UPDATED: So You Think You Can Dance 6 Top 14 photo recap
UPDATED: I was right about who is in danger, but wrong about the eliminees. Karen, Channing and Mollee (kind of a surprise; I figured tweens loved her) are in the bottom three girls, while Kevin, Viktor and Nathan are in the bottom three boys. Channing and Kevin get eliminated.
Entering Wednesday’s elimination, it seems like Karen, Kevin, Victor and Channing are most in danger, while Ashleigh and Jakob continue to set the bar. Who do you think will get cut? My guess would be Victor and Kathryn, neither of whom I think have stood out. We’ll find out soon.
Take a look at the portfolio of the Top 14, including some comments on each dance.
Photos are courtesy of Fox. Right click to enlarge.
  Channing Cooke: Age: 18 Hometown: Havermill, MA Dance Specialty: Contemporary. Original Partner: Phillip. Current partner: Victor Dance: Jazz by Tyce Diorio, music “Blackbird” by Bobby McFerrin. Thoughts: Channing probably did the best she’s done so far this season. She really got into the character, even though I think we can all agree that was one of the stranger dances the show has seen. Victor was quirky (although I wish Legacy could have done that dance), and he and Channing partnered well with what they were given. Does he need to do better? Yeah, but at least he’s starting to make a name for himself. Side note: What in the world was with that song/dance? It was like a bizarro Hummingbird and the Flower, minus the awesome Jaimie and Hok moves. Bottom finish: 1 Eliminated: Week 4 |
  Phillip Attmore: Age: 25 Hometown: Paseadena, CA (Currently in L.A.) Dance Specialty: Tap. Original Partner: Channing. Dance: Samba by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin, music Maracatu Funk, The Samba Squad. Bottom finish: 1 Eliminated: Week 2 |
  Ariana Debose: Age: 18 Hometown: Newbern, NC (Currently in Wake Forest, NC) Dance Specialty: Contemporary. Original Partner: Peter. 1st Dance: Hip Hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo. Bottom finish: 1 Eliminated: Week 1 |
  Peter Sabasino: Age: 22 Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Dance Specialty: Tap. Original Partner: Ariana. 2nd partner: Pauline Dance: Quick Step by JT and Thomas, music “Hey Baby (Shake Those Hips”) by Big Kuhuna and the Copa Cat Pack. Bottom finish: 1 Eliminated: Week 3 |
  Ashleigh Di Lello: Age: 26 Hometown: Orem, UT Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom. Original Partner: Jakob. Dance: Hip Hop with Napoleon and Tabita, music “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo. Thoughts: If you thought last week’s “Relax” dance was good, well, this was even better. Jakob and Ashleigh aren’t supposed to be convincing hip hop dancers, but they were. I even liked the text message idea- it was a trendy way to rehash an old dance cliche of couples arguing. Ashleigh was nailing her moves, and that flip-then-slide into Jakob’s arms was executed perfectly. Another great moment for one of this season’s best couples. It also helps that Ashleigh looked gorgeous and sexy in her outfit, even if a see through shirt seems a little risque for a family show. But hey, she’s married.
