So You ThinkYou Can Dance: The Top Ten Perform

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Tonight the competition on So You Think You Can Dance changes up a little as we enter the top ten of the competition. Five couples and ten dancers are all that is left this week, as we saw Ashlee and Musa go home on last week's show. On this week's show, we will see the dancers randomly select partners and styles to dance with. Then they will be dancing with those partners twice and then if that isn't hard enough, they will also dance a solo performance for America. The judges are no longer making the decisions. Who gets eliminated is now up to America's votes. The judges are still there, but only to give feedback. This week's judges are Nigel Lythgoe, Jean Marc Genereux and Cicely and Olisa.

First up tonight is Ivan, and he ends up picking Martha as his partner. As for their first dance, he picks hip hop and this puts them working with Shane Sparks. The routine was great when they hit the stage, but it seemed a bit slow to me. Nigel feels Ivan out danced Martha this week. Hip hoppers Cicely and Olisa have more to say to Martha. They feel she isn't doing her all each week. Donyelle takes the stage next for her solo, and we see her first solo of the competition in her natural element, hip hop, and she is just amazing in her element, and as Nigel says it makes her other performances shine even more. Dimitry's solo comes up next, and he comes out and just dances his heart out. also he finishes with ripping his shirt open. That might grab the votes, especially when it comes the ladies.

The second couple tonight is Travis and his random selection, Heidi. For their style, he picks the paso doble. For this routine, they work with Mary Murphy. Heidi is a ballroom dancer, so this is in her style. These two just heat up the stage. for being their first performance together, the chemistry was there. Unlike the chemistry between the first couple, which was non-existent. Our next couple is Ryan and Allison as he chooses her out of a hat. for their first routine, he has selected contemporary and for this they work with a familiar face, Mia Michaels. During rehearsals, Ryan has a small accident and he hits his nose on his partner's behind. The impact is hard enough to mark her, so it was pretty hard. These two take the stage, and they give their performance one hundred percent, even if the routine was quite strange. Martha is our next solo, and she takes the stage in full dress, and once again she doesn't impress the judges with her performance. She is definitely in the danger zone.

After a commercial break, we see Ivan and his solo. He comes in and does a few tricks, but the judges wanted more out of solo. However, Nigel is still quite impressed with his dancing, and he thinks last week's performance can still save him here. After he leaves the stage we see Dimitry pick Donyelle as a partner, and they will be performing a Lindy Hop choreographed by Nick Williams and Kristin Sorci. Donyelle is Dimitry's fourth partner in this competition. As for the performance, this is the first time that I think Dimitry wasn't let down by his partner. The judges are impressed with the performance, especially in regard to Donyelle.

After a commercial break, we see Donyelle's former partner, Benji pick Natalie for his new partner this week, and for the style he picks jazz. For the routine, they work with Tyce Diorio. Their routine is just amazing, and they do quite well. These two have great chemistry together as well, just like they had with their former partners. Heidi is the next solo act to take the stage, and she definitely impresses the judges. Afterwards, we start seeing the second partner performances. First up is Ivan and Martha, and for this routine, they end up with a smooth waltz. This brings together with choreographers, Michael Mead and Toni Redpath. These two take the stage, and they don't really impress the judges at all. These two might be definitely in danger.

Travis takes the stage for his solo next, and he is just amazing. I definitely see him going on to next week, and he impresses the judges with his performance. Ryan and Allison come up next with a Broadway routine that puts them working with Tyce Diorio. Ryan gets some constructive criticism from the judges, but Allison once again does well. She even loses her hat, and stays in the style of the performance. Without a moment's pause, we bring Natalie on stage for her solo, and she is just amazing. You can see the emotion and passion in her performance as one judge points out. She might be my favorite solo of the night. Benji also has his solo after a commercial break, and he is amazing as well. For someone used to a partner, you don't see it when he is on stage by himself.

Next up is Dimitry and Donyelle. This time around they pick the Samba, and we see a familiar face working with Mary Murphy, Artem from the top ten of season one. Dimitry and Artem seem to hit it off as the Russian connection works. Donyelle has been Dimitry's best partner yet. They are just excellent together on stage. Next up, we see Travis and Heidi for their final performance of the night. They are set for a contemporary routine with Mia Michaels. Heidi has some difficulty with the routine, and she is even moved to tears. When she hits the stage, you see no sign of her difficulties. These two are just amazing, and they impress the judges greatly.

Our next solo of the night is Allison. she is great, but the judges comment on her facial expressions. They are impressed with her as well. For our final couple of the night, we see Natalie and Benji select hip hop, which means Shane Sparks will be working with them. These two are just amazing dancers, and they are amazing as a couple. However, Nigel doesn't like the performance, and the judges have comments too. There is chemistry in this performance. Solo they are fine, but together they weren't. I actually enjoyed the performance, but I'm not a trained dancer. The last performance of the night goes to Ryan, and he definitely impresses the judges with his solo.

So who do I think is going home tomorrow night? As sad it would make me, I think we might see Martha and Ivan going home tonight. They were the least impressive tonight, and at this point in the competition everyone needs to stand up. Who do you think will go home? Find out tomorrow night on So You Think You Can Dance!

Songs used on tonight's show:

Ivan/Martha: Me and U - Cassie
Donyelle: Git it - Bun B feat. The Ying Yang Twins
Dimitry: Pump it - The Black Eyed Peas
Heidi/Travis: Plaza of Execution - The Mask of Zorro Soundtrack
Allison/Ryan: Ethna - Klement Bonelli
Martha: What are you waiting for? - Gwen Stefani
Ivan: This Luv - Donell Jones
Dimitry/Donyell: Sing, Sing Sing - The Swing Kids
Benji/Natalie: Wonderful - India Arie
Heidi: Dum Diddly - The Black Eyed Peas
Ivan/Martha: Sandy's Song - Dolly Parton
Travis: Belief - Gavin Degraw
Allison/Ryan: Bye Bye Blackbird - Liza Minelli
Natalie: Lamentation - Leah Andreone
Benji: Land of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett
Donyelle/Dimitry: Hey Mama - Black Eyed Peas
Travis/Heidi: Calling You - Celine Dion
Allison: We Belong - Pat Benatar
Benji/Natalie: She's Freaky - Pitbull
Ryan: Canned Heat - Jamiroquai