This week’s SYTYCD was a real emotional roller coaster, with some of the best routines we’ve seen all season, as well as a crushing elimination.
Christina Applegate joined Nigel and Mary on the judges’ panel this week, giving Misty Copeland a break. It’s always a hoot when Christina stops by, because she is passionate, witty, and wise. She threw a lot of praise at the contestants, some film recommendations, and even some tears.
Partner Routines
Bridget and Emilio
Ray Leeper sent Bridget and Emilio straight to hell with a jazz routine where they played the devil’s little helpers, sent to earth to steal some souls. They had sweet red devil costumes that will make great Halloween costumes come October. The judges had nothing but good to say about them, particularly Emilio, who continues to improve every week.
Tanisha and Rudy
Tanisha and Rudy took the stage for a Mandy Moore contemporary routine. Their routine was a simple story of seduction, but Mandy’s got an interesting idea of seduction, considering the routine basically consisted of Rudy lifting and throwing Tanisha around the stage. They were both phenomenal, earning a standing ovation from Christina.
Jacque and Zack
Jacque and Zack entered the twisted mind of Jean Marc Genereux, this week for a vampire-themed paso doble. Zack’s vampire brought Jacque back to life, and an aggressively sexy battle ensued. Zack did an amazing job, considering he’s a tapper, and Jacque looked stunning as always. The judges took their fangs out long enough to rave about the routine.
Emily and Teddy
Emily and Teddy had a little cat and mouse flirtation in their Warren Carlisle Broadway routine. The very beginning was amazing, with Emily in a fabulous pose as Teddy slid across the floor. But while they started strong, the routine went a bit off the rails towards the end. The judges were disappointed, and felt that their work in this routine was not good enough.
Jessica and Casey
Casey is the newest of Jessica’s partners, as her last three have been eliminated, but she seems to have found her perfect match. In this Travis Wall contemporary routine, they played a couple so madly in love that the world stops when they kiss, and boy did they ever sell that perfectly onstage. They were both gorgeous, and made you feel like you were a part of this routine, light-headed and heart beating. It was absolutely stunning, and there was no doubt they would make it into the top 10.
Carly and Serge
Carly and Serge drew the short straw and got the dreaded quickstep. After bonkers Jean Marc Genereux made them throw water all over themselves in rehearsals, both Carly and Serge did a pretty good job with the difficult routine. They looked sharp, and seemed to enjoy themselves in spite of the routine’s difficulty.
Valerie and Ricky
Ricky and Valerie were a witch doctor and his voodoo doll in this Pharside and Phoenix hip hop routine. For two dancers completely outside of their comfort zone, they did an amazing job. Ricky has got to be a freaking ringer at this point, because he’s perfect at everything. And Valerie did a leg wave in a side split that just about blew Nigel’s mind. They were undoubtedly the best of the night.
Group Routines
Top 14
Stacey Tookey choreographed a beautiful routine for the top 14. Ricky took a journey from hell to heaven, starting out on a red-lit stage, before his angelic fellow contestants lifted him up, and danced him to heaven, where he was left alone with gold dust on his hands. Though Ricky was the star, all the contestants danced beautifully. The routine was graceful and ethereal and perfect.
Top 7 Girls
Mandy Moore choreographed a contemporary routine for the top seven girls that was absolutely stunning. She wanted to create a routine that was about strong women dancing together, and this routine was just that. All seven girls danced beautifully, blending together as one, and helping each other up when they fell. It was the kind of routine that made your breath catch in your throat, and made goosebumps crawl up your arms.
Top 7 Guys
Travis Wall took us on another journey this week, this time under the sea, where the top seven guys were lost souls, isolated and tossing in the water. The routine was haunting and captivating, but the last few seconds blew our minds with a wild scream, a basket toss, and all seven guys falling one-by-one off the stage, like lemmings. Another Emmy nom for Mr. Wall, for sure.
Academy of Villains
This week’s dance crew finalist was the Academy of Villains, who rocked out on a black-lit stage, with creepy masks, and some glowing frames. They’re an incredible crew, and definitely a front runner, but the dance crews portion of the show still seems awkward and out-of-place, even without Justin Bieber.
Eliminations
The results were revealed a little differently this week, as Cat read the names of eight of the top 10 dancers, thereby revealing the bottom 6: Serge, Carly, Teddy, Emily, Casey, and Jessica. Each of the bottom six dancers performed a solo dance for their life, but after Casey and Jessica’s show-stopping routine, it was no surprise that the judges unanimously chose to save them. Unfortunately, this meant the end of the road for Serge Onik, Carly Blaney, Teddy Coffey, and Emily James.
Meet Your Top 10
Season 11’s top 10 dancers, and the all-stars they will be paired with:
Rudy Abreu and Jenna Johnson (season 10)
Jacque LeWarne and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp (season 9)
Zack Everhart and Amy Yakima (season 10)
Bridget Whitman and Brandon Bryant (season 5)
Ricky Ubeda and Lauren Froderman (season 7)
Tanisha Belnap and Ryan Di Lello (season 6)
Emilio Dosal and Jasmine Harper (season 10)
Valerie Rockey and Ade Obayomi (season 5)
Casey Askew and Kathryn McCormick (season 6)
Jessica Richens and Stephen “Twitch: Boss (season 4)
The top 10 dancers will perform with all-star partners next Wednesday, Aug 6 at 8 p.m. on Fox.