So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Top 20!

For the last two years, I have been trying to justify why it is, exactly, that I become a weepy mess every time I watch this show... probably overtired or maybe just having a bad day... but really? I've got nothin'. Nothing to validate the rush of emotion and bursting into tears at the freaking opening credits! It's embarrassing, and usually best that I watch this show by myself. And I've learned not to eat my dinner while watching the show, cuz I only end up all choked up and getting something stuck in my throat. So maybe watching the show by myself isn't the best strategy...

It just made me so happy to see all this Canadian talent!

Alright, enough already... getting on with it.Leah started off the night in a poofy black prom dress, givin' it up for the Top 20 - it entertained me that every time a dancer from Montreal was introduced she felt the need to try for a French accent. She really doesn't have to do that, I don't think...

Once the dancers did their opening thing we find out who the judges are for the evening: Luther Brown, looking very serious; Blake McGrath, who really is such a cutie; Tre Armstrong, dancing her way on stage and Jean Marc Genereaux (JM), who honestly? just makes me cringe most of the time. His desire to emulate Nigel is so... obvious... Okay, that creepy dance thing he did when he came out on stage was totally not necessary.

Back to Leah who spells out the deal - the winner, not only titled Canada's Favourite Dancer, dances away with $100,000 AND a 2009 Mercedes C230. No mention whether there'll be a Katie prize of $50,000, so we'll have to see where that goes in the end...

A quick review of the Top 20 auditions with JM making it clear you need to "go big or go 'ome"...

On to our first couple of the night.I've been keen to find out who Nico was going to be coupled with - just so I can start being jealous ahead of time, really - and it's Arassay! Two of my early favourites! Nico had me at "I don't just live to dance... I AM dance." Swoon. And Arassay getting all emotional about her background - ah, a girl after my own heart, getting all teary like that.

Choreographed by Gustav Vargas, they dance the salsa to... I'm sorry! I missed the name and artist of the first song... La Salsa something by Sonora something... I'll do better, I promise. A perfect opener for Arassay for sure, obviously she's in her element. And Nico? Well call me biased for sure, but I thought he did really well. A tiny bit sloppy with one of the throw/catch in the air things at the very end, but overall I was pleased with this first number of the night. I was less impressed with this than I thought I would be. Also, could they not have dressed her better? The outfit was terribly lackluster. I don’t think they’re going anywhere, but it wasn’t my favourite.

It was caliente... Fun in the Sun, said Tre! Luther agreed with me that it was a great opener, as did Blake, telling Arassay that she stole the show. Tre followed up with 'fierce' and something about a sexy little kitten... and then JM just got all weird, telling Arassay we (Canada) OWN her now. Kind of creepy, like when McCain said 'fellow prisoners' instead of 'fellow Americans'...I'm thinking they are safe.

Our second couple of the night is Natalli and Kevin. I said in my last write up that I was interested in Natalli, curious to see how she would do. I don't know if I am any more certain now than I was going on. It seems to me she is almost studiously sexy, like coming off all smoldery like that is a bit of an effort and it's a bit hard for me to buy.

Choreographer Tanisha Scott says right off the top that Natalli may have 'flava' but definitely some trouble with timing. Kevin has timing in spades, but maybe a bit lacking in the 'flava' department. We'll see how this all translates dancing hip hop to The Way I Are by Timbaland.Yep. Issues with the timing all over the place. Sucks that Nat's belt was falling off too (I think that was intentional styling, unfortunate), had to have been a distraction for sure. Kevin seemed a bit scared at one time when he had to smack her ass, which made me laugh. I thought they both hit it, but felt not much of a connection between them... It struck me that it seems Natalli is more used to dancing my herself than with a partner. Suddenly her background escapes me, and I can't remember if there's any truth to that.

Side note here from me: Apparently I’m supposed to support Kevin above all others because he’s local to me. If this performance is anything to go by, my community is going to be sorely disappointed.

Over to the judges. Luther loved the outfits and the energy, felt Kevin really went for it, but overall there were mistakes. Blake commented that the energy fell a bit, and while it was okay, it certainly wasn't amazing. Good thing Leah thought it was though...Tre felt they hit it, and called Natalli 'fierce, and hard'... but she wasn't gonna hate, she was gonna participate and congratulate. Huh?JM gave a shout out to choreographer Tanisha, said he loved 'ip 'op and that Kevin was one of the most skilled dancers on the show, but didn't really offer up a review.

