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So You Think You Can Dance Rundown: First Dancers Eliminated!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:34:51 -0700

The emotional roller coaster of So You Think You Can Dance begins! The dancers competed for the first time on Tuesday, and with the enthralling routines came the first two contestant eliminations. We're now down to 18 dancers, and I'm so happy and relieved to finally be in the throes of the competition. I'm ready to talk results, the guy and girl eliminated, and the most memorable dance routines of the night (spoilers ahead!).
Photos courtesy of Fox

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So You Think You Can Dance: Meet the Top 20!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:30:52 -0700

After weeks of auditions, we finally have the top 20 dancers on So You Think You Can Dance! There were some surprises for who got cut, but on the whole, I'm so excited about this new round of contestants and can't wait until next week for the competition to start. In the meantime - meet your new top 20! Photos courtesy of Fox

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So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Season 5 Finale

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:00:45 -0700

So You Think You Can Dance season five has come to a close, and we're already talking about (not to mention talking to) the winner. But there's still much to discuss about Thursday's results show.

What did you think of the favorite routines, the group numbers, and the overall results? To chat about it, just read more.

If there was anything shocking in Thursday's show for me, it was Kayla finishing in fourth place. I think this is where the "favorite" part of the America's favorite dancer title really took over: She's incredibly proficient technically, but I'm not sure that her personality won a huge segment of the audience over. Compare that with Evan, who finished above her despite a rough outing and harsh comments from the judges on Wednesday. He had the whole Kodak chanting his name at one point - and I think that's a likability thing, not a dancing thing.
That said . . . when it came down to Brandon vs. Jeanine for the final two, I knew I'd be happy with either winner. It was a cool feeling and not unlike how I felt during this year's American Idol finale. Brandon had obviously been a strong competitor from the start, but Jeanine really came on strong later in the season. Is there a moment you started to think she could win? For me, it was her Travis Wall-choreographed duet with Jason - but I'm not sure I really believed she could take the title until her solo on Wednesday.
I always love seeing which routines the judges pick as their favorites. Were there any surprises for you in this set? When I saw Jeanine and Phillip come on the stage, I was sure it would be the chained-together hip-hop routine. I was shocked that it was a number I barely remembered from the first week of the season! There were actually a couple of early routines in there: I'd also nearly forgotten Kayla and Max's ballroom number from the first show.
I wasn't at all surprised to see Melissa and Ade's breast cancer routine again (and I'm glad Tyce could share his friend's joy), nor was I shocked to see the addiction routine. I was surprised by Debbie's pick of the "Calle Ocho" group number - but I have to say, it was so much cooler than I remembered. I'm glad to have gotten to see it again.
Looking back, which do you think was the strongest couple of the season? I have to go with Brandon and Janette. They were the only couple to have two routines in the judges' favorites.
What did you think of Australia's favorite dancer? Could she compete here? On a related note, I think Sonya is quickly becoming my favorite SYTYCD choreographer.
The littlest Rage Boy just kills me. He's so tiny!
I was worried Evan wasn't going to end up with any routines in the favorites! But no - "the butt routine" made an appearance. That's definitely in my top tier for the year, so I was thrilled that it got an encore. But I did feel terrible for Evan that he had to get sent home while wearing that silly, oversized suit.

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Overall, how do you feel about season five? Are you any more or less likely to check out season six in the Fall?

So You Think You Can Dance Rundown: The Last Dances

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:15:47 -0700

I'm typically a little underwhelmed by finales of So You Think You Can Dance. I think it's a combo of my high expectations and the pressure the dancers - and choreographers - feel to deliver their very best work. And yet, the best of the show's finales still manage to deliver some memorable routines. I think Wednesday's final performance show did just that.

Though it started with a fairly lackluster routine from the top four, the night gradually picked up speed - and while there were a few other missteps along the way, it ended with a bang. One solo won me over to a certain dancer's side, while one duet got the whole crowd on its feet.

Do you agree with Nigel that this season had some stars, after all? Let's chat - read more.

Jeanine and Evan's jazz - These two suit each other as a couple, and this routine really showed off Jeanine's strength. But it also gave Evan some cool moves, as he threw himself on her shoulders and chased her around the stage. Adam apologized for underestimating Jeanine and Evan and said Sonya choreographed to their strengths, Mary said Jeanine stood out more but Evan held his own, and Nigel said Evan needs to step up and not be thrown around.

Kayla and Brandon's Broadway - I wanted to love this routine; something kept me just liking it, though. I think maybe it was the arrangement of "Bye Bye Love," because I really can't find fault with the precise, high-energy dancing, except for a few tiny moments when they were out of sync. Adam said he always thought these two would make the finale, Mary said she expects and gets the best from the two of them, and Nigel said this routine showed how strong they (and Tyce, as a choreographer) are.

Evan and Brandon's pop jazz - OK, I still don't believe Evan as tough, but at least he got some punches in this time. That said, this was definitely not my favorite top two guys' routine of all time. In keeping with the music, the moves seemed weirdly dated, and I wasn't convinced either of them was quite right for the character. Adam couldn't ignore Evan's sweetness, Mary said Brandon was a better actor, and Nigel said Brandon out-nastied and out-danced Evan.

Jeanine and Kayla's contemporary - I normally hate the top two girls' routines, so I'm glad they gave Mia this one to choreograph. Though - I get the symbolism, but was all the stripping necessary? Regardless, that routine was lovely and powerful, and both of them had a ton of great moments: If Kayla's leaps were higher, Jeanine's moves were crisper. Adam compared them to "two thoroughbreds," Mary called them the best final two girls ever, and Nigel seemed distracted by the lack of clothing.

Kayla and Evan's jive - A country jive? Wasn't expecting that. This quick routine did have some nice moments, especially for Kayla (and kudos to Evan for being able to handle her in those lifts despite their height difference). I always thought jive would be a good style for Evan; I wonder why he never quite got comfortable with it? Adam said it wasn't a finale-level routine, Mary disagreed and said it was phenomenal aside from Evan's weak kicks, and Nigel was pleased to see some personality.

Brandon and Jeanine's paso doble - Any decent routine probably would have gotten the crowd on its feet to close the show, but this dance was well beyond decent. The two of them brought fire and attitude to the paso doble, and their movements were powerful and strong. Adam praised them for dancing through their transitions, Mary said their intensity was just right, and Nigel said something fairly dirty about Jeanine before calling these two the best of the night.

The solos - Brandon performed a solo that seemed like the greatest hits of his previous routines, but all amped-up and frantic (Adam's word). Evan more or less did the same, though he didn't seem as confident as usual. Kayla's solo seemed much more put together and story-like than usual. And Jeanine's - OK, fine, I loved it. I wanted to snatch that flower out of her teeth, but other than that, she showed me more in that solo tango than I'd seen all season.

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So, who's going to win? Here's the question: How big is Evan's fan base? The harder the judges criticized him, the more the crowd got behind him. Could that be enough for him to take it? I wouldn't be shocked - but for a combo of likability and talent, I think it's going to be Jeanine. What do you think?

Photos courtesy of Fox

So You Think You Can Dance: Meet the Final Four

BuzzSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:30:09 -0700

Can you believe that this time next week, we'll be talking about which So You Think You Can Dance contestant was named America's favorite? On Thursday, we took our last step before next week's big finale: sending one final guy and one final girl home, paving the way for the final four to perform. So, who got through and who was stopped just short? Did your predictions come true? To talk about Thursday's results, just read more.

They started the show together, and they said goodbye together: Melissa and Ade were the final two contestants to leave before the finale. I can't be too surprised, especially on the girls' side: Kayla's been the most-praised dancer of the season (not that that saved Janette last week, but still), and Jeanine's really come on strong these past few weeks. Once it was down to Melissa vs. Kayla, the answer seemed obvious; even Melissa seemed to know what Cat was going to say before the results envelope was open. Melissa's solos were never quite as expressive as the other remaining girls', and I think she just made less of an overall impression throughout the season. Still, she's a great inspiration to all the ballerinas who worried about being able to master SYTYCD's range of styles, and I hope she goes on to great things - I just love watching her dance.

The guys' elimination was a bit more of a toss-up, especially once Brandon was sent to safety. That left Evan and Ade, and - in what I think was a true test of Evan's popularity - Ade was the one to head home. I've seen a lot of "why is Evan still here?" comments these past few weeks, here and elsewhere, but apparently a lot of people still really love him. I think the introduction of the solos on competition nights has really helped him: He absolutely shines on his own, in his style, in a way he rarely has in duets - even Broadway duets. Ade, meanwhile, had a bit of a rocky time on the show, some weeks up and other weeks down. This week was a relatively down one for him, just when he needed to come on strong.

So that leaves Jeanine, Kayla, Brandon, and Evan to duke it out next week, and for the first time, I'm wondering: Could Evan really win this thing? Or do you still think a girl will take it all - and if so, which one? If Brandon breaks out another solo like he did on Wednesday, does he have a shot at the title? Is there one dancer you'd say is a favorite going in? I'm going to go out on a limb and say Evan won't win, but between the other three, I think it's a total tossup.

Some other thoughts on Thursday's show:

Best Cat quote of the season? "You break my heart, you sad clowns."
Speaking of Cat, I think it's time for her to retrain the audience to scream jidges, not judges. It's starting to sound a little too normal.
It's good to see last season's contestants back, and I'm totally digging Will's new hair! I'm bummed that Cat didn't chat with any of them, though. I would have loved to hear what they're up to these days.
Did last year's classic routines stand the test of time? I can't believe I hadn't noticed how much more Katee had to do in "Mercy" than Twitch. And I'm impressed with how well Chelsie and Mark recaptured "Bleeding Love," since so much of that routine is about passion and for all I know, they haven't danced together since the tour.
I just love watching JabbaWockeeZ. Their moves (plus the "Ramalama" redo last week) made me wish we could have gotten some cooler group numbers this seasnon.

So, who do you think will win it all?

Photos courtesy of Fox

So You Think You Can Dance Rundown: The Final Six

BuzzSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:15:48 -0700

It seems like only yesterday we were choosing our top 20, and yet all of a sudden, the top six dancers on So You Think You Can Dance were performing on Wednesday to claim a spot in the finale. The finale? How is that possible? I feel like I've barely gotten to know these people!

And maybe that's a problem. As Nigel said in the intro, the dancing has been incredibly strong this season - but no dancers have really broken out as stars. He suggested we've been voting for choreography rather than for the dancers performing it, and I think there's some truth to that. I'm not sure this season has a clear favorite or a feel-good story - and that makes it harder than usual for me to guess who will be making it into the final four. Which dancers do you think are in?

I've taken a stab at guessing who's safe and who's out after Wednesday's performances, so if you're ready to chat about it and see pictures of all of the night's routines, just read more.

Ade and Jeanine's samba - When this routine started, I was expecting it to be a blast - hot, high-energy, exciting. Instead, once they got into the routine, the energy kind of died. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until Mary pointed out that a samba is supposed to roll; instead of that, these two looked bouncy and a little amateurish. Nigel said Ade needs to adapt better to different styles, and Lil C said he was sad the partnership didn't pop.

Evan and Melissa's Broadway - Well, this was fun. It didn't blow me away, but it was cute and solid. It seemed like a spark was missing - a lack of chemistry?- but the dancing was impressive. I loved Melissa's light and floaty quality, and Evan has the movements and facial expressions of Broadway down. Lil C wanted to see Evan take control, but Mary thought they were strong, and Nigel was glad to see Melissa adapt and Evan do well in his style.

Kayla and Brandon's contemporary - Issues of personality or adaptability aside, these two are probably the strongest dancers technique-wise, and it was great to see them finally paired together. All of their movements and transitions seemed perfectly placed, but I was most impressed with how the intensity of the emotion came through. Lil C said it was beyond fabulous, Mary wanted to keep them both on the hot tamale train, and Nigel wished they could have been paired sooner.

Jeanine and Ade's hip-hop - Oh, NappyTabs. Moving boxes - cause they're moving, like the song says? Heh. Anyway, this routine was fun to watch, and I'm surprised how much I like Jeanine when she's doing hip-hop. She and Ade were in sync, and they didn't let the boxes be a distraction. (I especially liked the part where they danced in/on them.) Lil C liked Ade's groove, Mary said they wouldn't be getting evicted from the show, and Nigel said they got down.

Melissa and Evan's quickstep - Weirdly, I think this routine suited the Broadway style of these two dancers even better than the Broadway number did. I noticed Melissa more (maybe it's the height?) and thought she carried her part of the routine well, though it seemed to lose energy in the middle, before the big final lift. Lil C thought Evan danced big, Mary was disappointed to see the routine deflate in the middle, and Nigel said it wasn't one of the night's best.

Kayla and Brandon's disco - Man, how did Brandon end up with disco twice in a season? This routine looked exhausting, and I'm surprised Kayla managed to get enough air to keep dancing with that smile on her face. I loved the double death drops and Brandon's flip at the end, and they managed to convince me they were actually having fun. Lil C said something about how they had no fear and darkness, Mary went crazy with the yelling, and Nigel did some jumping and screaming of his own.

The solos - Kayla was a little flail-y for my tastes. Ade's solos are still a favorite. This was Melissa's best solo by far. Brandon amped up his audition solo and seemed truly shocked by his standing O. I wonder if the sex kitten route was really the way for Jeanine to go. Evan once again reminded me why he's still here.

The groups - I am loving Sonya's choreography right now, and these two routines were probably my favorite of the night. They had a power and an energy that I'm not sure anything else in the night could touch.

Best of the night - Besides the group routines, I loved everything Brandon and Kayla did (except Kayla's solo), Melissa's solo, and Jeanine and Ade's hip-hop the best. I think Brandon and Kayla will be through to the finale with no problems.

In trouble - If I were a betting girl, I'd bet on Melissa going home. I think Evan should be out, but I wouldn't be shocked if Ade went home instead.

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Photos courtesy of Fox

So You Think You Can Dance: The Final Half-Dozen!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:30:07 -0700

So You Think You Can Dance brought a lot of glitz and special guests - but no mercy - to its 100th episode celebration on Thursday. Other shows might have let the dancers off easy with a non-elimination round during such a festive celebration, but not SYTYCD. Amid all the Emmy-nominated routines and much-anticipated Katie Holmes performance, the show cut its field from eight dancers to six, just as planned.

And what an elimination it was. This was such an odd night, as I'd expected it would be after Wednesday's performances. Three of the most-praised dancers from the season wound up in the bottom four, so whatever happened with the elimination was bound to be shocking.

To chat about it and check out a bunch of episodes from the 100th episode and party, just read more.

I expected craziness from this elimination, but I did not expect that to mean Janette going home. Janette? Mia's "favorite-favorite-favorite"? She was obviously beloved by the judges, and I thought she'd steadily improved and made herself known over the course of the competition - plus, I was pretty sure her fan base was solid. Was it her choice not to do a salsa solo? Was it Evan dragging her down? Was it a false sense of security that she'd be around for a while? Whatever it was, I'm really shocked not to see her in the final four.

And speaking of Evan . . . OK. I like the guy. I love his solos. I think he's adorable. But as an all-around versatile dancer, he isn't on par with Jason, who I thought really came into his own these past couple of weeks. I'm not surprised his fans kept him around another week, but now it seems time for him to go. That said, I think that unless Ade draws another emotionally resonant routine next week, he'll really need to step it up to make sure he's safe.

As surprising as the eliminations were, I suppose I would have picked those two to head home over the other dancers in danger. I've been wondering if Kayla truly has the fans to keep her in the competition or if most of her praise comes from the judges, and I guess the jury's still out. Brandon's appearance in the bottom three felt more like a fluke than anything; I guess he just couldn't go up against Evan's popularity and Ade's emotional punch this week.

Some other thoughts on Thursday's show:

Did Katie Holmes's performance make you grin or groan? I thought it was pretty cute. The routine didn't blow me away with its difficulty or anything, but it got me smiling.
Holy cow, "Ramalama" was insane. In general, I thought all three classic routines held up well - and "The Hummingbird and The Flower" was actually even cooler than I remembered. Did they meet your expectations (or possibly even exceed them)?
I'm so ashamed of myself, but that dang montage made me teary. I was OK till "Light and Day" started playing. Then I lost it. So many great and powerful moments! Well, and Sex.
Which former contestants were you happiest to see? I was glad to glimpse so many familiar faces, both on stage and in the audience, but I really wish we could have heard from them about where they are now.
Could Cat have pecked Janette any harder during her farewell?
Does Janette's elimination just roll out the red carpet for Kayla to be the top female dancer of the season? Or can Jeanine or Melissa catch up?

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So next week's a big one. Who are your bets for the final four?

Photos courtesy of Fox

So You Think You Can Dance Rundown: The Top 8 (and Ellen!)

BuzzSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:50:13 -0700

Wednesday's So You Think You Can Dance was part dance showcase, part comedy show - thanks to Ellen DeGeneres, who joined Mary, Nigel, and Mia on the judging table. Which is not to say she "judged," per se; mostly she raved about the dancers and made jokes about "nailing it." It's obvious she really loves the show, though, and her enthusiasm came through in her goofy comments.

As for the dancing, I'm with Nigel: The first half of the show felt weirdly flat, with routines that were fine but not particularly exciting. The second half of the show was another story, though, with some numbers that could be serious contenders to add to the show's Emmy haul next year. I have no idea how the elimination will shake out tonight - none! What do you think?

To see my thoughts on the night and check out pictures of the routines, just read more.

Evan and Janette's jazz - This routine from Sonya required a lot of intensity, and I'm not sure either one of them totally got there, but they both fit well into their characters, slapping hands on each other's mouths and pounding the floor hard. Nigel said he was glad to see Evan bring more, Mary said Janette can't make a wrong step, and Mia said that even though Evan will never be dark and twisty, he made a big step - and Janette was her "favorite favorite favorite."

Brandon and Jeanine's waltz - I was so excited to see these two paired together, but this wasn't one of my favorite waltzes ever on the show. It seemed a little too measured, like they both had to think seriously about every move. Nigel trashed the music and said he wanted them to show more control, Mary said even a professional would have struggled with the tempo but called it respectable, and Mia said there were too many hiccups and not enough fairytale.

Melissa and Ade's cha cha - How fun to see these two back together! This cha cha was fun, but it was also one of the only times I think Melissa's revealed herself as a ballerina. She seemed very careful with her movements, executing all the steps but not really adding much slinkiness. I definitely appreciated Ade's "SexyBack walk, though. Nigel said they needed to let their natural sexiness out, Mary wanted them to sink lower into their hips, and Mia said it was Ade's worst of the season.

Jason and Kayla's Broadway - Some fun choreography in this one - I loved the part where Kayla kicked over Jason's head and he kind of popped up off the floor. In terms of the two of them as Broadway dancers, Jason seems more comfortable in the style than Kayla, who's almost too . . . upright? Jason seems to let his body go a little more. Nigel said it showed off their talents well, while Mia totally disagreed with me and said Kayla could take Broadway by storm.

Evan and Janette's rumba - Man, I don't know - I just could not get into this. I was looking forward to seeing fiery Janette (and fiery Janette making Evan get a little sexy himself), but mostly I was a little bored. Maybe I just don't like rumba? Evan could have literally not even been on stage for me; what attention I did pay was entirely to Janette. Nigel wanted to see Evan perform more with his face, Mary thought Evan partnered Janette well, and Mia thought Evan was sexy with a Zoolander face.

Brandon and Jeanine's pop jazz - In terms of tough love, Laurieann Gibson might be giving Mia a run for her money. From the looks of the clip, she was serious about turning Brandon and Jeanine into soldiers. And I think it worked: Jeanine in particular really hit a new level for me, and Brandon got to show his strength. Nigel said it was the first great performance of the night, Mary got all screamy, and Mia praised them for being really inside of the dance.

Melissa and Ade's contemporary - Well, I'm not allowed to be mean about the routine about breast cancer, am I? Not that I would want to, honestly; I thought the two of them danced this routine so well, with power and grace and the kind of trust in each other that can only come from all the weeks they worked together. But am I just horribly callous for feeling weary of the "issue" routines? (Probably.) That said, it's a rare routine that can bring all the judges to tears - even Nigel.

Jason and Kayla's hip hop - This was a great closing number and my favorite Shane Sparks routine of the season by far. It probably shouldn't surprise me at this point that Kayla's good at something, but hip hop seemed like it would be a stretch for her - and nope. She fell straight into the character of the routine. And Jason, with that makeup, was solidly creepy. Nigel said they knocked it out of the park, Mary liked seeing them get creepy, and Mia loved it.

The solos - Highlights for me included Evan, Kayla, and Ade. I was glad to see Janette go outside of her style for her solo - and I'd be curious to see Melissa try the same if she's here another week.

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Best of the night: Brandon and Jeanine's jazz, Jason and Kayla's hip hop . . . and, yes, the cancer dance.

In trouble: Man, Melissa and Ade are probably lucky for getting that last routine; they were having a rough night up till then, but I think that'll save them. I could see Evan being in for a trip to the bottom . . . and maybe Jeanine? This is going to be an interesting night.

Photos courtesy of Fox

So You Think You Can Dance Rundown: The Top 10

Molly — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:30:00 -0700

Last night the top 10 dancers had a lot to handle on So You Think You Can Dance. Not only did everyone have to perform with new partners, but there were group dances from the top five girls and top five guys as well as solos all around. There were highs and lows as the season gets down into single digits tonight!

