'So You Think You Can Dance' Recap - Top 18 Perform

There’s a strange trend of trios this season so far…and I’m not quite buying into it. Whether it’s to show off the Stage vs. Street concept or if it’s to save time, these trios are doing two things: it allows some new pairings for the choreographer but if often makes them harder to securitize. With short routines and three bodies to watch, it just creates a bit more scattered of a viewing experience. But on we go.

Like I do each week, I will write a recap of each dance and give it a rating of zero to five stars. Feel free to comment below with your favorite/least favorite routine of the night.

Jaja (Team Street), Derek (Team Stage) & Alexia (Team Stage), Contemporary – * * * * ½
In an ethereal, afterlife-like playing space, a veteran, a domestic abuse survivor and a single mother come together to dance away their pain and show their strength together and apart. The concept, yes, is a bit of a melodramatic stretch – without the intro package it would just be three gorgeous but vaguely unidentifiable dancers on a blank stage – but I really don’t care. The technique involved was just beautiful from all three but it was Eastern European krumper Jaja who really stole the show. Showing a gracefulness and vulnerability we’ve never seen before, Jaja just might have made a huge step closer to the finals.

Megz (Team Street), Moises (Team Stage) & Jim (Team Stage), Hip-Hop – * * ½

Going into this, the fear was that street dancer Megz was gonna dominate the boys…which is basically what happened. Not that her performance was perfect (or perhaps it was the by-the-numbers choreo that didn’t quite work) but it was energetic and performed quite well. The boys, on the other hand, felt like her freshman backup dancers. While at least Jim was forgettably OK, Moises proved far too light on his feet and “street-y.” If ever the phrase “he needed to get down and dirty” was relevant, it would be here.

JJ (Team Street), Edson (Team Stage) & Yorelis (Team Stage), Jazz – * * *
Another routine where the choreography was more to blame than the dancers in terms of the routine’s overall success. What should have felt like a swanky, sexy jazz number came across like a mid-‘90s music video. With more posturing than actual jazz steps, the whole thing just felt too safe and too forgettable. JJ is a star, with Edson and Yorelis not far behind, I just hope they get better material.

Marissa (Team Stage) & Asaf (Team Street), Cha-Cha – * *
To me, Asaf is the weakest dancer in the top 18 and that did not change in this watery cha-cha. Looking like a buff, Biker Dude Ken doll, Asaf tried his hardest but came off very flat, very stilted and very heavy on his feet. I’m no master of the cha-cha, but I didn’t really see one complete moment of cha-cha from Asaf. Yes, Marissa did better but the connection was convenience store coffee weak.

Gaby (Team Stage), Burim (Team Stage), Ariana (Team Street), African Jazz – * * * *
A little Lion King, a little Studio 54, this neo-African jazz routine was fierce and hard-hitting and just the right amount of weird. Even better, there was no big differentiation between the Stagers and the Streeters, who all came together to form a nice ensemble.

Kate (Team Stage) & Neptune (Team Street), Contemporary – * * * * ½

There was a real gorgeous, radiant simplicity to this love duet. While I don’t have a ton to say here but dancers did marvelous jobs in connecting to each other and letting their emotions influence their movement. This is the kind of number I’d love to see again in the finale when Neptune and Kate’s chemistry and confidence is even that much better. Then, it might just be a five-star routine.

Hailee (Team Stage) & Virgil (Team Street), Hip-Hop – * * * * ½

Annoying music and hideous ‘80s robot costumes aside, this was my favorite number of the night. So much fun, so athletic, so much detailed movements. Virgil showed off his Street skills, yes, but the real revelation was Hailee who jumped up to his level with ease. Also, that bit where she stood on his arm was just ridiculous.

Bottom Six:
Moises, Edson, Asaf, Ariana, Burim, Kate

Who Should Have Gone Home:
Asaf & Moises

Who Actually Went Home:
Burim & Moises