We're finally to the really exciting part of So You Think You Can Dance, meeting the Top 20 dancers! Tonight, on the 200th show, the remaining 29 dancers will make the long walk down Green Mile to find out if they've made it or not. I'm really liking the format that they have used in the past couple of years where, they don't really drag it out, and we don't see all of the "no's", they kind of just lump them together.
First up, ironically, is Alexa Anderson. For those of you who watched last year, she was the very last dancer to be told she didn't make it. If you've watched any of the audition or Vegas episodes this year, she was featured A LOT, so it would have been a shocker if she didn't make it. She becomes girl dancer #1. Next up, 2 guys, George Lawrence, Jr. and Will Thomas get yesses. Also making the cut was Amber Jackson, who has tried out twice before, and after last season, said she wasn't coming back. The 4 contemporary dancers perform a group number choreographed by Tyce Diorio. I thought it was very well done and beautiful. They really danced well together.
The next style of dancers being told their fate is ballroom. Nick Bloxsum-Carter is up first. He is very noticeably, quite nervous, and he begins crying. Wow...get it together dude, because you made it! 2 girls who have grown up competing against each other, and are very close friends, now must walk the Green Mile together. Is it just me or could Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold be sisters, or even twins? Witney gets the good news that she's been chosen. Lindsay is happy for her, and assumes because they said they were looking for 1 ballroom girl, that she didn't make it. Something told me that they were just playing a mean joke (as they often do), and they were...Lindsay also made the Top 20! Their group number was choreographed by Jason Gilkison. For some reason I always find it fascinating when ballroom dances have 3 people instead of 2. This one did not disappoint! It was really awesome. Those 2 girls are amazing, and they were so in sync! Zooey Deschanel said it best, they were firecrackers!
Ballet dancers are up next. All I have to say, is that Daniel Baker NEEDED to be in the Top 20, and I was going to be very disappointed if he wasn't. Eliana Giraud is up first (I wonder if she's related to Matt Giraud from American Idol?). What is up with those ugly blue suede shoes? She is just one bizarre girl, so of course she makes it. Daniel Baker and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp (pronounced 'Keon'; wow, what a name) go down Green Mile together. They are also told that they are looking for 1 ballroom dancer. Daniel was consistent, but didn't give a great last solo; Chehon didn't quite live up to their expectations, but his last solo was fabulous...so who's in and who's out? Another kind of obvious trick...they both are! Yay for Daniel (one of my favorite guys). Their group dance was choreographed by Desmond Richardson. Ballet is not one of my favorite styles, and part of that has to do with the music...I just can't get into it. As far as this dance goes, though, they are all really good, but the guys don't look like they are quite together all the time.
The next group is a little bit of a mixed-bag. Tiffany Maher is up first, and she's through. Audrey Case is next, and she's also through. That Audrey is so cute! She was asked what she was going to do next and she said "Probably going to cry...and then call my Mom." Both Tiffany and Audrey were jazz dancers, while Janelle Isis, is the famous belly dancer from early on in the auditions. She becomes the first belly dancer to make it into the Top 20. She's so excited, that as she's coming back through the door into the holding room, she does a hair whip, and totally whacks her head on the door, OUCH! That had to hurt. Then, to make matters worse, she can't dance tonight because she's sick...bummer. The amazing, Sonya Tayeh, choreographs the duo. They start off a little bit shaky on some of the moves, but those lifts! You go girls! All I keep thinking about during the dance is legs, legs, legs! These 2 girls, also look like twins, or at least sisters. It's going to be very hard to keep all these girls straight! Nigel said that they looked like 2 dancing Pebbles (from Flintstones).
The very nervous, and flipping out, Joshua Alexander is next. Remember him? He's the guy who wanted to work on a new move for his solo: a backflip. Some guy tried to spot him, but he fell flat on his back and knocked himself out cold. He couldn't perform his solo, so he was hoping that what he had done up to that point was good enough...and it wasn't.
More contemporary dancers are up next. First down Green Mile is Matthew Kazmierczak (aka Ryan Gossling look alike; I don't quite see it), and he's in. Dareian Kujawa, bad feet and all, makes it through, along with 2 girls: Janaya French and Amelia Lowe (aka "silent film girl"). Stacey Tookey choreographs their group dance. They are very in sync. Amelia looks better than what I've remembered of her. That triple, no-look jump into Dareian's arms was amazing! They all looked very good.
Only a few dancers left now. We're down to the hip-hoppers. There are so many, and their individual styles are all very different. Like I mentioned for Daniel Baker earlier, if Cyrus is not in the Top 20, then the show is rigged. He, too, has been featured so much on screen, that it would be stupid for him not to make it. First up is martial arts guy, Cole Horibe. I've like this guy from the beginning, you just don't see many people doing what he does, which is why the judges put him through.There are now 4 guys left and only 2 spots. They send in 2 steppers, Brandon and Devon. Seeing as Cyrus pretty much has the last spot locked up, that means only 1 of these talented guys will make it (which is kind of sad). Brandon Mitchell is the chosen one. The last 2 guys left are Cyrus and Feliciano, also a very talented guy. But, just as predicted, Cyrus "Glitch" Spencer (not to be confused with Twitch) is the last one to make the Top 20! Woohoo! I'm so happy for him, he seems like a really good guy, with such a positive attitude (especially compared to some others from his crew that gave up). He's another favorite of mine. Who would have guessed that an animator would make the show? Their group number is choreographed by Christopher Scott. They are doing a baseball themed dance, in honor of next week's MLB All-Star game. They are each dressed in a baseball uniform and each of them have a bat...so you already get the feeling that this is going to be good! Only a few seconds in, and I can tell you it was by far my favorite routine of the night. Each of them are so good at what they do, and although their styles are different, the dance is done really well, and when they need to be together, they are. Very well done! Totally got some major goosebumps on that one!
Now that we've met the Top 20, the Top 10 guys and the Top 10 girls will perform together, followed by the whole group.
I'm so psyched to hear that Travis Wall is choreographing the girls! I love me some Travis! He was always one of my favorite dancers on the show, and I love his beautiful choreography. He always picks the best songs, and the moves are always spot-on. I think it's so funny that such a sweet, little guy can be so tough on those dancers! As always, the dance is beautiful. It's a bit chaotic with so many dancers, which makes it hard to watch everyone. I liked the ending with all of them being pulled through the door. Good job once again, Mr. Wall!
The Top 10 girls will get a Sonya Tayeh piece. She's another favorite who always has fabulous numbers. In rehearsal, the guys aren't digging the guy-on-guy partnering, ha! Will is afraid that America won't want to watch his body jiggles...he's right. Those big, muscular guys sure can do some powerhouse lifts, wow!! They were very synchronized, which always makes the dance look better. Liked it, but still liked the baseball trio better. So, I'm wondering about their very weird, bell-bottomy pants with extremely high waists. Nigel says they look like maternity pants...yes, that's it! Ha!
Last, but not least, the Top 20 group dance, which is choreographed by the returning Mia Michaels. Lots of great moves, and a great ending to the show. It's going to be a very competitive season. I think it will be great to have 2 winners this year, 1 guy and 1 girl...they should have been doing that all along.
One final note...as the show is closing, and everyone is free-styling it, someone is doing the Carlton!!! Awesome (not sure who it was though). No show next week due to the 4th of July, so see you in 2 weeks!
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