It was quite a night -- a whole new season with 20 talented competitors on So You Think You Can Dance! And just as home viewers were getting used to new names and new faces -- and the dancers were getting used to their new partners, two of the dancers were to be sent home!
With the season just getting underway, already the show has suffered two casualties -- 19-year-old Billy Bell from West Palm Beach, considered a strong contender, left the group due to illness. And 18-year-old Noelle Marsh from Sanford, NC suffered an injury that prevented her from performing, although she still was expected to dance next week.
The couples whirled, twirled, jumped and twisted in various dance styles. Ashleigh and Jakob performed a Broadway routine, Ariana and Peter drew a hip hop, Russell and choreographer Melanie, a substiture for Nicole, performed a fox trot and Bianca and Victor really impressed with a Travis Wall choreographed routine.
Karen and Kevin did a sexy cha cha -- which garnered Karen a ride on the hot tamale train. Ellenore and Ryan did a commendable contemporary jazz. Brandon and Pauline, with only a day and a-half of dancing together, did a waltz that seemed good considering their brief preparation. Channing and Philip performed a jive; Kathryn and Legacy hit a home run with their hip hop and youngsters Mollee and Nathan impressed with a super energetic disco that had even Adam Shankman, who admits that he is not a disco fan, saying that he loved the number!
It almost felt too soon for an elimination -- as if everyone deserved a bit more time to strengthen their fundamentals and a bit more time to adjust. But rules are rules and a boy and girl were to be sent home by judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Shankman.
Chosen to dance for their lives were Brandon Dumlao, 21, from Concord, CA; Pauline Mata, 18, from West Covina, CA; Ariana Debose, 18, from Raleigh, NY and Russell Ferguson, 20, from Boston, MA.
The decision of the judges was unanimous, said Lythgoe -- first eliminated was Ariana, and second was Brandon. And Lythgoe reminded the dancers and viewers that all four dancers were incredibly talented to make it all the way to the top 20.
So the remaining dancers will need to work hard to keep improving, stepping up their acts. Lythgoe said that all of the dancers must really excel to remain in the competition to the end because the level of talent is so high this season.
Without Ariana, Brandon and Billy -- the remaining dancers will return for another round as they try to become America's favorite dancer!
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