BWW Recap: SYTYCD All-Stars Join Top-10

For many "So You Think You Can Dance" fans, this week's addition of All-Stars to the performances was a boost of excitement to an otherwise impressive, but not always remarkable, season. The All-Stars are some of the most beloved dancers in series history, and this week's crop didn't disappoint. However, that might primarily be because the choreographers forgot that the All-Stars weren't actually competing, and gave them the bulk of the action in many of the routines. That being said, this week proved again, that in terms of talent, Season 10 of "So You Think You Can Dance" might be the deepest in series history, despite the fact that there has yet to be a breakout star this year.

After you read the recap, let us know what you thought of the Top-10 Performance show in the comments below!

Top 10 Performance:
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
A somber number complete with rocking chairs kicked off the night. While Christopher Scott had some interesting gimmicks with the chairs, the most impressive moment of the routine was when the five remaining male dancers came together to carry Jenna across the stage. I understand that for many fans, the emotional numbers are the most impactful, but I wish there was more of a variety in the styles the dancers got to experience in the group numbers.

After the unnecessarily long recap of last week's Top-12 Performance show, we get to the four dancers in danger.

In Danger
Boys: Tucker (injured last week) and Nico
Girls: Makenzie and Jenna
After the Bottom-Four announcement, Nigel says that instead of "dancing for their lives," the contestants in danger would just be focusing on their performances with their All-Stars.

Performance#1
Amy Yakima and All-Star Brandon Bryant (Season Five)
Style: Disco
Choreographer: Dariana Sanchez
Music: "I Will Always Love You (Hector Mix)" by Whitney Houston

Dariana said that this season's first Disco routine was going to be full of sparkle and a dangerous new moved called the "Disco-lation." If any contestant was going to draw the fast-paced style this week, working with a new partner for the first time, Amy was the perfect one. Her expressive faces and loads of personality (not to mention her technical prowess), made the dreaded Disco routine rather enjoyable, despite a few sloppy transitions. I'm not sure if it was the "Disco-lation" or not, but the final move saw Brandon give Amy the Death Drop of all Death Drops that left me wondering whether she hit the floor and was actually unconscious at the end of the routine or not. Afterwards, Cat was literally on her knees praising a spinning overhead lift the pair pulled off to perfection.

Performance#2
Aaron Turner and All-Star Kathryn McCormick (Season Six)
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Stacey Tookey
Music: "I'm Kissing You" by Des'ree

Along with Amy, Aaron is my pick to win this season (this week at least). His consistent ability to thrive in whatever genre given to him, is truly impressive. As the only tapper to ever make the Top-10, he has to abandon the short, staccato movements of a hoofer and adopt more fluid and artistic movements, especially in contemporary routines. Despite the fact that I am a long-time Kathryn fan, I couldn't take my eyes off of Aaron during this routine. His charisma pours through the screen and there is no doubt that he is going to be there in the end.

Performance #3
Fik-shun and All-Star Melanie Moore (Season Eight)
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Music: "Feeling Good" from "The Roar of the Greasepaint- The Smell of the Crowd" by Jennifer Hudson

Fik-shun has undoubtedly been one of the stars of this season, but paired with one of the most special talents in "SYTYCD" history, he was simply out-shined. It didn't help that Mandy Moore's choreography didn't give him a lot to do, but even when he had moments to take the lead, Melanie just overpowered him. While I don't think this will be enough to get him eliminated next week, if Fik-shun wants to go head-to-head with Aaron in the finale, he needs to step up his game in terms of technique, or Paul might just steal his spot.

Performance #4
Paul Karmiryan and All-Star and "Dancing with the Stars" pro Witney Carson (Season Nine)
Style: Cha-cha
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Généreux
Music: "Live it Up" by Jennifer Lopez

For his 22nd birthday, Paul probably couldn't have gotten a better present. Not only was he able to dance in his own style, but he got to dance with "Dancing with the Stars" vet, Witney. For some reason, in the pre-dance package, Jean-Marc was dressed like a mad scientist and worked on the equation to create a "hot cha-cha." While Witney is undoubtedly one of hottest contestants in show history, Paul was able to keep up with her for most of the routine. At times he looked like he was Witney's equal, but she had to wait on him for partnering moves a little too often. All-in-all, even if Paul doesn't win "SYTYCD," this performance might end up on his "Dancing with the Stars" audition tape.

Performance #5
Hayley Erbert and All-Star tWitch (Season Four)
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Music: "Locked Out of Heaven (Distrcit 78 Remix)" by Bruno Mars

For a hip-hop routine featuring tWitch, I was really hoping for something a little more special. However, this routine's shortcomings didn't really have much to do with either Hayley or tWitch. Christopher Scott's choreography seemed slow, and while Hayley was in sync with her All-Star throughout the routine, Christopher just didn't give her opportunities to be "hard," "dirty," or any of the other hip-hop keywords that Nigel routinely throws out. This late in the season, with a dwindling number of dancers left, the All-Star and choreography that each contestant is assigned is going to play an even larger role. Hayley has deservedly been a fan-favorite all season, but, like Fik-shun, if she doesn't kick it in gear next week, she might not make it to the finale.

