Season 10’s top 20 contestants performed for America’s votes for the first time this season, with ten performances that set a very high bar for what looks to be an amazing season.
The show kicked off a cold open with a Napolean and Tabatha’s hip hop routine featuring not only all top 20 contestants, but the choreographers, and judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy as well. The routine started outside, and continued through the theatre’s backstage area, before finishing on the stage. Set to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Herb Alpert ft. Lani Hall, it was a fun routine, that served as a great teaser for the talent we’d see for the rest of the episode. It was also fun to see the choreographers and judges let loose. Plus, we got to see Nigel Lythgoe try his hand at animation alongside season 10’s animation contestants; not too shabby.
Actor/comedian/performer Wayne Brady returned to the judges’ table alongside producer Nigel Lythgoe and ballroom maven Mary Murphy to help judge the top 20’s routines. Wayne previously sat in on the Memphis auditions this season, but this was his first live appearance as a judge.
We also got to learn a bit about each of the top 20 contestants…at least what they could fit into ten seconds. There are some weird quirks among the contestants, but for some reason it is just always so darn charming to see people try to rattle of random trivia about themselves before time is up.
The Couples
Mariah Spears and Carlos Garland
Crumper Mariah Spears and contemporary dancer Carlos Garland were paired together to dance a jive choreographed by Jason Gilkenson to Fantasia Barrino’s “Get It Right.” Both dancers were out of their comfort zone, and while the dance was a bit hectic and all over the place, it was also very energetic, and both dancers seemed very likeable. The judges did critique their technique and speed, but felt they were likeable enough in their performance that they’ll likely survive the week.
Jasmine Mason and Alan Bersten
Contemporary dancer Jasmine Mason and ballroom dancer Alan Bernsen were paired together for an interesting Travis Wall routine, set to Ingrid Michaelson’s “I Can’t Help Falling In Love (Live at Daytrotter).” The concept of this routine was “love is blind,” which was even more true once Travis told the dancers that they would be dancing this routine blindfolded.
Having previously been done in one of the coolest Dancing With The Stars freestyle performances of all time, the fact that the dancers can dance at all without sight is pretty impressive. In this case, however, the blindfolds were there to help the dancers connect to each other through touch. It was a stunning performance, and you really held your breath as Jasmine and Alan relied on their trust in one another to tell Travis’s story.
Malece Miller and Jade Zuberi
Animator Jade Zuberi and contemporary dancer Malece Miller danced a Travis Wall jazz routine to “Silver Screen (Shower Scene)” by Felix da Housecat. The concept of this routine was that Malece and Jade are both movie stars. Their latest review have come out, and while Malece’s are glowing, Jade’s are negative.
Jade was definitely out of his comfort zone, but he blew the judges away with his dancing, confidence, and especially his partnering, which was a brand new concept for him. Malece has been getting comments about needing to grow up and show more maturity in her dancing, and she did that perfectly in this routine: as Mary said, she “got in touch with her internal diva.”
Jenna Johnson and Tucker Knox
Ballroom dancer Jenna Johnson and contemporary dancer Tucker Knox flirted their way through a Tyce Diorio broadway routine set to Kevin Spacey’s “That’s All” from the Beyond The Sea soundtrack. Looking straight out of the 1940s, Jenna was hanging laundry on the line, when Tucker stole her attention and heart away. The routine was very fast, but both dancers were very sweet and charming, not to mention skilled. Jenna and Tucker proved themselves to be, as the judges put it, a real power couple in this competition.
Brittany Cherry and Dorian “BluPrint” Hector
Animator BluPrint and ballroom dancer Brittany were both way outside their comfort zone with an African jazz routine, choreographed by Sean Cheesman. Set to “Drumming Circle” by Professor Trance & The Engineers, BluePrint and Brittany were like jungle natives, throwing their bodies around, having to forget everything they know about their own styles of dance. BluPrint blew everyone away, Nigel saying it was one of the best routines he’s seen from a non-trained dancer. For a guy that doesn’t smile very much, BluPrint couldn’t stop smiling as the judges laid on the praise.
Alexis Juliano and Nico Greetham
Nico Greetham and Alexis Juliano, contemporary and tap dancers, respectively, were challenged by a Christopher Scott hip-hop routine, set to “Last Time (Knife Party Remix)” by Labrinth. Both dancers were worried they didn’t have the “swag” required to pull off the routine, and unfortunately the judges agreed. Their dancing was too “nice” to be hip hop, they weren’t hitting it hard enough, or sitting low enough. Their dancing was pleasant, but they will need to work a lot harder in the future to prove they can handle dance styles outside of their own.
Makenzie Dustman and Paul Karmiryan
Contemporary dancer Makenzie Dustman and Latin ballroom dancer Paul Karmiryan were lost in a fairytale in a Viennese waltz choreographed by Jason Gilkenson to Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You.” Makenzie was a princess lost in the rain, and Paul was the perfect man that comes along to rescue her. It was a perfectly styled routine, with everything in all grey except for Makenzie’s pretty pink dress. The dancing was beautiful and romantic, and both dancers shined in their first Viennese waltz.
Jasmine Harper and Aaron Turner
Sonya Tayeh choreographed a down and dirty jazz routine for tapper Aaron Turner and contemporary dancer Jasmine Harper to Delta Rae’s “Bottom of the River.” As the tallest dancers in the competition, they are a force to be reckoned with, and Sonya set out to show what amazing dancers they are. She managed that with great success, and also showed off Jasmine’s impossibly long legs, which were thrown over her head repeatedly throughout the dance. Aaron is such a big guy, but is so graceful you would never know it. The judges named them the second power couple in the competition.
Hayley Erbert and Curtis Holland
Tapper Curtis Holland and contemporary dancer Hayley Erbert had to get to know each other real well for a sexy Chris Scott hip hop routine to Delilah’s “Go.” Both struggled with looking confident and sexy in rehearsals, but they certainly nailed it onstage. They had the perfect amount of swag, with Nigel even using the attitude they portrayed as a perfect example for the other couple, Alexis and Nico, that did not rise to the occasion for their earlier hip hop routine.
Amy Yackima and DuShaunt “Fik-Shun” Stegall
Contemporary dancer Amy Yackima and hip-hopper Fik-shun closed the night with an incredible Sonya Tayeh contemporary routine to “Elsa” by The Valerie Project. In this routine, Amy has unresolved issues, Fik-shun is those problems, and he’s forcing her to face them. The routine was very intense, and the two were at odds the entire time, but at the same time in perfect harmony. Fik-shun was absolutely incredible, and you would never know he was originally a hip hop dancer. Amy is the “beast” of the competition, and Nigel said they were his favorite couple of the night.
Since there is no results show this year, for the second season in a row, the bottom three couples will be revealed at the top of next week’s episode, before the couples dance.