The feature performances were a bit better this week. I loved the opening Mia Michaels piece in a weird emo circus way. She is so trippy but so genius. Here’s a clip for you to enjoy:

And the segment with “America’s Best Dance Crew” (hmmm, a slam directed at the MTV show of the same name?) brought a little nostalgia to the show since we got to see favorites past contestants Hok and Dominic. The B Boy routine was good but I think it would have been even better if the cameraman didn’t keep zooming in and moving around. It takes away from the effect of the big picture choreography in my opinion. And wasn’t it fun to see Idol winner Jordin Sparks again? She is just too cute! I didn’t know the song she was singing but she did a solid job. I hope she can be as successful as Kelly or Carrie in the music biz!

So who was safe and who was in the bottom? I was so happy to see my three favorite couples were all safe! I really wasn’t shocked at any of the bottom this week, it was an expected group of performers. The bottom three couples were: Comfort Fedoke and Chris Jarosz, who performed a Jazz routine; Kourtni Lind and Matt Dorame, who performed a contemporary routine; and Chelsea Traille and Thayne Jasperson, who performed the Quick Step.

Overall, the girls’ solos were pretty solid, I couldn’t pick a favorite or likely castoff. I felt they all showcased their skills and passion for dance pretty well. As for the guys, I thought Matt showed the most personality and talent in his execution. His legs are like gazelles and seem weightless sometimes! After the judges deliberate, we find out that Chelsea and Chris are being sent home. The weird thing was we didn’t really get an explanation for the decisions but it wasn’t exactly a shocker either way. Chelsea had been slipping in the past two weeks and really not performing up to her potential. And I think Chris may have gotten the short end of the there’s-way-too-many-guy-contemporary-dancers-here stick. He just didn’t stand out enough. But here we have our Top 14 dancers, time flies huh!? What did everyone think about the results and the performances tonight? I’ll be back next week with another recap of competition!

Couple 1 was Kherington Payne (contemporary) and Stephen “Twitch” Boss (hip hop). They performed a hip hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. Now don’t get me wrong, I like this couple a lot. And obviously the judges do too. But this week I felt their raving and praise was a little thicker than deserved. The routine was good, but I saw lots of sloppy execution that was barely mentioned by the judges. And Kherington really should watch the facial expressions, going between a super smile and hammy “gangster” face is not believable to me. But seeing how popular they are with the audience and judges, I have a feeling they’ll be safe for a long time to come.

Couple 2 was Courtney Galiano (contemporary) and Gev Manoukian (hip hop). They performed a Rumba by Tony Meredith. I definitely feel the spark between these two. Every week I feel they bring a ton of passion and connection to their dances. Nigel’s love of Courtney’s half of a dress was a bit creepy, but I agree the routine was super sensual and well executed. The judges had positive feedback and overall I really enjoyed them.

Couple 3 was Comfort Fedoke (hip hop) and Chris Jarosz (contemporary). They performed Jazz by Tice DiOrio. I felt this was another instance of the choreography being a little blah. Yeah, the dancers could have given more power and authority to the moves, but the music and mood were so intense and it didn’t seem to match up with the lack of aggression in the actual dance either. Maybe these two are just struggling to capture attention and emotion in their performances? Seems like it to me and the judges gave similar criticism. I hope they have a chance to step it up next week.

Couple 4 was Jessica King (contemporary) and Will Wingfield (contemporary). They performed a disco routine choreographed by Doriana Sanchez. Don’t freak out but I actual enjoyed a disco. I know, I’m shocked too. They did a great job at making it fun and full of personality. The little mistake of Will’s at the end that Jessica tried to match was too cute. But do you think they talked enough about how Jessica is not Will’s shadow? We all can see Will is extremely talented and now the show is REALLY trying to tell us that Jessica is just as good too. I’m still not too convinced but I think they both earned a safe spot this week.

Couple 5 was Kourtni Lind (contemporary) and Matt Dorame (contemporary). They performed a contemporary routine by new choreographer Sonya Tayeh. Wow, this one was kinda strange. I guess it matched the choreographer’s crazy mohawk mullet. All that aside, I really think Kourtni and Matt have amazing technique and made this quirky number more convincing than many couples could have. Hopefully the audience will get it enough to vote for them because they are both so talented and finally brought some personality this week.

