The top 20 were revealed in So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Episode 9. Since that time, Billy Bell has left the show due to illness, and Brandon Dumlao has taken his spot. Tonight they will all dance before the judges eliminate two of them.
Nigel’s apparently begging for Paula Abdul to come on the show to do some guest rambling judging. The empty chair with her name on it will suffice.
In addition to Billy Bell’s aforementioned problems, Noelle has done something to her leg and will not be dancing tonight. Free pass to next week, but she will need to be better by next week to remain.
Channing Cooke & Phillip Attmore
Style: Jive
Choreographer: Jason Gilkison
Song: Rockin’ Robin by The Jackson 5
Adam: Phillip did well, which was expected, but Channing’s strong performance surprised him.
Mary: Good but still want more. Legs got a little bit lazy. Phillip got a little lazier as it went on.
Nigel: Phillip was good as expected considering his tap background. Channing needs a little work. Thought Phillip wasn’t so much lazy as out of energy. Lack of chemistry.
Ashleigh di Lello & Jakob Karr
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: Hit Me with a Hot Note (And Watch Me Bounce) from the Sophisticated Ladies Original Soundtrack
Adam: Incredibly smart choreography. Jakob’s spreading the gospel of dance. New standard of excellence. Ashleigh will have difficulty being partners with him. Just needs to watch her lines and hands, but she’ll be just fine if she does that.
Mary: More than just fine. Phenomenal, sexy, sultry. Didn’t think Ashleigh was capable of that. As for Jakob, can I get an Amen?
Nigel: Ashleigh proved why the judges had faith in her. Dancing with one of the most gifted dancers ever. If Ashleigh keeps dancing like that with Jakob, he’s gonna take her into the finals with him.
Ariana DeBose & Peter Sabasino
Style: Hip hop
Choreographer: Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo
Song: Black & Gold by Sam Sparro
Adam: Not dancing like each other. Focus on the similarity of musicality. And get buck.
Mary: Good beginning and end. A little bit sloppy in the middle.
Nigel: Didn’t ever find it. Peter got a little bit closer than Ariana. Disappointed.
Noelle Marsh (Melanie Lapatin fills in for her) & Russell Ferguson
Style: Foxtrot
Choreographer: Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin
Song: Vagabond Shoes by Vic Damone
Adam: Continues to defy explanation. Incredible, amazing, effortless, beautiful, fantastic.
Mary: Hat’s off to you. Respectable job. It factor.
Nigel: Living proof of why it’s so important to focus on the arts. So many things that weren’t good as far as technique, but done really well.
Bianca Revels & Victor Smalley
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Travis Wall
Song: Wasted Time by Me’Shell Ndegeocello
Adam: Impressed again by Travis. Bianca is at a distinct disadvantage because of her style. Good but needs to watch her shoulders and toes. That was Victor’s dance. Found the character of the music so beautifully.
Mary: Bianca did a fabulous job and sold the passion and chemistry between the two. Victor took it to another level.
Nigel: Most connected between partners so far. Both are growing. Confident.
Karen Hauer & Kevin Hunt
Style: ChaCha
Choreographer: Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin
Song: Push It (Glee Cast Version)
Adam: Karen, yikes. Pretty hard to watch anything else. Kevin did a great job visiting her world. Last lift series was awkward.
Mary: Karen was sharp, rhythmical, and sexy. On the hot tamale train. Kevin got 2 out of 3, not sharp enough to be on the train.
Nigel: Kevin danced that very well indeed. Karen’s got this in her blood.
Ellenore Scott & Ryan di Lello
Style: Contemporary Jazz
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: Arcadia by Apparat
Adam: Sonya rocks. Two of the most exciting dancers, albeit not the most technical.
Mary: Chemistry was crazy. Ryan was focused on his partner 100%, which is tough for a ballroom dancer.
Nigel: Ryan was a total surprise.
Pauline Mata & Brandon Dumlao
Style: Smooth Waltz
Choreographer: Jason Gilkison
Song: You Light up My Life by Whitney Houston
Adam: Some beautiful performance moments. Brandon needs to improve on some things but did well all things considered.
Mary: Very dynamic chemistry. Brandon really has to expand his quality of movement. Pauline was so elegant and beautiful.
Nigel: Felt a little like a prom couple. Beautifully done but not strong enough at all. Didn’t get enough from Pauline either.
Kathryn McCormack & Jonathan “Legacy” Perez
Style: Hip hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Song: On & On by Missy Elliott
Adam: Fantastic chemistry. Amazing opportunity to learn from each other.
Mary: Yabba dabba doo. Legacy’s learned to dance. Kathryn was right on the money, too.
Nigel: Legacy brought this to life. Kathryn could be a little better but brought it together.
Mollee Gray & Nathan Trasoras
Style: Disco inspired by Mexican wrestling
Choreographer: Doriana Sanchez
Song: Turn the Beat Around (Pablo’s 12″ Remix) by Gloria Estefan
Adam: Most adorable couple. Infectious energy. Very sexy lifts, none of which seemed that dirty at all. Big fan of that number.
Mary: Really hard and really pulled off. Charisma off the charts. Gonna be here for an awfully long time.
Nigel: Bring the fun to this competition.
The judges have put Ariana, Brandon, Pauline, and Russell in danger. The Russell choice draws boos. It is quite thoroughly confusing.
The girls go first. All three of the judges are unanimous. They would like to see a little more passion from Pauline. Ariana DeBose will be going home. She needs more charisma in her work.
The guys are next. They were again unanimous. Russell is urged to keep dancing and learning other styles. Brandon has been eliminated. But Nigel will ask that the rules be changed so he can come back next season, as it should be. Giving him a day and a half to catch up after being cut because he wasn’t ready clearly did not work.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Episode 12, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on Fox.