CAITLIN AND PHILLIP LEAVE SYTYCD

Clearly “So You Think You Can Dance” has reached a point in the competition where every dancer is a top talent who deserves to stay.

This was highlighted when judge Nigel Lythgoe, for the very first time in eliminations, termed both departing dancers as “brilliant” – and then took the unprecedented step of adding these two dancers to the Top-Ten line-up that continues on to the So You Think You Can Dance Fall Tour.

Lythgoe, also for the first time, did not address each of the three boys and three girls prior to announcing who would go home. He simply asked Caitlin to step forward and said, “Unfortunately, it’s the end of the journey. You have been absolutely brilliant.”




And he turned to Phillip, again hailing his talent, but saying “There is no question that you are unique in what you do. However, in all other genres, we have been disappointed.”

After his elimination, Phillip presented what was probably the most eloquent farewell speech of any elminated contestant. He explained to viewers that he had started the SYTYCD competition without the benefit of a high level of formal training -- so what he would miss most about the show would be the opportunity "to grow." And then he very passionately revealed that his greatest hope was that he has inspired other dancers with the knowledge that even without the benefit having much money, "with passion and creativity, you can do anything you want.”


This week Caitlin Kinney, a twenty-one year old from Aurora, CO, and her partner Jason Glover had performed a foxtrot to “Minnie The Moocher” and a lyrical jazz to “Show Me Heaven.” Following the performances, Lythgoe said that in the fox trot the pair had done “some incredible things.” And Murphy called the performance “cool and elegant.”

But in their lyrical jazz Lythgoe lamented that even though the dancers were technically good, he did not always see chemistry between them. Murphy opined that she saw the chemistry and, while they had performed well, she simply did not find the routine “memorable.”


Phillip Chbeeb, a twenty-year-old from Los Angeles, and his partner Jeanine Mason performed a Russian folk dance to “Kalinka” and a jive to “Stuff Like That There.” After the Russian dance, Lythgoe said that the dance was “too folky,” and Murphy said that “on the good side, you made it look believable and effortless.”

Later Lythgoe said that Phillip, in performing the jive, was the best that he had been outside of his own style, and Murphy had screamed and placed Jeanine on the Hot Tamale Train.

Other dancers voted by fans into the Bottom Three were Caitlin’s dance partner, Jason Glover; Phillip’s dance partner Jeanine and couple Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi.