by Gina Scarpa

 

Tonight, on So You Think You Can Dance, the Top 16 hit the stage and perform for your votes.  Perhaps the most interesting part of this episode will be seeing how Kayla and Kupono dance together as a new couple.  Last week's bottom three and elimination decisions were a bit surprising and the dancers must feel that no one is safe.  That being said, here's how tonight's performance went down.

 

Dancers: Karla Garcia and Jonathan Platero
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Song: “By My Side” by Jadakiss featuring Ne-Yo
After last week’s contemporary routine, I had high hopes for Jonathan and Karla, who I didn’t know at all going into the Top 20.  This week, they landed hip hop with Dave Scott and I was interested to see what Karla would do, since she was part of The Boogie Bots, who made it to the finals of America’s Best Dance Crew.  The dance fell short and neither impressed, with the exception of Jonathan’s amazing tumbling.  As Nigel and Mary said, though, that’s not going to be enough.  Nigel was overly harsh tonight.  Yes, the dance wasn’t stellar but he doesn’t have to be a jerk about it!

 

Dancers: Asuka Kondoh and Vitolio Jeune
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Song: “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar
I don’t know what it is but I’m just not a fan of most of the jazz pieces on So You Think You Can Dance.  They usually come across as a cheesy 80s dance routine and tonight was no exception.  Yes, the pair danced it well but the chemistry between Asuka and Vitolio is still lacking.  Thank God for the video clips before the piece where America got to see what an absolute sweetheart Vitolio is.  Unfortunately for them, that would’ve made me vote for them more than their routine.  I’m not knocking them, though.  Besides being great dancers, Vitolio has a ton of personality and personality has a lot to do with advancing in this competition.

 

Dancers: Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi
Style: Rhumba
Choreographer: Tony Meredith
Song: “Emotion” by Destiny’s Child
Tonight, Melissa and Ade tackle a sexy rhumba and their chemistry is very apparent to everyone in the room and watching at home.  The judges can barely contain themselves and, where as it seemed that Melissa and Ade were skating by the last two weeks, they put themselves on the map tonight as serious contenders in this competition.  They seem to be able to handle any style… but I won’t say that for sure until I see them tackle hip hop!

 

Dancers: Janette Manrara and Brandon Bryant
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Song: “What A World” by Common
I was such a fan of last week’s disco that it made me rethink my picks for Top 10 this season on So You Think You Can Dance.  Tonight, Janette and Brandon perform a hip hop routine in which she’s rock, he’s hip hop, and they fuse their styles together.  While I prefer hip hop routines by Tabitha and Napoleon, I can appreciate the solid job that these two dancers did tonight.  Look out for Janette – she’s in it to win it and has enough energy for all 16 dancers remaining in the competition.  The judges were happy with it but nobody was happier than Brandon for mastering a dance that gave him some trouble with Lil C in the audition rounds.

 

Dancers: Kayla Radomski and Kupono Aweau
Style: Viennese Waltz
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Genereux
Song: “Sweet Dreams For You” by Jewel
I had been waiting since last week to see how Kayla and Kupono would fare together as a new couple.  They landed the Viennese Waltz – not my favorite style… not anyone’s favorite style.  These two pulled off a beautiful routine, full of both technique and emotion.  The judges are right in saying that it won’t get people jumping out of their seats but fans should absolutely pick up the phone tonight to vote for these two and keep them out of the bottom three.

 

Dancers: Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Mia Michaels
Song: “Koop Island Blues” by Koop featuring Ane Brun
Mia Michaels is hands down my favorite choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance but this routine, about an older man entranced by a younger woman’s behind just seemed shallow in comparison to the deep pieces I’m used to from her.  Still, there is absolutely not denying the immense talent that Evan and Randi possess.  They have great chemistry, even better technique, and personalities you can’t help but love. 

 

Dancers: Caitlin Kinney and Jason Glover
Style: Paso Doble
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Genereux
Song: “O’Fortuna” from Carmina Burana
There is no question that Jason is my favorite male dancer in the competition and I didn’t think his performance in last week’s hip hop was as bad as the judges made it out to be.  Tonight, he and Caitlin tackle a pasa doble and do a very nice job with it.  Not an amazing job, but a good job.  Perhaps their problem is that they burst onto the scene two weeks ago with that Bollywood routine and now, they’re having a hard time topping it.  I thought this was one of the best routines of the night but they seem to be falling a little short with the judges still.

 

Dancers: Jeanine Mason and Phillip Chbeeb
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: “Moses” from Singin’ In The Rain
I have to say that I’m shocked that the judges were so hard on this dance.  It was, by far, my favorite routine of the night.  Jeanine is quickly becoming my favorite female in the competition while Phillip continuously impresses me with his hard work and dedication to mastering each style thrown at him.  This was Tyce’s best choreography to date and, though some technique may have been lacking on Phillip’s side, it was non-stop entertaining.  I would hate to see them dance for their lives tomorrow night.  Go Phillip and Jeanine!

 

Be sure to tune in tomorrow night to So You Think You Can Dance for the live results show, airing at 9pm ET on FOX.
 
(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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