So You Think You Can Dance’s 100th episode extravaganza was all that it was chalked up to be – and also a little bit less.
Actress Katie Holmes’ admirably performed her much touted Judy Garland tribute. Her voice was magical singing “Get Happy,” and her dancing entertained despite its simplicity.
But perhaps the most magical moments of all were the opening performance of Mia Michael choreographed “One” from A Chorus Line, and performances of the three Emmy-winning routines from previous years. The choreography, of course, represented some of the best in the show’s five years – and the dancing seemed flawless.
Lending a sadness to the festivity, though, was the fact that one guy and girl would be sent home – and then the fact that the two dancers who were voted to leave were actually two who had been given high chances of winning the competition to find America’s best young dancing talent. This seemed to highlight the fact that drawing the wrong dance style or the wrong partner -- or simply being handed a less than spectacular choreographed routine -- can send any dancer home.
Voted off the show this week were Janette Manrara, 23, from Hialeah, FL, and Jason Glover, 21, from Fresno, CA.
Early in the show host Cat Deeley announced that two of the “safe” dancers were Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi, who the prior evening had brought judges to tears with an emotional performance intrepreting the effects of breast cancer and the courage of its victims and their friends. Also safe were Jeanine Mason and Evan Kasprzak.
That left Manrara and Glover, along with Kayla Radomski and Brandon Bryant in the Bottom Four. But at this stage of the competition, all of the dancers are impressing the judges and the universe of viewers – so it seemed uncertain who would leave.
And after Manrara’s name was announced, judge Nigel Lythgoe remarked, “You were my favorite. I really wanted you to win. This has ruined the celebration for me. America got it wrong.”
But Manrara voiced that she was feeling fine despite being voted off the show – that she will remember “everyone I have met. This made me realize how much I love to dance – this is what I am meant to do, and I am going to continue doing it.”
After Manrara, Deeley announced that popular dancer Glover would also be leaving the show -- hugging him and remarking that he was “fantastic.” After his name was announced as the guy to leave, he said, “I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point – the dancers, the choreographers, the judges – everyone. It has been a great ride.”
The 100th anniversary show was a spectacular display of dancing that, unfortunately, was bittersweet, ending with the sadness of watching two of the most talented dancers bidding their final adieu on the regular show. So the extravaganza was all that it was chalked up to be, but in the end left the judges and probably much of the audience feeling a little let down with the final visions of Manrara and Glover waving their final on-air good-byes.
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