The Real Top 10

All but two of the 10 duets for this week got a standing ovation from the judges!  That's how great the performances are this week! Oh my gosh!  I don't have the words!  The All Stars really brought everything to the next level ten levels higher!

The show started off elegantly with the top 10 number choreographed by Chris Scott.  Clever use of the rocking chair!  These choreographers have such weirdly creative ideas for props.

The duets were started by a high energy, heart-stopping disco routine by the great Doriana Sanchez performed by Brandon and Amy.  The lifts are really scary but it's Brandon who is doing them and with those big biceps, and considering how small Amy is, they were done perfectly!  Almost too perfect really especially on that last death drop!  An inch from the floor! Oh my!

That was followed by a sharp and funky jazz performance by the beast herself, Melanie paired with Fik-shun.  Their dance really left you feeling good.  Melanie is as sharp as ever and Fik-shun for the most part was able to match her brilliance.

SYTYCD 10 Top 10

Yes.  It's still two more weeks until the top 10 dancers are revealed but as early as now, I would like to make my predictions.

I think the girls are so much stronger than the guys this year.  They are better trained, have more personality and are amazing performers.  Here are my thoughts on who will make it to the top 10.

1. Hayley.  Let me just say what an opportunity for Hayley this week to be able to dance with the choreographer himself - Leonardo! Even Mary Murphy was envious!  Hayley has been consistently voted to safety so even though she isn't the strongest among the women, I think she'll cruise through to the top 10.
2. Makenzie.  Consistently at the bottom 3.  Consistently saved by the judges because of her amazing performances and professionalism.  I hope America votes her to the top 10 and if not, I hope the judges do not tire of saving her.
3. Paul.  The ever-gelled Armenian, who I admire for having the courage to take on another season of SYTYCD in a foreign country at that, has revealed himself to be a very strong contender.

first elimination, SYTYCD 10

They changed it last year, in season 9.  They were only given one night every week for the show.  Same goes for this year. Just one night to showcase all these dance talents! But they changed the order of presentation.  They moved the elimination to the beginning of the show. And that changed everything. It changed the mood. It changed the dynamic. It changed the feel of the entire episode.

On the one hand, the professionalism of the dancers was brought to light. On the other hand, it was quite a challenge for everyone to contain their emotions after learning the news and still managed to give it their best, as they should.

SYTYCD 10

Aaaaahhhh! These promos from Fox featuring the all-stars have got me all excited about the new season of so you think you can dance! As a frustrated dancer, I have been a fan of the show from the very first season where Melody, a Filipina, came second to Nick Lazarini! Can't wait to see the show and what new things they've decided to put in. I hope they retain much of the format and rules from the previous season though! Aaaaahhh!

The promo features (from 7 to 1) Kathryn, Robert, Whitney, Twitch, Lauren, Mark and Neil.

Season 9

The top 20 of the so you think you can dance's season 9 performed this week. Four of them will be cut next week! Too soon, I say. I wish the dancers get to stay 5 weeks before any of them gets cut. Viewers can still vote each week. But the votes will be aggregated so that come the fifth week of performances, the dances are ranked and the bottom 10 get cut. This way, the dancers will get more chances of showing their talent, their personality. The current format puts some of the dancers at the mercy of the choreographer. And talented as the choreographers are, sometimes, they miss too to the detriment of the dancer. :(

Anyway, this week's top 20 performance is freaking amazing! Christopher Scott is a genius! Choreography was superb. Use of props was seamless. And the dancers he highlighted were great. Except for one. Hehe. The stepper guy, I forgot his name - what he did in his "solo" was so-so. It didn't really add any value, I think, to the entire performance. Contrast that with Amelia's and Chohan's!

Must watch performances this week - Travis Wall's unchained melody and Jason Gilkison's paso doble! Nigel was right in saying that Travis' choreography is really mature, well-thought out. Travis uses the intricacies of the music to his advantage. He lets it enhance his artistry! The paso, too, was spectacular! The best paso doble so far in the history of so you think you can dance! Right, Mary Murphy?

I can't wait for next week's performance. I wonder, too, how they will do the cut.

So you think you can dance is happiness! :)