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 Jakob Karr: Age: 19 Hometown: Windermere, FL (Currently NYC) Dance Specialty: Contemporary. Original Partner: Ashleigh. Dance: Hip Hop with Napoleon and Tabita, music “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo. Thoughts: If you thought last week’s “Relax” dance was good, well, this was even better. Jakob and Ashleigh aren’t supposed to be convincing hip hop dancers, but they were. I even liked the text message idea- it was a trendy way to rehash an old dance cliche of couples arguing. Ashleigh was nailing her moves, and that flip-then-slide into Jakob’s arms was executed perfectly. Another great moment for one of this season’s best couples. |
  Mollee Gray: Age: 18 Hometown: Orem, UT (Currently Upland, CA) Dance Specialty: Jazz. Original Partner: Nathan. Dance: Pop Jazz with Laurieann Gibson, music “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. Thoughts: There was a lot of talk on Twitter about how great it was the show used “Bad Romance,” as if Fox had never before thought to tap into the Lady Gaga popularity pool. Not sure why that’s a surprise- she was on “American Idol” last year and SYTYCD is known for promoting this type of offbeat, quirky songs (example: Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek”). What’s not good is that the song overshadowed the dancing. Laurieann Gibson’s choreography didn’t help- it looked childish and random- but Nathan and Mollee didn’t add anything to it. It was a blank canvas. I’m not sure why Nigel felt the need to apologize to Nathan. He was on point in saying Nathan was full of himself, and this week, despite Nathan not appearing to change much, Nigel says, “Yeah, I was harsh.” Mollee, for what it’s worth, seems to be maturing some, but her dancing is not at the level of Ashleigh or Ellenore, among others. Bottom finish: 1 |
 Nathan Trasoras: Age: 18 Hometown: Downey, CA Dance Specialty: Contemporary. Original Partner: Mollee. Dance: Pop Jazz with Laurieann Gibson, music “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. Thoughts: There was a lot of talk on Twitter about how great it was the show used “Bad Romance,” as if Fox had never before thought to tap into the Lady Gaga popularity pool. Not sure why that’s a surprise- she was on “American Idol” last year and SYTYCD is known for promoting this type of offbeat, quirky songs (example: Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek”). What’s not good is that the song overshadowed the dancing. Laurieann Gibson’s choreography didn’t help- it looked childish and random- but Nathan and Mollee didn’t add anything to it. It was a blank canvas. I’m not sure why Nigel felt the need to apologize to Nathan. He was on point in saying Nathan was full of himself, and this week, despite Nathan not appearing to change much, Nigel says, “Yeah, I was harsh.” Mollee, for what it’s worth, seems to be maturing some, but her dancing is not at the level of Ashleigh or Ellenore, among others. Bottom finish: 1 |
  Noelle Marsh: Age: 18 Hometown: Sanford, NC Dance Specialty: Contemporary and Jazz. Original Partner: Russell. Dance: Fox Trot by Eddie Simon, music “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes” by Michael Buble. Thoughts: Russell gets Fox Trot twice? Is SYTYCD trying to screw over one of its most likable dancers? Well, it doesn’t matter, because Russell pulls it off. It was nice to see him do it this time with Noelle, not choreographer Melanie, too. The lifts looked nice, and Noelle finished off her moves with elegance. Not the best fox trot ever, but very passable. What a difference in styles from last week (Afro jazz) to this, eh? Bottom finish: 1 |
 Russell Ferguson: Age: 20 Hometown: Boston, MA Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/Krump. Original Partner: Noelle. Dance: Fox Trot by Eddie Simon, music “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes” by Michael Buble. Thoughts: Russell gets Fox Trot twice? Is SYTYCD trying to screw over one of its most likable dancers? Well, it doesn’t matter, because Russell pulls it off. It was nice to see him do it this time with Noelle, not choreographer Melanie, too. The lifts looked nice, and Noelle finished off her moves with elegance. Not the best fox trot ever, but very passable. What a difference in styles from last week (Afro jazz) to this, eh? Bottom finish: 1 |
 Pauline Mata: Age: 19 Hometown: West Covina, CA Dance Specialty: Jazz. Original Partner: Brandon (Billy quit before first performance). 2nd partner: Peter. Dance: Quick Step by JT and Thomas, music “Hey Baby (Shake Those Hips”) by Big Kuhuna and the Copa Cat Pack. Bottom finish: 2 Eliminated: Week 3 |
  Brandon Dumlao: Age: 21 Hometown: Concord, CA Dance Specialty: Hip Hop. Original Partner: Pauline. 1st Dance: Smooth Waltz choreographed by Jason Gilkison. Bottom finish: 1 Eliminated: Week 1 |
