‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Gets Punk’d!

Monday’s top 16 episode of So You Think You Can Dance started with a punk-rock flourish, with the contestants serving some Vivienne Westwood realness in spiky Seditionaries couture that sort of reminded me of Jeffrey Sebelia’s winning yellow plaid ball gown from Project Runway Season 3. (What can I say? I watch a lot of reality TV.)

Choreographers Nick Florez and R.J. Durell did a bloody brilliant job here, but I have to say, this routine could have used a little more pogo-ing. I’ll let it slide, however, that the number was set to Robyn’s “Love Is Free” instead of, say, something by the Sex Pistols or Buzzcocks, because Robyn rules and should have her music featured in every SYTYCD episode. Really, I’d happily watch the finalists do the Viennese waltz, Argentine tango, or even some gumboot stepping to the entire Robyn catalog.

But I digress. While the “Love Is Free” punky number was amazing, other competitive partner routines of the evening were also moshpit-worthy. Let’s recap! Oi!

Dancers: Hailee & Jaja
Genre: Jazz
Music: “Endangered Species,” Dianne Reeves
Choreographer: Ray Leeper

With “two of the best powerhouses,” according to Leeper, coming together, I had high hopes for this girls-gone-wild routine. And for the most part I was not disappointed, but this was the first time this SYTYCD season (nay, in two SYTYCD seasons) that I saw any weakness from the hard-hitting Jaja. Yes, she was sexy in a way I never expected from her, but she actually could have hit a lot harder. She made a valiant effort, but she was much weaker than the dynamite Hailee (who, to be fair, was dancing in her style). Judge Nigel Lythgoe admitted that his eye was drawn to Hailee, but called Jaja this season’s “most interesting” contestant. Jason Derulo advised Jaja to work on her leg extensions, and told Hailee, “You’re becoming a star right before our eyes.” I never thought I’d see the day that Jaja would be upstaged.

Dancers: Neptune & Alexia
Genre: Hip-hop
Music: “Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh),” Rich Homie Quan
Choreographer: Dave Scott

I love me a good SYTYCD gimmick. And the whole padded-cell motif of this graphic, intense routine was right up there with The Bed Dance, The Door Dance, The Butt Dance, etc. These dancers were literally climbing up the wall, and the straitjacketed freaky-deakiness of it all reminded me of early-'80s panic-attack videos like Pat Benatar’s “Get Nervous,” Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health,” and Billy Joel’s “Pressure.” As for the dancing, though, these crazy kids didn’t seem nervous at all. The phenomenal upper-body strength they displayed during that one-armed wall hang should qualify them both for American Ninja Warrior if SYTYCD doesn’t work out, and it was nice to see the usually smiley, pageanty Alexia really get down 'n’ dirty and shed her cutesy image. “Both of you committed to the character… it was sick crazy love – wacky, insane, sexual, sensual, just weird, and I loved it,” raved judge Paula Abdul.

Dancers: J.J. & ________
Genre: Argentine tango
Music: “Duo de Amor,“ Astor Piazzolla
Choreographer: Leonardo Barrionuevo

J.J. was supposed to dance with Team Stage’s Derek, but sadly, he sprained a back muscle during rehearsal and was advised by doctors to sit out this week’s show. J.J. instead tangoed with her choreographer, the famous Leonardo, and while this could have put a glaring spotlight on the less-experienced wacker’s every technical shortcoming, she instead rose to the challenge. And she looked exquisite, like a young Dita Von Teese, while doing so, exuding elegance. I didn’t know she had it in her. "You brought sexy back… you held your own, baby girl,” said an amazed Jason. “If Mary Murphy was here now, you would definitely be on her Hot Tamale Train,” said Nigel. (Side note: I miss Mary.) As for Derek, even if he did make it through this week, he’d be automatically in danger next week, clarified hostess Cat Deeley. Rules are rules.

Dancers: Ariana & Jim
Genre: Contemporary
Music: “Duo de Amor,“ Astor Piazzolla
Choreographer: Sean Cheesman

A dark and moving routine about ups and down of depression, with Jim playing the struggling depressive and Ariana portraying his actual mental illness, this was sort of like "Addiction Part 2.” No, Ariana was no Kupono, but she really did connect with and commit to her role, and she mostly kept up with Jim (no easy feat, since he’s probably the best technical dancer of this season). This was such a compelling number, and the big finish on the table, when Jim kicked Ariana and freed himself, was everything. (Side note: The music supervisors on this show are everything, too. Lorde’s bleak cover of the once-cheerful Tears for Fears hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was a genius song choice here.) Jason said hip-hopper Ariana was good enough to pass for a Team Stage dancer. Nigel expressed bewilderment over why Ariana hasn’t been connecting with viewers and lands in the bottom six every week. If any routine could be Ariana’s redemption, this was it.

