Ryan Rankine and Natalie Fotopoulos Are Going Home Tonight on So You Think You Can Dance

Yes, saying “Ryan Rankine and Natalie Fotopoulos Are Going Home Tonight on So You Think You Can Dance” is just my personal opinion, but don’t try to tell me otherwise. Did you see their performances last night? It’s not looking good for them. I’m not a betting man, but I’d bet you that Ryan Rankine is gone. Natalie might be a toss up, but she’s still my odds on favorite.

Sure, Allison Holker and Ivan Koumaev weren’t too fantastic either, but people love Allison and Ivan. Ivan is the best soloist on the show. Just doing a solo I don’t think there’s any dancer I’d rather watch. Don’t tell me that Allison didn’t look HOT in her second Sexy Love hip hope routine. She was looking great. I didn’t know what Mary the stop screaming Murphy was talking about when she thought Allison should win, but she’s gown on me.

Don’t even try to point at Donyelle getting voted off. She’s way to popular with the public. Travis also seems to get votes despite not having too many fantastic performances ever since his krump performance near the beginning of the show.

Benji Schwimmer and cousin Heidi Groskreutz are definitely the best couple dancers. Maybe it has to do with them being counsins and having danced together for their entire life. Regardless, they got lucky with 2 styles that matched their skills wonderfully.

More importantly, Benji is going to get the most votes. If you look at the number of searches for Benji’s name that have been sent to my site you can see that America loves Benji. How would it be if Benji and his cousin Heidi were the last 2? Could you imagine? I think they’d be so happy they wouldn’t want to choose a winner.

Anyway, I can’t wait to see Ryan Rankine and Natalie Fotopoulos booted off tonight.

Here’s the show recap for those who missed it(or wanted to relive it):

Here we go… the final 8 contestants bloodthirsty for victory in that very pleasant dance bloodthirsty way. Our lovely host trots out looking French new-wave gorgeous as always. Let’s meet your judges for tonight! From the left: Dapper producer Mr. Nigel Lythgoe, Ballroom queen Mary Murphy, and my boy back again, Mr. Dan Karaty, aka Dan K! Tonight’s show is totally packed, so let’s get right into it.

Donyelle and Travis
London Bridge
Fergie
They’re in with Shane Sparks doing hip-hop first. Shane is giving them animal avatars to inspire this dance. For Travis it’s a monkey and Donyelle a kangaroo. We see yet another totally bizarre costume choice for a hip-hop routine. They’re wearing white masks that completely cover their faces. The dancing is good, but it’s so bizarre to not see a dancers face it’s kind of distracting. Nigel, forever the traditionalist, gives it a no-go on account of the masks, Mary loves it and Dan is in the middle.

Allison and Ivan
La Cumparsita from “Last Tango in Buenos Aires”
Orquestra Escuela de Tango
Playboy Alex de Silva will be teaching Allison and Ivan the Argentine Tango.
Lacks some of the flare of their notorious original tango routine, but it’s still astounding. The judges aren’t totally ecstatic but they still love it.

Natalie and Ryan
Turn the Beat Around
Vicki sue Robinson

Doriana Sanchez will be teaching Natalie and Ryan Disco, my favorite. This remix has a bit of a Latin flavor injection so the choreography follows suit, but something still feels a little cold. The Judges come down pretty hard on the chemistry of the routine, especially my boy Dan K who cuts right to the point by saying it was no good.

Heidi and Benji
Fake Your Way to the Top
Dreamgirls (the original cast)
Heidi and Benji have Tyce Diorio as a choreographer for a Broadway routine.
This style seems perfect for this couple, both exuberant hams who like to make crazy faces. The judges absolutely love it, especially the chemistry between Benji and Heidi. Mary even lets out one of her trademark screams.

Donyelle and Travis
Dancin’ Fool

Barry Manilow
Glen Weiss is teaching the pair the ever problematic quick-step. This is looking really boring so far, nothing quick about it. They eventually break out the “quick” part of this dance and it’s not impressive. I say this dance should be eliminated; no couple has ever shined doing the quick step. The judges did not feel it at all. Mary starts her critique with what amounts to “No offense but…”

Allison and Ivan
Sexy Love
Ne-Yo
Shane Sparks is teaching the pair a hip-hop routine. Finally a hip-hop routing that isn’t built entirely on gimmicks. Allison and Ivan are really together on this one with some simple yet perfectly executed moves. The judges all dig it, especially hip-hop connoisseur Dan Karaty who likes this departure from Shane Sparks’s normal style.

Natalie and Ryan
I Will Get There
Boyz II Men
They have the standard minimalist contemporary pajama-like costumes on, Natalie complete with a flesh-colored knee brace. Natalie does a pirouette that starts to tilt and fall. That’s the thing with these contemporary routines, I can’t tell if that was a mistake or not. It looks like the pair redeemed themselves to the judges after their first routine.

Benji and Heidi
Black Mambo
Angel and the Mambokats
Heidi and Benji have some serious work ahead of them with the club mambo taught by Alex de Silva. They’re really nailing this dance head-on tight and totally together. I think the judges are going to eat this up. Nigel is nearly out of breath with compliments, going so far as to say they are the reason So You Think You Can Dance is the number one summer show. Dan Karaty says it was easily the most professional routine on the show this year. I think it may come down to Benji vs. Heidi in the final show.

That’s the dance magic for tonight. See you tomorrow with the results!

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2 responses to "Ryan Rankine and Natalie Fotopoulos Are Going Home Tonight on So You Think You Can Dance"

# anonamous commented on August 1, 2006:
Allison and Ivan were amazing… pretty sure you don’t even know anything about dance
# techie commented on August 1, 2006:
I know more about dance than you know about spelling. At least learn how to spell Anonymous before you come on make a stupid comment about me not knowing anything about dance.