So You Think You Can Dance Episode Recap and My Take – Season 5, Winner Announced

Link to recap for last night’s performance show

Opening Number – They opened with the Top 20 dancing the cool piece where they all came out of the painting, and ended with the Top 4 inside the frame. Really nice high energy start!

Sitting on the judging panel tonight were Lil C, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Debbie Allen, Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.

Judges Favorite Performance #1 – Adam Shankman picked the Hip-Hop piece danced by Jeanine & Phillip and choreographed by Tabitha & Napoleon. It was nice to see the 2 of them dance together again.

Judges Favorite Performance #2 – Nigel Lythgoe picked the Argentine Tango piece danced by Janette & Brandon and choreographed by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo. This is one of my favorite pieces this season; and I still loved it, though I thought this time around Janette left Brandon in her dust big time!

Judges Favorite Performance #3 – Debbie Allen picked the Waltz danced by Asuka & Vitolio and choreographed by Louis Van Amstel. I liked this piece and thought it was really beautiful the first time around, but liked it a bit more this time, it just felt a bit more refined and from the heart.

Judges Favorite Performance #4 – Mary Murphy selected the Contemporary piece danced by Jeanine & Jason and choreographed by Travis Wall. I really love this piece too, another great choice. It felt bigger this time, if that makes sense. Really beautiful.

Judges Favorite Performance #5 – Mia Michaels picked the Samba danced by Kayla & Max and choreographed by Louis Van Amstel. This really was a spicy opening show performance. I really felt Kayla’s personality and confidence shining through a lot more this time, I think that is the area she has really grown in through the season.

**Aparrently the Top 4 went to see an advance performance of the new Fame movie complete with Kherington from Season 4 and some other people from the movie. They all seemed to like it, it comes out in September 25. Debbie Allen is also in it. Debbie spoke about the importance of inspiring an interest in the arts and thins this is the right time for a movie that can help do that.**

Judges Favorite Performance #6 – Debbie Allen selected as her second favorite a group routine performed by the Top 16 and choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin and Tabitha and Napoleon. This really was a steamy number and a nice mix of styles.

Guest Dance Performance – The winner of SYTYCD Australia, Talia Fowler, performed a piece choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. Awesome choreography, as always, from Sonya, I really love her work. And the dancing was incredibly beautiful, I can see why she won.

Judges Favorite Performance #7 – Lil C, in his own way of course, picked the Bollywood piece danced by Caitlyn & Jason and choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan. I am a huge fan of Bollywood, so I of course love this piece. I felt like they struggled with it a bit this time around though, especially Jason who had some wardrobe issues and they likely threw him off a bit.

First Dancer Eliminated – I am utterly shocked to report that it is Kayla! WOW! I really thought she would win. I really hope this has opened up so many doors for her because she is incredible and amazing and everything in between. I largely blame the judges ooohing and aaaahing over her, or more the reaction the audience tends to have to that. I really wish people understood how truly hard it is to make it in the dance world even if you ooze talent, there are just so few opportunities out there and so many dancers fighting for them.

Judges Favorite Performance #8 – Adam Shankman’s second selected piece was a Contemporary piece danced by Randi & Evan and choreographed by Mia Michaels. This is otherwise known as the “Butt Dance,” and it is a great piece, the fun side of Mia. I thought it was even better the second time around.

Judges Favorite Performance #9 – Mary Murphy’s second selection was the Paso Doble danced by Jeanine & Brandon and choreographed by Louis Van Amstel, which is from last night. Much better this time around. Not that it was bad last night, but tonight it had an edgier, meaner feel to it.

Second Dancer Eliminated – Not as much of a surprise here. 3^rd place goes to Evan. He is such an amazing dancer in his own style, and he has such a winning personality. But he definitely didn’t grow as much in the other genres as I would have liked to see. He definitely has such a career in front of him on the stage on Broadway, or maybe Fame will inspire some additional good danced themed movies and I would love to see him in one with the feel of Singing in the Rain.

Judges Favorite Performance #10 – Nigel Lythgoe said every season Mia Michaels manages to touch him with her choreography in a profound way. He selected her Contemporary piece danced by Kayla & Kupono that was about addiction. My friend watched first and called to say the performance was way more amazing this time, and she knows her stuff. And I must say, I agree. Kupono just had a lot more in him this time and Kayla as well. It made me cry, amazingly beautiful.

Guest Dance Performance – The Rgae Boyz Crew performed again, they were on earlier in the season. Once again more cute than amazing, but fun.

Judges Favorite Performance #11 – Tyce Diorio chose the Doriana Sanchez Disco routine danced by Janette & Brandon. This is that super fast makes you want to drop number. It was just as fun as last time, but I didn’t feel the energy eminating from it the entire time like I did before, they seemed tired.

Judges Favorite Performance #12 – Mia Michaels selected the Tyce Diorio piece danced by Melissa & Ade that is about Breast Cancer. This piece makes me cry. Tyce announced that the friend he choreographed the piece for learned today that she is cancer free. Amazing news! The choreography is beautiful, and the dancing was about the same as before, what is strongest about this piece is the theme and the message. Kind of annoyed that the

Judges Favorite Performance #13 – The Top 8 performed the A Chorus Line piece choreographed by Mia Michaels. Tonight’s judging panel (minus Lil C) joined them toward the end for some kicks and such, very cute.

And the winner is…Jeanine. She definitely deserves it, I think they each did for different reasons. I think her personality and being paired with Phillip in the beginning really helped her out, as did her ability to grow. She and Brandon both have major potential and will hopefully turn their 1^st and 2^nd place finishes in to some opportunities.

I am going to try and blog about SYTYCD and Dancing with the Stars starting in September, I hope I can keep up!