'SYTYCD' Top 6 Recap: Great Expectations

Monday’s So You Think You Can Dance top six episode – the episode determining which four dancers would move on to the Season 12 finale – was action-packed, with six all-star routines, six solos, and three duets with paired-up contestants. And, unfortunately, at the end of the night, there were two very sad eliminations.

Most of the dances sounded great on paper. Some of them looked great in rehearsal. But not all of them measured up to my great expectations once they made it to the main stage.

Anyway, with 15 routines, there’s a lot of recapping ahead, so let’s get to it. Cue music.

ALL-STAR DANCES:

Dancers: Gaby with all-star Marko Germar
Genre: Jazz
Music: “Emergency,” Icona Pop
Choreographer: Ray Leeper

The pre-performance video package of Gaby and Marko’s rehearsal teased that this would be a super-sexy number full of “bootography” that would make Gaby’s hand-wringing father very uncomfortable. But this wasn’t nearly as bootylicious as I’d expected. It certainly was no Mia Michaels “butt dance” from Season 5! Gaby was a star (that mid-air cartwheel was rather wow-worthy), but I wasn’t feeling much heat between her and Marko. Judge Jason Derulo actually said that Gaby’s “star quality was a little diminished from last week,” and Nigel Lythgoe also lamented the lack of promised bootyliciousness, but Nigel also called Gaby “one of the best dancers this season and possibly across all the seasons,” and Paula Abdul called her “a delight to watch.”

Dancers: Jaja with all-star Alex Wong
Genre: Contemporary
Music: "Youth,” Daughter
Choreographer: Tessandra Chavez

Jaja was cast as an early-onset Alzheimer’s sufferer, and from the moment I saw her sitting alone on the stage in a pool of white light, I had what they call in this business “Deeley chills.” Jaja really brought this number to life and truly was the star of the show – no easy feat opposite Alex Wong, one of the greatest SYTYCD dancers ever. Yes, Alex out-danced her… but he didn’t out-dance her that much, and he didn’t out-act her. Jaja was giving theater and giving face. A standing ovation ensued. Paula described Jaja as “the ultimate dancer… there’s nothing you can’t do.” The usual calm, cool, and collected Jason was near tears. Nigel described this as “one of those memorable performances… where acting and dance come together.”

Dancers: Megz with all-star Joshua Allen
Genre: Hip-hop
Music: "Freedom,” Pharrell
Choreographer: Christopher Scott

Team Street’s Megz faltered last week with a clumsy paso doble, so this was her chance to redeem herself, as she was back in her element. This was definitely a return to form, but I couldn’t help feeling that she’d lost her mojo a little bit. This might have been because she was dancing next to Joshua, the incredible Season 4 champion who’s so good, he actually beat Twitch that year. Whatever it was, I just wasn’t amazed. Jason wasn’t either, sighing, “We’re in the top six, and though I thought that was a good job… it might be a little tough for you today.” Nigel, however, praised Megz, telling her, “If I were a casting director on Broadway, I would book you tomorrow on West Side Story.” That sort of sounded like a farewell, but it was a nice farewell.

Dancers: Jim with all-star Anya Garnis
Genre: Samba
Music: "Chillando Goma,” Fulanito
Choreographer: Dmitry Chaplin

Ballet boy Jim certainly couldn’t match the spicy heat of the original Hot Tamale, Anya, but he certainly matched her footwork step for step. He once again proved that he is the most technically proficient all-around dancer of Season 12. Nigel told him, “I was shocked at how good you were,” but I wasn’t shocked, at all. Paula thought Jim was a little rigid in the hips, but she admired Jim’s strong partner work. Jason told him, “I feel like you opened up more than ever on this number.”

Dancers: Virgil with all-star Melanie Moore
Genre: Contemporary
Music: "All Is Now Harmed,” Ben Howard
Choreographer: Justin Giles

Fans (myself among them) were so freakin’ thrilled that Season 8 winner Melanie was back on the show (she should be an all-star more often), there was a risk that Virgil’s participation in this this routine would almost be an afterthought. But thankfully, Virgil completely committed to his character as a PTSD-stricken military veteran, and in the process he almost upstaged Melanie. In another poignant piece requiring actual acting skills, the guy showed off his presumably honed-on-Broadway theatrical chops, and another three-way standing ovation from the judges ensued. Paula loved how “unbearably vulnerable” the usually cutesy Virgil was, exclaiming, “Damn, you’re good!” Jason praised his “honesty that makes us feel like were there with you.” This really looked like the performance of two all-stars.

Dancers: Hailee with all-star Robert Roldan
Genre: Jazz
Music: "Haunted,” Beyoncé
Choreographers: Nick Florez & RJ Durrell

Hailee, the other cutesy contestant of Season 12, also got a required her to play against type, portraying some sort of “angel of death” trying to steal Robert soul or something. I dunno, this routine was kind of a meh mess. It certainly wasn’t the “high-level jazz” that Team Stage captain Travis Wall had promised. I wish Sonya Tayeh had choreographed this instead; maybe then it could have had the darkness and edge I craved. The judges all praised Hailee’s work – Jason said she was “in for the kill” and Paula said she “moved like a flame”– but on a night of strong all-star routines, this was largely forgettable.