Maybe one of the bottom 3? I would say that’s a safe bet.

Up next are Bre and Francis dancing a waltz choreographed by Amy Wright. In the practice, they are stressed out over the Dead Man's Drop, and to be honest, it looks like it really could be if it doesn't go right! Dancing to You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin, my first thought is that they make a really nice couple, and I loved Bre's dress, all pink and flowy. They ace the drop early in the number, and from there on, I really enjoyed it. I thought the lines were good and felt a certain chemistry between them. And I confess to chills when Francis caressed the side of her face and toyed with her earring at the very end... I think I made an out loud sound.

So Leah agrees with me, saying she was all 'goose bumpy'... but that's where the agreement ends. Luther was luke warm about it, saying it was good but not great and that he felt they were holding back. Blake said the lines WEREN'T good (is my eye really that off?) and said she was more like a 'natural grandmother' as opposed to a natural woman. Huh. A bit harsh I thought. I actually agree with Blake. Her hands weren’t often fully extended, and her arms and legs never really looked like they were ‘reaching’ like they should.

Tre said it was entertaining, but not necessarily smooth. Oddly JM and I are on the same page, as he said he really did feel the emotion. Poor Bre is left defending herself at the end of it all. Sigh. I was so hopeful for them.

Next up - Allie and Danny. I like them as a couple right off the top. They seem well suited and I am looking forward to watching them do the jive to Rock This Town by The Straycats.This number is choreographed by Melissa Williams and was super entertaining. I love that Allie has such ballerina hand and arm movements...! They have great timing throughout, it has lots of energy and enough good tricks to overlook the few stumbly parts. I really liked this and was glad that there was finally something to be excited about.

Luther calls Allie his favourite ballerina, saying 'y'all looked good, y'all danced good, it was great'. It was Blake's favourite number of the night and I giggled when he called Allie Miss Thang. I want him to call ME that! Ummm…Carra…I know you sometimes have some issues determining what side of the fence someone is on (if you know what I mean)….I’m fairly sure he’s not on yours… Fine, he's not on my side of the fence - then he's not on Allie's side of the fence either, and he STILL called her Miss Thang, and I STILL want him to call me that!

Tre agrees that it was also her favourite of the night and JM tells them they rocked dis town... At the very end I heard Danny say that Allie was sunshine. Awww... I'd call them safe for the night.

Kaitlyn and Izaak, the youngest couple on the show, are up next doing a theatre piece - I assume this is the same as Broadway? Choreographed by Sean Cheesman and dancing to All That Jazz from Chicago, I have to laugh when they show in the practice piece how hard of a time Izaak has having to smack Kaitlyn's ass.I really enjoyed this number, but I admit to being a bit of a sucker for theatre/Broadway, whatever... I liked Izaak's expressions and felt that both got into it.

The judges were alright with it - Luther said it was cool, but could have been more exaggerated, Blake enjoyed it but felt it looked a bit young.Tre felt they could have taken it to another level, but said that Izaak had the most potential for development of all the guys on the show. JM was not trilled, but agreed with Tre on the whole potential spiel. I actually thought they did much better than the judges gave them credit for.

Moving on to Lisa and Vincent... Lisa says that her confidence may come off as cocky, and hey, whaddya know, I completely agree with her. Now for any of you who read Lainey Gossip, you had to laugh out loud at the song selection... did it make you Rossum, by any chance? UGH!!! I was so disappointed in the Emmy Rossum song choice!!! There’s so much killer music to choose from and they pick Emmy fucking Rossum???

This is a contemporary piece choreographed by Stacey Tookey, and the song is Slow Me Down by Emily Rossum (she was in the movie version The Phantom of the Opera). Lainey has wrecked this song for me, and I am trying to take the number seriously.

It was an interesting number for sure, and I actually can't say that I didn't like it, in spite of all the factors. I thought it was sharp, strong. Aside from the music, I really liked this one. But I’m a sucker for contemporary.

The judges are all over it. Luther loved it, said it was from the heart. Blake threw out descriptors like stunning, phenomenal and raw.Tre felt they were the technically strongest couple of the night and JM told Canada to wake up, as this couple was a force to be recognized. Or reckoned with, whatever, JM, it's okay.

Based on the judges, I'm thinking they're safe.

On to disco from Lara and Miles. I wasn't sure how I felt about Lara going in, to be honest, but I came out of this quite liking her. I already liked Miles from the auditions, so I was feeling good about this one.

Oh! And there's the famous SYTYCD half dress! Finally - I've been waiting all night to see when that would surface.

Choreography by Melissa Williams, song Shake It by Metro Station.It has a very 70's roller skating kind of look to it, and I'm loving the white boots. What a great cheesy disco number! I feel Lara is a bit tight up in the shoulders and upper body, but man alive, Miles sure has that thrusting thing down pat! Oh! And... did they just kiss? Uh huh, they did! That'll get the crowd going... But whoops, something just rolled across the stage... Ah, an earring...I really liked this one. Great song choice, great choreography.

Leah says that the funny 'hip thing' from Miles just breaks her heart... Luther says it was fun, and that he's proud of Miles. Blake says it should get the fun award of the night, but tells Lara she needs to relax a little bit. Tre tells Miles that he no longer needs to be fearful of the disco - did I miss in the practice him saying he was afraid? Maybe I did... Tre also mentions that Lara needs to relax a bit. JM says it was fun, fluid, and calls Miles the John Travolta of the show. I'm hoping that's a good thing. Another couple I think that is safe though.

We have another hip hop number by Tanisha coming up, this time with Romina and Dario. Dario says he's happy to be working with sexy women and Romina says she has to practice the booty thing in front of her mirror... tee hee... that's kind of funny to me.

Dancing to Dangerous by Kardinal Offishall, Romina comes out in a shiny maid's outfit - hey! I wore one of those to a murder mystery a lifetime ago... ha! And Leah claims that's how she cleans her house...

I thought it was alright, but the timing seemed a bit off between them - and was this number shorter than all the rest, or was that just me? Regardless, it was better than the first hip-hop.

Luther said that Romina did a great job, but thought that Dario could tighten it up a little bit. Blake said that Romina killed it and called her the hottest girl of the night... I think I don't actually agree with that, but what do I know... He also said that Dario let her eat him alive out there. Tre cuts him off to say basically the same thing. And ha, before JM can say anything, Leah asks if she should call the medics, cuz she knows how he gets anytime a hot girl is on the stage. JM says yes, please call 911, don't even 'eh-sitate. At least that's what I think he says, hard to say with all the slobbering.

Tamina and Joey - I thought their practise monologues were... strange. Tamina says she has an alter ego? And Joey says he's not just a pretty face, or something? Maybe he's just not my type, but I never actually thought that he was...

Dancing a Tango by Gustav Vargas, I am immediately struck that Joey reminds me of the Tall, Thin Man in the Charlies Angels movies.

I think they used this song, Santa Maria by the Gotan Project in the last season of SYTYCD?

Another one I thought was just alright - I thought they were both kind of tight in the hips and shoulders.

Luther really liked the outfits, said it was good, but that they needed a better connection with each other. Blake agreed with that and said that it kind of fell flat.

Tre said something, and I must have drifted off, cuz I really didn't follow. JM said he'd put 3 hands on Tamina if he could. I'm concerned for her.

Last up for the night are Caroline and Jesse. Clarence Ford choreographs a 70's-vibe jazz piece to Soul Man by Sam and Dave. They both come out in matching outfits with big hair, and I can't tell who is who. I guess that's the point to start with. I find it a bit messy in some of the flips... But high energy...

Oh! Now I know who Caroline is, since she stripped off the orange jail suit. That's better. Okay, over the top costuming really bugs me (the afros and orange suits). It completely distracts from the dancers and the dance. I’m sure everyone watching spent part of the time trying to figure which was which and wasn’t fully watching the dance.

Luther says they are two of the strongest dancers on the show and says they are very x10 good. He admits to some mistakes, but overall he likes it. Blake says he's not going to focus on the mistakes (I wonder then, the point of judging... is... ?) and that he liked it, it was fun.

Tre also wants to ignore the mistakes, saying it's hard to judge a number that is retro/jazz/pop. I wonder why that is. JM says they went 'full owwwt.'

In closing, Leah asks the judges who they liked best. I expect the usual 'I love them all!' and am happy to get an immediate answer from Luther - Allie and Danny. Blake starts off with an "all of them" but then narrows it down to Lisa and Vincente. Tre concedes that the Romina/Dario and the Caroline/Jesse pairing is 'unusual' which makes me think she is more saying who she thinks wasn't so hot... JM says Arassay and Nico, and I am troubled that once again we are on the same page.

Results tomorrow night - so we'll see who the first to leave the island is...

As a side note, I saw a trailer for the next episode of Grey's Anatomy, and okay, I'll bite. It looks decent...