There was a good amount of multicultural dance tonight as well as a moment to see each dancer showcase his or her signature style, which is always nice. Who do you think are heading home?

To read more of what I thought of the dances and for photos from the performances just read more.

The top five girls: The ladies took on Bollywood last night and put on a pretty impressive show. Considering how different they all come across in their couples dances, the women did a great job keeping in sync and impressing the judges. Have we mentioned how much we love the fact that they incorporated different types of dance from around the world this season? No wonder the judges were all so excited to see this routine.

Kayla and Evan's Ballroom: They did a nice job compensating for her height and his lackthereof, which really didn't end up having an effect on things. The routine was sweet, but Kayla outshone Evan. There was no wow factor between them, though they kept everything together technique-wise.

Janette and Ade's Hip Hop: In my opinion, these two actually worked surprisingly well together. Ade stole the show a bit, but Janette was able to keep up pretty well which is impressive. Nigel complemented them by sporting hair picks of his own . . . while Mary Murphy started up her enthusiasm for the night.

Jeanine and Jason's Contemporary: LOVE seeing Season Two's Travis Wall back as a choreographer for the show for the first time, and he did an amazing job. Jason and Jeanine told a great story with their dance, looking fantastic. It was one of the most emotion-evoking dances I've seen perhaps this season. Gorgeous.

Randi and Kupono's Paso Doble: Randi's brown hair made her almost unrecognizable in this emotionally intense dance. The duo did their best to raise the heat in their red and black, but I wasn't loving the whole thing. It seemed a bit forced and lacking chemistry. Unfortunately, the judges seemed to agree.

Melissa and Brandon's Broadway: The new duo did a number from Hair and had to get up close and personal right off the bat. These two have both been super strong dancers the whole time, so I was looking forward to seeing what they could do together on stage. It was a little humorous watching them play hippies, but ultimately pretty great.

The top five guys: The dudes took on African dance for their group number. Let's just say there were obvious standouts and some slightly weaker links (Evan). It was clearly a very difficult number, and all the men deserve credit for pulling it off and looking great doing it.

The Solos: Highlights for me included Ade, Jeanine, Janette, and Jason.

Favorites: Hands down, I loved Jeanine and Jason's contemporary - so beautiful. Melissa and Brandon's Broadway was trippy and cute. The girls were also all-stars in their Bollywood routine.

In Trouble: I sadly think we might be saying goodbye to Evan and Kayla tomorrow. Otherwise, wouldn't be surprised to see Kupono or Randi go. What do you think?

Don't forget to enter my contest to win a trip to the finale!

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Photos courtesy of Fox

So You Think You Can Dance Rundown: The Top 12

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:45:00 -0700

It was double the dancing, double the fun on Wednesday's So You Think You Can Dance, with each of the remaining six couples performing two routines. It couldn't have been easy for the dancers, but I'm glad they pulled it off: Considering that this week brings the crucial cut from the top 12 to the top 10, it's only right for us to see as much from each couple as possible.

Each of the couples had to tackle two radically different styles on Wednesday, and some showed off their versatility while others struggled to make an impact. Which dancers do you think are heading home?

To check out my thoughts on all the routines and see pictures from the night, just read more.

Melissa and Ade's disco - This couple's disco maybe wasn't as fast as Brandon and Janette's from a couple of weeks back, but it was full of giant tricks - with all of those lifts and spins (especially that one with Melissa in an upside-down split), I half expected them to break out some Cutting Edge-style pamchenko action. The only slip-up was that fall at the end, but none of the judges seemed bothered by that. Nigel loved the energy, Mary liked watching them let loose, and Tyce said Melissa showed a lot of growth.

Kayla and Kupono's contemporary - Kayla still doesn't do much for me personally, but girl can dance, and she seems particularly well-suited for Mia's choreography. For that matter, so does Kupono; that style of contemporary dance just clicks for him, and this routine let him be both strong and smirking. Nigel said he wishes he could connect with Kayla's eyes instead of just her hair, but dance-wise he loved the power of the choreography and the movement. Tyce said he felt like he watched an experience instead of just a dance.

Jason and Caitlin's foxtrot - From the hair to the costumes to the movement, these two looked like they'd just stepped onto the floor of a 1940s dance hall. Caitlin's listed as a contemporary dancer, but this really seemed like her element; she's been knocked for being "old-fashioned," but that worked for this routine, and she just looked like she was gliding. Jason partnered her well, with a couple of cool lifts and swings. Nigel said they'd both improved, Mary said they made tough stuff look easy, and Tyce wanted more gliding.