Couple 6 was Chelsea Traille (jazz) and Thayne Jasperson (contemporary). They performed the Quick Step by Heather Smith. Has the fire just been stomped out with this couple or are do they just have horrible luck in the dances they’ve drawn since their fabulous cha-cha? It seemed so plastic and boring to me and the judges agreed. It didn’t feel effortless or look very comfortable at all. After last week, I expect they’ll be in the bottom again.

Couple 7 was Chelsie Hightower (ballroom) and Mark Kanemura (contemporary). They performed a hip-hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. I loved this one! Week after week, I think this couple is bringing it strong. And the choreography was great and told a touching story at the same time. Great job! The judges were wowed and excited about their technique and emotion, I think we can guarantee they will sail through to next week.

Couple 8 was Katee Shean (contemporary) and Joshua Allen (hip hop). They performed the Samba by Tony Meredith. Another couple with killer chemistry! They always bring big personality, technique and a believability to their routines. As evidence, Mary finally put them on her hot tamale train- and first class tickets no less. This couple was hot without bringing the cheese factor, kept my attention and continued to win me over with their great attitudes. Love it!

My picks from this week are again Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura with hip-hop, Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian with the Rumba and Katee Shean and Joshua Allen with a Samba. Are you sensing a week to week theme here?

Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura

Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian

Katee Shean and Joshua Allen

So who is on your radar as an early favorite? Did anyone step it up or really disappoint you this week? Are you happy that Nigel tamed his Bee Gee wisps this week? Are you annoyed like me that guest judge Adam Shankman can be both totally insightful and annoying at the same time? Let’s hear it!

Shane Sparks!! Where have you been? Oh, how I miss him and his assured smile. They didn’t even flash to him in the audience, which makes me think he must be really busy with MTV’s Dance Crew and we won’t be seeing much of him this season. Bummer because he is my most favorite choreographer the show has had. I was so excited to see his opening number, I loved it from start to finish. It was great to see some of the dancers featured, the guys really hit it hard and the mood was just killer!

More blah feature performances though huh? It was kinda bizarre that they featured a “best” flamenco dancer that has auditioned for the show twice and not made it. I was a bit confused with that one. And Flo Rida, I mean, I like the song “Elevator” played during the Shane Sparks’ opener but maybe live is just not his thing? It was kinda boring and shouty for me. And the performance aspect was really lacking, I expected a little more entertainment.

So after much anticipation we find out our bottom 3 couples are: Chelsea Traille and Thayne Jasperson, who performed a jazz routine by Mandy Moore; Susie Garcia and Marquis Cunningham, who performed Salsa choreographed by Alex Da Silva; and Comfort Fedoke and Chris Jarosz, who performed a Krump routine by Lil’C. I was not at all surprised by Chelsea/Thayne and Susie/Marquis in the bottom but I was shocked a little that Kourtni and Matt or Jessica and Will weren’t there with them since last week didn’t treat them well. Maybe Comfort and Chris got less votes because of Nigel’s wacko behavior last night?

During the solo performances, I felt like Chelsea, Comfort and Thayne did a pretty good job. I obviously have a bias against Susie even being in this competition and while I loooove the song “The Anthem” by PitBull that she danced too, she basically flipped her hair around and did not wow me. I also felt Chris let me down. He totally emoted but that was it. There seemed to be a lot of passion but not much substance to his solo. I was however impressed with Marquis. He has mad skills! He might fail a little as a partner but wow, he brought it all to his solo. To my happiness, Susie Garcia was finally out! I’m sure she is a very sweet girl but I really did not feel she belonged among this talented group. But of course, there had to be some shock thrown into this episode and Marquis Cunningham was sent home. Whaaa? They said too many tricks and not enough dancing. Whatever. I think the wrong guy got cut. Also, a little strange that another entire couple was cut together. I guess no partner changes so far!

So what are your thoughts? Do you agree with the judges? I’ll be back next week with our Top 16!

Couple 1 was Chelsea Traille (jazz) and Thayne Jasperson (contemporary). They performed a jazz routine by Mandy Moore. And I have to be honest, I was not a fan. Nigel commented on their silly costumes (which was in no way their fault) and all the judges dissed them on their demeanors during the dance (which was slightly lacking.) But in my opinion, there was nothing much they could do because the dance was not all that. I know they hate to criticize the professional choreographers on the show and I usually love Mandy’s stuff but this routine seemed simple and blah to me. Anyone agree?

Couple 2 was Chelsie Hightower (ballroom) and Mark Kanemura (contemporary). They performed the Argentine Tango by Alex Da Silva. We knew Chelsie was going to excel at this one, which made me even more impressed how well Mark lead her. The judges all loved it and I completely agree! The only thing they didn’t mention that I found a bit distracting was that Chelsie looked down at her feet frequently, but that may have been because her pinkie toe was sticking out of her shoe until host Cat Deeley fixed it!

Couple 3 was Jessica King (contemporary) and Will Wingfield (contemporary). They performed a hip hop routine by Olisa and Cecily. I loved the choreography! After last week’s more “softer” hip hop, it was nice to see harder hitting moves. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the dancers really hit it that hard. Especially Jessica, it seemed a little boring to me. The judges mostly felt the same and pimped Will like he was already the winner (I mean he is fab but it was a bit weird to me…)

Couple 4 was Kourtni Lind (contemporary) and Matt Dorame (contemporary). They performed the Foxtrot choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. The judges reviews on this one were all across the board- liked it, loved it, wanted more, etc. Technically speaking, I thought they were very good but I just didn’t really believe the performance. They may be at risk again this week since they were in the bottom last week. They really needed to ace this number and sadly, they did not.

Couple 5 was Courtney Galiano (contemporary) and Gev Manoukian (hip hop). They performed a contemporary routine by Mandy Moore. I thought it was beautiful. They had amazing chemistry, Gev really showed his strength as a partner for being a B Boy and the dance kept my attention the whole time. The judges were mixed again on this one too. But I think this couple will be safe for next week though so I wouldn’t worry too much.

Couple 6 was Katee Shean (contemporary) and Joshua Allen (hip hop). They performed a Broadway piece by Tice DiOrio. Awesome! They are fast becoming my favorite couple, I adore their personalities, technique and adaptation to so many styles. The judges raved- Nigel was out of his seat, Mary screamed (of course) and Mia gave great positive feedback. With these high levels of performance, they should be safe for a long time to come!

Couple 7 was Susie Garcia (latin) and Marquis Cunningham (contemporary). They performed a Salsa choreographed by Alex Da Silva. Umm, to be blunt, this stunk. Susie should have been in her element and she lacked passion, sass and basic technique. I have no clue why she is even there. Am I alone on this? She needs to go. And Marquis was not a strong partner either. The judges said it looked labored and they expected more. I agree but I think even that is too kind for this horrible performance.

Couple 8 was Kherington Payne (contemporary) and Stephen “Twitch” Boss (hip hop). They performed a Viennese waltz by Jean-Marc Genereux. I loved hearing the personal side of Jean-Marc, it was so touching. I thought they did a lovely job and honored Jean-Marc’s daughter in a uplifting way. Mia and Nigel argued a bit about whether Kherington should have smiled the whole time but I don’t think that took away from this strong showing from this couple.

Couple 9 was Comfort Fedoke (hip hop) and Chris Jarosz (contemporary). They performed a Krump routine by Lil’C. Obviously Comfort did well and Chris really tried but he is very far from gangster! She outshined him in passion and hitting, which made it all feel a bit unbalanced. And wasn’t Nigel so bizarre in his comments? Talking about The Hulk, having to go pee and his gangster grandma all in one. I guess he wanted a little more ‘tude from them but wow.

Overall, my top three picks this week are: Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura with the Argentine Tango, Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian with contemporary and Katee Shean and Joshua Allen with Broadway. Here’s some vids in case you missed them:

Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura

Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian

Katee Shean and Joshua Allen

On to my random thoughts of the night…Were you creeped out by Mary Murphy’s cat lady tramptastic get up? Do you love Mia’s new hair do as much as I do? And had you ever heard of the “dance belt” before? I never knew there were special man thongs for dancers, gives me a whole new level of respect for the guys if they’re wearing those things. And how cute is Joshua Allen’s voice? I just love him. Anyway, so what did you all think about this week? Let me hear it!

I also enjoyed the first guest performers of the night, their popping and locking was pretty slick but oh. my. gosh. The PussyCat Dolls were a traveshamockery. I never thought I would say I actually like The Spice Girls better than something… I mean, if Nigel said at the beginning of the show that people might have been offended in the first hip hop routine when Rayven pulled down Jamie pants, then I cannot imagine what those same people think about the hoochified outfits the PCD had on. The singing (if you can even call it that) was beyond awful and annoying (Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha) and the dancing was ridiculous. Ugh. I’m kinda embarrassed for them.

Moving on, we find out the bottom 3 are: Rayven Armijo and Jamie Bayard, who performed a hip hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha; Kourtni Lind and Matt Dorame, who performed a jazz routine by Mandy Moore; and Jessica King and Will Wingfield, who performed a tango by Hunter Johnson. I wasn’t too surprised with any of the choices, were you? But I was surprised that Susie Garcia and Marquis Cunningham were safe. I thought for sure their pick of the smooth waltz was a death sentence but I was very wrong!

Then, the dancers in the bottom couples each performed their solos or “danced for their lives” as the show calls it. Kourtni was good, Rayven was kinda weird for me and Jessica was just okay. I didn’t really feel like the girls put a ton of passion or desperation into their solos. I know from previous seasons, the judges really look for who is showing them they want to stay there and are willing to fight for it. In the guys group, Matt was so-so, Jamie was awkward and sloppy and Will was wonderful. I really felt like Will was the only one who really put his heart and soul into his performance and showed he belonged on the show. After all was said and done, Rayven Armijo and Jamie Bayard were the two dancers cut by the judges.

So what did everyone think? Were you okay with the choices? Did you notice all the technical difficulties during the show or was it just me? And please tell me none of you are PussyCat Dolls fans…

First, let’s recap the couples and their dances:

Couple 1 was Rayven Armijo (ballet) and Jamie Bayard (west coast swing). They performed a hip hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha. The judges agreed that it was good but not great. They lacked a little necessary attitude to make the routine convincing. Although the choreography included lots of fun elements, Rayven and Jaime needed a little more spark to carry it off.

Couple 2 was Susie Garcia (latin) and Marquis Cunningham (contemporary). They performed a smooth waltz by Hunter Johnson. The waltz has to be the dreaded pick among the contestants. The pace, technique involved and mild entertainment factor make it difficult to draw votes. They did a solid job with it, although it seemed to me like Susie mostly spun in circles the whole time! And there was a botched lift too. I’m thinking they might be in danger come tomorrow.

Couple 3 was Kourtni Lind (contemporary) and Matt Dorame (ballet). They performed a jazz routine by Mandy Moore. The judges felt it was a fun routine and they are strong dancers but wanted a little more personality, especially from Matt. I loved the song and retro vibe of the choreography but I agreed with the judges that I wanted a little more oomph from them.

Couple 4 was Chelsea Traille (jazz) and Thayne Jasperson (contemporary). They performed a cha-cha by Tony Meredith and Melanie. They did an awesome job with a very challenging dance. The judges loved it, I loved it and I’m sure they will be safe after tomorrow. Chelsea looked amazing, showed tons of sass and moved those hips like a pro. Thayne was a strong partner and really let her shine too. Great job!

Couple 5 was Chelsie Hightower (ballroom) and Mark Kanemura (contemporary). They performed contemporary by Mia Michaels. We knew it was going to be unique and full of emotion and Mia didn’t let us down! The judges loved the choreography and the delivery and I couldn’t agree more. I thought it looked magical, the dancers had a ton of chemistry and were fully invested in the piece. Chelsea’s puffy dress gave the illusion of a floating cloud and the Tim Burton-esque feel was so mesmerizing. Amazing!

Couple 6 was Kherington Payne (contemporary) and Stephen “Twitch” Boss (hip hop). They performed a Broadway piece by Tice DiOrio. The routine was full of fun, the contestants paired nicely and they performed even better. I was really impressed with Twitch’s adaptation to this style and Kherington was full of life and spirit. The judges agreed it was a job well done.

Couple 7 was Comfort Fedoke (hip hop) and Chris Jarosz (contemporary). They performed a jive by Tony Meredith and Melanie. Talk about being out of their element and challenged to the max! The judges felt they did a pretty good job but not spectacular. I agreed with Nigel that Comfort seemed a little stiff and with Dan when he noted they needed a bit more chemistry together. Comfort looked amazing even with being removed of her B Girl style and the couple worked hard to succeed through a huge jive hurdle.

