So You Think You Can Dance, Top 20 Announced
So You Think You Can Dance, Season 8 (Wednesdays & Thursdays on FOX)
Photo Credit - James Dimmock / FOX
Last night the Top 20 were announced and were able to dance for us as well. Let's talk about last night and the Top 20 dancers!
First off, my Cat Deeley Style Meter! Last night she had loose beachy curls paired with a white lazer-cut sheath and metallic I-strap heels. Absolutely GORGEOUS!
Nigel gave us some tidbits about how the season would go down this year. They have the Top 20 (instead of last year's Top 10), BUT the All-Stars will be making an appearance, just later on in the season... when the Top 20 are whittled down to the Top 10. SO we get the best of both worlds. LOVE IT!
Plus, there's online voting this year as well.
Okay, let's get into it. 31 Dancers made it through Vegas, but only 20 will appear on the Big Stage. They clumped them up in groups and here's the first set.
Ricky Jaime - 18 yo "Contemporary" - First saw him in Salt Lake City, and I remember him a little bit in Vegas - he's IN!
Miranda Maleski - 19 yo "Contemporary" - I don't remember her from the audition episodes, but she was the lead ballerina in Kayne West's Coachella performance. She's IN!
Melanie Moore - 19 yo "Contemporary" - We've seen her audition in Atlanta, then she's popped up in spots during the Vegas episode - she's IN!
Abigail & Katelyn - BOTH OUT...
Natalia & Sasha Mallory - 18 yo & 23 yo "Contemporary - They've been a staple during the audition episodes, but the judges split them up giving Sasha the Top 20 spot over Natalia.
Then this group of 5 performed a Stacey T. Contemporary Number on the fog-filled stage. For me the stand-outs were Sasha and Melanie, I think they'll both be girls I'll root for. The judges loved it; commented on their technique.
The Street Dancers were next to face the judges:
Chris Koehl - 21 yo "Hip Hop" - It's his second time making it through the audition process, and the judges commended him on all his hard work - He's IN!
Wadi Jones - 24 yo "Breaker" - He's been seen throughout the audition rounds, and was quickly told he's IN!
Tadd Gadduang - 25 yo "Street" - I don't remember him much from the audition rounds, but he's also quickly told he's IN!
Lil'O - was told by the judges he had the best personality, but it wasn't enough, he's OUT.
Dre - I don't remember him much, but he's OUT too.
Professor Lock - the "Indubitably" guy I thought was going to be a shoe-in was OUT too.
Robert Taylor - 30 yo "Hip Hop" - it was his last chance to be on the show, and the judges told him he's IN!
They performed a Dave Scott routine and the standout for me was Robert. The judges loved it, commenting that it had lots of character.
Next up was Ballroom...
There were only 2 in contention...
Lenny - who I don't remember seeing at all, and thus he was OUT.
Iveta Lukosiute - 30 yo "Ballroom" - she's tried out 3 years in a row, wowed with a police uniform routine during Vegas and made the cut this year; she's IN!
She performed a Jason G. routine with All-Star Pasha (since she was the only ballroom gal to make it this year). I thought it was good. Mary Murphy made sure we all knew she was a ballroom champ in 10 dances.
The Jazz Dancers were next...
Clarice Ordaz - 19 yo "Jazz" - she was the sexy Latina during Vegas rounds, made it, she's IN!
Bridget and Tae Kwon - were both OUT.
Marko Germar - 22 yo "Jazz" - was the gunshot wound guy we saw, but didn't re-appear often during Vegs... he's IN!
Jordan Casanova - 18 yo "Jazz" - was the one they called "Naughty Girl" during her initial audition, she's IN!
Missy Morelli - 19 yo "Jazz" - she was worried only one of her or Jordan would make it, but they both did... She's IN!
They performed a Sonya routine and this group was a good one, standouts for me were Marko and Clarice, but I loved Jordan from the auditions. The judges gave a standing O and called it sick, amazing and hot.
Next up was Broadway vs. Tap...
Jess LeProtto - 18 yo "Broadway" - we saw his initial audition in which Nigel wished he would see more fun in his performance. He's IN!
Nick Young - 19 yo "Tap" - I don't remember seeing him much at all, but he's IN!
They did a dueling Christopher Scott routine, and the standout was Nick for me. Nigel made sure we knew that 4 of the girls could also tap this year, and we might get to see a tap routine this year. Love it!
And last was so more Contemporary...
Caitlyn Lawson - 18 yo "Contemporary" - she's the one that Nigel called his "favorite", she's IN!
Ashley Rich - 22 yo "Contemporary" - I don't remember much about her, but she's IN!
Mitchell Kelly - 20 yo "Contemporary" - he auditioned once before, but took time out to learn more styles before coming back this year, it worked, because he's IN!
So it came down to the last 2 spots, 1 for the girls, 1 for the guys.
It was Alexander vs. Jeremiah and Jeremiah thought he had it in the bag... he didn't. Alexander Fost - 21 yo "Contemporary" was IN!
And then it was Ryan vs. Alexa. Cat told them how much they looked alike, but was it ever a question they weren't going to choose Ryan!?
Alexa is OUT! But they judges told her that they hope to have the same story with her as they did with Ryan. (to come back stronger next year and grab a spot in the Top)
Ryan Ramirez - 19 yo "Contemporary" - She came so close last year, almost had to leave this year during Vegas due to an injury but came back, she's IN! (I think she's the front runner at least going into the season. People who are fans of the show know her so well and will be rooting for her no doubt!)
They performed a Travis Wall routine and the standout for me was Ryan (it could be because she was centerstage and in a dark costume compared to the rest's white costumes...) The judges called it stunning, beautiful, flowing magic.
We got 3 more routines featuring all the dancers.
First off, the guys do a Hip Hop routine by Christopher Scott of the League of Extraordinary Dancers and the judges loved the mix of styles. Nigel warned the guys they need to stand out because this season the girls are beasts. The standouts for me were Marko and Nick.
Photo Credit - Adam Rose / FOX
The girls were up next with a Jazz routine by Sonya. They got a standing O from the judges as Mary Murphy screamed out "We're not worthy!" and Nigel kept repeating "they're beasts!". They landed on the HTT (Hot Tamale Train) and the judges think they have a dream team of dancers this season. I agree, I couldn't pick a standout of this performance they were "10's Across the Board"
Photo Credit - Adam Rose / FOX
The last routine of the night was a Broadway routine by Tyce D. AND I couldn't pick standouts, they were all great in the piece. Can't wait for the season to truly begin, catch ya next week folks!
