And his pants, OMG. It was really hard to concentrate on the dancing when his "ass was hanging out of his trousers." I say keep the actress, lose the inventor.
Last and definitely my worst of the night were the journalist and the acrobat (Karla and Jonathan). They made a total hot mess out of Dave Scott's hip hop, Bonnie and Clyde, gangster routine. What a way to start the night - no excitement, no danger, no togetherness. My thought is that Dave figured out these two could not do hip hop and tried to smooth it out to make them look better. Nice try Dave, no cigar.
My Bye Bye Train choices this week - Phillip and Karla.
Assistant Features Editor Adrienne Johnson Martin would like to have her life turned into an animated cartoon. 
