Here’s how it breaks down:

Out of 11 dances total, both Sasha and Melanie have only done 2 ballroom, otherwise it’s been all contemporary/jazz or hip-hop. Don’t get me started on waacking. Ricky too hasn’t done much beyond contemporary/jazz or hip-hop, only cha-cha-cha and jive (and broadway, although I’m not sure how separate that really is from contemporary/jazz).

Marko has had 3 ballroom dances and Caitlin has done 4.

Let’s contrast all that with Tadd, the only non-contemporary/jazz dancer left, who has done African jazz, hip hop (twice), contemporary, broadway (twice), jazz (twice), Viennese waltz, smooth waltz, and foxtrot.

SYTYCD:

Top 6 dance ins were much better. Cat is wearing a dress that would be ugly on anyone but Cat. It’s hideous, but somehow she’s making it work. What kind of voodoo magic does she have?

Christina Applegate? Huh. OK. I know she’s a dancer and she’s been on Broadway. Let’s see how she brings it. And Lil C. Well, that’s gonna be some ridiculousness.

Melanie and Twitch/Hip Hop/NappyTab/Roman’s Revenge – Well shit. I mean, Melanie can come through almost anything, but Little Red Hip Hop Hood? Ummm, no. She’s dancing too small, her moves are very controlled. This style of hip hop needs to be just on the edge of out of control. She hit hard enough but there was not enough abandon in the moves. They were going for an Alex Wong/Out of Your Mind moment, but it did not get there at all. Twitch tried to pull it in for her, but it just . . . it wasn’t good. Side note on the music – That song was sick. NikKi Minaj put her foot in that one and I love the shout out to Busta on the dungeon dragon. Back to the dance, Lil C was right. She didn’t let go enough and release into the moves. The judges are seriously not bringing it to her the way it should be broughten. She wasn’t good here.

All Star Kent!!! What? The Wapokeneta kid? Yay! Did not see that one coming.

Sasha and Kent/Contemporary/Tyce/Fool of Me – Oh, Kent, still so silly. This will go much better if you don’t speak. Gorgeous piece of music. I don’t even have words for this dance. It’s so . . . No words. Everyone involved in making that, strangé. Y’all put your foot in it. Bring it real, Christina Applegate. Technique is one thing but that’s dance. Exactly. Oh, C is having a serious moment. Wow. That was real shit. I will watch that over and over and over again.

All Star Jannette!!! What? I am in heaven right now. Excellent All Stars so far this week.

Marko and Jannette/Paso Doble/Dmitry/Sorongo – I frikkin’ love Dmitry. He gave me Nekkid Marko. Now that was a port de bras. Great carriage from him. He’s actually not a bad latin dancer. The hands are a little stiff and he’s a little tipsy tumbles on his feet, but I loved all the turns and the over the shoulder lift was great. Not one of the better pasos I’ve seen on the show. The choreo felt a little basic. And Cat drops the Dynasty reference, which is why we love her. Once again, they don’t bring it to Marko like they should. He got it a little bit worse than Melanie, but they were easy on him because that paso was not all that.

Ricky Solo/After Tonight – Typical Ricky-ness. It’s a little juvenile. He dances very young, like a senior dancer on the competition circuit. I’d like to see more heft from him. But it was pretty. Good toe point and I’m all about the gorgeous feet.

Tadd and Ellenore/Jazz/Sonya/The Gulag Orkestar – Ellenore!! Most excellent. Ellenore is a captivating creature just doing a backbend in a chair. Oh the drop down into the split in second was heaven. What’s the thing with hanging off the chandelier? That’s too cute by half. This is not Cirque du Soleil. Get down off that damn thing and dance. Both of these two can turn it out, so dance already. This is lots of stand around and pose. Dammit. That could’ve been amazing and it was just gimmicky. Oh, show. You know how I hate it when you make me agree with Nigel. More dance in the dance, please. Christina Applegate is an excellent judge, y’all. Pointing through the tendu? Indeed.

Caitlyn Solo/What’s Love Got to Do with It - She was 8 when SYTYCD started? Damn, y’all. I’m old as hell. Hair flinging, competition 101 dancing. Done with you now.

Ricky and Jamie/Contemporary/Dee Caspary/Inside These Lines - Very nice. I love the thing with the sticks. And Ricky is lovely here. He’s more grounded than I’ve normally seen him. Also, really good connection with Jamie and great musicality from the two of them. I love the stalls in this piece. Loved how her arm and leg movements mirrored the sticks. That was a great piece. So intricate. They worked really well together. I hear what Christina was saying, but I feel like his intention and connection here were better than I’ve ever seen from him. He still comes off like an immature dancer, but this was a step forward for him. Tadd Solo/We Speak No Americano – He’s just so fun in his musical choices. Sadly, I feel like I’ve seen this solo from him before. It felt a little warmed over.