Couple 8 was Katee Shean (contemporary) and Joshua Allen (hip hop). They performed a hip hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha. Katee and Joshua had a strong connection together and with the audience throughout this piece. I was so into it! Katee really kept up with Joshua’s advantage in the hip hop department and they made the technique seem effortless. The judges raved, the crowd really cheered and I think they are a shoo in for next week!

Couple 9 was Jessica King (contemporary) and William “Will” Wingfield (contemporary). They performed a tango by Hunter Johnson. The tango is always a very dramatic routine, full of passion and intensity. I felt like the dancers paired well and carried it off even with it being such a different style for both of them. I did agree with the judges that Will was a bit stronger than Jessica and her few bouts of wobbling in those sky high heels was a little distracting. They should be safe though.

Couple 10 was Courtney Galiano (contemporary) and Gevorg “Gev” Manoukian (hip hop). They performed a disco by Doriana Sanchez. This routine looked like a workout, the dancers seemed drained afterwards! Overall, disco is usually not my favorite style of the performances but you could tell the contestants really tried to give it their all. Unfortunately, it seemed like they did not put enough fun or lightness into their movement. To me, I had a hint of nervousness or rushing through it. I thought they handled the high difficulty level well but I’m a little worried they may be at risk come tomorrow.

So who were my Top 3? Definitely Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura with the Mia Michaels piece, Chelsea Traille and Thayne Jasperson with the cha-cha and Katee Shean and Joshua Allen with the smooth hip hop routine. Here’s the vids of my picks in case you missed them:

On the first day, the hopefuls were given a hip hop routine from Tabitha and Napoleon. Before the competition even begins, a shocker takes place. The best popper we have ever seen in our lives, Robert, withdraws himself from the show because he doesn’t think he can do it.

Come one dude! I was so disappointed in him. After an amazing second solo and the encouragement of the judges, he just gives up. Whatever. So after the hip hop number, the group of over 200 is cut down to 129.

Day Two arrives and the dancers dress “sexy and sassy” to prepare for a Broadway routine from Tice DiOrio. Beauty pageant contestant Paige Jones’ outfit almost made me gag. As my previous recap begged, I am sooo happy she was cut later in the day! After this round, the list is now down to 94 dancers. Next, the competitors are back to learn a ballroom routine from Jean-Marc Genereux and before the night ends are then are broken into groups make up choreography to a song they draw out of a box.

On Day Three, the dancers perform their group pieces from the previous night and if three judges ask an individual to take a step back, they are out of the competition. Most of the choreography is horrible but only 4 dancers are cut in this round. Later in the day, our favorite drill sergeant, Mia Michaels, is back to whip the dancers into submission with a contemporary routine. After three days of intense performance, many people looked totally exhausted and Mia wasn’t going easy on them at all. After they perform for the judges, only 47 dancers remain to do their solos with the hopes of making the Top 20.

And drumroll… here’s the list:

Comfort Fedoke (hip-hop)
Gevorg Manoukian (breaker)
Mark Kanemura (contemporary)
Katee Shean (contemporary)
Chelsie Hightower (ballroom)
Chris Jarosz (contemporary)
Susie Garcia (latin)
William Wingfield (contemporary)
Thayne Jasperson (contemporary)
Kherington Payne (contemporary)
Kourtni Lind (contemporary)
Jamie Bayard (west coast swing)
Matt Dorame (ballet)
Chelsea Traille (jazz)
Marquis Cunningham (contemporary)
Jessica King (contemporary)
Joshua Allen (hip-hop)
Rayven Armijo (ballet)
Stephen “Twitch” Boss (hip-hop)
Courtney Galiano (contemporary)

First off, there are a TON of contemporary dancers this season. I can’t believe how few ballroom peeps there are! Also, there are many dancers who were not featured in the audition rounds, so I have no clue who my favorites will be yet. I know I’m very excited about Joshua Allen and Chelsie Hightower, so hopefully they do well next week. And I am SHOCKED that Susie Garcia (the sexy schoolteacher) made it into the Top 20! Especially since the amazing Kelli Baker (daughter of choreographer legend) got sent packing! One more thing, who else is happy Debbie Allen can;t be a judge since she is a mentor to one of the Top 10 guys. I know I am! I was so annoyed with her last season. And finally, the best quote of the episode, “I mean, I not gonna get like, plastic surgery so I’m pretty enough for So You Think You Can Dance, sorry.” Classic.

Comments? Early favorites? Let’s discuss the show instead of say, the Ape’s commenting abilities…