So You Think You Can Dance Review: Top 11 Finally Become 10

The performances got underway this week. It’s going to be interesting watching the contestants try to improve on such a sharp learning curve – during seasons past it seems as though they had more time to get up to speed. My jury is still out on the addition of the all-stars to this year’s cast. On one hand, as I’ll address below, a couple of them gave beautiful performances. On the other hand…their performances aren’t the point of the show.

Billy (with all-star Lauren Gottlieb), took on a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine set to Footloose by Kenny Loggins. First things first, it must be stated that his hair looked fantastic. He should never, ever slick it down again. EVER. Billy is a crazy talented contemporary dancer, so it was nice to see him tackle something full of fun and energy. He danced it flawlessly. That said, something felt like it was missing from the performance, even though I enjoyed it.

Cristina (with all-star Mark Kanemura) found herself thrust into a Sonya Tayeh Jazz routine which, to quote judge Adam Shankman, could have been a “disaster.” To my surprise and genuine delight, she danced it well. This is a case of the all-star outshining the contestant, which is going to be one of the issues with the format this season. Cristina did so well, especially for a Latin ballroom girl, but I’m afraid her effort went a bit unnoticed.

Jose (with all-star Comfort Fedoke), danced a Tabitha and Napoleon D’uomo Hip Hop routine to Beautiful Monster by Ne-Yo. Jose is so sweet, sometimes it’s hard to see him in a hip hop role. His performance went fine, not extraordinary, and the judges complimented him on how hard he is working to learn new styles of dance and pick up choreography. This guy, in my opinion, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He’s so eager and charming – just what the ladies like.

Melinda (with all-star and serious hottie Pasha Kovalev) gave a grand effort at a Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin Jive number to L.O.V.E. by W Brown. I enjoyed watching her; she’s a great performer. The judges criticized her awkward legs and feet, even going so far as to accuse her of having a “lack of sexiness.” To be honest, there is something awkward about her body, but that’s not something she can change so I’m not sure it’s fair criticism, but she took it all with professional grace. Still, Nigel predicted she’d be in the bottom three, leaving me to wonder if it will be a repeat of last season – and what is the point of putting tap dancers through onto the show if they’re going to be cut right at the beginning?

AdeChike (with my favorite all-star Kathryn McCormick) totally tanked a Travis Wall Jazz routine to Addicted to Love by Florence and the Machine. Kathryn played the roll of office vixen to the hilt, dancing her little rear off as every man’s daydreaming fantasy. She might as well have been dancing with a brick wall who knew all the steps, because AdeChike gave no emotion back to her. It ended up looking stiff and ridiculous. For me, his brought up the rear in Wednesday night’s performances but I doubt he’ll be in the bottom three because, well, he’s pretty.

Kent (with all-star Anya Garnis) worked like a dog to keep up with his more experienced partner during their Cha Cha, choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin and set to Lady Marmalade by Diva Invasion. Kent is seriously the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. I want to squeeze him. My guess is that I’m not the only one. Kent did a very nice job of Cha Cha-ing with Anya, though I sure wish he’d lost the ridiculous expression on his face. If you can watch him from the neck down it went pretty well. The judges agreed, and there is no doubt in my mind that this talented, endearing young man will be around for weeks to come.

Alex (with all-star Allison Holker) blew the audience and judges away with their performance of a Sonya Tayeh Contemporary number to Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley. They infused their dance with raw pain and emotion, leaving the judges both on their feet and in tears. Everyone agreed that it deserved a spot among the best ever on So You Think You Can Dance. I thought it was wonderful, though it didn’t bring me to tears (as you know so many of these dances have). I kind of think this performance illustrates my issue with the all-stars. To be completely honest, I didn’t watch Alex for ten seconds of this dance. My eyes were glued to Allison, taking in her every movement, my breath stolen by the emotion radiating from her body. She gave nothing short of an awe-inspiring performance which is great…except I didn’t pay attention to the person who is actually competing on the show this season.

Alexie (with all-star Stephen “Twitch” Boss) danced her little heart out to a Hip Hop number choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D’uomo and set to Butterfly by Jason Mraz. The dance turned out cute, but despite the best swagger efforts of Twitch, the whole thing came off as a little fluffy and adorable. Which, of course, Alexie is. The judges criticized her for holding back, for not challenging herself and her partner within the routine, and missing the crux of the genre. I totally agreed.

Lauren (with all-star Ade Obayomi) has been one of the judge and fan favorites since day one, and she’s never faltered. So tonight is the first opportunity we’ve had to learn that she doesn’t take criticism all that well. She danced a Mandy Moore Pop-Jazz routine to Oh Yeah by Yello, and though it shone technically, she, like Billy, seemed to be lacking the extra sparkle factor. The judges commented on it as well, and she showed her youth a bit by seeming to not really listen to what they had to say. Even so, Lauren will be safe. She’s too good and has too winning of a personality not to be.

Ashley (with handsome all-star Neil Haskell) managed to make herself memorable for the first time in the competition. I said in my article last week that I had no idea who she was, and couldn’t remember watching her dance even during Vegas week. Tonight, dancing a Tyce Diorio Contemporary routine to For All We Know by Donny Hathaway, she shone. The piece radiated emotion, she and Neil had real and believable chemistry, and for the first time I remembered Ashley. She’s also apparently endearing, choking up while telling Nigel she thinks she’s in love for the first time. The judges want her to push for more emotion, more strength, and even more connection, but she did a lovely job. I agreed.

Robert (with all-star Courtney Galiano), the other mystery contestant, also broke out of his shell of anonymity in a big way. First of all, he’s good-looking and appealing, but in a down-to-earth, quirky way that will endear him to the audience. He danced an African Jazz number set to Norweg by Soleil Saltimbanco by choreographer Sean Cheesman, and he did it well. He and Courtney also showed off great chemistry and an even greater commitment to the meaning and story behind the steps. He’s going to go far if he can keep learning and believe in himself. I like him. I like him a lot.

So that’s what happened on Wednesday night, but there’s always the chance America got it wrong when it comes to results. This week, though, I’m proud of the voters, with one exception. Melinda and Alexie both landed in the bottom three, neither of which surprised me, although I thought Melinda deserved more credit than she got. In my opinion, the third person should have been AdeChike; in fact, he would have been the one to go if I had been choosing. Instead Cristina wound up there, and I can’t really say why. She had fun, she’s sweet, she’s pretty and she showed everyone that she’s more than just a salsa dancer. At any rate, those three danced for their lives among three guest performances (Usher, a video premiere by Justin Bieber, and a dance number by Tony-nominated Broadway performers), then it finally came down to the judges’ decision.

They sent Alexie packing, which I thought was fair based on Wednesday night as well as the solo performance on Thursday. I feel sad for her; she’s tried for so long to get on the program and then has to go home after one week, but who said life is fair? Where is that written?

Let me know what you think, folks. I’m enjoying the show, as always, but look forward to a non-all-star version in the next go-round.

For another opinion on this week’s episodes, check out It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s Stage by Inisia Lewis.

Season 7, Episode 6 & 7: Top 11 Perform & 1 of 11 Voted Off (originally aired June 16 and 17, 2010)

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Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro