By Jasmine Williams
It’s the return of the all-stars! After tackling the most memorable Mia Michaels’ routines last week, the dancers faced an all-new challenge. This week, we got to see the top ten perform with the shining stars of So You Think You Can Dance yesteryear. Also, choreographer Benjamin Millepied was on the judging panel! He was the genius behind the moves in Black Swan and he’s Natalie Portman’s new hubby.
Here are my favourite moments from this week’s episode:
1. Opening group routine
This energetic homage to Gene Kelly choreographed by Tyce Diorio was so much fun! I couldn’t take my eyes off of Eliana, playing the glamourous Hollywood ingénue and the addition of funky trash can lids on their feet was a cool percussive touch. I only wish I could hear them better. And last but certainly not least, Tyce made a cameo as one of the dancers. He fit in so well I didn’t even notice he was there until the end, which I think is a good thing?
2. Tiffany’s disco routine
It seems that Tiffany was born for disco. This dance was electric and full of energy from beginning to end and the 11 (yes, 11) lifts were all executed perfectly. Plus, she had great chemistry with her all-star, season five’s Brandon. And the sparkly disco ball lighting and glittery ripped jumpsuit didn’t hurt either. It was dizzyingly amazing.
3. Witney’s jazz Read more…
By Jasmine Williams
After a two-week hiatus for another popular televised competition (wink wink), So You Think You Can Dance is finally back! And following on the heels of the USA’s stellar performance in said competition, the pressure is certainly on for the Top 14 to deliver.
This week, the dancers are faced with the monumentally nerve-wracking task this week of recreating Emmy-winning choreographer/resident goddess Mia Michael’s routines from previous seasons while keeping in mind the fact that four of them will be going home almost immediately afterward. You can’t see it, but I’m sympathy-sweating right now. But, the SYTYCD-geek in me can’t wait to see those old routines!
Here are my favourite moments from this week’s episode:
1. Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt
While I love a celebrity guest judge, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson is my new BFF (though he doesn’t know it yet), I love it even more when they bring in the professionals. The “Ballet Boys” had some really enlightening comments and added a nice balance to the campiness of Mary’s shouting and Nigel’s slightly-lecherous old man commentary. Who else cringed when he mentioned “Fifty Shades of Grey”? Also, I thought it was adorable (albeit slightly pretentious) how they didn’t know any of the routines or who SYTYCD alum Titch Twitch was.
2. Holy props, Batman
Mia Michaels’ group performance had everything: rope climbing, roses, girls in hoop skirts, and a single, stolen kiss. While it was almost overwhelming at times, the dancers’ pulled it off flawlessly, swinging from those ropes like Gothic Victorian Tarzans. Yes, that’s a thing. Well, now it is.
3. Janelle and Dareian’s Bed routine Read more…
On this week’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance — the 200th ever might I add — we’re finally introduced to this season’s Top 20. We’re also introduced to the adjudicating styles of princess of quirk, Zooey Deschanel, who looked lovely but in all honesty, had little to add to the panel. And Nigel, in SYTYCD’s constant attempt to change up the show, dropped the very big news that there will be not one but two winners this season! Now there’s no need to choose between your top guy and girl, you can have your cake and eat it too!
Here are the top five moments from this week’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance:
1. Team Ballroom makes it through — Throughout the whole competition thus far, one of the main concerns has been whether ballroom dancers and besties Whitney Carson and Lindsay Arnold would both make the show. And with their matching wavy blonde hair and tanned skin, they could easily pass for twins. They draw out the suspense, bringing both girls in at the same time and calling Whitney’s named first. But even the judges couldn’t split up these two hot tamales and the pair strutted their stuff right into the Top 20 with a fiery ballroom routine.
2. The baseball routine — Read more…
For the second week in a row, So You Think You Can Dance judges cut someone because of injury, not poor performance. Ashley Galvan was cut from the competition Thursday night because of her cracked rib, reports People.com.
As she was asked to set forward as part of the bottom three contestants for the week, Judge Nigel Lythgoe explained that he had talked with Ashley’s doctors and they had determined she would need at least three weeks off to recover from her injury. She must have seen it coming, but the dancer still broke into tears while thanking her fans.
“I feel like I wasn’t ready to go,” she told People.com. “It sucks.”
Judge Mia Michaels said that Ashley could have gone far in the competition and was a contender to win—not great news for the show. Last week Alex Wong, the clear favourite to win the competition, was cut from the show due to a serious injury to his Achilles tendon.
With top dancers being axed for reasons not relating to their dancing abilities, it’s a real question whether the most talented dancers will be the last ones standing or not.
So You Think You Can Dance contestant Alex Wong won’t be taking the stage anytime soon, reports People.com.
On Thursday night Wong announced that he will be leaving the show and will be out for some time following a serious injury to his Achilles tendon. He will have surgery on Tuesday followed by a long three months of rest before he can get back to dancing.
“I’ve had an amazing time and I can’t get that anywhere else,” he tells People.com. “Not ever from day one did I ever think I was going for the gold.”
He said his goodbyes on the show and received a standing ovation from the judges, live audience, and likely teary-eyed fans watching from home. With his incredible skill, Alex Wong was a favourite to win the competition, but unfortunately for him, someone else will take the title.
“Alex is such a gift,” says SYTYCD judge Mia Michaels. “He is one of the greatest dancers, if not the greatest dancer that has ever come through our stage.”
This may not be the last we see of Alex, though. He tells People.com that “It’s a lot to give up but I would love to be back,” continuing, “I haven’t finished my journey. I have so much more to learn.”
