SYTYCD Season 7: Alex & Allison Emotional Hallelujah as Top 11 Dance W/ All-Stars June 16 2010;

SYTYCD 2010, June 16: Season 7's Top 11 dancers danced with partners randomly drawn from the new All-Stars Pool, comprised of popular dancers from past season. Lists of the Top 11 dancers and the all-stars are at the end of this article. The new director is Nikki Parsons. The host is Cat Deeley. The judges are executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels, and Adam Shankman.

Billy and Lauren: Billy Bell (Contemporary) danced Broadway with all-star Lauren Gottlieb, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. Lauren left the stage, leaving Billy to take his critique from the judges. Nigel said dance was too easy for Billy and that Billy's challenge would be to have chemistry with his partner. Mia said, "I'm so proud of you." She said Billy had danced like a boy, which was fine for this routine, but from hereon in, he should 'dance like a man'. Adam said dance is too easy for Billy so Billy's challenge is to better inhabit his character and stay with it through the entire routine. He called him 'a little bit of a superboy'. Music: 'Footloose' by Kenny Loggins.

Cristina and Mark: Cristina Santana (Salsa) danced Jazz with all-star Mark Kanemura, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. She was a snake and he was her prey. Nigel told Cristina, "You were absolutely tremendous in it (the routine)... you filled in all the spaces the choreographer didn't give you." He was referring to her emotional content and poetry of dance. Mia said, "You did an awesome job, Mama. Congratulations." Adam said he was 'stunned'. He had thought the routine would be a disaster for Cristina because she is a Salsa dancer. But Cristina danced without a hint of Salsa. And she inhabited her character. Music: 'Starstruck' by Santigold.

Jose and Comfort: Jose Ruiz (B-Boy) danced Hip-Hop with all-star Comfort Fedoke, choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo (Nappy Tabs). Nigel said Jose was outstanding. Mia said he had grown a lot since Vegas and even since last week's premiere. Adam told him congratulations and said, "You are so amazing." He advised Jose to work on his power moves. Music: 'Beautiful Monster' by Ne-ho.

AdéChiké and Kathryn: AdéChiké Torbert (Contemporary) danced Contemporary with all-star Kathryn McCormick, choreographed by Travis Wall. The judges agreed AdéChiké had been technically perfect but they also agreed he needs to perform better. Nigel told AdéChiké he did not seem to believe his office fantasy of a beautiful girl. Mia said there was no sexual chemistry between him and Kathryn, even though- all the judges agreed on this, also- Kathryn gave him everything. She said his technique was empty. Adam basically said the same. Music: 'Addicted to Love' by Florence + The Time Machine.

Melinda and Pasha: Melinda Sullivan (Tap) danced Jive with all-star Pasha Kovalev, choreographed by Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin. Nigel called Melinda vivacious and gorgeous. But he told her to get out her tap shoes because she will be dancing for her life tomorrow night. He called her 'unsafe'. Mia told her she has great legs but appears to be pigeon-toed. Adam said she's a great actress/ performer but needs to gain purity of line. Her hands and feet need work. Music: 'L.O.V.E.' by VV Brown.

Alex and Allison: Alex Wong (Ballet) danced Contemporary with all-star Allison Holker, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. Cat said she had her 'first chills of the season'. The judges unanimously and emotionally agreed that this performance was the best-ever at any time on any SYTYCD stage. Nigel said Alex had set a new standard for SYTYCD. He told him he was 'mega-lightyears ahead of everybody else'. He admired his fusion of structure, artistry, and poetry of dance. He was so happy, he couldn't say enough. Mia called the dance, hands-down the best. Adam called it sheer genius. And while the judges gave kudos to choreographer Sonya, they agreed Alex had brought her to a new level rather than the other way around. They also highly praised his dance partner Allison and said that she and Alex had breathed the dance. It was an all-around standing-ovation performance. Music: 'Hallelujah' by Jeff Buckley.

Alexie and tWitch: Alexie Agdeppa (Jazz) danced Hip-Hop with all-star Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, choreographed by Nappy Tabs. We just had to love sexy tWitch in this. Alexie was supposed to be sexy, too, but came across as adorable instead. She danced well but lacked the swagger of her partner. And she didn't 'fill in the spaces'-didn't put in that 'je ne sais quois'. Adam told her she has charisma but she needs to start dancing with the sensuality of a woman and the power of a guy. Music: 'Butterfly' by Jason Mraz.

