We’re down to only six dancers in So You Think You Can Dance season 9 — Chehon Wespi-Tchopp, Cole Horibe, Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer, Eliana Girard, Tiffany Maher and Witney Carson. And now it’s time to lose two more? They go so fast… Find out who gets to stay for another week and who has to go home here in this So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 recap.
Let’s go!
Don’t remember the dances from last week? Check out the Top 8 dancers’ solos here.
The opening number this week is kind of like formal ballroom dancing as envisioned by Tim Burton. At least the first part is. It gets kind of hip-hoppy after awhile. We also get Phantom of the Opera masks and a mash-up that would make Glee proud.
Sonya Tayeh was, of course, responsible for this.
Wait, So You Think You Can Dance is on Tuesday next week? You’d think I would know important things like that, being a SYTYCD recapper and all.
Not that it matters — the judges don’t get to make final decisions, starting this week — but Christina Applegate is the guest judge this week. Yes, she’s back. Always a nice thing.
There are like a million dances this week, beginning with…
Tiffany Maher and Benji Schwimmer
Dance: Jive
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Genereux
Tiffany always looks like she’s having a good time when dancing. This works in a jive. Her movements may be a bit exaggerated, compared to her partner. But this is only a small criticism. If this competition were judged solely on hair flipping, there is no way Tiffany could lose. As it is, she still has a decent chance.
The judges start off with a standing ovation, while Cat admonishes Benji to put Tiffany on the ground. Nigel raves about the energy. And just about everything else. Mary gets excited about the swing-dancing excellence. Christina sounds a little like a Benji-stalker before giving some excellent commentary.
Witney Carson — Solo
Because I can’t identify a paso doble from the steps alone, I’m not sure if this is one. But Witney’s skirt seems to imply that it is. Very toreador-ish. Not the best solo ever but still fun to watch.
Cole Horibe and Melanie Moore
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Cole gets to be nice this time. He also gets to be half-naked. We all win!
This seems to be the kind of dance that plays to Cole’s strengths — athleticism, precision and emotion. I actually feel bad for this couple during their painful breakup. Maybe these two crazy kids can work things out!!!
Mary praises Cole for staying noticeable when dancing with Melanie. Christina refers to Cole as “masterful” and “beautifully androgynous.” Nigel is cool with Cole’s adaptability.
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp — Solo
Chehon goes all badass for this solo. Somehow he makes it work, even with the ballet. There really needs to be more badass ballet in the world.
Eliana Girard and Twitch Boss
Style: Hip hop
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Apparently, this choreography has been inspired by the plot of a porn film. Why not?
How weird would it be for someone like Eliana to pop up from behind a mailbox? Even with the intensely confusing music, this dance looks good. Eliana does a good job playing up the sexiness of her part. Her hip hop might not be quite as good as her sexy, but it’s still pretty good.
Christina starts with her own little dance and then asks for a perpetual performance of “YMCA” from Eliana. Nigel thinks that the routine relies too much on the character, calling it a “cheap burger.” Mary likes the entertainment of it all.
Tiffany Maher — Solo
Tiffany is very bendy. Like a pretty pipe cleaner. You know, if pipe cleaners danced. It’s not the most artistic solo ever, but Tiffany does show her skills here.
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp and Kathryn McCormick
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
The dancers have nothing left but a suitcase. That’s sad.
This dance is also sad. There is a lot of writhing around on the ground, along with painful leaning on each other and on the suitcase. Chehon dances well, and the entire story is believable. It’s hard to actually like it though. Too sad.
Another standing ovation from the judges. Nigel gets all emotional when talking about the 1940s (why that decade, I don’t know) and immigrants. Mary uses variations on the word “move” a lot. Probably because she is moved. Seriously, tears are barely held back. Christina actually does start crying a little while praising the pair.
Cole Horibe — Solo
Cole starts in a black hood, very Sith Lord-like. Then he does some robot-like stuff. OK, Cole. We get it. You can do anything. No need to rub it in… Or keep rubbing it in if you want. It’s cool to watch!
Witney Carson and Marko Germar
Style: Lyrical Jazz
Choreographer: Ray Leeper
Witney gets to be the child bride in this one. Unless her father actually kills Marco before the wedding…
This is one of those jerky dances. Jerky on purpose, of course. Despite this, the performance is quite pretty. Dances like this are why Witney is still in the competition — she’s almost as much of a chameleon as Eliana. She does a good job of making us feel like she really wants to escape too.
