by Gina Scarpa

The minute So You Think You Can Dance got underway tonight, something was missing and that something was ballroom dancer Ashleigh Di Lello.  Following the opening sequence, Ashleigh appears on stage with her arm in a sling.  She injured her shoulder earlier in the day in rehearsal and her doctor will not clear her to perform.  Who the heck is performing with her partner then?!  We’ll have to wait to find out. 

The dancers will draw new partners this week and perform two routines as well as a solo.  Here’s how it all went down.

Dancers: Ryan Di Lello and Kathryn McCormick
Style: Disco
Choreographer: Dorianna Sanchez
Song: “Last Dance” by Donna Summer
Who wouldn’t be excited to pull disco out of the hat?  It’s fun, it’s high energy, and it gets the crowd going.  Ryan, thanks to that ballroom training, is a great partner for Kathryn and the number delivers just as you would expect it to.  The judges have nothing but great comments for the pair and they start off the night right.

Dancers: Jakob Farr and Mollee Gray
Style: Viennese Waltz
Choreographer: Jason Gilkison
Song: “Ordinary Day” by Vanessa Carlton
Okay, Jason Gilkison should choreograph every week on this show!  He did the impossible - make the Viennese Waltz exciting to me.  I loved the song, I loved the backdrop of a park scene, I loved their costumes, and most of all, I loved their dancing!  I hope this makes the tour.  What am I talking about?  Of course it will.

Dancers: Legacy Perez and Ellenore Scott
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Travis Wall
Song: “Machine Gun” by Portishead
This was one of the best routines I’ve ever seen on the show.  As the judges said, it was “dangerous” and Travis showed a side of contemporary not often seen.  We’re so used to the soft, gentle side of contemporary dance but this was angry, aggressive, and exciting!  Ellenore and Legacy danced it unbelievably well and it was an extremely strong first piece for them tonight.

Dancers: Russell Ferguson and Rachel (Shane’s assistant)
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Shane Sparks
Song: “Too Much Booty 2” by Soundmaster T and Jah-Rista feat. Korveil
I’m really bummed out that Ashleigh didn’t get to perform this.  We can’t exactly say there was chemistry between Russell and Rachel.  That being said, Russell hit it out of the park.  He was hard hitting from start to finish and attacked every move.  I still think it could hurt him that Ashleigh wasn’t up there with him…

Dancers: Ryan Di Lello and Kathryn McCormick
Style: Cha Cha
Choreographer: Jason Gilkison
Song: “Put Your Hands On Me” by Joss Stone
It seemed that, based on last week, these could be the next two dancers to go home… until tonight that is.  After a stellar disco routine, they came back in the second half with a smokin’ cha cha.  This is Ryan’s style so we wouldn’t expect anything less than a great performance from him but Kathryn really stepped it up tonight.  It’s clear she doesn’t want to go home… and she doesn’t deserve to, either.

Dancers: Jakob Farr and Mollee Gray
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Joey Dowling
Song: “Easy Street” from Annie
The judges raved about this routine but it wasn’t not one of my favorites.  I really loved Kathryn and Nathan’s Broadway routine last week and this one just didn’t excite me or wow me in any way.  There wasn’t a whole lot of connection between Mollee and Jakob, especially in comparison to their waltz.  Still, the judges liked it, these two have a strong fan base, and I’m sure it didn’t hurt them at all.

Dancers: Legacy Perez and Ellenore Scott
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Tabitha and Napoleon D’Umo
Song: “People Are Strange” by The Doors
You know what's strange?  This routine.  Following a contemporary routine that Nigel felt could earn Travis Wall an Emmy nomination comes this bizarre piece from Tabitha and Napoleon.  I’m not gonna lie.  They haven’t been impressing me this season as much as they did in seasons 4 and 5.  If either of those two go home tomorrow night, I blame this weird, alien-inspired hip hop routine… that really… didn’t show off anything from either of them.  Boo.

Dancers: Russell Ferguson and Alicia (Nakul’s assistant)
Style: Bollywood
Choreographer: Nakul Dev Mahajan
Song: “Spirit of Rangeela” from Rangeela (original soundtrack)
At least, in this routine, Alicia is a better fit and partner for Russell than earlier in the evening.  I just feel so bad for Russell who has had a series of tough breaks along the way.  The judges really praised him… however, I have to say that I think both Jason (season 5) and Nathan danced Bollywood better.  Russell has no training and that will always earn him bonus points. 

THE SOLOS
- No solo for Ashleigh.  This does not bode well for her that America did not get to see her dance at all tonight.
- Don’t get me wrong.  I love Jakob and think his solos and duets are near perfection week after week.  However, there is a little something lacking for me in terms of his ability to emotionally connect with the audience.  I'd like to see him give us a bit more.
- First of all, I wish Mollee hadn’t chosen that outfit.  Second of all, this is my favorite solo she’s done this season. 
- I just love it any time that Legacy does a solo.  His moves always have a wow factor but he did some weird thing with a phone that I think he could’ve left out.  Just show me trick and I’m happy!
- Unfortunately, Ellenore’s solo doesn’t really do it for me.  It doesn’t show any heart and I wish I could see more of the person as well as the dancer.  Personality counts here.
- Russell busts out in a Santa Claus outfit and I can’t help but laugh!  Ten seconds later, he loses his shoe and the momentum of the solo but who cares?  After not voting the entire season, I’m picking up the phone tonight for him.
- Now Kathryn does what I wanted Ellenore to do: dance with passion and heart.  Week by week, she has grown on me and I believe she should be in the finale next week based on everything she’s done this season but especially, what she did tonight.
- Ryan had a good solo but you know I’m never too impressed with a ballroom solo.  It’s just the way it is.  Fortunately for him, he had two great numbers and then tugs at our heartstrings when he breaks down crying, asking fans to vote for his wife to stay in the competition.

Tune in tomorrow night, December 9 at 8pm ET, to find out who America has chosen to leave and who will go on to the finale of So You Think You Can Dance.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 
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