'So You Think You Can Dance' - Melinda Sullivan Tap Dances Off the Stage, Robert Roldan and Billy Bell Safe for Another Week

It came as no surprise that Melinda Sullivan was voted off of SYTYCD Thursday night. For the third time in as many weeks she was a member of the bottom three vote-getter club. Now, Robert Roldan and Billy Bell, who also received low scores, are safe for another week.

Sullivan, who probably expected to be voted off the show, left with grace and professionalism, thanking the judges for all they'd done. The send-off was short and sweet, with Judge Nigel Lythgoe breaking the news. Judges Mia Michaels and Adam Shankman mercifully remained quiet, after all, there was nothing more to be said.

How Do Viewers Choose Favorites?

The viewers who vote have much to do with the outcome each week, but do the judges' comments affect how they vote? Would Sullivan have gotten better votes if she'd received more favorable comments from the judges?

She was the recipient of some pretty harsh criticism from Michaels, who couldn't get over the "pigeon feet" and who said she sometimes danced like she had bricks on her legs.

Tap Dancing Her Way off the Stage

Sullivan's specialty is Tap, which I admit is not one of my favorite types of dance, but she should be applauded for the effort she put into it, and for keeping a smile on her face. And certainly, getting voted off of SYTYCD is just a small blip in the grand scheme of things, and it's not likely to stop Sullivan, or any other dancer voted off the show, from pursing a career in the business.

I'm sure there are kids watching SYTYCD, who are inspired by the dancers and who are dreaming of the day when they, too, can perform on such a show.

Future Dancers Watching

What do you think? Do you know a child who is glued to the TV every week who wants to dance? And how do you vote? Based on the judges' comments, because you like the looks of the dancer, or because they are truly the best?

Let me know and tune in next week.

Dancers

Lauren Froderman (contemporary)
Ashley Galvan (lyrical)
Jose "Full Deck" Ruiz (breaking)
Ade`Chike` Torbert (contemporary)
Kent Boyd (contemporary)
Billy Bell (contemporary)
Robert Roldan(contemporary)
Alex Wong (ballet)

www.fox.com

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