Jeanine and Phillip's Russian folk dance - Yikes. I was not into this routine at all. And for the most part, I don't think it was Jeanine and Phillip's fault. The choreography veered between slow and boring on the one hand and childlike and show-offy on the other. They each had some nice moments, but mostly I just wanted it to be over. Nigel said probably the producers should not have thrown that particular routine at them, while Tyce pointed out that they executed what they were given very well.

Randi and Evan's hip hop - I was nervous about the two of them doing hip hop, but Tabitha and Napoleon's routine played to their strengths without being too wimpy. There were some real hip hop moves in there, but they also got to do plenty of acting and turn the routine into something sweet. It wasn't a particularly memorable performance, but nor was it a disaster. Nigel was glad they weren't asked to "be urban," Mary was expecting a train wreck but was impressed they pulled it off, and Tyce said Evan needs to deliver more.

Janette and Brandon's Argentine tango - Janette said they struggled to find their intimacy, but I don't buy it: These two got close. Janette seemed more at ease than Brandon, who mostly faded into the background for me while Janette showed off her footwork and acted fiery. Nigel led the judges in a wordless standing ovation, then said it was "as close to perfection" as he'd seen for a ballroom routine, while Mary called out the hot tamale train and Tyce made a weird orange juice analogy.

Melissa and Ade's waltz - Typically in this partnership the focus has been on Melissa, so I was glad to see Ade get to show off his technique and control in this routine. Y'know, he has some pretty good leg extension, too! It was floaty and pretty, though maybe not the kind of routine that will make people call and vote. Nigel wanted more rise and fall from Ade, Mary wanted Ade to be stronger on the waltz moves but admitted she mostly watched Melissa, and Tyce said he wants to see Ade work harder.

Kayla and Kupono's Broadway - Aw, I had to smile during this routine. It was very sweet and childlike - though as Nigel pointed out later, maybe that was exactly the problem - and I thought Kupono got into the character quite well. Kayla started out in character, too, but she seemed to revert to her standard smiley face about halfway through. Nigel wanted to see more authenticity and toughness, Mary thought they did a great job but could have done even more, and Tyce wanted them to dig in a little more.

Caitlin and Jason's lyrical jazz - Finally, we get to see these two in their style . . . and it was good! I find them so easy to watch, so gentle and graceful. And they're so good as a couple; I disagree with Nigel about their chemistry. I was impressed they stayed synchronized during that long section when they were practically back-to-back. Nigel said they'd obviously put the work in, Mary said it seemed effortless but not magical and maybe not memorable either, while Tyce was worried they played it safe and didn't go far enough.

Jeanine and Phillip's jive - This routine made me nervous for Phillip, but he really came out swinging. He seemed to lose some of his energy - or maybe confidence - after he slipped, but he kept up with all the footwork and captured the character well. And Jeanine made her half of the routine look effortless. Nigel said this was the best Phillip's been outside of his style, Mary outright guaranteed that Jeanine will be in the top 10, and Tyce called them "fan-frigging-tastic."

Randi and Evan's samba - Pasha and Anya! So good to see them. And it was good to see Randi and Evan get into the sexiness of this samba, though that isn't really the kind of chemistry they have together. Between rehearsal and performance, Randi seemed to get more comfortable with all the shaking, but Evan was just kind of . . . there. Nigel basically pronounced it "meh," Mary said Randi carried the routine, and Tyce said Evan should have been a detective and watched past successful sambas.

Janette and Brandon's jazz - OK, I flat-out loved this routine. I loved the characters, I loved the movement style, and I loved the way these two danced it. One of my favorites of the season for sure. I've liked Brandon all along, but Janette has impressed me more and more each week - she's just so solid. Nigel said they were easily the best of the night, Mary said they stole her heart, and Tyce said they have "that thing" that makes them take charge of every routine.

Best of the night: Janette and Brandon showed great range and should be safe going into next week. Melissa and Ade were also totally solid. Kayla and Kupono get a spot here purely on the strength of their first routine.

In trouble: Randi and Evan didn't have a great night at all, and they might be up for their first trip to the bottom three. I predict Caitlin and Jason will be dancing for their lives again. That leaves Jeanine and Phillip as the logical last couple in the bottom three . . . but I actually wonder if Melissa and Ade will end up there instead?

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Photos courtesy of Fox