TV Recap: So You Think You Can Dance - Top 20 Perform

There’s one thing to say about the premiere of the top 20 dancers this season on So You Think You Can Dance: it’s already been brought. The night started with a routine that I thought could rival the “No Air” one from last season, and then the incredible happened with some of the best dancing the show has ever seen. Of course with 20 total contestants everything didn’t go smoothly, but this was one of the strongest openings for the show in years. I don’t necessarily agree that it’s the strongest group of dancers though.

We’re going to break down the dances super quick in these early stages, which unfortunately means some routines that I should spend paragraphs talking about will only get few sentences. But this is the price you have to pay when there’s other stuff to do, and I’m sure you’ve probably got to get back to that report the boss asked you for first thing when you walked out of the office last night. Right?

One thing that is so great about SYTYCD is that the judges and host are so much fun. I have to say that I’m not so into the schtick and routine over at American Idol anymore, and that has a lot to do with the falseness. Cat, Nigel, Mary and the various guest judges all feel so genuine in the criticism and love of the dancers. Mary’s botox comment was brilliantly self effacing and candid, as if it just slipped out of her. And that’s kind of the way they talk to the dancers, giving these young kids a chance to honestly see how what they do can have an effect on others.

Let’s get on with the dancing…

Jeanine and Philip - Choreography by Tabitha and Napoleon: What a fantastic way to start the show. It was beautifully choreographed (as you should expect from Tabitha and Napoleon), but more importantly it proved to me that Philip has more chops than he’s let on so far. To be honest Jeanine kept up with Philip, but it was just that…keeping up. I don’t feel she destroyed the number as she should. But that last move was slick.

Asuka and Vitolio - Choreography by Tyce Diorio: I said during this number that I didn’t feel as if there was any character to what I was seeing. The dancing was spot on perfection for the most part. I just never cared. It’s a weird thing that these dancers have to understand with the competition that while training and technique can get you through a routine, these choreographers are giving them intricate and fun stories to tell. This should have been a joy to watch, instead it was banal.

Karla and Jonathan - Choreography by Tony Meredith: I had no clue who these two were going into the first real show of the season. I can tell you that I definitely know who Karla is now, hot damn is she gorgeous. To watch dance as well as look at. There was a lot of great little moments throughout, but it’s clear that Jonathan is not a seasoned dancer. There is no way he pulled off a hot and sexual routine, that was all handled by Karla. Jonathan looks and acts like a little boy, I don’t care what the judges had to say.

Randi and Evan - Choreography by Tyce Diorio: If you people needed any proof that Evan should be on this show I think it was provided tonight. The little video played before the routine didn’t enamor me to Randi, but then they hit the stage and she was incredibly in the moment with Evan. I think the song was actually something that was noticeably weird about the routine. It kind of felt as if they were dancing to another song and later “I Only Have Eyes For You” was dubbed over.

Paris and Tony - Choreography by Tabitha and Napoleon: So Paris we already know is beautiful and an incredible dancer, this first routine wasn’t about her. This was about Tony, and the fact that he got his own style to start the journey on should have helped immensely. Not only was he sloppy, perhaps even sloppier than Paris, but I just thought his performance was goofy. There are plenty of other guys on the show that can get by with their charm, and if Tony wants to be anywhere past the next few weeks he had better do some major impressing. And I’m doubly disappointed because this was some terrific hip hop choreography.

Caitlin and Jason - Choreography by Nakul Dev Hahajan: Caitlin had a lot to prove to me since for whatever reason I had a passionate dislike for her during the Hollywood week episodes. Then they got Bollywood dancing and all I could remember was the brilliant introduction of the style to the show last season. If it weren’t for something memorable that happens later this would be the best performance of the night for me. The handwork was so intricate and precise, the movements so fascinating, and the performance spot on by both Caitlin and Jason. Bravo to the producers for bringing this style on board full time to the show. My wife just thinks Jason was closer than Caitlin thought, but I’m not convinced she was prepared for that kiss to happen at the end. Things looked a little uncomfortable when they first walked over to Cat.

Janette and Brandon - Choreography by Louis Van Amstel: These two are just powerful looking dancers, and I think out of all the couples they were placed furthest from their comfort zone in a Foxtrot. Janette flowed and moved around the stage beautifully, but I have to disagree a little with the judges about Brandon. He didn’t appear all that comfortable having to hold that frame up the entire time, which he did drop now and then. You’d think that such a strong guy would have no problem with something like that. But when it comes to lifts of the night that one at the end of the routine was certainly the most powerful.

Ashley and Kupono - Choreography by Wade Robson: This is one of the two routines that deserves more than a few sentences of discussion, but let’s see what we can do. Undoubtably this was the choreography of the night. That esoteric and wonderful style Wade brings to his dancers is unmatched by anyone, and I think it’s a little bit of a curse to get him week one. Everything about this was spot on in what Wade was trying to do, with Ashley and Kupono pulling it off to perfection. And it’s the hands stupid! The flat unmoving doll hands is what started and ended the whole thing. Attention to minute details like this is why Wade Robson is one of the best choreographers working in the world. The problem is I wonder how much the audience will have connected to the routine.

Melissa and Ade - Choreography by Mandy Moore: As for the other routine that needs lengthy discussion there’s no doubt the audience connected with this thing of grace, beauty and joy. As Mandy Moore has gotten into the contemporary choreography more on the show I’ve noticed the biggest improvement on that end. Her stuff is still a lot more traditional in style, but Mandy is getting more comfortable telling the great stories in contemporary that she does in jazz. And wow what a performance from Melissa and Ade. It was one of the best executed routines in the show’s history, both technically and emotionally.

Kayla and Max - Choreography by Louis Van Amstel: This was one of the best ballroom dances (aside from the Venetian Waltzes that I normally love) to happen in recent memory. The problem? I didn’t care. Nor do I usually when it comes to ballroom. There’s just no story or interesting points for me, and that is doubly so because Kayla and Max had to follow a tremendous contemporary routine.