SYTYCD S5 Ep. 7 Top 20 Elimination

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The Results shows are always scary.  I never know if what I like as a trained dancer will translate to votes.  Eventually, they will leave me heartbroken.

Cat is wearing a dark taupe strapless wrap-around dress with a tie on the side.  I think she looks stunning.  Her hair is loose again in soft waves.  She's so beautiful when they don't try so hard with her.

Top 20 Routine - Hip Hop / Shane Sparks / Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyed Peas)

• WELCOME BACK MR. SPARKS!  Wish you could choreograph during the couples as well, but guess you can't with your ABDC committments.
  
• "Save the Dancers, Save the World"  - Nice 3-yr old Heroes reference LOL
• They are like homeless "heroes" I guess
• Guys came out hard hitting with all black and plastic masks on their faces.  Brandon really stood out.  I liked the guy part.
• During Fergie's singing solo, Caitlin took off her outerwear and was wearing a metallic gold and blue superhero looking get up.  Then all the girls did the same.  The highwaisted, thigh length spandex biker shorts were not flattering, even on someone as skinny as Kayla.  Ugh.  Some of the girls have wigs on to make their hair longer.  The blondes were featured center.
• The number also featured Phillip and Tony a lot.  Loved Phillip's propeller arms that looked like they were wavy. 
  
• Fun number.  Definitely didn't see certain dancers at all (Naught Ballerina).

Judges - Nigel, Mary, & Adam

Segment about how the first week went.  They show a few meeting their partners for the first time, and then move onto rules for a good partnership.  Respect boundaries (Tony spanked Paris), Communication (They show Janette speaking Spanish to Brandon), Feel Comfortable (Melissa likes to burp loudly), Share Interests (Ashley and Kupono can make animal sounds), & Hard Work *and Perspiration (Jonathan, Phillip, & Vitolio sweat A LOT).

Down to Business:

• First 3 couples include Max & Kayla, Evan & Randi, and Phillip & Jeanine.  Hmmm...I didn't put any of them in the bottom so I may be wrong on my first try.  ALL SAFE!   Good, I did well on those three.
  
• Next 4 couples include Jason & Caitlin, Ade & Melissa, Kupono & Ashley, and Tony & Paris.  Out of this group, I had Tony & Paris in the bottom.  TONY & PARIS are the only ones.  I called this group correctly as well.
  
• Last 3 couples include Vitolio & Asuka, Brandon & Janette, and Jonathan & Karla.  I predicted Vitolio & Asuka along with Jonathan & Karla in the bottom 3.  VITOLIO & ASUKA are in the bottom. JONATHAN & KARLA round out the bottom 3.

I AM 3 FOR 3 TONIGHT!  Yay for me, sad for them.  Dance like this IS for your life!

Actual Bottom 3:

• Tony & Paris
• Vitolio & Asuka
• Jonathan & Karla

Each week, So You Think You Can Dance will feature dance styles from around the world on the Results Show. 

Special Guests: Mariam & Leonardo / Tango / Tanguera (Luis Bravo's Forever Tango)

SOLOS:
Paris - It Doesn't Hurt (Katie Thompson)

• I didn't "feel" anything.  Her center was off and second turns looked slow.  She needed to use the stage more and engage the viewer.  It was adequate.
• She sure does have a strong square jaw.  It's very pronounced with her hair pulled back.

Tony - Early in the Morning (The Gap Band)

• He did a locking style solo wearing a tailed tuxedo jacket, rerun cap, red capris, and striped socks.  His look is very reminiscent of Twitch's conductor look last year, except I liked Twitch better. 
  
• Maybe I don't understand the intricacies of locking, but it was OK.  I like hip hop solos that are either very athletic and bboy, or freak me out.  Not that impressed.
  

Asuka - Did Ya (BoA)

• Upbeat poppy song.  She's wearing a black bra with a white cropped bolero with ruffles and a big poofy skirt.  She played up the sex appeal and was cute, but ballroom without a partner is always hard to convey because it's just a lot of leg flicks.  I liked it better than Paris' though.
• I don't like people who "try" to be sexy.  Asuka is standing next to Cat and flexing her stomach muscles and really trying to work the sex angle.  She's already sexy and doesn't need that at all.
  

Vitolio - We Belong Together (Gavin DeGraw)

•  What he lacks in technique, he made up in performance.  You can tell he is not classically trained.  He has some bad habits in his lines, but he gave a good 30-sec solo and I liked watching it. 
  

Karla - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin)

• Good music choice, automatically evokes emotion.
• This is my first time actually seeing her dance.  I'm disappointed.  She basically ran, then did a dance trick, whether it be a backwards leap, side extension, rondejamb enlair in that extension, or arabesque to side extension.  It should have felt emotional, but it felt forced. 
  

Jonathan - Krazy (Pitbull feat. Lil John)

• Good song that gets the audience moving
• He's a pretty mediocre salsa dancer, but he is a gymnast and his gymnastics was good.  He was entertaining and got the audience excited to watch him.  The judges will take that into account.   He knows how to work the crowd.
  

My Predicted Cast-offs:

• Last night I thought it'd be Jonathan and Karla based on the routines and followings that each dancer had.  Now I am not so sure.  Tony and Paris did not do enough in my opinion, but I wonder if they'd get rid of Tony because he is only one of two hip hoppers and he has a huge personality.  However, I also did not like Karla's solo. 
  
• I'm torn.  I think it will may be Tony and Paris.
  

Musical Guest - Sean Kingston

Just noticed that Cat's microphone is blinged out.  It sparkles.  =)

Came back from the break and camera spun around in a circle...OOPS!

GOING HOME:
Girls (Unanimous)
Karla - Strong solo, but be careful it isn't just steps.  SAFE
(Based on Nigel's speech about how they choose the person going home, it's so going to be Paris.  There are Contemporaries to spare whereas there are only 4 Ballrooms.)
Asuka - Hard to dance without a partner, but she is a star and has personality
Paris - She didn't bring it and compared to the other Contemporaries, she's OUT

Awww man, listen to that Girl's Exit Music - "Someone has to go"  LOL

Guys (Unanimous)
Judges didn't think any of the guys danced that well or that the dancing would keep them in the competition for long.
Vitolio - They think he is holding back his personality since Vegas, but needs to find it.  Safe.
Jonathan - Better the night before.  His dancing wasn't great tonight, but his gymnastics was.
Tony - Surprised he did locking, but it was bad locking.  Based on everything including Vegas, he's OUT.

Summary - Tony & Paris are cut, no changes in partners.

I was wrong last night, but after solos, was right in my changed decision.  SYTYCD.CA reader poll called it correctly.  I am surprised by this vote.  In the past few years, they have kept personality over talent.  Maybe they realize that the winner should have both.  This year does seem to have much stronger dancers so the competition will be tough.

Until next week...keep on dancing!