SYTYCD Top 16

Now that the World Series is out of the way, So You Think You Can Dance is back on track. This week starts the viewer voting - choosing 'America's Favorite Dancer' rather than 'The Judges' Favorite Dancer'. Now is when it gets interesting, and the real public favorites emerge! Hope everyone votes for their favorite - the judges still choose one guy and one girl to go home out of the bottom two of each.

This week, Mary Murphy, Nigel Lithgoe and Adam Shankman offer their advice (but don't get to axe anyone!). We got a peek at the Season 5 top 12 (remember they extended the number from 10 to 12 when Phillip got cut earlier than they expected), who were there enjoying the show during a break from their tour (Seeing Jeanine not sitting by Jason was a little saddening, I'll admit. I really wanted them to be a couple!).

The getting to know you question of the week that the dancers have to answer: What should America know about you?

Also - the numbers are included at the end of each couple's section just in case you're reading this within the two hour window (vote!).

Karen and Kevin
Answers:
Karen - her and her husband got a divorce after he was cut in Vegas.
Kevin - has performed in London, Italy and the Great Wall of China. He gets his hip hop from all over the world.

They're doing the hustle with Maria Torres. The hustle was one of the last dances in the 70's. In the dance, In their routine, Karen has to seduce Kevin and get him to dance with her.

Song: Come to Me (France Joli)
Adam loved it. The partnership worked well, and Kevin actually got a moment in the sun. Mary called Karen the hustle queen, and even though Kevin had some little things to work on, they both stayed on her Hot Tamale Train. Nigel was delighted with the growth from Kevin and the performance from both of them. Karen's sensuality and performance ability leads to Nigel's prediction that she'll be around for a while.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.01 - 1.888.836.7601)

Ashleigh and Jakob
Answers:
Ashleigh - is a really big nerd. She interned in DC for a congressman. She was a political science and history major.
Jakob - His best friend is Jeanine (now I'm not so sure about Jason... Jakob is pretty adorable).

Mandy Moore is choreographing a jazz routine with a cane - the goal is for it to be a part of their movement, not just a prop.

Relax (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Again, Adam complimented the partnership. He poked fun at the choreographer's love to make Jakob jump in different ways week to week. Mary agreed, and said that they used the stage and liked the prop. She complimented Ashleigh's progress and improvement weekly. She reminded Jakob of his brilliance and talent. He agreed with Mary's compliments to Ashleigh. He said Jakob is a stunning dancer. They agreed both dancers played their characters perfectly.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.02 - 1.888.836.7602)

Pauline and Peter
Answers:
Peter - volunteers at a place called SPIN to teach special needs folks learn dance routines for a talent show performance in his hometown.
Pauline - eats constantly.

These two dancers take on the dreaded quickstep. They're learning from brand new choreographers JT and Tomas. The story is about a Navy guy that falls for a hula girl and her hips.

Hey Baby Shake Those Hips (Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack)
The routine was adorable. Adam liked their characters, thought the performance was great. As far as the technical elements, Mary didn't think it was great. She really enjoyed the performance and the characters. The feet were clunking, and the positions were off. Nigel talked about the technical faults, but said it won't matter because of the personality and the charisma that they brought to the routine. He complimented the accessibility of the routine, and loved that it was more audience-oriented.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.03 - 1.888.836.7603)

Kathryn and Legacy
Answers:
Kathryn - went on a Mission trip to Costa Rica to help them build their community.
Legacy - loves soccer. He was scouted for professional soccer, but didn't end up going that way.

This week Kathryn and Legacy drew Broadway with Andy Blankenbuehler. He's the king of the jungle guy, and she's the sassy girlfriend. It's fast choreography with an interesting story behind it.

I Wanna Be Like You (Swingin' Fireballs)
Adam was a little disappointed with Kathryn's character, but was happy with her technique. He complimented Legacy's 'dancing like a long person'. Again, Mary thought the routine was great. She mentioned that Legacy's growth weekly may be overshadowing Kathryn. Nigel was disappointed with Kathryn, saying he felt that her dance was slightly juvenile. He said Legacy went from Street dancer to complete dancer.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.04 - 1.888.836.7604)

Channing and Victor
Answers:
Channing - used to race lawn movwers. She did so well she won a trip to DisneyWorld.
Victor - used to be a hard-core gothic rocker (makeup and all).

Channing and Victor are a new couple. This week they perform a Stacy Tooke contemporary routine. It involves a couple in a toxic relationship exhausted by the efforts involved.

Be Be Your Love (Rachel Yamagata)
Loved the partnership. Enjoyed the emotional rise and fall of the piece, and thought they played off each other perfectly. Mary thought it was great, mirroring Adam's sentiments. Nigel thought they danced it beautifully, but wasn't emotionally carried away by it. He mentioned that although they did great, they expected that. They were also expecting to be blown away, since both of them are contemporary dancers, but they weren't, and it was disappointing.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.05 - 1.888.836.7605)

Ellenore and Ryan
Answers:
Ellenore - is 6 different ethnicities. .Hawaiian, filipino, african-american, mexican, american indian and italian.
Ryan - an extreme sports junkie. Wake boarding, rock climbing, mountain biking water ski, surf and snow mobile. He secretly wants to be a superhero in an action movie.

These two drew a hip-hop routine with Lil' C. The routine is about timing, swagger and synergy. He had to really work with Ryan to get his swagger right, but in the end felt happy with the results he got from the ballroom guy.

Lost Boiz Anthem (Tha J-Squad)
Ryan got the 'Most Transformed Dancer of the Night' award from Adam. All things considered, he said that they did great. She was impressed by them, but said it was just respectable from both of them. Nigel didn't like it at all (which got some boos from the audience).
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.06 - 1.888.836.7606)

Mollie and Nathan
Answers:
Mollie - is deaf in her left ear. She doesn't like using a hearing aid, so she just doesn't use one.
Nathan - a jet ski fanatic. He enjoys being in the wild with the wind blowing through him.

Mollie and Nathan got the salsa this week with choreographer Gustavo Vargas. It's a club feel salsa.

Quimbara (Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco)
Adam didn't like it. He didn't think it fit their personality, and thought it felt awkward. He said it exposed all their weaknesses. Mary didn't think it was sexified, rather 'french-fried'. She didn't think it had the right feel or style. Nigel said tonight was sobering - tonight has exposed many dancers' weaknesses. He said the chemistry wasn't there between Mollie and Nathan.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.07 - 1.888.836.7607)

Noelle and Russell
Answers:
Noelle - she has 3 sisters and a brother. Her brother had a stroke when he was young and lost the use of his left arm. He's Noelle's inspiration.
Russell - he's an artist. He draws, paints, does murals, sketches, anything artistic.

Noelle and Russell drew a African jazz (Afro-jazz = technique of African + jazz - jazz hands) routine by brand new choreographer Sean Cheesman. In the routine, Russell is a frog, and Noelle is an African princess. The frog takes the princess on a spiritual journey.

Frog Dance (MickeyHart and Planet Drum)
Adam really liked the joy and choreography story in the piece. He said he had a fantastic time watching it, and they did great with the piece. Mary said 'that was crazy' - and she followed it with 'crazy good'. They were shocked by Noelle, but was impressed with both of them. Nigel's take? He loved it, thought it was fun, and was completely impressed. He said Russell is the star of the season, and told Noelle although she scraped by last week, she did great his week.
(To vote for them, it's 1.888.TEMPO.08 - 1.888.836.7608)