Lauren and Ade: Lauren Froderman (Contemporary/Jazz) danced All-Jazz with all-star Ade Obayomi, choreographed by Mandy Moore. Lauren danced well but she didn't come across as sexy, which she was supposed to do- which is interesting because she's such a naughty dancer. But the sexy stuff isn't just in the moves, it's in the transcendental realm. Nigel told her there was no chemistry and her performance was sterile. Mia said she was powerful technically and athletically but was missing artistry. Adam advised her to look deeper into herself and into the characters she plays. Music: 'Oh Yeah' by Yello.

Kent and Anya: Kent Boyd (Jazz) danced the Cha-Cha with all-star Anya Garnis, choreographed by Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin. Kent was pure charm tonight and the magic in his performance was his extreme enjoyment in the dance, which came across to the audience, and the judges. Nigel said he was very proud. Mia told him he almost looked like a ballroom boy. Adam said you are so out of your style but 'you blasted through all your weaknesses'. Except for one silly move, Kent was very convincing in his sexy role with the ultra-sexy Anya. Music: 'Lady Marmalade' by Diva Invasion.

Ashley and Neil: Ashley Galvan (Lyrical) danced Contemporary with all-star Neil Haskell, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. Nigel told her she's a beautiful dancer but she needs to exude emotion. Mia said she felt her emotion but she needs to exude more strongly. Adam told her she was technically great but needs to open up. Ashley admitted she's in love-she said so as she nodded in direction that Neil had headed in to exit the stage. So, that besotted look in Neil's eyes at the end of the dance and that ensuing extra-long embrace indicated a mutual love. Or is it some other lucky guy? Music: 'For All We Know' by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

Robert and Courtney: Robert Roldan (Contemporary) danced African Jazz with all-star Courtney Galiano, choreographed by Sean Cheesman. They were extraordinary, especially Robert. The judges had nothing but huge praise for him. Nigel was surprised and called him a dark horse. Mia loved so many things about him: his quirkiness, his beauty, his technique, etc. It was love. Adam said he does not think Robert is a dark horse. He told him, "You're one of the best Contemporary dancers we've ever had on this show." I agree. Music: Norweg by Cirque de Soliel from the Saltimbanco soundtrack.

The American TV audience are casting their votes. Tomorrow night's show will reveal the results, live- who the three in danger are. They will have to dance for their lives. The judges will eliminate one dancer, who will leave the stage for the last time as a competitor in the Season 7 contest. Who is in danger? AdéChiké, Melinda, and either Alexie or Ashley. If Melinda does end up in the bottom three, the judges will likely send her home. Usher performs tomorrow night and there will be a Twyla Tharp routine.

^{The Top 11 Dancers (plus age, hometown, & dance expertise):
AdéChiké Torbert, 23; Brooklyn, NY; Contemporary.
Alexie Agdeppa, 23; Rowland Heights, CA; Jazz.
Alex Wong, 23; Vancouver, Canada; Ballet.
Ashley Galvan, 19; Visalia, CA; Lyrical.
Billy Bell, 20; West Palm Beach, FL; Contemporary.
Cristina Santana, 24; San Diego, CA; Salsa.
Jose Ruiz, 21; Miami, FL; B-Boy.
Kent Boyd, 18; Botkins, OH; Contemporary Jazz.
Lauren Froderman, 18; Phoenix, AZ; Contemporary Jazz.
Melinda Sullivan, 22; Thousand Oaks, CA; Tap.
Robert Roldan, 19; Thousand Oaks, CA; Contemporary.}

^{The All-Stars (with season & dance styles):
Allison Holker, 2; Brooklyn, NY; Jazz/Contemporary/Broadway/Cultural.
Anya Garnis, 3; Ballroom/Latin.
Dominic 'D-trix' Sandoval, 3; Hip--Hop/Breakdancing.
Lauren Gottlieb, 3; Hip--Hop/Jazz/Contemporary.
Neil Haskell, 3; Jazz/Contemporary/Broadway/Cultural.
Pasha Kovalev, 3; Ballroom/Latin.
Comfort Fedoke, 4; Hip--Hop/Krump.
Mark Kanemura, 4; Jazz/Broadway/Cultural.
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, 4; Popping/Locking/Krump.
Courtney Galiano, 4; Contemporary/Jazz.
Ade Obayomi, 5; Contemporary/Classical.
Kathryn McCormick, 6; Jazz/ContemporaryBroadway/Cultural.}

^{Related articles: Top 11 and All-Stars Premiere Performances June 10 2010;
Top 10 Means Top 11; Second-Chance Dancers; New Format;
Cristina Santana & Nathan Trasoras Are Hot Stuff;}