  Kathryn McCormick: Age: 19 Hometown: Augusta, GA (Currently in Burbank, CA) Dance Specialty: Contemporary. Original Partner: Legacy. Dance: Paso Doble with Tony Meredith, music “Pursuit” by Cirque du Soleil. Thoughts: This is like the little underdog couple that could. Legacy was a man’s man in this dance (it doesn’t hurt he’s ripped, too), and Kathryn had lots of drama and passion in her arm and leg movements, and with her expressions. Is it up to a Neil/Sabra Paso doble? No, but you can see why the judges were so excited. |
 Legacy Perez: Age: 28 Hometown: Miami, FL (Currently in L.A) Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/B-Boy. Original Partner: Kathryn. Dance: Paso Doble with Tony Meredith, music “Pursuit” by Cirque du Soleil. Thoughts: This is like the little underdog couple that could. Legacy was a man’s man in this dance (it doesn’t hurt he’s ripped, too), and Kathryn had lots of drama and passion in her arm and leg movements, and with her expressions. Is it up to a Neil/Sabra Paso doble? No, but you can see why the judges were so excited. |
  Bianca Revels: Age: 20 Hometown: Detroit (Currently in L.A.) Dance Specialty: Tap. Original Partner: Victor. Dance: Broadway by Tyce Diorio, music Maybe God Is Tryin’ to Tell You Something, Music from The Color Purple. Bottom finish: 1 Eliminated: Week 2 |
 Victor Smalley: Age: 21 Hometown: Miami Dance Specialty: Contemporary. Original Partner: Bianca. Current partner: Channing Dance: Jazz by Tyce Diorio, music “Blackbird” by Bobby McFerrin. Thoughts: Channing probably did the best she’s done so far this season. She really got into the character, even though I think we can all agree that was one of the stranger dances the show has seen. Victor was quirky (although I wish Legacy could have done that dance), and he and Channing partnered well with what they were given. Does he need to do better? Yeah, but at least he’s starting to make a name for himself. Side note: What in the world was with that song/dance? It was like a bizarro Hummingbird and the Flower, minus the awesome Jaimie and Hok moves. Bottom finish: 2 |
  Ellenore Scott: Age: 19 Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA (Currently in Brooklyn) Dance Specialty: Contemporary / Jazz. Original Partner: Ryan. Dance: Contemporary with Travis Wall, music “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” by Stars. Thoughts:Ryan and Ellenore are definitely the “mature” couple of this show, in terms of their dancing. They know what they are doing, they have confidence in themselves and they understand the emotions behind the dances. But in a contemporary piece like this, with all that Travis put into the choreography, it didn’t hit the gold standard of similar routines in past seasons. You need to prove you are as good, if not better, than those that came before you. This only proved they are competent dancers, but, aside from some nice moments that were more a product of good choreography than the dancers, I didn’t think this was fantastic. Good choice of song, though.I know the judges thought this was a breakthrough moment for the season, but I’ve seen those breakthrough moments before. I didn’t get that sense this time Bottom finish: 1 |
 Ryan Di Lello: Age: 28 Hometown: Springville, UT (Currently in Orem, UT) Dance Specialty: Ballroom. Original Partner: Ellenor. Dance: Contemporary with Travis Wall, music “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” by Stars. Thoughts:Ryan and Ellenore are definitely the “mature” couple of this show, in terms of their dancing. They know what they are doing, they have confidence in themselves and they understand the emotions behind the dances. But in a contemporary piece like this, with all that Travis put into the choreography, it didn’t hit the gold standard of similar routines in past seasons. You need to prove you are as good, if not better, than those that came before you. This only proved they are competent dancers, but, aside from some nice moments that were more a product of good choreography than the dancers, I didn’t think this was fantastic. Good choice of song, though. I know the judges thought this was a breakthrough moment for the season, but I’ve seen those breakthrough moments before. I didn’t get that sense this time. Bottom finish: 1 |
  Karen Hauer: Age: 27 Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela (Currently in Queens, NY) Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom. Original Partner: Kevin. Dance: Broadway with Spencer Liff, music “If My Friends Could Se Me Now” by “Sweet Charity” New Broadway cast. Thoughts: There was no pop to their movements, as Nigel noted. The personality was only surface level. Broadway does not serve these two well, and they are in big trouble because of it. Kevin looked uncomfortable. Bottom finish: 2 |
 Kevin Hunte: Age: 23 Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Dance Specialty: Hip Hop. Original Partner: Karen Dance: Broadway with Spencer Liff, music “If My Friends Could Se Me Now” by “Sweet Charity” New Broadway cast. Thoughts: There was no pop to their movements, as Nigel noted. The personality was only surface level. Broadway does not serve these two well, and they are in big trouble because of it. Kevin looked uncomfortable. Bottom finish: 2 Eliminated: Week 4 |
