'SYTYCD' Top 20 Become 18 Recap: Let's Do the Twist

Monday was a night of firsts for So You Think You Can Dance. It was the first time this season that the Team Street and Team Stage contestants danced outside of their genres. It was the first elimination night of Season 12. And… it was the first time that this series ever utilized something that’s known in the business as the ever-controversial Twitter Save.

Yes, Twitter Saves (a gimmick twist that allows fans, or at least East Coast fans, to live-tweet last-minute votes on results nights) are all the rage on reality competitions these days. The Voice has been doing it for four seasons now. American Idol instated its own Twitter Save this year. I have to admit, it does make for suspenseful television, and sure, it helps these shows become trending topics. But at what cost? At what cost?

Related: Celebrate ‘SYTYCD’s’ 10th Birthday With Its Best Routines Ever

SYTYCD already has the problem that it’s all about “America’s Favorite Dancer” (italics my own), which means viewers don’t always vote for the top technician — i.e., the best dancer. The Twitter Save could exacerbate this problem. Let’s face it, if the Twitter Save had existed back in Season 4, William Wingfield never would have even made it to the top eight. Who might go home too soon this season, due to fans’ Twitter whims?

But for what it’s worth, America got it right this week. As the weeks go on, the decision will only get harder for viewers (and for the judges, who thankfully still have a say in the matter), since the talent level is so high this year. (The talent level is high every year, of course.)

Let’s check out the performances from this week, and keep the suspense going, before I get into the Twitter Save results. If you’re impatient and in a spoiler-y mood, hey, there’s always the scroll bar.

Dancers: Hailee, Darion & Yorelis
Genre: Salsa
Music: “Brucutu,” Samarra
Choreographers: Jonathan Platero & Oksana Dmytrenko

Here’s another first: This was the first salsa trio in SYTYCD history. But it might have been better off as a duo. A girl-girl duo, that is. While Yorelis, a hip-hop freestyler with little experience even hoofing in heels, completely rose to this challenge, and Hailee was her usual white-lightning, dazzling self, Darion surprisingly struggled. Watching him this week was downright painful… although probably not nearly as painful as it was for Hailee, when he nearly dropped her during a very awkward and a very scary lift. “I felt like people were almost losing their lives onstage; that was a little nerve-racking for me to watch!” exclaimed judge Jason Derulo. Paula Abdul, always one to see the positive in any situation, praised Hailee for being such a consummate pro and recovering nicely. “The ladies were extremely hot,” Paula asserted. Nigel Lythgoe also thought Yorelis and Hailee were “spicy,” but said Darion was the “yogurt in the middle that calmed it down a bit too much.” (Let’s hope Nigel’s anti-yogurt barb didn’t cost this show a lucrative Yoplait sponsorship.

So yeah, none of the judges were feeling Darion this week. It was hard to believe that this was the same guy who’d wowed everyone during last week’s “Ballet Boys” tour de force. And then hostess Cat Deeley revealed that Darion was in the bottom six. Yikes. If America wasn’t impressed with ballet boy Darion last week, then this week’s mild salsa sure wasn’t going to save him now.

Dancers: Ariana & Derek
Genre: Jazz
Music: “Cry Me a River,” Michael Bublé
Choreographer: Ray Leeper

I have a feeling that being pleasantly surprised by a Team Street dancer’s ability to pick up choreography will be a recurring theme for me this season. After all, everyone expects the Team Stage contestants to be fantastic, so the street dancers have been the real revelation on the live shows so far. Ariana, a hip-hopper, totally upstaged contemporary specialist Derek here. I barely even looked at Derek the whole time. To quote Ariana’s own amazed coach, Twitch Boss: What team is she even on? She mastered this. Paula told Ariana she “nailed it,” although she also raved about Derek’s perfect technique. Jason called Ariana “phenomenal,” and Nigel was “absolutely shocked” by Ariana’s skill.

That being said, I agreed with all three judges: Both dancers could’ve taken a cue from the contestants on my other favorite reality show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and given more face. Some expressiveness would have made this midtempo routine more lively. As it turned out, Ariana and Derek needed to put on brave faces this Monday, after Cat revealed that they were both in the bottom six. Hopefully their weird and unflattering Shields & Yarnell outfits this week wouldn’t cost them any much-needed Twitter votes.

Dancers: Megz, Alexia & Virgil
Genre: Contemporary
Music: “Until We Go Down,” Ruelle
Choreographer: Dee Caspary

Megz is always so raw and bucc and ratchet (or whatever other adjective Lil’ C might use). Virgil is always so goofy and cuddly. It’d be interesting how they’d come across in a serious and graceful contemporary piece, especially alongside a lyrical jazzer like Alexia. Alexia was definitely more in her element here, with longer and cleaner lines, but the level of commitment from both Team Street dancers was thrilling to behold. It’s only week two of the live shows, and already Megz and Virgil have grown so much. “Wow, wow, wow,” Nigel marveled. Paula said she was “so proud,” especially of nearly unrecognizable, utterly transformed Megz. Jason called Virgil “one of the top contenders.” And apparently America agreed, because all three dancers were safe this week.

