By Ashley Thompson

So You Think You Can Dance is back and it's finally live once again. Tonight the Top 20, top 10 street and top 10 stage, dance together and show us why they were picked. From the opening sequence it looks like Asaf (the Hebrew breaker) is the new contestant taking the place of the injured dancer (Hurrikane) forced to drop out.

Throughout the season the dancers will dance every considerable style, but tonight they are sticking to their genres just to show the audience why they are here. After their performances they will speak to their team leaders (Travis Wall and tWitch) about their performances. Next week the bottom 3 street dancers and bottom 3 stage dancers will be leaving the competition.

Street:
Megz, Neptune (formerly Eddie) and JJ (formerly Jessica) with choreographer Dave Scott dancing to "The Illest" - mostly on-beat but lacking personality and real energy.

Lily, Jaja, Asaf and Burim with choreographer Chris Scott dancing to "Easy (Switch Screens)" - impressive fluidity and sharpness from such different dancers. Jason calls it "beasty", in the most positive of ways, of course.

Ariana, Yorelis and Virgil with choreographers Phoenix and Pharside dancing to "Locked Out of Heaven" - either it was poor execution or poor song choice but this routine was lack luster. Their personalities were there but maybe it wasn't large enough movements.

Stage:
Moises, Gaby and Derek with choreographer Stacey Tookey dancing to "Luminous" - perfectly synchronized and etherial. Impressive that Gaby, a tapper, could dance so beautifully with the contemporary guys.

Alexia, Hailee and Marissa with choreographer Brian Friedman dancing to "New Dorp. New York" - jazz girls usually do a lot of flat footwork but Brian decides they should dance in stilettos (and actually shows them how in heels himself). Flip that hair, girls! Although their floor work was impressive a little more hip action in their swag walk would have done them well.

Darion and Jim with choreographer Benoit Swan dancing to "Blood and Stone" - Travis call s it the most difficult routine he's ever seen. Think power ballet, masculine ballet. With slightly effeminate costumes and killer technique.

Edson and Kate with choreographer and team leader Travis Wall dancing to "Shaped Like a Gun" - this contemporary piece looks more like a mid-competition routine that changes the game rather than a brand new pairing. However, Nygel doesn't seem to understand the routine while Paula and Jason didn't feel the chemistry.

Before the episode finishes we catch up with First Lady Michelle Obama who seems to favor Team Street. Then we get a glimpse of judge Jason Derulo dancing with SYTYCD all-stars for his song "Cheyenne". Warren Carlyle also choreographs a Team Stage group broadway performance to "Body Language". Nappy Tabs choreographs Team Street to "Ready Or Not Here I Come". Next Monday is same time same place but next Tuesday is a special episode.

Photo credit: FOX