Graceland University Jazz: Big Song, Big Expectations
- May 13
- 2 min read
Graceland University made a bold choice coming out with an iconic song. When you bring a track like “Another One Bites the Dust” to the floor, the expectation is naturally set high. The judges know the musicality. They know the moments. They know where the routine should hit. With a song that recognizable, the performance has to match the demand from the very first count.
The routine started strong. Graceland came out with energy, confidence, and technical elements that showed they were willing to push. The team had a competitive presence, and there were moments where the music demand was clearly trying to drive the performance forward. This routine had entertainment value, and it made sense why they were in the conversation at the top of the division.
That said, Graceland finished above Morningside University by just 0.02, and this is where I have to respectfully disagree with the final placement. Both routines were competitive, but I felt Morningside had the stronger musical demand and artistic push overall. Graceland attempted a variety of technical skills and movement choices that, in my opinion, should have impacted the captions more.
For Graceland to fully separate themselves, I would like to see them lean deeper into the musical interpretation of the song. With a track this iconic, the “memorable” moments have to become unforgettable. For example, the shirt unbuttoning on the word “satisfy” had potential to be a major WOW moment. How can that be expanded? How can the choreography build into it, sit in it, and make the audience feel like that moment was earned?
Graceland has the performance quality and competitive edge to make noise in this division. Now the challenge is refinement. Less technical push for the sake of “difficulty”, more intentional musical storytelling, and a stronger commitment to making each iconic moment land.
I look forward to seeing this lineup next season. Graceland and Morningside are two dominant teams with a lot of potential, and I have some challenges for both of them.
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