Dancers: Gaby, Lily, Edson & Burim
Genre: Bollywood
Music: “Ek Paheli Leela,” Dhol Baaje
Choreographer: Nakul Dev Mahajan

Bollywood was a great equalizer for these four dancers, since all of them were dancing outside their respective specialty styles. This wasn’t exactly my favorite Bollywood number in SYTYCD history (it felt a little simple and rudimentary to me and a little too Drumline), but I was drawn to cheerleader Edson and tapper Gaby’s bubbly enthusiasm, and I was impressed that Burim the B-boy finally successfully mastered some actual choreography. Paula and Jason loved the energy and joy of this number. Nigel actually preferred the girls over the boys and was mostly underwhelmed by this routine, but he did rightfully praise Burim’s progress. Instead it was Burim’s Team Street mate, Lily, who was in danger this evening.

Dancers: Kate, Asaf & Neptune
Genre: Broadway
Music: “All About That Bass,” Postmodern Jukebox
Choreographer: Spencer Liff

Asaf, an alternate contestant who battled Burim in Vegas this season, struggled in rehearsal, getting easily frustrated and basically throwing a mini-tantrum. But thankfully, he too surpassed expectations once he got to the live stage. Freestyler Neptune, who really committed to the routine and had a much more positive attitude about the whole learning process, fared even better. However, this “All About That Bass” number was really all about the red-hot Kate. She was giving me some Jessica Rabbit/Fabulous Baker Boys realness here. She sizzled, she had star quality, and to be honest, I truly noticed her for the first time. Paula called Kate a “stunning, stunning, beautiful dancer”; she praised Neptune and told him, “You really showed up”; and she called Asaf the “most improved.” However, all three judges warned Asaf not to be so stubborn and negative, advised him to fully appreciate this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and told him to listen more. I really do hope he listened to the judges, because pouting and freaking out every time he’s asked to venture out of his comfort zone will cost him many votes and fans. His shtick is already getting old for me.

But for now, it seems Asaf is still a fan favorite, because he was not the street dancer in jeopardy tonight. Cat revealed that Neptune, in fact, was in the bottom six instead.

Dancers: Jaja & Jim
Genre: Hip-Hop
Music: “No Woman, No Cry,” Bob Marley
Choreographer: Christopher Scott

For most of the night, this episode was all about the Team Street dancers being out of their element. But the script was flipped when animator Jaja got to do hip-hop with Jim, a trained ballet dancer. However, since this was light, lyrical hip-hop with a romantic storyline, not krump or anything hard-hitting, Jim adapted well. I’m getting the feeling that Jim can probably do just about anything. He is a phenomenon. Fellow phenom Jaja was a bit out of her comfort zone, too, showcasing her previously unseen softer, gentler, more feminine side, but she aced this routine as well.

“This has been an ambition of mine for many, many years… to see two completely different worlds come together in dance,” declared an emotional Nigel. “I didn’t see a ballet dancer up there; I saw a dancer,” said Jason. Paula called the pair “charming.” Together, Jim and Jaja earned a standing ovation. And unsurprisingly, both dancers were safe. They’re going to be safe for a while, I bet. I actually have these two pegged for the top five.

Dancers: Moises, Marissa & J.J.
Genre: Jazz
Music: “I’m So Sorry,” Imagine Dragons
Choreographer: Ray Leeper

This love-triangle routine cast the sweet Moises as a womanizing cad. I wasn’t entirely buying him in that role, even if his technique was basically flawless. He just seemed too harmless and cuddly and non-threatening to me. J.J., a hip-hop dancer, did a solid enough job, but of course jazz dancer Marissa stole the show here. I didn’t even mind what Jason called Marissa’s “off-putting” smiling (which had bothered me last week during that sexy, Fosse-esque Brian Friedman number). J.J.’s excessively perky grinning irked me more; Marissa’s smile seemed like more of a devilish smirk to me, and I thought it actually suited the revenge theme of this playful routine.

Nigel thought Moises held his own alongside these strong ladies, but as I suspected, it turned out Moises really wasn’t strong enough. He was final dancer in this week’s bottom six.

So, to recap, Darion, Derek, Moises comprised Team Stage’s bottom three, and for Team Street, the bottom three were Ariana, Lily, and Neptune. And none of them got to do solos! Boo. At least on The Voice, the up-for-elimination contestants get to perform one last time before the down-to-the-wire Twitter vote. And I do love the solos on this show. A stellar solo has historically has pulled many an at-risk SYTYCD dancer back from the brink. But alas, the votes and judges’ decisions this week would be based solely on their group performances from earlier in the evening.

The two dancers America saved were Neptune and Moises; the judges then saved Ariana and Derek. If you’d told me last week, after watching that “Ballet Boys” number, that Darion would be going home this soon, I would have been outraged. But after his salsa debacle, I was OK with this outcome. As for Lily, I liked her, but there are stronger Team Street girls this year.

Watch Darion and Lily in all their glory one last time, below, in this Monday’s three stunning group numbers (the flabbergastingly “beastly” Team Stage routine by Travis Wall was an especially excellent way for Darion to go out).

And to keep the dance party going until Tuesday evening’s special 10th anniversary episode, check out the Spotify playlist of this week’s SYTYCD tunes as well. Cue music!

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