December 9th, 2009 by soullldiva

W-O-W, what an evening last night on So You Think You Can Dance!

The Top 8 were set to perform, and right off the bat I was super confused. Wait, what’s going on? Something’s wrong. Then I saw it: Ashleigh did not do her beginning solo. What had happened? Host Cat Deely took a few moments before calling Ashleigh to the stage, and she walked on with her arm in a sling. Oh, injury. How really, really sucky. Apparently she completely dislocated her shoulder that very day doing a dress rehearsal, and was not being cleared by the doctors to dance. And boy, did she want to dance. But she kept it together, and after the next break she came back on stage to give her 888 number, asking for votes. This is really a sad predicament for her. Can her performances and hard work from the past weeks keep her in this competition? I put her in my “long haul” list, and I really hope so. It will be very interesting to see how the results unfold tonight.

On with the night, Ryan and Kathryn were up first with a Dori Disco routine. This is another great pairing, with a fun and difficult routine (and the Discos are usually ball busters). Kathryn looked SO gorgeous in her skimpy halter dress (which, interestingly enough was Dori’s doing, I didn’t realize that the choreographers had a huge hand in the costuming, interesting!). Ryan looked…well, disco-y. They did excellent work together and looked like they were having a ball, especially Ryan. He’s such a great partner-ing partner. Kathryn kicked butt and did super well in this new style for her.

Next was Molle and Jakob with my favorite Viennese Waltz–EVER. I’m serious, here, this is a wonder to behold. Fresh, young, full of breath and life. Thank you choreographer Jason Gilkison!!! And thank you to Mollee and Jakob for dancing a picture of young love in springtime, with very intricate steps, fast and energetic (not your usual Viennese Waltz, I’m telling you). They had a beautiful connection, and looked beautiful, Jakob in his white pants/vest/shirt and Mollee in her white blouse and ankle-length sunny yellow pleated skirt, complete with a bow in the back. Fantastic, on all sides, and even though this was only the second of 8 dances, I am not afraid to say my favorite of the night!

Another potential power couple was next: Ellenore and Legacy. They got Travis Wall and a Contemporary number that I was SO excited to see from the rehearsal footage I could taste it. Travis had a concept of two killers that are married and want to kill each other at the dinner table. Very “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Unfortunately, for me this was a little to literal in the fight choreography and a bit one note. I saw a lot of hate and anger and not much lust/love, which it absolutely could have had (would have made for a better dynamic). They used a napkin for most of the dance and traded it back and forth during moves, which I thought was just distracting. And Ellenore’s dress was awful, just looked like two strips of fabric. OK! That said, they danced it extremely well, were very fearless with difficult moves and nearly impossible timing, and they did have a good connection.

Then came Russell and Ashleigh’s Shane Sparks Hip-Hop number. The rehearsal footage showed fantastic clips of Shane teaching Ashleigh how to shake her booty. Super funny! Looking back ( I watched it a couple times), this was probably the BEST Hip-Hop dance of the entire season, very “old school” as judge Nigel Lythgoe said. Russell just exploded off the stage with energy, enthusiasm and smiles. He shines like a star and does excellently. Unfortunately, his partner was so distracting because she was not nearly the caliber of dancer that Russell is (or Ashleigh for that matter). And I thought that was odd, considering she’s Shane’s assistant. Oh well.

Mollee’s solo is the only solo I’m going to mention in this post. And why? Because SHE ARRIVED. To the show, to her womanhood, to the party. I saw this girl for the first time this season with her solo to Alicia Keys’ “Heartburn”, which she also sang along to during her dance. Now, I will say that she had improved last week with Russell and was stunning in her Waltz with Jakob earlier in the night. But this is a dancer who made an entrance here, and I was riveted. She flirted, had fun, flipped and twirled and had me wrapped around her finger. Yeah, this is what dance is all about! Well done to her.

Whew. I get no downtime as Kathryn and Ryan are next with a Jason Gilkison Cha Cha Cha. I learn that Jason is responsible for Burn the Floor, currently on Broadway (where have I been?), no wonder he’s standing out for me. And know how I said his Viennese Waltz was the best I’ve ever seen? This Cha Cha Cha is the BEST Cha Cha Cha I’ve ever seen (enough Cha’s for ya?). Jason rocks the Casbah, baby, I’m in love. I was glued to the screen during this dance, it amazed me. Kathryn and Ryan had a hot chemistry and connection, flirt-y sultriness. Ryan looked so hot in his hat and suspenders, and Kathryn was SO sexy in her fishnets and feathers–great use of feathers, by the way, long straight ones as a skirt instead of the fluffy emu-type. Ryan and Kathryn attacked the choreography with great relish, which was syncopated so well with Joss Stone’s song “Put Your Hands On Me”, great choice. Can I have a cigarette, please? They climb on judge Mary Murphy’s Hot Tamale Train, which she has only done one or two times this season.

Mollee and Jakob once again wipe up the dance floor with a Joey Bowling Broadway number to “Easy Street” from Annie (excellent music choices for this show, that is one of my faves). They are lovely and amazing and cute and mischievous. Did I mention they danced amazingly? This style also suited them well, and Nigel encouraged Mollee to get over to Broadway, they were waiting for her. This looked easy and joyous for them. Brilliant.

Ellenore and Legacy were up once again with a Nappy Tabs Hip Hop dance about aliens. This was good fun, but not fantastic, like I was hoping. The choreography didn’t really push them to their limits of what they could do, although it started off well, with the backwards masks. Shame on Tabetha and Napoleon for not really challenging these two.

After Ryan’s solo, he interrupts Cat while she’s giving his number to give Ashleigh’s number. This is a man who loves his woman. I was touched. What a mensch.

Last is Russell (and Ashleigh’s) Bollywood. And Bollywood it was, with a bit of funk and soul injected from Russell. You could just see it in his movement. Bollywood is so relentless in it’s movements and hand/head/finger/foot positioning (we learn that a wrong hand position can offend in India), and Russell was right there the entire time, never looking tired, and always having that sparkling smile ready. The execution was superb, and judge Adam Shankman said that he radiated pure joy for the art of dance. I whole-heartedly agree. Bonus that Russell’s partner was up-to-speed with him, and when I saw the move that dislocated Ashleigh’s shoulder (leap and swing over the head and around to in front of his legs), my shoulder hurt a little, too.

Needless to say, I am very torn about the finale. They all deserve to be there, including Ashleigh. I want everyone to win. But then, it wouldn’t be a competition, would it? Well, I voted for everyone and put a few extra votes in for my favorites.  Who will be in the finale for season 6? Tune in tonight and find out!

(Images courtesy of FOX Television)