SOLOS:

Virgil (Music: “Rock the Bells,” LL Cool J)

Well, this was just awesome. I loved the playful vibe and old-skool flavor. This was another joyous solo full of personality that proved why Virgil is such a fan favorite.

Hailee (Music: “Elastic Heart,” Sia)

I’ll forever associate this song with Maddie Ziegler and Shia LaBeouf’s cagematch-dancing in the Sia video, so Hailee’s solo, fair or not, underwhelmed me. (In other words, it was better than Shia, but not as good as Maddie.) I always find Hailee’s solos to be impressively athletic, but repetitive and generic when it comes to the choreo. That being said, this was a better solo than last week’s.

Gaby (Music: “It’s Your Thing,” Christian McBride & Dee Dee Bridgewater)

Is it weird that I actually prefer Gaby when she’s dancing outside of her style now? Yes, she’s a killer tapper, as this charming solo proved, but she’s so good in everything else that I almost forget she’s a tap dancer by trade.

Jaja (Music: “Laundry,” edIT)

I could watch Jaja for days. Like, just a constant loop of her doing stunning robot animation like this. This little lady learned from the best (her mentor TightEyez, a krumping pioneer introduced during one of the night’s video packages), and he taught her well.

Jim (Music: “Ra,” Nathan Lanier)

Perfection as usual. Jim totally earned his standing ovation with his impeccable technique and those champion thoroughbred legs.

Megz (Music: “Let It Go,” James Bay)

This wasn’t Megz’s most fiery solo (I guess it’s hard to be fiery when you’re dancing to James Bay), and it wasn’t even very hip-hop. (Lyrical hip-hop, maybe. But way more lyrical than hip-hop.) However, when she did that crazy slow-motion backbend – AND SHE STAYED THERE – she proved with that move alone that she deserved her spot in the top six. My back hurts just thinking about it, really.

DANCES BETWEEN CONTESTANTS:

Dancers: Gaby & Jim
Genre: Broadway
Music: "Fever,” Michael Bublé
Choreographer: Joshua Bergasse

A sweet, silly little number about a “lovesick” girl in the hospital who receives a visit from the literal paramour of her dreams, this was cute and fun, but a little bit of a throwaway. That was more the choreographer’s fault, of course, because Gaby and Jim were more than game. The stiff and proper Jim was more of a showman than usual, and Gaby was her usual vivacious self. But despite both dancers doing their darn best, none of the judges were really feeling this. Nigel called it “corny” and said it lacked chemistry; Paula called it “choppy and slightly contrived”; and Jason said Gaby “oozed with greatness” but Jim “lacked a little strength as a leading man.”

Dancers: Hailee & Megz
Genre: Contemporary
Music: "Sarajevo,” Max Richter & Sara Leonard
Choreographer: Stacey Tookey

This emotional, ethereal number about two inseparable sisters saying goodbye forever was lovely, and Megz was especially impressive, considering how far outside her style she was. But for some reason, I didn’t totally believe them. This felt a little surface-y to me; the bond didn’t feel real. The most powerful moment was when Hailee dropped to her knees at the dance’s end, a moment Nigel called out; that’s when ish got real. All in all, this was solid, but like a couple other dances tonight, I wanted to like this more than I did.

Dancers: Jaja & Virgil
Genre: Hip-hop
Music: "If You Crump Stand Up,” edIT
Choreographers: Pharside & Phoenix

I expected greatness from this Alice in Wonderland-themed spectacle, but in a continuation of the night’s theme, instead I just got goodness. This routine dragged a bit for me, with many pockets of space when it seemed these two weren’t doing all that much. It didn’t look challenging, even though I am sure it was. The routine had the right amount of whimsy, but not enough difficulty, especially considering that this was the finale routine of an all-important pre-finale episode. I think Paula was right to partially blame the music (which she gently scolded Pharside & Phoenix about); the edIT song seemed to hold the dancers back. Jason lamented, “I wanted it to be through the roof… it was good, but not as good as I thought it should be.” Nigel avoided critiquing the routine entirely, instead just taking up almost of the judges’ air time with a long-winded soapbox speech about the importance of hip-hop in international culture or something. That was kind of odd.

So at the end of the night, host Cat Deeley revealed the bottom two: Megz for Team Street, and Jim for Team Stage. Although I’d predicted last week that they’d be the ones to go, a few weeks ago I’d predicted that either dancer had a chance to actually win. Oh well. I predict both of them will move on the great things.

But who will win in two week’s time, after the top four dance once more for America’s votes next Monday? Really, I think it’s going to be anyone but Hailee (the only dancer in the top four who’s ever been up for elimination this season). It just may be the closest showdown in SYTYCD history between the other three. Until then, enjoy this week’s SYTYCD playlist below.

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