SYTYCD Season 10 Top 14 Recap + Partner Rankings

Here we are again. The thing about having only one episode a week is that by this point in the competition, you feel like you should know the dancers pretty well, whereas now they're mostly still just defined by their routines unless people know them personally. In any case, I'm looking forward to Top 10 and beyond so we can get to know these dancers better and better.

I wasn't too crazy about the opening group number by Sonya Tayeh and Dmitry Chaplin, but I guess it was a cool pairing to have a sort of hipster-goth contemporary/jazz choreographer and a ballroom choreographer collab on a group number. It mostly seemed like just Sonya choreo though.

We learn our bottom six; Curtis, Alan, Nico, Jasmine, Alexis, and MAKENZIE. Seriously. What is with people? This is basically the only time when I'm sad to be from Canada, because I'm not able to vote whatsoever. Makenzie has been pretty much flawless in all of her performances so far, she's gorgeous and seems very likable. What's not to like? The bottom is getting kind of tiring so far, because for half of the dancers this is at least their 3rd time at the bottom of the totem pole. Makenzie's saved right away, and the guys are told they don't have to dance because they "know how they dance their individual routines already". This is either because Curtis was injured this week and couldn't perform (get this; he injured his shoulder) and they wanted to make the playing field even, or the more likely possibility that they just didn't have the time in the programming for 5 solos. So we see Jasmine's and Alexis's.

1. Jenna and Tucker - Luther Brown
HIP HOP

Another Luther Brown number. This man seems to think that tight, black leather is the only possible material for his costume numbers. They looked pretty ridiculous in all that leather, not to mention I can't imagine how difficult it would be to dance with LITERALLY a second, thick skin on underneath the stage lights and beneath stage makeup. It was a pretty forgettable routine, mostly because it was nothing we haven't seen before from Luther. Jenna and Tucker did the best they could. And what was with those enormous black speakers or amps or whatever some poor stage crew members had to haul on and off??

2. Alexis and Nico - Sonya Tayeh
CONTEMPORARY

This is actually one of my favourite Sonya pieces ever, along with the Tiffany/George Jr. and Cole/Allison Holker routines from last season. It was gorgeous, creative movement we haven't seen from Sonya before, and it was the first time that Alexis really stood out for me. Really stunning, although I wish Sonya would dip her toes in something with lighter material again for a change. It's been a while since we've seen a gorgeous contemp piece from anybody with a happy mood or story.

3. Hayley and Curtis (INJURED) - Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo
ARGENTINE TANGO

Because Curtis is injured, Leonardo stepped in with his enormous suit to partner Hayley instead. Again, one of my top all-time Argentine Tangos. (Others include Caitlynn/Pasha in S8 and Chehon/Anya in S9...). Hayley is just absolutely stunning, and for the first time I actually start to see her as a real contender. I always knew she was gorgeous in her own style, but she hit everything tonight with deliberation and sharpness and passion. Leonardo probably helped her a bit too, which I think is probably necessary in something as passionate as an Argentine Tango, to have at least one of the partners be a pro at it. The dress was stunning, the music was perfect, the lines were beautiful. And I'm no Argentine Tango expert, but this seemed like it had a lot of more traditional and technical steps to it, not just the fancy lifts that get votes. Guest judge Anna Kendrick basically nailed it when she noticed that Hayley was, thank heavens, not being portrayed as a vixen-sexy-dangerous character in another routine. SO beautiful.

4. Makenzie and Paul - Sonya Tayeh
JAZZ

Second jazz piece this couple have received, so far, and so far, it's 2 for 2. It was technically sharp and all-around entertaining and hot, and it shows that this couple are super super powerful. Unfortunately, the lack of storyline in this piece will probably make it more forgettable than their other ones to date, which makes me super nervous again next week for Makenzie, because I don't think the judges will be able to justify saving her again if she goes for a fourth round in the bottom. They already had to feed the audience a reason to save her again (WHICH MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE WHAT REASON DO YOU NEED PEOPLE SHE'S PERFECT), saying that they had to save Eliana and Chehon numerous times and look, they won! Whatever.


5. Jasmine and Aaron - Justin Giles
CONTEMPORARY

This piece was based on the book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, which apparently warranted an entire recap by Nigel before he could actually start critiquing. This was such a creative premise for the routine, and everything visual from the costumes to the lightning to the apple prop were perfect. Nice to see these two have something in one of their own genres for a change. Stunning piece, and just showing how much more of a surprise contender Jasmine Harper has been for me this season. Honestly, and terribly, I kind of pegged her as someone who would leave in the first couple of weeks because of her terrible playing-up of the Cyrus's-ex story, which was probably pegged on her by the producers. I am pleasantly surprised at her success though, and I just hope she can continue this winning streak. Aaron is fantastic, I just find his faces are pulled sometimes just a little too much, and exaggerated a little to be entirely sincere or believable. Stunning piece though.

6. Amy and Fik-Shun - Christopher Scott
HIP HOP

I love that Chris Scott is returning to his cutes-y, sort of retro pieces, at least for this routine. Dunno why they decided real water in the pitcher prop was necessary, because Amy's chair slipped and fell and the "SYTYCD Café"menus were dripping with water. They were adorable in this routine though, where Amy played the waitress, and Fik-Shun played the customer with a crush on the waitress, and they definitely pulled it off again. Two things though; they always play the same goofy characters in almost every routine they've been given (exc. Sonya's contemporary and the Paso), and they haven't gotten anything super hard yet, like a Salsa or a Cha Cha or Quickstep or anything ballroom-challenging.

7. Malece and Alan - Season 5 Alumni Jonathan Flatero 
SALSA

Loved this salsa. It was actually the first salsa in recent memory that has had a ballroom pro as one of the two partners. Alan was super confident in this routine and it showed, where this is probably the first routine where Malece stumbled even a bit. Granted, she's gone through the wringer with all the styles she's been given, and she's been basically killing everything.

MINI GROUP NUMBERS

I thought this was a good idea to get rid of the awkward space in air-time between not having enough time for each couple to do 2 pieces, but too much time with every couple doing just 1 (Basically Top 14/Top 12, because they can fill the rest with promos etc. on weeks before). So seven of the Top 14 were in each number...

Broadway - Spencer Liff
Fun Broadway piece by my favourite Broadway choreographer. And I love when the choreographers step into their own routines, whether it be by necessity (i.e. tonight, in Curtis's place) or by intention (i.e. Chris Scott in the insane animation number he did with Comfort, tWitch and Cyrus last season). Not much else to say, although it was next to cruel to have Alan and Malece do that insane, high-octane salsa, then pop backstage, quick-change, and pop back out for this high-octane Broadway. Probably because they wanted to keep the emotional routine for last, though...

Contemporary - Bonnie Story
Moving piece about bullying and anti-bullying, and although I'm not sure about how effective it will be to "stop bullying", it's good to keep the message out there and kicking, especially during the summertime when all schools are out, as it's probably where 95% of all bullying starts (not exact statistics but whatever...). Beautiful piece, and I mostly kept my eyes on Jasmine, Nico and Amy, as it's their domain.

At the end, to no one's surprise, Curtis and Alexis are cut. Sucks to lose two tappers at once, but it was really time for both of them. Before they cut to the last commercial break, they had Alan, Curtis, and probably a couple other of the Bottom 6 on that mini-step they have to showcase who's coming up next etc., and Alan looked absolutely terrified, while Curtis was completely relaxed. Curtis probably put two and two together and probably just decided his own fate when he first got injured. Injured, and has had solid critiquing for at least the past three weeks.

Anna Kendrick was hilarious. Hopefully she'll be another "regular" guest judge, à la Christina Applegate or Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and come back some other time, instead of having Paula Abdul for three weeks into the Top 8, 6, and 4.

Partner Rankings; this was super hard this week so don't hate me.

1. Hayley / Curtis (ELIMINATED) *Replaced by Leonardo
2. Jasmine / Aaron
3. Alexis (ELIMINATED) / Nico
4. Makenzie / Paul
5. Malece / Alan
6. Amy / Fik-Shun (just because she fell- I hate myself as much as you do right now).
7. Jenna / Tucker - by a long shot.

People in danger next week;

GUYS
1. Tucker
2. Alan

GIRLS
1. Jenna
2. Malece