So You Think You Can Dance: the recap

Lenni G. hits the dance floor, to report:

So, once again, we had 17 dances to watch last night. Of those 17, probably more than half were pretty average, or "flat" as Nigel would say. It is, after all, down to the final eight and we expect spectacular. So we waited and we waited, and then we got incredibly spectacular. But, let's go back to the beginning of the show and work up to, imho, the best dance ever on this program.

Judges for the night were Nigel, Mary, Mia and Ellen DeGeneres, who declared she had no formal dance training, but had "street smarts," albeit in a gated community.

First routine of the night was from alum, Travis Wall, who had the top 8 doing a "Rave" routine from the year 2100. The sync of the costumes, choreography and music was just fabulous. Nigel called it great and very, "Lady Gaga." Mary agreed with me about the costumes, etc., and Mia said she had a blast. Ellen said, "I can do that," but then "admitted" that Travis had asked her to help with wardrobe. And though they made a mistake initially by using Christmas lights and extension cords, they finally got it all together. Mary could not stop laughing.

We had new partnerships this week for the couples who did two dances together as well as one solo each. Janette and Evan's first couples' dance was a Jazz number from Sonya Tayeh. Nigel called them "two little stars," told Evan he finally brought more and told Janette that she was, and always is, wonderful. Ellen said it was amazing, Mary called it a "good job" and Mia said that though, "Evan can never be the dark, twisted dancer that Sonya requires," he certainly made a step in the right direction. And, in a first for Mia, she called Janette her favorite dancer of this season.

Jeanine and Brandon were the next couple doing a Waltz from Hunter Johnson. Nigel said the slow music was for insomniacs and that he was generally disappointed. Mary said they were respectable doing a really slow Waltz that would be tough for a pro, Mia thought it would be a lot better but that it was just "lacking" all around. Ellen said she had discussed the whole thing with Twyla Tharp while in the line for the ladies restroom and that she and Twyla agreed it was fantastic. Mary, Mia and Nigel could not stop laughing.

Melissa and Ade's (yes, they were reunited) first couples' dance was a Cha Cha routine from Tony and Melanie. After generally mixed, mostly not good comments from Nigel, Mary and Mia, Ellen announced that, "You two must be carpenters cuz' you really nailed it." You go girl!

Final first round couples dance of the night was a Broadway routine from Tyce Diorio. Kayla and Jayson got high marks from all the judges, including a real train whistle, hot tamale style, from Mary. Mia told Kayla she could take Broadway by storm and that she was the, "epitome of a girl." Ellen invited the pair over to her house after the show to hang some pictures since they were both such "good nailers." And we're laughing out loud again.

Second round of couples dances started with Janette and Evan doing a Rumba from Tony and Melanie. Nigel went into PMS mode here, especially on Evan saying he had "heavy eyelids" and showed "no emotion." Ellen told Evan she loved his face and eyes and that he was a "special guy." Mia agreed with Ellen telling Evan, "We celebrate you," and that the look on his face was more "Zoolander" than sexy, but still cool. You lose Nigel.

Second routine from Jeanine and Brandon was a Pop Jazz number from new choreographer, Laurieann Gibson with music by Jordin Sparks ("Battlefield"). Laurieann was very demanding in rehearsals, bringing Jeanine to tears at one point, but she got what she wanted which was "no thinking, just feeling." Finally, Pop Jazz stuff I like. Nigel called the performance, "Exactly what we want. Thank you. Hooray at last." Mary called it "strong, powerful and dynamic" and Mia said, "You guys really went into a place." Ellen said the military style costumes had to really make this dance "appealing to the armed forces," and everybody else as far as I'm concerned. I want more Laurieann routines and soon.

The third dance in the second round was a Contemporary number from Tyce Diorio about a woman with breast cancer. As Melissa said to Ade, "This is not about the steps. It's about portraying emotions." And, she was so right. This ended up being the incredibly spectacular moment of the night, the season, the whole series. The judges, the audience, the dancers, and I completely lost it. Nigel could barely speak, saying, "This is why I love dance so much, its ability to express so many emotions with no words. It was one of the most memorable routines ever and I can't think of a better couple to dance this dance." Ellen considered herself privileged to have seen it and said it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Mary gave huge props to Tyce for showing such love and compassion. Mia, completely broken up, called it "an important piece of work that was the perfect portrait for what was being said." I am still getting the chills just thinking about it.

Having to follow this totally amazing performance were Kayla and Jason doing a Hip Hop routine from Shane Sparks about a zombie and his zombie mistress. Nigel and Mia gave props to Shane for his choreography, with Mia calling it, "Strange but disturbingly hot." Mary said they "hit it and hit it hard". And Ellen, with her final comedic comment of the evening said, "Keep dancing like that and you'll have your own talk show."

As for the solos, in my opinion, the J girls, Janette and Jeanine, were the top two with the other six ranging from mildly interesting to downright boring.

Thought I had a clue as to who might be leaving tonight, but I really don't. Think it might be harder to call for the girls than the guys, particularly after Melissa's incredible contemporary routine. So, on to the 100th episode and the much hyped Katie Holmes appearance. Remember folks, this is Tyce Diorio choreography that Katie will be doing and we all know how great Tyce is. Happy viewing to you all.