So You Think You Can Dance Review: Buckle Up For the Ride

This week the show picked their top ten, creating an adorable, humble, amazing cast and also – you guessed it – making me cry. I’m still not sure how I feel about the All-Stars dancing with the contestants; they haven’t done a very good job explaining their role on this years’ show. Are they mentors? Just there to make fans want to watch even more? I don’t know. It’s confusing.

This years Top Ten (Eleven) are:

1. Adechike Torbert: You might remember this young man as the amazing contemporary dancer who made the bonehead move of tapping during his first Vegas Week solo, then dancing for his life after the ballroom round. He’s passionate and motivated, but I’m not sure he’s up there among my current favorites.
2. Alex Wong: The ballet dancer who nearly made Season 5 but couldn’t get released from his contract with the Miami City Ballet is back and better than ever. If anyone thought this guy wouldn’t make it, they were crazy. He’s one to watch, though the judges have criticized him for his inability to convey his emotion to the audience.
3. Alexie Agdeppa: This jazz and contemporary is seriously adorable, just watching her smile makes me root for her. She’s full of exuberance and positive energy, the judges are big fans and I’m guessing America will be too. She took the final spot among the girls, edging out one of Mia Michaels’ own protégés.  Alexie is definitely one of my early favorites.
4. Ashley Galvan: A lyrical dancer who flew under the radar for much of Vegas week, her entrance into the top ten (eleven) came as something of a surprise, at least for me. I feel as though I know nothing about her or her personality, so we’ll have to wait and see.
5. Billy Bell: Billy is a contemporary dancer who made it onto Season 6 but had to withdraw due to a mysterious illness. Billy can do astonishing things with his limbs, it makes me feel stretched silly to watch him perform. Still, he’s never been a favorite of mine either; I can’t connect with him emotionally.
6. Cristina Santana: This years sole salsa dancer, she’s effervescent and charming. She almost made it onto last season, and took the year in between to brush up on other styles. She’ll be an interesting one to watch among the largely contemporary crowd.
7. Jose Full Deck Ruiz: The only B boy and the only competitor without formal training, Jose Ruiz is full of quiet charm and a winning smile. Look for him to go far with the fans of winner Russell’s from last season. He’s among my early favorites as well.
8. Kent Boyd: The quiet, country jazz/contemporary dancer from Wapaukaneta, Ohio is maybe the cutest, most adorable thing ever. I love him. I want to squeeze him. He’s so humble that watching him discover how amazing he is over the next few weeks will most likely be the source of many more tears. Favorite. Yes.
9. Lauren Froderman: The eighteen-year-old from Phoenix gives Kent competition for the most adorable prize. Her jazz styles blew me away right along with the judges; she’s been a favorite since day one. I look for her to go very far in this competition. Right now it’s more a question of how are any of the other women going to give her a run for her money.
10. Melinda Sullivan: Quirky and original, this tap performer could be a dark horse this season. She’s smart but humble, willing to learn and a natural performer. She won’t be as easy to count out as the tappers from last season because she’s also trained in other styles. I like her, I think. She’s different, that’s for sure.
11. Robert Roldan: Like Ashley, Robert flew under the radar and I don’t know enough about him to form an opinion. He’s a contemporary dancer who performs with Billy Bell. He’s talented, that’s for sure.

So that’s the kids to watch this season, I’m excited to see what happens and how they fit in with the All-Stars, and if they can manage to maintain the limelight among such great performers with more experience. The opening performance show went swimmingly, with each contestant and the All-Stars performing in their genre. I wasn’t a fan of the Mia Michaels routine; it did little to showcase the talent on the stage. I still love Kathryn. Cat Deeley can still rock a dress like nobody’s business. It’s going to be an exciting season.

For more information on the dances, choreographers, music, or judges click here.

For another opinion on this week’s episodes, read Meet the Top 11 by Inisia Lewis.

Season 7, Episode 4 & 5: Vegas Callsbacks, Part 2 / Meet the Top 11 (originally aired June 9 and 10, 2010)

For more on So You Think You Can Dance, click here.

Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro