So You Think You Can Dance Q&A with Miranda and Robert: So Long Personality

I made it clear in my recap of this week’s show and elimination that I don’t agree with the judges decision to eliminate two of the most personable, likable, and determined contestants in this year’s crop. But what did Miranda Maleski and Robert Taylor Jr. have to say about their early exit from Season 8? Here’s your answers…

What was your first reaction to being assigned a Broadway routine to “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”, a song that came out before you were born?

Miranda: Of course I’ve heard of it, who hasn’t? I was excited to work with Tyce, I love the song, and I’m so proud of how we executed it.

Robert: People might assume I’m just a Hip-Hop dancer, but I do have some training in Broadway; I’ve studied musical theatre and toured with Hairspray. It’s not my speciality but I understand the feel of it. I could have done better, I’m sure, but it was a blast and a great pleasure.

Do you think being tagged as a certain genre works against you on the show, and would it be better if the audience didn’t know what everyone’s speciality was going into the Top 20?

Miranda: If people didn’t know, it would be weird. The show is about personality and style and it would be harder to get to know the dancers not knowing where they’re coming from in those areas. Robert and I are the only ones who didn’t get to dance our own styles, so maybe people felt like they didn’t know us, but I’m proud of everything we did.

Robert: Even when we danced Hip-Hop, it wasn’t the same style that I’m comfortable with – to be honest I had to keep up with Miranda during our routine. My style is more of a street style, more jazz than tricks and a combination of different things. I’m more of an old school Hip-Hopper.

Did having the judges label you ‘most improved’ make your elimination harder or more of a surprise?

Miranda: I did my best, which is all any of us can ever do, and nothing is a total surprise on this show. I do wish that, since they made such a big deal about our versatility and improvement – that I would have been given more of an explanation.

Robert: I was the underdog on the show, and even though my personality helped, I always went into Thursday’s expecting to be in the bottom 3.

How important is likability and personality on this show? The two of you seem to have more than others, and yet you ended up in the bottom a couple of times.

Robert: Nigel stated in the first televised live show that my personality could work against me so I tried to tone it down, let people see the real me, but I didn’t want to disappoint my fans. Maybe people who were turned off from the start never came around to liking me.

Miranda: I don’t think it worked against me, but I think Nigel was the only judge who believed in me. He took me aside after the show and said I had his vote and not to stop dancing.

Is there a couples curse on the show?

Miranda: There’s definitely a pattern forming, but I don’t know why.

Robert: Yeah, it’s only been couples leaving and it hasn’t always been that way in previous seasons.

On Nigel’s woodpecker dance faux pax – what did you think and did you consider correcting him?

Robert: I wanted to laugh and to say ‘that was me!’ but it was a serious moment so I let it slide and kept my composure. They knew who was going home, and it wouldn’t have made a difference. It’s live television and people make mistakes. That’s what happens.

What ways has the show helped you improve?

Miranda: Being out of my style really helped me grow and find out that I enjoy other things. I loved the Hip-Hop routine and I plan on taking classes in that and I’m going to continue learning and dancing in that style.

What are your plans and aspirations going forward?

Robert: I’m going to continue to dance, maybe collaborate with the likes of Chris Brown and really just get into my own dance career. I sing, too, and would love to cut a R&B album, maybe get into film and comedy.

Miranda: Keep dancing, keep going to auditions. I’ll go out into the world with more experience and more exposure. Continue working with Kanye and get into film.

Which style or choreographer were you disappointed you didn’t get to try?

Miranda: Contemporary, maybe with Travis Wall. I really wanted to be able to dance in my style.

What do you think the judges are looking for in the solos? Because Miranda, your solo stood out as the best one Thursday night but they still sent you home.

Miranda: I honestly don’t know. I feel like I really danced for my life, knowing it could be the last time I danced on that stage. I don’t know that they considered it at all.

Robert: I felt great dancing for my life last night, used the stage a lot more but we’re not given critiques. They let me go but said nothing about my actual dancing.

What was the highlight of the show for you?

Miranda: The Nappytabs Hip-Hop routine, for me. I was out of my element and no one, including me, expected me to be able to do it. The show is about pushing yourself and doing things you never thought you could do. And I learned I can do anything I want.

Robert: Bring onstage with Miranda every week. We were really growing as a couple, taking on challenges and getting so much better every week. I’m sorry America won’t get to see how far we could have gone and everything we can do.

So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8/7c on Fox.