So You Think You Can Dance - The Top Six Perform

I heard a rumor somewhere that if you play this episode backwards, there's a message that says "Hey, Jidges, let's make sure we get rid of Ivan and Natalie so we can get the top four we want." Interesting theory, but I don't know why they would go through the trouble of placing secret messages in the show, when it was VERY F'N CLEAR that the judges really wanted to get rid of Ivan and Natalie tonight. Anyway, on with another week of SoyouthinkyoucanDANCE! Seatbelts on? Let's go.

We start out with a freeze-dried Cat. Seriously she was starting to look to good recently. The stylist fixed her good this week with Bride of Frankenstien hair and a dress that showed off her not very successful attempt at tanning.

We have our intro of the dancers

Here's the star of "Election" and "Legally Blonde" Heidi:

Then Travis:

Out comes the always saucy Natalie:

Girls are squee-ing so you know it's gotta be Benji:

Next up we have the bootylicious Donyelle:

Followed by Hip-hop specialist Ivan:

and finally we have the cheek-tastic Allison:


Whew, I had this horrible nightmare that Allison had been eliminated last week. I'm so relieved to find out it was just that, ONLY A DREAM!!!!

Tonight's jidges are, Nigel, Ball Room Mary, and Mia Michaels...who may be one of these lucky contestants boss in a few weeks. Prizes...yay!

Our format for this evening is two performances and a solo. First up we have Ivan who's paired up with Natalie. She's emotes to the camera that she's been waiting so long to be paired with Ivan. I think it's just convenient for the jidges and their evil plans for this evening.

Ivalie will be dancing the jive choreographed by Ron Montez. The rehearsal video shows them all sluggish and it's accentuated by the snuffalupagus horns playing in the background. Okay we get it..they're tired..and really that's all we see. Um...okay.

They dance to a cover of Route 66. The graphic says "Cars" but that don't sound like no Ric Ocasek. This dance is notable for two things, Natalie's crotch gets no where near her partner, which is rare for a Natalie dance, The dance also ends in a pointy pose which is surprisingly rare for a couples dance on this show. I thought it was fun to watch and I don't normally like that sort of thing. I think that Natalie and Ivan's lack of partnering showed but I thought they looked pretty good together. The jidges on the other hand...Nigel announces he's not holding back, he harps on Ivalies lack of chemistry and says Ivan ran out of energy...really? It wouldn't have been that video intro that showed them all sluggish having any influence could it? Heaven's no! Nigel also says that instead of a GI routine it was a Boy Scout routine. He felt that Nat was doing a solo routine. Mary loved the ending. She also said Ivan's leg action was really heavy and the chemistry wasn't there. Mary also adds that it wasn't hi-octane only regular. I'm too mad about gas prices to make a joke there. Mia says that it was "fake fun" and that she could see the steps and not the dancing. Cat asked them if they had fake fun or real fun. Why bother asking that question? Are they going to admit to hard hitting Cat Deeley that they were faking fun? Is Natalie going to admit to that...NATALIE??? Geez.

Travis stops by on his way from the Science building to do his solo, he's gotta run though because he's got an RA meeting and Fraternity meeting tonight. Seriously, a wardrobe full of costumes and he comes out in a polo and cargo shorts?


We're treated now to the reuniting of Benji and Donyelle, America's sweethearts. Their hooked up with Tyce D'orio and Benji gets his third Broadway piece of the season. In rehearsals they highlight what a cute and wacky couple these two are to "My Three Sons"-esque music. We close with Benji announcing "The Benjelle. Coming at'cha!" in a move that made Jaymz jump up from his couch and yell "What a pretentious ass!"

They do a routine to, pardon my French, "Le Jazz Hot" from Victor Victoria. Donyelle is wearing a pink flapper dress that really isn't doing her any favors. She looks like a big wad of cotton candy. I have this theory that the stylists go out of their way to make Donyelle look like a tub, when she is in fact a very normal, attractively figured, woman. I guess it makes Donyelle a better story if she makes it this far looking bigger than she actually is.

They seem off tonight, which shouldn't happen with a pair that has danced together so often. It's just flat. It's not even as fun as Ivalies performance. The jidges disagree with me, sorta. Nigel refers back to their past chemistry but claims that Benji is starting to outdance Donyelle. He says that they weren't as together as he would have liked, but they are a fantastic couple. Translated: we're letting you slide. Mary enjoyed the performance and thought they were hot hot hot. Mia says they got by on their personalities. She said Donyelle didn't snap enough and Benji's energy went down to meet hers instead of vice-versa. She does apologize and pleads for the Benjelle's mercy. Okay...the writing is on the wall right now.

Natalie's solo is up next and she dances to "Ooh La La" by Goldfrapp which is an awesome song. She does the splits and those rises to her toes from sitting position in succession. That just looks really impressive. She has to temper the fury with which she dances by ending her solo with batting eyelashes.
While muggin for votes, she mouths "Call me" to the camera. I swear she's the best dancer left on the show and I want so much to like her, but really, come on!

We're left with Heidi and Travis's first dance. They're up with a smooth waltz. Their rehearsal bit was pretty much, this style sucks for TV, but they will fall in love with us. Really, I wonder how "Dancing With the Stars" can make waltzes work but not SYTYCD?

In my world, smooth waltz would be done to Yacht Rock...no such luck here. Even Heidi's "Here's my Va-Jay-Jay" move is boring...snore! Nigel says Travis's versatility adds to ballroom because he can do pirouettes. Nigel says Heidi is the most improved girl in the competition. Mary loves Heidi, no shit. Mary is shocked by Travis's performance. Mia lays it on thick for Travis, who I've read she's worked with before the show. She compliments the hell out of him, but it can't realistically be because of that waltz. Mia wishes Heidi was more fluid. Okay then.

Ivan's up with his solo and he dances to "It Was All in Your Mind" by Wade Robson...the choreographer? Whatev. Ivan dances the hell out of his solo. He really throws everything out there on stage, which is unusual for him. His solos have been pretty laid back so far. He takes advantage of the early big beat and rocks it.


Next up we have Benjelle again. Hey wait! They skipped Allison's turn...I don't understand this crazy mixed up format. Benjelle is hooking up with Shane Sparks where they remind us of the glory of "Too Much Boooty in da Pants" which sparked the Benjelle revolution. Seriously, they spend the whole session reminding us how great these two are.
They dance to "Hotline" by Ciara. The routine is pretty good and Donyelle does a great job. Benji, while pretty fly for a white guy,is not a hip-hop dancer and it shows. He's pretty much mugging his face the whole time and then he starts mouthing his steps like he's saying "Yah" or "Hey" on the beat of his steps. That's for shit in a hip-hop dance, yo. Anyway, it ends cute with Donyelle slipping Benji her number, Benji rips it up in front of her, then Donyelle bitch slaps him to the ground.

Nigel says it was fun and they danced it well. Way to not hold anything back there Nigel. Mary loved it and they were great and says more great things about Benji without actually critiquing the dance. Mia again skips the critique and talks about how Benji makes her laugh when comes out 'da hood. She also says that she and Donyelle should form the "Big Butt Dance Coalition" I heard that! Word! Okay what gives? A sub-par routine gets glossed over by the jidges. Shenanigans!

Heidi does her solo to "I Like It" by The Blackout Allstars. She's toned down her solo from previous weeks and sticks to ballroom style dancing. She flows very well. She lip synchs a bit which kinda bugs.

Ivan and Natalie round 2 is Contemporary with Tyce. This dance is telling the story of fresh love and butterflies and yadda yadda yadda. Natalie baby voices that she likes this idea...seriously, you are losing votes when you pull that shit. Knock it off! The dance welcomes back Natalie's crotch as a featured part of the show and the routine. I really have no idea what makes good Contemporary good. All I can say is that the combination of Natalie's slurping all over Musa and Ivan and Allison's perceived sparks over the course of the season hurt the believability of this piece. The jidges are ruthless. Nigel says he felt nothing every time they touched. Isn't that an expectation that's built through time and conditioning? He also pretty much says to Ivan that his limitations are showing and they are done with him now. Compare this to Benji's weaknesses in the hip-hop routine which aren't even mentioned. Nigel says Natalie couldn't capture him with her emotion. Mary says she felt good watching it but it fell short of extraordinary. There hasn't been an extraordinary piece all night, but that didn't stop her from gushing earlier. What gives? Mia said there was no magic. Mia calls Nat out for being so false and that it takes away from her technical elegance. She straight out says Nat is contrived. True..but DAYUM! Mia also calls out Ivan's limitations. That was a mugging.

Benji solos to "Reet Petite" by Jackie Wilson and he let's it all hang out. He does more spins in his solo than Ben ever thought of doing. He struts around giving a booty shake, and he ends the solo by showing us a little leg? WTF?

Heidi and Travis close out the couples dancing with Wade Robson for a pop routine which is actually a ritual dance praising mother earth. Sweet! I could use a new Earth Day dance.They dance to "W'happy Mama" by Zap Mama. Heidi has spots painted on her tummy. I guess painted on whiskers and a blackened nose would have just been too cheezy. Nigel conveniently puts his "keepin' it real" badge and proclaims them the best couple of the night. Mary says it would be a shame if America doesn't vote for them. Mia compliments Wade and that Heidi was the earth and dug the African Pop.

Donyelle is doing her solo to "I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls. It's strictly Contemporary I think. She belts out her moves to match the singer.

Now we FINALLY get to Allison. She's gonna dance by herself tonight since she doesn't need a partner to be twice as good. We see her in rehearsal all confident and she's got the attitude like "I got this, bitches!!!"She does her solo...I didn't catch the song... and she's as awesome as ever. The jidges don't say a word...they are too stunned by her brilliance. After soaking in the jidges silent praise, she humbly tilts her head to the side and smiles.Awwww isn't she just adorable?

The jidges end the show with their own recap. Nigel stresses that they pick someone they enjoy watching and who has grown. He says that America is the true winner since dance is growing. Mary highlights Heidi and Travis as the best tonight. Mia says Heidi has grown the most and calls her the yin and yang of dance. She then reminds all of them that everyone may love them now but out in the real world no one loves you unless you are a legend and none of them are legends yet. She says America should vote for the one they think can handle success. Way to end this show on such a downer, Mia.

Do the jidges get their way? We'll find out tomorrow if Nat and Ivan survive.

Tags: So You Think You Can Dance, Reality TV, TV