Welcome to Pure So You Think You Can Dance

Wow, what a great show! Adam Shankman said it best, I think when he talked about growing on the show and if this is where these Top 20 start, “what do you become?” Brilliant show.

First, Wade Robson’s routines are pretty much always my favorites. I don’t think there’s ever been a routine of his I haven’t liked. I love the collaborations with his wife Amanda. But the dancers just made this routine something truly special. Right away, we have a highly memorable (Emmy-worthy?) routine on the very first episode. Sheesh. Nathan really stood out to me in this one, but I thought they were all phenomenal. And was that Lady GaGa in the audience as they gave the routine a standing ovation?

I liked the Nappytabs hip hop with Russell, Kevin and Legacy, but it was probably one of my least favorite of the night and I still haven’t warmed up to Legacy. Don’t know that I will, though if he surprises me, I’ll be the first to say it.

Tyce’s routine with Nathan, Ariana, Channing and Jakob was amazing. Looooved it. Especially Ariana’s jump into Nathan’s arms. It was a great song and a great routine.

Really loved it when Cat said, “How are we going to send anyone home this season?” Really. I’m glad the first few decisions are the judges’ to make. But I hope they make the right decisions.

The tappers. I love Bianca, Peter and Phillip and I can appreciate that tap is tough. But…I thought this routine was kinda boring. The parts where they were encouraged to show their personality were awesome, but I didn’t think “Take the A Train” was a great song for tap. I liked how Derick K. Grant said, that “good tap is like a good kung fu movie.” Maybe I’m underestimating tap dancing…but why couldn’t they expect dancers to pick up *some* tap in order to do a routine, especially with a tap partner? Caitlin and Jason did Bollywood their first week and Ade did a classical ballet routine with Melissa, all last season. And these are good dancers. Would tap be tougher for these dancers than for example, a hip hop dancer having to learn ballroom?

While I liked Sonya Tayeh’s jazz with Mollee, Elleanore and Pauline, it felt very reminiscent (sometimes in a bad way) of last season’s “Superheroine” routine with the top 3 girls. Watch it again and tell me I’m wrong. I liked all three of them and I agreed with Adam that Mollee had “graduated from High School Musical” and danced like a woman. And I do agree with Sonya that confidence is sexy. I love Sonya and I love these three girls, so I hate to pick on the routine.

Mandy Moore’s contemporary with Billy, Noelle, Kathryn and Victor was fun, had a 5o’s vibe and was very fast and clearly difficult. But kinda boring. Victor and Noelle had an awkward lift at one point, I thought.

I’m not the biggest fan of the DiLellos, but I really liked their Jason Gilkison samba with Karen. The fact that she held her own with a couple who’s been dancing together for years really impressed me. It was really sexy and fun.

Is it just me, or did they NOT announce the couples! I think we’ll have to depend on Margaret’s spoilers.

It’s kinda a shot in the dark, but I’m going to take a stab at a Power Ranking since a boy and girl will be kicked off by the judges after they perform tomorrow. Maybe I’ll even make live annotations during tomorrow’s show. If you’re good.

I hope all of you will chime in, too. John? Amanda? Margaret?

Unless you don’t follow Mark Kanemura on twitter then you wouldn’t know that he performed with Lady Gaga. Mark was unbelievably excited to have this opportunity. I know I was excited to see him perform again; after all he is one of my all time favorites. I give props to Laurieann Gibson for giving him a nice little solo with Gaga. I thought the performance was good then it got weird at the end with all of the blood. I understood her message but still thought it was kind of weird. I read that it was supposed to be a reenactment of Princess Diana’s death.

The highlight of the night for me was the tribute to Michael Jackson starring his sister Janet Jackson. The beginning was a dance montage of some of his best videos. I’m guessing the dancers were those that were going to be a part of his come back. Then it was Janet’s turn and the crowd went nuts. The concept was fantastic it really looked like she was dancing with her brother one last time. However she wasn’t alone, she had dancers/choreographers with her. I saw plenty of familiar faces from the SYTYCD family. Wade Robson, Laurieann Gibson, Brian Friedman, and Tyce Diorio who all I am sure have been inspired by MJ. The only other one I recognized was Chris Judd, Jennifer Lopez ex husband.

I just wanted to give a little update…let me know you thoughts if you saw it.

Always sad to see any of the dancers leave at this point, but I am happy to say that I predicted that Mark and Chelsie would go home. More on that in a different post, this post is for the music from the top 6 SYTYCD elimination show. As always here’s my link to all the So You Think You Can Dance music.

Group dance: “The Rose” sung by Bette Midler (Choereographer: Mandy Moore)

Guest dancer(s): Lil’ Demon danced to the song “Planet Rock” sung by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force

Musical guest: “Just Dance”-Lady GaGa

– Original Music Video

Courtney Galiano danced a solo to the song “Almost Lover” – A Fine Frenzy

– Original Music Video
Mark Kanemura danced a solo to the song “Wind It Up (Original Neptunes Mix)” – Gwen Stefani

Katee Shean danced a solo to the song “Beautiful Disaster” – Jon McLaughlin

– Original Music Video
Joshua Allen danced a solo to the song “I Can Make You Dance” – Zapp

Chelsie Hightower danced a solo to the song “The Girl’s Gone Wild” – Travis Tritt

– Original Music Video
Stephen “Twitch” Boss danced a solo to the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – Bobby McFerrin

– Original Music Video

Eliminated:

Chelsie Hightower’s Elimination Music was “Come Home” by OneRepublic

Mark Kanemura’s elimination music was “All I Can See” by Brendon James