Performance #6
Jenna Johnson and All-Star and Broadway vet Neil Haskell (SeasonThree)
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Music: "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Mark Masri

It was pretty obvious from the moment that the Top-20 was selected that Jenna was one of the judges' favorites. Despite that fact, she hasn't really caught on with the viewers, or at least not with those that vote. While Jenna has a substantial amount of skill, and has been able to succeed even outside of her ballroom genre, this late in the game, she needs to have a defining moment to have a chance with the fans. Tonight's number was an extremely passionate, but technically lacking, piece. Like many of the other numbers this week, there were very few spots for the contestants to stand out. Again, that is not the dancers' fault, but it is something that they are going to have to deal with. The judges seemed to like Jenna's routine a lot more than the live audience, which could create some sparks if a fan-favorite is up for elimination with judges-favorite Jenna next week, if she makes it that far.

Performance #7
Jasmine Harper and All-Star Marko Germar (Season Eight)
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Ray Leeper
Music: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell

I'm not sure that Jasmine needed any extra help, but having her dance to "the song of summer" surely can't hurt this frontrunner's chances of safety next week. Along with Amy, she is undoubtedly one of the favorites to win, and this week's routine might have catapulted her to the top of that list. In the intro package, Ray said that the dancers needed to look like they were the same person as they danced side-by-side. Unfortunately, they didn't; but that was simply because Jasmine was just superior to Marko tonight. While he might be able to do more athletically, her performance was so full of precision, intensity, and joy, that she might have stolen the award for the night's best performance from her former partner, Aaron.

Performance #8
Makenzie Dustman and All-Star Jakob Karr (Season Six)
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Broadway vet Spencer Liff
Music: "Too Darn Hot (RAC Mix)" from "Kiss Me Kate" by Ella Fitzgerald

Over at "American Idol," which Nigel Lythgoe also produced until a few months ago, conspiracy theories abound every week. However, this season is the first time that I have felt that the "SYTYCD" judges and producers have gone out of their way to champion certain dancers that the viewers just weren't feeling. Makenzie has surely had her moments to be proud of, but unfortunately, this wasn't one. Her performance of "Too Darn Hot" probably won't make anyone forget Ann Miller. All of the tricks in the routine were very slow, and lacked the sensuality that is inherent in this showtune, especially when performed by Ella Fitzgerald.

Performance #9
Nico Greetham and All-Star Comfort Fedoke (Season Four)
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo
Music by: "Get Ur Freak On (Amended LP Version)" by Missy Elliot

NappyTabs said that their routine's movements, which mimicked those of lizards, had to be precise, deliberate, and explosive; and I have to admit that I was shocked that they actually were. I haven't been the biggest Nico-fan throughout the season, but he more than held his own with hip-hop All-Star Comfort. Despite his decidedly non-"dirty" personality, I actually believed Nico as a hip-hop dancer this week. If he is safe, I am not sure if this is going to be enough to overcome either fan-favorite, Fik-shun or Aaron, to avoid being in danger next week, but honestly, it should.

Performance #10
Tucker Knox and All-Star Robert Roland (Season Seven)
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Broadway vet Travis Wall
Music by: "Medicine" by Daughter

In the only same-gender partnership of the night, Travis Wall paired with two dancers that have both been through near-death experiences in recent years. With Mia Michaels largely missing the last few years, Travis has become the most consistently moving choreographer on the show's roster. Despite some tears from Mary, this routine didn't hit me like it was designed to do. There were some synchronization issues in the middle, and its poignant message notwithstanding, I would be surprised if Tucker wasn't back in danger next week, if he survives this elimination.

Dancers Eliminated From the Competition: Makenzie and Nico

I know this will make me sound like one of those foil-hat wearing conspiracy theorists, but considering that the "SYTYCD" production team always has a video package ready to go that has highlights of both eliminated dancers mixed together, how are we supposed to believe that the night's performances actually factor into that week's elimination decisions?

Best Boy of the Night: Aaron
Worst Boy of the Night: Fik'shun
Should be Bottom Two Boys: Fik'shun and Tucker
Best Girl of the Night: Jasmine
Worst Girl of the Night: Makenzie
Should be Bottom Two Girls: Hayley and Jenna

Before the show went off the air, Cat teased that next week, not only will the Top-Eight contestants dance with All-Stars, but, for the first time, they will be choreographed by All-Stars as well. Cat didn't say if their partners will also be their choreographers (ala "DWTS"), or not, but after another week of lackluster choreography, I am excited to see what the All-Stars come up with.

All right, I've told you what I think, now it is your turn. Let us know who you thought had the best and worst performances from the "SYTYCD" Top-10 Performance show in the comments below.

Photo: Top-10 Group Performance
Photo Credit: Adam Rose/FOX

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