Mary thinks Witney is a star but wants to know why they would break up. Christina is a little concerned about Witney’s excessive hair-ography. Nigel praises Witney’s commitment (to dancing, not to the fake marriage).
Eliana Girard — Solo
Eliana does a lot of stuff that doesn’t actually look possible. Beautiful, yes. Possible, no. This may just be what they mean when they talk about “lines.”
Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer and Comfort Fedoke
Style: Dub-step
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Cyrus is happy about this.
Apparently, Comfort is on a movie screen in this. But Cyrus gets through the screen somehow so he can dance with her. He is obviously way more comfortable with this (even if it is choreography) than he usually is. It’s a very cool and entertaining performance.
Yet another standing ovation from the judges. This seems to overwhelm poor Cyrus. Not able to stop the audience shrieks, Christina just gives in with a woo! Nigel raves about the “Jacob’s ladder” move. Mary refers to all of the “Twitters” they’re getting about Cyrus before she moves on to praising too.
Witney Carson and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp
Style: Cha-cha
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Genereux
You wouldn’t know this is a cha-cha at the beginning. But then they get into it. Witney is definitely the star of this dance — not a shock, considering. Chehon spends a fair amount of time looking stoic while Witney goes nuts around him. He partners well enough, but this is obviously not Chehon’s style.
Mary thinks Chehon has improved since the samba. But not enough. Then she calls Witney “Lindsay.” Christina was blinded by the plie at the beginning and has no further commentary. Nigel thinks the lift didn’t work and that more hips were needed.
Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer — Solo
This dance seems to have more writhing in it than most of Cyrus’ robot dances. Still the crazy moves, just with a new emotion.
Eliana Girard and Cole Horibe
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Mia Michaels
“I was inspired by rams.” — Mia Michaels
^ Not something you hear very often.
They start out on the floor. And then they stay on the floor for quite awhile. When they do stand up, there’s some serious flying across the stage. This looks to be as much ballet as contemporary, which makes sense, considering the strengths of the two dancers. The ending is weird — facial expressions instead of movement. Wow.
Standing ovation number 4. Nigel goes with my comment of “Wow.” Mary calls it mesmerizing and powerful. Christina has trouble finding words. For anything. She does manage: “There’s like lights coming out of your feet.”
Tiffany Maher and Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Spencer Liff
What kind of parents would believe homework would happen when kids are left alone.
Tiffany seems to be doing a lot of the actual dancing in this, using Cyrus as a prop. Nothing against Cyrus — he’s acting like crazy. It’s just that he seems more like someone to be danced around rather than with. Tiffany, on the other hand, is kind of insanely amazing.
Christina is super-entertained and really, really wants to throw pens through Cyrus’ ears. Nigel worries about what this means about teenage girls. Then he refers to “Honey-boo-boo-yogi-bear.” Mary thinks it’s so cute that she can’t stop shrieking.
Before we get any results, there is a performance from the Axis Dance Company of Oakland. Oh, I remember this group — they incorporate disabled dancers for rather incredible performances.
Eliminations
Now for the Top 6 to go down to the Top 4. Who has to go? Who gets to stay?
Tiffany Maher is in the SYTYCD Top 4!
Eliana Girard is in the SYTYCD Top 4!
Which means…
Witney Carson has been eliminated from So You Think You Can Dance.
Time for the guys…
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp is in the SYTYCD Top 4!
Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer is in the SYTYCD Top 4!
Which means…
Cole Horibe has been eliminated from So You Think You Can Dance.
Wow. That’s not the most obvious result. People really, really must like Chehon and Cyrus! And that’s what it’s all about.
What do you think of these results? Is this the Top 4 that you would have picked? Were these the right eliminations? Leave your comments below!
(Images courtesy of FOX)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
Laurel grew up in Mamaroneck, NY, Grosse Pointe, MI and Bellevue WA. She then went on to live in places like Boston, Tucson, Houston, Wales, Tanzania, Prince Edward Island and New York City before heading back to Seattle. Ever since early childhood, when she became addicted to The Muppet Show, Laurel has watched far too much TV. Current favorites include Chuck, Modern Family, Supernatural, Mad Men and Community. Laurel received a BA in Astrophysics (yes, that is possible) from Colgate University and a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and History of Science from Columbia University before she realized that television is much better than studying.
