by Gina Scarpa

Here’s what I think happened tonight on So You Think You Can Dance.  Ellen Degeneres found time in her schedule to go check out a taping of the show, which she’s been wanting to do for some time now, and somehow, she got roped into being a guest judge.  Sandwiched between Nigel and Mary, she offered more jokes than critique and sometimes, seemed at a loss for words.  I still love her, though. It's time for the Top 8 to take the stage.  The couples would perform two routines and each dancer prepared a solo as well.  Things got started with a group number choreographed by Travis Wall.  Here’s how the rest of the night went down…
 
Dancers: Evan Kasprzak and Janette Manrara 
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: “Move” by CSS
For weeks, the judges have been saying that they want more from Evan and tonight, they finally seem satisfied with him.  Good!  Janette is great as always in this angsty piece about wanting people to shut up, as Sonya put it.  Mary and Mia just love her and Mia hails her as her favorite dancer this season.  Those are big words from a brilliant choreographer.  Janette must be flyin’ high after hearing that!
 
Dancers: Jeanine Mason and Brandon Bryant
Style: Waltz
Choreographer: Hunter Johnson
Song: "May It Be" by Haley Westerna
Jeanine and Brandon are such beautiful dancers but the waltz is a tough dance to tackle.  First of all, the choreography was way too slow which made the routine boring to watch.  Jeanine, Brandon, and boring should never be used in a sentence.  The judges felt they did an okay job with it but were looking for more.  Couldn’t agree more.

Dancers: Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi
Style: Cha Cha
Choreographer: Tony Meredith
Song: "Yeah (Come Goza Mi Morena)" by Chino Espinza Y Los Duenos Dal Son
Ah, Melissa and Ade, back together again.  I have to say, they have not been my favorite dancers this season (that award goes to Jeanine and Jason) but they are very strong when they dance together.  Melissa and Ade have great chemistry and trust each other completely.  That always comes through when they dance.  Was it memorable?  Not really and I figured that they would be the ones to go this week but I’ll get to why they won’t be in a minute…
 
Dancers: Jason Glover and Kayla Radomski
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: "Mr. Monotony" from Jerome Robbins Broadway
What a cute number from Jason and Kayla!  The pair looked gorgeous on stage and the routine really played to their strengths.  Nigel compared Jason to Gene Kelly (big time compliment) and the panel never has nothing but high praise for Miss Kayla.  The two worked well together and gave a solid performance here.

Dancers: Evan Kasprzak and Janette Manrara
Style: Rhumba
Choreographer: Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Heartless" by Kris Allen
 Evan got about 75 backhanded compliments once this routine was over.  After being called sleepy eyed, Mia told him that it’s not about being good looking or sexy.  What he brings to the table is unique.  True, but still… In any event, Janette was sassy and sexy as always and Evan did his best to keep up with her.  They did a respectable job but still, it wasn’t something that you will remember a week from now.

Dancers: Jeanine Mason and Brandon Bryant
Style: Pop Jazz
Choreographer: Laurieann Gibson
Song: "Battlefield" by Jordin Sparks
Welcome Laurieanne Gibson to the show!  She is not playin’ around and is tough on Jeanine and Brandon in rehearsal.  Her tough love paid off because the pair delivers a powerful routine that IS memorable.  From this point on the, the show really picks up… finally, after almost 90 minutes!  Jeanine and Brandon reminded America why they’re in the Top 8 – and why they should be in the finale.

Dancers: Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: “A Woman’s Work” by Maxwell
Okay, prior to this evening, there has only been one routine in the history of the show that really got me emotional and that was Mia Michael’s contemporary piece about her father two seasons ago (performed by Neill Haskell and Lacey Schwimmer).  This routine, about a woman who finds out she’s diagnosed with breast cancer and a friend who tries to support her through that, left no dry eyes in the house.  The judges were at a loss for words and so am I.  It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.  ‘Nuff said.  I’ll be shocked if they go home tomorrow night after seeing that.

Dancers: Jason Glover and Kayla Radomski
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Shane Sparks
Song: “They’re Everywhere” by Izza Kizza
It’s hard to get your head back in the game after seeing something like what Tyce put on the stage but Kayla and Jason do a great job of swinging the attention and focus back on them.  This zombie hip hop routine is definitely my favorite Shane Sparks routine of all time.  It was creepy, it was twisted, and it was awesome!  Kayla has been a star from the beginning but it has been nice to see Jason on an uphill climb to the top in the last few weeks.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow night to find out who stays and who goes on So You Think You Can Dance, 9pm ET on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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