Dancers: Gaby & Virgil
Genre: Broadway
Music: “Where or When,“ Sammy Davis Jr.
Choreographer: Al Blackstone

Hip-hop dancer Virgil and tapper Gaby wowed with this whimsical, I-heart-NYC routine – with Sammy Davis Jr.’s son, Manny Davis, watching from the audience approvingly. I approved as well. Despite their potentially problematic height difference, these two should dance together every week, because they are a total dream team of cuteness. (And the petite Virgil even managed to jump over the much-taller Gaby with ease!) Virgil, who’s danced on Broadway before, was a natural charmer, and Gaby got to do a little bit of tap, so both were in their element and having an obvious blast. Team Street coach Travis Wall predicted this would be a breakthrough number for Gaby, and he may have been right, but really, little Virgil and his big, big personality stole the show here. Jason, who surprisingly is a huge musical theater buff, warned Gaby, "Don’t let Virgil upstage you,” but Nigel said, “I thought you were a fabulous power couple.” Paula called them “a day at Disneyland” and suggested that Mattel start selling Virgil dolls. I’m telling you, if Virgil action figures are available at the merch booth on the next SYTYCD tour, I’m totally buying one.

Dancers: Asaf & Kate
Genre: Jazz
Music: “Braveheart,“ Neon Jungle
Choreographer: Sean Cheesman

This "attitude-driven” number about a sexy It Couple on the club-circuit prowl was supposed to be hot. But I kind of thought it was a hot mess. Sure, B-boy Asaf always has plenty of attitude (and sometimes a bad attitude), but he’s simply not at the same level as the other contestants. (The judges’ ridiculous decision to save him last week was very controversial.) The fact that poor Kate cried in rehearsal because she was afraid that Asaf might drop her during one of this routine’s many tricky lifts, and that a nervous Sean Cheesman wiped his brow with relief after Asaf managed to power through this routine without maiming or killing Kate, said it all. Yes, Asaf worked hard here, but he was so stiff, and he had zero chemistry with Kate, not even when she ripped off his breakaway shirt. Nigel said Asaf was much improved compared to last week’s disastrous cha cha, and Jason claimed he didn’t regret saving Asaf last week. But then Jason said, “I do still think you’re in that danger zone; I don’t think that performance saved you.” The question was, would the judges save Asaf a second time? Let’s hope not.

Dancers: Yorelis & Marissa
Genre: Hip-hop
Music: “Let Go,“ Kezwik feat. Mimi Page
Choreographer: Christopher Scott

The plot here had freestyler Yorelis hypnotizing Team Stage’s Marissa to get her to defect to Team Street. But while I think Marissa did a great job (choreographer Scott was smart to incorporate her impressive power-tumbling tricks into this number), it was obvious who was on Team Street and who was on Team Stage. Yorelis just had more swag and was, pun intended, more hypnotic to watch. Nigel loved the tumbling, but admitted that Marissa’s hip-hop movements were not as "liquid” as Yorelis’s, which he called “beautiful and sensational.” Jason was underwhelmed overall.

Dancers: Megz & Edson
Genre: Contemporary
Music: “You There,“ Aquilo
Choreographer: Talia Favia

Sometimes it’s really hard to believe that Megz is a hip-hop dancer. Once again, she was so exquisite doing contemporary, she practically outdanced her Team Stage partner. This was the routine of the night for me, and it was all because of Megz. She really threw herself into this temptation-themed routine and threw herself, literally, into Edson’s arms. (Of course, she seemed much more trusting of her partner than Kate had been of Asaf.) And she even fearlessly danced parts of this number with Edson’s shirt covering her entire face. Paula was in tears by the end, sighing, "Megz, you are truly amazing… I don’t know how it could be any better.” Nigel said, “You and Jaja have become contemporary dancers,” adding only half-jokingly, “Welcome to Travis’s team.”

So by the end of the night, the bottom three stage dancers were Derek, Kate, and Marissa, and for Team Street it was J.J., Ariana (again), and, once again, Asaf. The public, via the Twitter Save, voted to keep J.J. and, surprisingly, Derek. (Derek had been in the bottom before. I think his injury earned him some sympathy votes, plus viewers always love a good comeback story). This was the second week in a row that America had passed on a chance to save Asaf, and this time, the judges listened to America, saving Ariana instead. (For Team Stage, they saved Kate over Marissa, which was a tougher and closer call.) Nigel commended Asaf for his growth this season, but said, “You now need to go away and study.” Ouch.

Next week, four dancers will go home, so expect the eliminations to be much more upsetting. I suspect Derek, who will automatically be in next week’s bottom six, will go home next Monday anyway. As for the other three dancers, I predict they will be Team Stage’s Kate and Team Street’s Ariana and Yorelis, despite being excellent this week. Yeah, next week is going to suck.

Until then, try not to worry about the forthcoming blue Monday, and enjoy this playlist from this Monday’s episode:

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