by Gina Scarpa

 

So You Think You Can Dance kicked off their Top 20 episode last night with a highly entertaining opening number from Tabitha and Napoleon. The dancers took us from the parking lot of the studio, through dressing rooms, hair and makeup, and finally onto the stage complete with quick changes and cameos from judges and choreographers. After that, it was time to find out how the dancers would be paired up this season and though I didn't get everything I wanted, many couples proved themselves and stood apart from the crowd.

 

These are my Top 5 routines of the night. Feel free to agree, disagree, and post your comments below. Here we go!

 

#5 Hayley and Curtis: Hip Hop choreographed by Christopher Scott
Like many of you, I came into last night's performance episode skeptical of Hayley and Curtis, and things didn't improve when it was announced they'd take on a hip hop routine. Who knew the contemporary dancer and tapper had so much swag and chemistry together? Where Alexis and Nico fell short in their routine earlier in the night, these two delivered, surely securing their spots this week.

#4 Makenzie and Paul: Viennese Waltz choreographed by Jason Gilkison
In earlier seasons, I was not a fan of the Viennese Waltz but choreographers like Jason Gilkison have given it a modern spin that is nothing short of enchanting. Makenzie and Paul look like they stepped right out of a Disney movie, and were absolutely adorable together. Their lifts seemed effortless and they practically floated around the stage, despite being in tough shoes to move freely in. Here's hoping the audience was as taken as I was with them!

 

#3 Jasmine H. and Aaron: Jazz choreographed by Sonya Tayeh
There is a huge part of me that wants Jasmine to go far in the competition, solely so I can see her get paired up with Cyrus for an all star routine. I can't help it! However, there is way more of me that wants to see Jasmine go far because she's an absolutely incredible dancer. In this jazz routine, she and Sonya Tayeh seemed to pull the best out of Aaron, who I had deemed an early exiter from this competition. And yes, I just made that word up. The pair worked well together, danced strong, and made Sonya proud.

#2 Amy and Fik-Shun: Contemporary choreographed by Sonya Tayeh
Sonya has always been an amazing choreographer, and a force to be reckoned with, but she has been stepping up her game every time she takes on a new piece. There was a lot on the line for FikShun, who was paired with one of the best female dancers in the competition. Amy was a woman who needed to face her issues, played by the hip hop dancer. The result was an emotional routine that left the judges on their feet. Amy was not surprising, but that didn't make her any less impressive. The question about FikShun, though, is: Who is this kid?!

#1 Jasmine M. and Alan: Contemporary choreographed by Travis Wall
Choosing between this and Sonya's contemporary routine was a tough one. However, Jasmine M. is EVERYTHING. She's an absolutely beautiful dancer and Alan was able to take advantage of his ballroom partnering skills to be there every step of the way for her. The couple was blindfolded in a piece about loving someone without ever seeing them, and their chemistry was undeniable. Moreover, they win the top prize for conveying such emotion with their bodies without us being able to see their eyes. I don't know about you, but I could watch this routine over and over...

 

 

Prediction for dancers in danger of elimination: Mariah, Alexis, Jenna, Carlos, Jade, Nico

 

Also, check out this special behind-the-scenes time lapse video from the Top 20:

 

 

 

 

So You Think You Can Dance airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa