So You Think You Can Dance 9.14 recap: Performance Finale

Wow, what an awesome performance finale. Not only was it an evening of mostly stellar performances, the judges even got a bit sentimental! I actually suspect that Nigel may have had a drink or two, because he was in a really good mood, proclaiming people to be his favorite contestants ever on the show, throwing his hands up in joy, or giving a standing ovation to every other performance. He actually encouraged Mary to scream. Maybe I had a bit more wine than usual too because I laughed, cried, and yelled at my TV with enthusiasm. It was a great way to finish out the competition before we find out who wins next week.

Solos

The two remaining guys have probably been the strongest soloists in the competition and this week’s episode was no exception. What Chehon and Cyrus lack in versatility, they make up for by being masters of their respective styles. Eliana’s solo was as fluid, balanced, and generally lovely as ever. Considering how much I loved Tiffany’s solo last week, I was a bit disappointed this time around. It lacked enough variety and wasn’t as well-controlled as usual. She may have been a little nervous.

Contestant Pairings

Cyrus and Eliana started out the evening with a somewhat mediocre paso doble. Their movement wasn’t powerful enough to make up for the slow pace. Eliana was a bit too fluid where it could have been more staccato. That may be the fault of the choreography and not Eliana. I usually love Jason Gilkinson but I didn’t get the role reversal. Cyrus had good moments and sloppy moments as usual. They got mostly good feedback from the judges. I agreed with Mary when she said that Cyrus needs to work on keeping his shoulders down.

For the first time, we had two contestants capable of performing classical ballet together. Eliana and Chehon performed a pas de deux from The Nutcracker. It involved a lot of partnering from Chehon, and Eliana showing off her extension. It was well-done and the judges seemed really excited to have classical ballet represented on the show. Compared to the ballet dancers we’ve seen in the past, Eliana and Chehon really do have something special.

Since I’ve grown pretty fond of Tiffany in the last couple of weeks, I was glad to see that her routine with Cyrus was a lyrical hip-hop. The biggest concern with Cyrus is that he will hold his partner back from showing what they can do, but he has a good feel for hip-hop. They’re both top-notch performers. It was solid – not perfectly clean, but strong.

Ray Leeper made use of Eliana’s – um – unique talents by incorporating pole dancing into the burlesque-style Broadway he choreographed for the girls. Yep, pole dancing. It was actually pretty great. It was a fun, sexy number and they both looked awesome. Eliana especially did some pretty impressive things on that pole (yeah, I just said that). Nigel somehow resisted the temptation to say something even more pervy than usual.

Cyrus and Chehon performed a jazz number choreographed by Sonya. You can see the benefit of Chehon’s training in little things, like his straight back and arms when he walks. Sonya still managed to create a routine that played to each of their strengths (without just adding in animation where it doesn’t fit). She used Cyrus to support and lift Chehon and incorporated a lot of sharp movement that suited him well. Nigel commented that Cyrus is his favorite person in the competition and Chehon is his favorite dancer. They are sort of two halves of a whole. Cyrus has all the charisma and performance ability and Chehon has the technique and dance ability and they have each been working on improving in the other way. I agree with Nigel, they really are both inspiring dudes.

All-Star Pairings

Tiffany was paired with season 4 all-star Will for a beautiful Sonya Tayeh jazz. Both of them performed with total commitment and passion. It was about living in the moment and they both seemed completely present in the movement. It was really just a simple joy to watch.

Chehon danced with all-star Allison in a contemporary piece choreographed by Stacey Tookey. There was a time I doubted Chehon’s place in the finale, but this piece finally sold me for good. Chehon’s freedom of movement and his signature height was just breathtaking to watch. The partnering and lifts were amazing. It was about him letting someone he loves go despite her wanting to make it work. The choreography combined with their emotional connection told the story beautifully. Everyone was kind of blown away over this. Mary was falling over herself to compliment Stacey, the “3-time nommyeminated” choreographer. I got some definite chills. Have I mentioned lately that I love Stacey Tookey?

Eliana and Alex performed a Travis Wall contemporary. They partner together so seamlessly. They were perfectly fluid and connected. They moved through the entire piece like it was one movement. This is where Nigel declared Eliana the Greatest Dancer of All Time Ever.

Season 3’s Dmitry choreographed a romantic rumba for Tiffany and Chehon. Mary criticized their chemistry, but I agreed with guest judge Rob Marshall who said that they had a really sexy and beautiful connection. The chemistry felt real, not forced. I thought they both performed flawlessly.

The show finished with Cyrus teaming up with tWitch for a hip-hop in his unique animation style. tWitch did an admirable job of tackling the style. Choreographer Christopher Scott brought in an expert to make sure they got it right. It was a fun and explosive routine (literally, they played robots breaking out of a lab and the glass exploded). Despite kind of agreeing with him, I thought it was weird that Nigel chose this moment to tell Cyrus that he would be voting for Chehon. Cyrus may not have the training or versatility of the other dancers, but he is a dancer and a true artist. Anyway, it was cool that Cyrus got a chance to do something choreographed in his style.

All in all, I have to say that I’m glad they let the contestants work pretty much in their comfort zones this week. I think that’s why this went over so well. As much as I value versatility on this show, it seems reasonable to set them all up for success in the finale. They chose ballroom styles that aren’t too outside the technique they’re used to and there was a good mix of jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. My votes went to Chehon and Tiffany but I think Cyrus and Eliana may win. Comment and let me know what you think. Predictions? Hopes? Reflections on the season?