Sasha Solo/Teeth - Her body is sick. She has such an intresting movement quality. This is more trick heavy than what she’s done before but it’s still choreographed and there was still lots of inricate work and transitions and connected steps and yes! Fierceness. I just love this kid.

Caitlyn and Pasha/Samba/Dmitry/Drop It Low – I already don’t like the footwork. The hip action is fine, but the feet are just OK. The batucadas? Just Ok. The samba rolls were actually pretty good. But overall, she’s just too vanilla to get good and dirty in this samba. She’s playing at being sexy rather than just being sexy. And that final pull through to lift looked awfully labored. I did not enjoy. We’ve seen great samba on this show before. Hip, Hip, Chin, Chin! And this was not great. The judges and I are in agreeance. (Love you, Lil C. Hee!)

Marko Solo/Wonderful World – He’s just so . . . just so good. Like, I never worry about him. When I watch him dance, I just sit back and sink into it. Like a warm bath. He’s the man.

Melanie Solo/Cracks – Shut it down. Shut. It. Down.

Sasha and Ricky/Whacking/Kumari Suraj/Schoolin’ Life - Damn, they must really want Ricky gone. I would wear that outfit Sasha has on. But is it really right for whacking? It seems not. Wow, that scoopy knee move is tough on the thighs. Hmm, I hate this routine. I feel like I’m watching two people who are really good freestyle dancers at a party or a disco somewhere, but it doesn’t look professional. Loved the final turn into a death drop. Every queen in America broke out a “Werk!” right then. Agreed with C that they were in their heads too much and with Christina that a harder whack would’ve been better.

Melanie and Tadd/Spencer Liff/Broadway/Where do I Begin - So this is very Chorus Line. It’s also mostly Melanie dancing and Tadd vamping which is a shame because I think he can do more than this. He doesn’t need the Twitch door dance treatment. I did like the section in front of the mirror with the two of them mirroring each other. Overall, not much was asked of Tadd. I thought the dance was just OK. Melanie was giving lots of intense dancer face. Ewww. I do not like Nigel calling out Melanie’s solo. That’s not cool unless they are going to critique everyone’s solos. Quiet Fire. Good categorization by Lil C of what makes Melanie so great. Oooh, Christina Applegate pulling out the Chorus Line reference. Great minds, Kelly Bundy. Great minds. Mary’s eye make up makes her look like a racoon. Sad for her. I can’t shake it.

Caitlyn and Marko/Sonya/Jazz/Heavy In Your Arms – Love the choking. I shouldn’t write that but it was fierce. OK, Sonya cannot use that girl on her back, knees up, on the boy’s shoulder lift anymore. I’m over it. But I did love the little flip over Marko’s feet that Caitlyn did. Hello abs! That takes core strength for days. This dance is a little too literal for my tastes. And there was a lot of flipping and tossing. I wanted more dancing in that dance. Just like with Sonya’s first piece of the evening. See, Nigel loved the foot flip, too! And Cat is damn skippy. Marko is very, very pretty.

Top 4

I feel like for the boys, Marko is a lock and it’s really close between Tadd and Ricky. Both are limited as dancers in some ways. Ricky’s technique is better, his lines, his stretch. Tadd is more grounded and he’s much more mature in his dancing and is obviously the better performer. I hope Tadd stays, but I wouldn’t be mad if Ricky beat him out. For the girls, it seems clear to me that it will be a death match between Melanie and Sasha for top dog this season. Caitlyn is that dancer that Christina talked about at the top of the show with the technical facility, the great turns, the extensions and you don’t care. Melanie and Sasha are the real deal.

Going Home

So that means that Caitlyn is the clear boot and for the guys, I do think it will be Ricky’s time to go. Really, though? All these dancers are so strong. Ridiculously talented top 6.

kat, I love your comments so much! And will just say: YES.

She was 8 when SYTYCD started? Damn, y’all.

I meant to say -- no she wasn't. Wikipedia tells me it was July 2005. That was only 6 years ago! She is not 14.

kat, thank you for writing up the entire show - it sums up so much of what I've been thinking.

Observation one: for the best dancers, dancing isn't something they do, it's an integral part of who/what they are.

Observation two: a final reason to love Melanie and Sasha - no hair flinging.

ha! short hair will do that...

Let me echo the gratitude for your summations, kat! your perspective is always educational and interesting!

Aww, shucks. Thanks for letting me come here and pontificate about this show.

I really wish that there was a rule that all girls who do not have short hair had to pull it back into a ponytail or a bun for their solos. Down with the hair flinging nightmares. It covers a multitude of sins.

I am excited about tonight's dance guests. I know that several SYTYCD faves have at one time performed with the Bad Boys of Dance, inlcuding the brothers Wall and Tidwell. I would pay a lot for a Danny sighting.

Jakob Karr was with them recently too. I have been wishing we could have him as an all-star.

I would pay a lot for a Danny sighting.

This.

Too bad there was no ballerina this cycle, he might have come back as an all-star to partner for that.

And, no, I don't believe they are drawing things out of the hat anymore.