Wait, really? I'm reading these comments on this thread and I keep re-watching the video to see if I watched another performance accidentally.
This was a good set, but a very poor VCU set. First and foremost, the only real X-factors in this routine was the entire theme of bringing back other team's signature moves. As Faizan pointed out in the result's thread, that's NOT sportsmanship, it's an attempt at creativity. Even calling it a tribute is stretching the truth since the entire routine is based on bringing back awe-factors of other teams to gain wow-points with the audience. (I'm sure the teams don't feel necessarily more loved than usual, you brought back stuff for EVERY team.) It was a creative idea, but unfortunately it was poorly executed (random people running in and out draws attention away from the actual dancing) and there really were no other X-factors in the actual dancing other than that. The "theme" unfortunately made the performance look devoid of the VCU style, swagger and gimmicks that we've come to love that undoubtedly gave them an edge last year.
And then there was the execution! We've come to know that VCU execution and stage presence as a level above the rest of the collegiate circuit. But as said before, dancers weren't smiling and the routine wasn't as crisp as it was expected to be. Formations weren't as clean as they needed to be so the vast majority of formation mechanisms were completely lost in appeal. It seemed that a lot of the VCU ideas just got recycled into this one which was a major let-down too. I know you guys have some new dancers, but as an observer and lifetime fan of VCU bhangra, the chemistry and magic of the jodis seemed completely lost too. (ie: Sheel/Shreya, in jhoomer, last year = ORGASM) And the ending with Joker of bringing back everyone back on stage was obviously expected so that was disappointing too (last year's ending still sends chills down my spine). Overall, a good bhangra set. But a disappointing VCU set, especially for Elite 8. :/
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