The top 6 dancers gave it their all with four dances each, as we learned who will be dancing in next week’s finals.
This week, each So You Think You Can Dance contestant danced three times, aside from their group routine: with another contestant, with an all-star, and in a solo. The votes from tonight’s show will combine with next week’s to help determine the winner of season 11. Star of stage and screen Christina Applegate joined Nigel and Mary on the judges’ panel, and she was just as sassy as ever. She has her opinions, and she is not afraid to share them.
Top 6 Group Routine
Justin Bieber’s choreographer Nick DeMoura choreographed a routine for the top 6 to kick off the show, and much like Bieber’s entire career, it was disappointing. The dancers were like DJs from Tron, and while they performed well and the routine itself was fine, we’ve just seen so many incredible group routines from the choreographers this year, that this one fell by the wayside.
Contestant Routines
Ricky and Valerie
Ricky and Valerie were reunited and it felt so good! They had the world on a ….swing?…with this Spencer Liff Technicolor Broadway routine that seemed perfectly suited to the couple. It was sweet and fun and effortless, and was just a joy to watch. The opening pose was beautiful, with Valerie standing on the swing with the “sun” shining behind her.
Jessica and Casey
Jessica and Casey got back together for a Doriana Sanchez disco routine to Donna Summers’ “Dim All the Lights.” It started off with a lift that involved so many spins, it was a wonder either dancer was able to continue without falling over. It was fast, fun, and sexy, and both Jessica and Casey did a great job.
Jacque and Zack
Jacque and Zack got to be Zack Astaire and Jacque Rogers for a ‘50s style American foxtrot from Jean Marc Genereaux. Set to Tony Bennett’s duet with Lady Gaga, “Anything Goes,” it was another classic and fun routine that the dancers seemed to have fun with. However, the judges did not have quite as much fun, and felt the routine was rough around the edges, and not nearly smooth enough for the foxtrot.
All-Star Routines
Valerie and Twitch
Valerie and Twitch got married, and when your first dance is choreographed by Willdabeest, you know it’s going to be a happy marriage. This hip hop routine is sure to be replicated by newlyweds around the country this year, and with good reason: it’s the best thing ever. It’s fun, funky, and features the Macarena, for God’s sake. Here’s to the happy couple!
Jacque and Will
Jacque and Will had a third partner for their Sean Cheeseman contemporary routine: a red rubber ball. As weird as it sounds, the routine was fun and playful, and the ball fit in completely naturally. Appropriately enough, in the middle of the routine, set to “99 Red Balloons,” 99 actual red balloons fell from the ceiling, like an early victory celebration.
Jessica and Ade
Jessica and Ade were the coolest kids in a Tokyo dance club in their Ray Leeper jazz routine. It didn’t even matter what their dancing looked like, because they were so fluorescent, it was impossible to keep your eyes off them. Christina and Mary seemed to enjoy it, but Nigel was not thrilled with Jessica’s work at all.
Ricky and Anya
Ricky was joined by all-star and originator of the hot tamale train, Anya, for a Jean Marc Genereaux cha cha routine. Ricky’s Cuban, and so is the cha cha, so he had his whole heritage to live up to. But as usual, Ricky didn’t disappoint, really selling the confidence and sexuality of the routine. He managed to control and lead Anya, which is a feat in and of itself.
Casey and Makenzie
Casey and Makenzie took on an emotional Stacey Tookey routine about a couple’s last day left with one another. It was an emotional challenge for Casey, but one that he rose to. He and Makenzie melted together and made a beautiful couple. The judges felt this was Casey’s strongest routine all season.
Zack and Fik-Shun
Zack and Fik-shun had the privilege of being the first to take on a routine choreographed by season 5’s Phillip Chbeeb. The routine was an ink blot test for the audience, and it was not so much about dancing, as it was about Zack and Fik-shun creating shapes. It was pretty cool to see, and Zack held his own with last season’s winner, Fik-shun.
Solos
Ricky
Jessica
Casey
Valerie
Zack
Jacque
Rixton
Oh, there’s nothing better than a bunch of well-suited boys from across the pond singing in harmony. It wasn’t a particularly exciting performance, and it’s a song we’ve all heard before, but darn is it catchy. Lead singer Jake Roche seemed to really enjoy himself, and really got the crowd going.
Eliminations
The last elimination before the So You Think You Can Dance finals is always the hardest, and this one was no exception. Cat revealed the top 4 dancers to be Jessica, Ricky, Valerie, and Zack, which meant that Casey Askew and Jacque LeWarne would be going home. The eliminated dancers took it in stride, while the top 4 seemed in disbelief that they were going to the finals. Ricky just kept screaming.
The top 4 finalists will perform next Wednesday, Aug 27 at 8 p.m. on Fox.