by Gina Scarpa

All season long, my fellow writer Lindsay Strouse and I have been covering every moment of So You Think You Can Dance… the great routines (Jakob and Mollee's waltz), the not so great routines (Ryan and Ellenore’s hip hop), and the shocking eliminations (Legacy, anyone?).  Now, the final six dancers have performed and it’s up to the fans to decide who will win the title of America’s Favorite Dancer.  Taking everything into account this season, Lindsay and I have each ranked the final six dancers according to where we think they’ll finish in the competition.  Read on and see if you agree!

LINDSAY’S PICKS
6. Ellenore
As much as I would love for Ellenore to be in the Top 2 or 3, I don’t think many people understand her quirky style.  I think it’s amazing the way she has used it and she has quickly become one of my favorite dancers, but going from the amount of times she has been in the bottom, I don’t think she’ll place in the top.
 
5. Ryan
Ryan has definitely grown a lot in the season, but I still don’t see him as far along as the other contestants.  I remember the judges saying once or twice that he actually did better in other styles than his own.  That makes it hard for viewers to identify with him.  However, he did have his shirt off enough during the season to make all the teenage girls go gaga for him.
 
4. Russell
I love Russell more than anything, and he has certainly grown more than any other dancer on the show thus far, but I don’t know if his personality will be enough to grab votes. He has also been in the bottom a few times, and despite performing unbelievably well, I don’t know if America is ready for him (which saddens me greatly).
 
3. Ashleigh
She’s the dark horse of the competition, after making the Top 20 because of a dropout contestant.  Since then, she has grown leaps and bounds by continuously improving the judges and the viewers.  At first, I thought she would be gone in the first week, but after watch her perform time after time, she has grown to be one of my favorites. Between her growth, sweet personality and undeniable beauty, I think the girl has a good shot at making Top 3.
 
2. Kathryn
Here’s another one that came out of nowhere!  After watching her unbelievably annoying crying in the beginning of the season, I was sure I would not like her, no matter how good she was. However, in the past month or so, her talent and humility is too large to ignore.  The judges love her and it seems as if the viewers do as well.  However, between her and Jakob, I think she will just miss getting first place.
 
1. Jakob
This is the first year I am quite confident that my favorite will win. I was a HUGE fan of Travis Wall and was devastated when he lost in Season 2.  I don’t think I’m going to have to be so disappointed with Jakob.  He’s only been in the bottom once, and I think the viewers realized their mistakes.  Even if we ignore the fact that he is by far the best technically gifted dancer on the show, he has personality to boot.  I’m really rooting for him this time, and I hope that America pulls through with the right choice.


GINA’S PICKS
6. Ryan
I’ve had an on again/off again love affair with Ryan.  He’s certainly had his ups and downs… nobody can deny that… and he’s landed in the bottom more than he would’ve liked.  Ryan is a selfless person though, one who gives all of his energy to his partners and 100% of his love and devotion to his wife.  He’s one of the most likable contestants this season and he has shined in several other styles besides his own.  Just don’t give him hip hop again.  Never hip hop.

5. Ellenore
It’s too bad that I have Ellenore finishing so low in the competition because I think that she has grown by leaps and bounds.  Her contemporary routine with Legacy last week is one of the standouts from the season and she has managed to stay true to herself while being able to adapt to other styles.  I like Ellenore for the dancer that she is but also, and maybe more importantly, for the person that she is.

4. Kathryn
I’m just gonna say it.  I’m not a huge Kathryn fan.  Oh, she’s a great dancer and has had some great routines but something about her doesn’t do it for me.  I’ve been watching the show the entire season and I come out of it feeling like I don’t know her at all.  I can’t say that about anyone else in the finale.  She danced great but so do a lot of people.  It’s unfortunate that we didn’t really get to see her personality… except when she cried in Vegas and that I never want to see again.

3. Ashleigh
I think, if Ashleigh had been healthy and danced last week, that she could’ve been in the final two… either in Jakob’s or Russell’s place.  She was given two great routines (Bollywood and Hip Hop) that could have been memorable and instead, she was forced to stand on the sidelines.  I have to admit that I was someone who doubted her when she got into Top 20 (by default).  She has blown me away this season and has had some moments on stage that have me counting down the days until I can see the tour.

2. Jakob
Now, I realize that calling Jakob’s second place finish is going to raise a little controversy, but hear me out.  The best dancer never wins.  Travis Wall, Danny Tidwell, William Wingfield… need I go on?  In many ways, Jakob has been the best dancer this season.  As the judges have said, he’s hardly taken a wrong step and he’s never had to dance for his life. 

1. Russell
Well, it’s fair to say that Russell is not the best technical dancer in the competition but do you really care?  How many of you actually know what each style is really supposed to look like?  Russell is this untrained kid with a ridiculous amount of raw talent and he was just a sponge all season long.  He soaked up every bit of knowledge from the dancers and choreographers around him and turned himself into a legitimate dancer.  A legitimate, lovable dancer.  What he’s done this season is unexplainable and pretty damn amazing. 


Be sure to tune in to the finale of So You Think You Can Dance and find out who America’s Favorite Dancer is, tomorrow night at 8pm ET on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

SEE ALSO

So You Think You Can Dance Season 6: Finale Performance Recap

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

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