So You Think You Can Dance - First Performance Show

Last night was the first performance show where viewers get to vote on So You Think You Can Dance.  Because Fox canceled the results show, the viewers are now voting for individuals instead of couples.  Everyone get to perform two routines, one this week and one next week, before finding out who's on the bottom three.  Nigel mentioned that next week, the judges will eliminate two boys and two girls. 

The night started with a great group routine.  The second the music and dancing started I knew it had to be a Christopher Scott routine.  His hallmarks were there - the instrumental score, the intricate group interactions, and the hand choreography.   I'm so happy that even though the results show doesn't exist anymore, they are not taking away the group numbers.  The group numbers are usually some of the best routines of the season.

All of the routines tonight were pretty amazing.  Everyone danced well, and the couples seem to click well for the most part.

Favorite routines:

1) Cole and Lindsay's Paso Doble from Jason Gilkinson.  This was easily the best dance of the night.  Cole was so dynamic and forceful, and the paso doble really suits his martial arts background.  This was also the first time my eyes were actually drawn to Lindsay - she really held her own (which she should since it was her own genre - how did it happen that all three ballroom dancers drew their own genre?), and her performance was actually vibrant and energetic instead of just being blah.

2) Amelia and Will's lyrical hip-hop from NappyTab.  (Congratulations to Nappy Tab for the impending birth of their baby!  How cute was pregnant Tabitha in that red dress?)  I haven't been a big fan of Amelia, but I have to admit she really knocked it out of the park tonight in this cat routine.  Her looks and dancing style really suited the piece, and she didn't try to put too much of her shtick into it, which was nice.  Will really used his height to his advantage here, and didn't get completely overshadowed by Amelia.  His personality is what's going to get people to vote for him. 

3) Audrey and Matt's contemporary piece from Travis Wall.  I'm already biased because I love the Righteous Brothers' rendition of Unchained Melody, but I think this routine was fantastic.  The dancers had great chemistry, the movements were intricate yet intimate, and they really used the stage well.  It's amazing how much Travis Wall has grown as a choreographer. 

Least favorite routines:

1) Eliana and Cyrus's Broadway routine from Tyce.  I love Eliana and Cyrus, but I thought this piece was not very good.  It's not just because I don't like Tyce, but because it was slow, boring, and you can see Eliana and Cyrus working so hard to infuse it with personality.  The piece is in trouble if the dancers had to work that hard to look like they're having fun.  I hope people will still put Eliana and Cyrus through. 

2) Janaya and Brandon's lyrical hip hop from NappyTab.  Brandon was a beast as usual, but Janaya disappeared in the routine.  She wasn't hitting the moves hard enough, and her acting wasn't up to par. 

3) Amber and Nick's Viennese Waltz from Jason Gilkinson.  This is the least successful pair of the night for me.  There was no chemistry at all from Amber and Nick.  For the most part the dancing was flowy and dreamy like a Viennese Waltz supposed to be, but Amber looks angry and Nick looks anxious. 

Predictions on who will be in trouble next week:

Boys: Brandon, Dareian, and Nick
Girls: Amber, Janaya, and Tiffany