Did you SEE that routine??

No solos tonight on So You Think You Can Dance?, just two dances per couple. I guess they realized that having them dance the same solo two or three times was a bit excessive. Thanks.

I had high expectations for the first couple of the night, Donyelle & Travis. They’re two of the most talented dancers in the competition, and are so much fun to watch. They started with a creepy hip hop routine. I hated the masks. REALLY hated them. It was so unfair to them to make them dance in masks. Aside from the fact that they couldn’t see each other (which explains why at some points they were a little off), we couldn’t see their faces. As Nigel said, so much of dancing is in the face. If they had done the exact same routine without the masks, it would have been a million times better. Their second dance was quick step. Admittedly, this wasn’t such a great routine either. Hopefully people will recognize what great dancers they are, realize that they sort of pulled the short stick with the routines tonight, and vote them through anyways.

Allison & Ivan were next up, with a very lucky pull to be paired together again. Their chemistry is amazing – they dance together better than they dance apart. Their tango was so good – so hot, really. And for as hot as their tango was, their hip hop routine was even better. The choreography was perfect for them – it was so amazing to watch.

Ryan must have been so excited this week – he’s been waiting to dance with Natalie the entire show. Too bad his dancing didn’t mirror his enthusiasm in their first routine. They danced disco, and he just didn’t seem to get it. I kind of felt bad for Natalie – even though they aren’t getting votes as a couple, his dancing could easily put her in the bottom two. They pulled it together for the second dance, really helped by the fact that they were dancing contemporary (both of their strengths). The routine was beautiful. And even though I still think Ryan will be going home, it was nice to see him show why he belongs.

The couple of the night was definitely Heidi & Benji. Let’s just review…they’re cousins…they dance together…professionally. They started with a Broadway routine that was fantastic. But for as good as it was, it couldn’t even begin to compare to their second dance, the club mambo. I agree completely with the judges – that was the best performance of the competition. It was so polished and so professional. I don’t know how they can’t be considered favorites to win the whole thing.

We’re really down to it on the voting. The guys are a little easier – I think Ryan is the clear choice to go home. Not sure who will be the other guy in the bottom two (or even if they’ll bother with a bottom two tomorrow), but just based on tonight’s dancing I think it will be Travis. The girls are much harder, especially when you look at their dancing from the entire show. I think it will probably be Allison & Natalie in the bottom two, though, with Natalie going home.