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BWW Recap: SYTYCD Reveals Top-20 Amidst Ultimatums, Early Contenders & A Broken Tooth
By: Matt Tamanini Jun. 26, 2014
After four weeks of impressive, but not compelling, auditions, on Wednesday night, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE's 11th season dove head-first into an expedited Vegas Callback Week. Not only did we see each of the callback rounds, but we also saw the Green Mile, which brought us to this season's Top-20. While not having the Green Mile lead into a studio performance, as in recent years, was a little disappointing, I definitely appreciated not having the Top-20 announcements drug out for an entire two-hour broadcast.
Having seen a select few contestants in multiple styles tonight, you can begin to see a handful of dancers that might have staying power. I will include some of my early picks at the end of the article as to not spoil the oh so dramatic results...
Joining Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphey on the Callback Judging Panel is SYTYCD regular Adam Shankman, All-Star tWitch, Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater Tara Lipinski, and famed ballerina Irina Dvorovenko.
I tried to Review as many performances as possible, but with the format of the Callbacks, sometimes that was tricky. Obviously they didn't show each performance in any round, so I recapped the performance they showed in full.
SOLOS ROUND
The Callbacks started with all 157 dancers performing their Solos.
Tanisha Belnap
Payson, Utah
Style: Ballroom
Three-Word Review: Typical Utah Hotness
Steven Kador
Baton Rouge, LA
Style: Hip-Hop
Three-Word Review: Holy Baby Daddy!
After the solos, 36 dancers were sent home, leaving 121 for the choreography rounds.
CHOREOGRAPHY CHALLENGE #1
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographers: Christopher Scott assisted by Jasmine Harper
Audition favorite Marie Poppins advanced by the skin of her teeth. Nigel said he thought her performance was terrible and chastised his fellow judges for putting her through. Nigel thought their lenience set a bad precedent. Then the very next, very blonde, dancer, Nigel gave a second chance...
"Dance For Your Life" Solo
Jessica Richens
Yorba Linda, CA
Style: Jazz
Three-Word Review: Wowza. Humina Humina.
CHOREOGRAPHY CHALLENGE #2
Style: Jazz
Choreographers: Sonya Tayeh assisted by George Lawrence II and Amy Yakima
New daddy Steven Kador and Marie Poppins were both eliminated after rough performances in this round.
"Dance For Your Life" Solo
Jana "Jaja" Vankova
Chatsworth, CA
Style: Hip-Hop
Three-Word Review: Un Flippin' Real
After the Jazz Round 65 dancers remained in the running for the Top-20.
CHOREOGRAPHY CHALLENGE #3
Style: Ballroom
Choreographers: Dmitry Chaplin & Anya Garnis
After watching SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, I knew ballroom was cut-throat but during the rehearsals, one dancer had half of a tooth knocked out when he got elbowed in the face by his partner.
Last year, despite making it to the Top-20, Emilio Dosal had to leave the competition before the live shows due to a broken nose suffered during rehearsals; a development that allowed finalist Aaron Turner into the Top-20. However, Emilio was back at the Callbacks and dancing the ballroom round with his crewmate Jaja. In full ballroom regalia, the crumper and the animator tore up the round, advancing to "The Dreaded Contemporary Round."
CHOREOGRAPHY CHALLENGE #4
Style: Contemporary
Choreographers: Travis Wall assisted by Makenzie Dustman
Despite the reputation of being the toughest choreography round, apparently this year's Contemporary routine wasn't too terrible as we were given the impression that the judges were pleased by the results.
"Dance For Your Life" Solo
Bridget Whitman
Tempe, AZ
Style: Contemporary
Three-Word Review: Beautiful Technically/Emotionally
GROUP ROUND
Whether it is American Idol or SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, Group Round is always dramatic. For SYTYCD the remaining 29 boys and 21 girls were divided up into groups of five, including dancers of varying styles. Once assigned, the groups selected a random CD and spent the night choreographing.
Group #1
Group Name: One Love
Dancers: Ryan, Ryan, Novien, Carly, Serena
Style: Ballroom
Three-Word Review: What was that?
The judges were really disappointed with the choreography choices the group made, and Nigel made them a deal that they would have to go out and decide which group members would be eliminated, and which would stay. I smell a trap!
Group #2
Dancers: Trenton, Kamille, Zack, Malene, Johnny "Wacks"
Style: Contemporary
Three-Word Review: Wacking for all!
After all of the other groups had performed, One Love was brought back on stage, and tearfully explained that they could not vote one person off. They each took responsibility for a poor group performance, which (as predicted) was exactly what Nigel wanted to hear, as he sent all onto the next round.
FINAL SOLO ROUND
With just 44 dancers remaining, they each took to the stage one more time to earn their spot in the Top-20.
Ricky Ubeda
Miami, FL
Style: Contemporary
Three-Word Review: He's a Contender
Last week's winning dance crew was Poppers Control Freakz. Definitely the right choice. They were a lot of fun.
Season 11 TOP-20 (in order of announcement)
Ricky Ubeda (Contemporary)
Jessica Richens (Jazz)
Jacque LaWarne (Ballet)
Teddy Coffey (Hip-Hop/Tap)
Stanley Glover (Contemporary)
Carly Blaney (Contemporary)
Emilio Dosal (Hip-Hop/Popping)
Bridget Whitman (Contemporary)
Valerie Rockey (Tap)
Zack Everhart (Tap)
Jourdan Epstein (Ballet)
Casey Askew (Contemporary)
Emily James (Contemporary)
Nick Garcia (Latin Ballroom)
Tanisha Belnap (Ballroom)
Serge Onik (Latin Ballroom)
Malene Ostergaard (Latin Ballroom)
Marcquet Hill (Latin Ballroom)
Brooklyn Fullmer (Latin Ballroom)
Rudy Abreu (Contemporary)
My Early, Not At All Confident Potential, Might Turn Into Favorites Down the Road List
Guys
Ricky Ubeda
Emilio Dosal
Marcquet Hill
Casey Askew
Jessica Richens
Valerie Rockey
Emily James
Jacque LeWarne
So, did your early faves make the Top-20? How badly did you miss Justin Bieber and his choreographer? You got any early picks to be this year's "America's Favorite Dancer?" Let me know in the comments below, and on Twitter @BWWMatt.
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