"So You Think You Can Dance" Season 11 Recap: The Top 14 Perform
Arg, it’s the toughest cut yet. And, is it just me, or is everyone starting to look a little bit tired? But on a positive note, once we’re down to the Top 10, every vote will really, really count—and we’ll all find out that it’s possible to get just a little bit more obsessed. Here are my Top 5 moments from last night’s episode of “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The Top 14 in Stacey Tookey’s “Last Moment”
(photo by Adam Rose/FOX)
1)
“Last Moment.” You know we love Stacy Tookey. And I’m always a sucker for anything even remotely reminiscent of Greek goddesses. So, thank you, opening number, for putting those two great pieces together into one even better whole.
Rudy Abreu and Tanisha Belnap in “Seduces Me,” choreographed by Mandy Moore
(photo by Adam Rose/FOX)
2) Mandy Moore’s contemporary piece.
Um, can you say commitment? Rudy and Tanisha completely abandoned themselves to Mandy’s insane lifts, and the result was quite impressive. And as if that weren’t enough thrill for one show, that throw (?) at the end of Travis’ group piece, “Wave”? Ridiculous.
Teddy Coffey and Emily James in “From This Moment On,” choreographed by Warren Carlyle
(photo by Adam Rose/FOX)
3) More Warren Carlyle Broadway!
So maybe the judges didn’t love Emily and Teddy in their “Kiss Me Kate” inspired Broadway number, but I sure did. And maybe I’m biased toward our former cover model, but I do think there’s something to be said for a little bit of subtlety.
Casey Askew and Jessica Richens in “Like Real People Do,” choreographed by Travis Wall
(photo by Adam Rose/FOX)
4) Travis Wall’s “Like Real People Do.”
I called Jessica early, and I still think she has what it takes to win this thing. It was great to see her dance with Casey, and I think he’s a partner who can not only keep up with her, but take her to the next level. And her solo! This girl’s technique is beyond rock-solid.
Ricky Ubeda and Valerie Rockey in “Turn Down For What,” choreographed by Christopher ‘Pharside’ Jennings and Krystal ‘Phoenix’ Meraz
(photo by Adam Rose/FOX)
5)
Valerie in “Turn Down for What.” I’m going to be real and say that I just didn’t like Pharside and Phoenix’s music (hello, overplayed song!) or costume choices, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking that Valerie’s weirdo-split-puppeteering thing was AWESOME.
The Top 7 girls in Mandy Moore’s work, “My Immortal”
(photo by Adam Rose/FOX)
It’s so sad to see Serge, Carly, Emily and Teddy go home, though I’m excited to see Casey and Jessica go on to the next round. This far along in the competition, it’s not really about talent—everyone is just so good, so it’s hard to compare dancers. Like the judges said about the women’s group number: You can’t single anyone out.
But the dancers do start to stratify based on their ability to inhabit each choreographer’s vision, as well as their ability to deliver week after week. What did you think of last night’s episode? Did the right people get sent home? Let us know in the comments, and come back here next week for our recap of the best episode yet—when the Top 10 perform!
