SYTYCD 13 – Top 5 Perform and Elimination – Live Blog and VIDEOS

Join me here tonight for some SHUFFFLEBOARD.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SHUFFLEBOARD. Coming next summer.

I kid. Comment down below!

Top 5 and All Stars- Choreographed by Nick and RJ
What’s up with the tape on their face? I don’t get it. They’re wearing straight jackets. Conceptually, this is so bizarre, but, it’s choreographed pretty well I suppose. Not my favorite way to start the show, but… OK. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

We lose one more dancer tonight. Next week will be the competition finale, followed by the results and the final episode of the season (series?).

Tonight is also the 250th episode of SYTYCD. Cat looks fierce in her red dress. Our judges are still Nigel, Paula, Maddie, and Jason. So basically, Nigel, and three people who only occasionally feel the need to give constructive feedback.

Maddie dances tonight. The Top 5 choreographed their own routine.

1) Tate and Katherine- Contemp by Stacey Tookey- This Gift
Tate got her hair cut. Tate does an impression of Cat. It’s about the gift they are in each others lives. Beautiful yellow dresses. It’s an OK dance, but I’d have no idea what it was about if they didn’t tell us in the package. I said the same thing about Tate’s dance last week. She gets these generic, well-choreographed contemporary pieces, but they lack soul and story. She danced it well, and got a standing O from the judges. Paula says there was humanity and truth in that number, and Tate has beautiful lines, and seamless transitions. Maddie loved it, and their connection. She thinks the connection gets stronger. Jason adds that it was beautiful and exciting, and calls them both All-Stars. Nigel thinks the choreography brought out the best in them, and that God gave Tate a gift. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

2) Kida and Fik Shun- Hip Hop by Pharside and Phoenix- All The Way Up
Kida raps a bit. No plot this week. Just a high energy hip hop dance.Kida has stepped up his game in the previous weeks, but this really is a dance that I’d give the edge to Fik-Shun. I think he outdanced Kida. Sorry, Kida. I liked the dance, but I didn’t love it. Partially because I think Fik-Shun exposed some of Kida’s weaknesses. Maddie thought it was an incredible piece, and they’re always amazing. Jason says he’s never seen Kida get this buck before. Nigel notes some of the differences between Kida and Fik-Shun, saying style left him a little cold. Paula says Kida pushes through challenges, and finds his own take on it. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

3) Emma and Gaby-Tap by Savion Glover- Sunny Side Of The Street
Emma worked with Savion Glover this week, and her mom and Gaby were crying and that’s when she realized how big of a deal he is. This should be good. So classy. Excellent clean taps. I hope people don’t hate it because it’s kind of slow. Appreciate how the tap compliments the music, and how clean those taps are. Jason says she sat in the groove tonight. Nigel has been trying to get Savion on the show for years. Nigel adored the routine. Paula says there was a nostalgic feel to the routine, and she applauds Emma. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

4) JT and Robert- Contemp by Stacey Tookey- I’ll Keep You Safe
Father son relationship dance. JT has just been given devastating news before this dance, and Robert is there to support him. JT is going to win this, I can feel it. He keeps getting these really great routines. This is another great routine with Robert and JT, that tells a clear story, matched with a perfect song, and some great dancing. JT is emotionally connected, which is surprising for a kid his age. Standing O from the judges. Nigel says it was a beautiful routine, and JT is starting to point his toes. Paula says they put a little extra into each routine. She calls JT a picasso in a teeny frame. Maddie loved it, JT is always amazing. Jason says JT has the perfect blend of maturity and innocence. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

5) Tahani and Comfort- Tribal Hip Hop with Dave Scott- WTF
Tahani is doing a tribal hip hop. It’s like if Lion King went hip hop. A really fun routine. I thin Comfort outperformed Tahani, but with a smaller margin than Kida and Fik-Shun. Tahani really brought her A-Game tonight. Really good stuff overall. Maddie says it was fun stuff. Jason says the makeup and hair was great, and the dance challenged them, moment after moment. Nigel says “Hakuna Matata”. Nigel gives Comfort props, and tells Tahani to loosen her shoulders. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

6) Tate and Katherine- Contemp by Tate- Footprints
Tate’s dance is called Unmasked. Every person has a mask and doesn’t show who they really are. Surprisingly, a really well choreographed piece. Mad props to Tate. You’d have no idea a child choreographed that. I think it stands on its own. Maddie was surprised. Jason says that conceptually it was beyond her years. Nigel points out there weren’t any straight leg moments, and she’s probably cheaper than the other choreographers. Paula says she’s a great choreographer in the making. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

7) Kida and Fik-Shun- Hip Hop by Kida- I Can Make You Feel
He’s calling this routine Manipulator. Fik-Shun says it’ll show their bond and growth as a duo. They have Gold facepaint and some trippy gold costumes. Kida mouths the lyrics, Fik-Shun doesn’t. They should have figured out what it was supposed to be, because it was distracting that only Kida was doing it. Some really sick moves though. Jason thanks Kida. He says people are going to click that routine over and over. Nigel says they’re making choreography look easy. Paula says every ounce of Kida commands attention. Maddie adds that his choreography is insane. She says his musicality was amazing, and its one of her favorite dances of the season. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

8) Eliminated All-Stars and Katherine (Minus Jonathan)- Feel Again
That was OK. Time filler. There are worse ways to spend a few minutes I suppose. I won’t remember that dance tomorrow. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

9) JT and Robert- Contemp by JT- Count On Me by Bruno Mars
JT calls it the Friendship Dance. LOL. Robert starts to cry when JT tells him what the dance is about. AWWW. JT is excited about bossing around Robert. He’s adorable. Cute costumes. Totally JT. Cute routine. I’m surprised JT did that. Good job. JT reveals to Cat that Robert farted at the end of the dance. So embarassing. Nigel loved the choreo and the routine, but not the outfits. Nigel says he’s captivated by JT. Paula babbles a lot, but eventually calls it magical. Maddie thought the costumes were very JT. Jason wouldn’t wear the shorts, but it looks good on JT and Robert. Jason was blown away by JT’s choreo, and gives another standing O. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

10) Non Eliminated All-Stars (plus Jonathan, minus Katherine)– The Way You Look Tonight
Man, Robert had a SUPER FAST costume change. LOL. (I realize this was obviously pretaped). I like this better than the other dance, I think these performers are all shining, especially Fik-Shun who is entertaining as the maitre’d. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

11) Tahani and Comfort- Hip Hop with Tahani- No Flex Zone
Tahani’s inspiration is Grease, apparently. Comfort says Tahani is kicking her tail. Comfort is super nerdy in this. Its really an entertaining dance. All the kids did a good job doing choreo this week. Paula thought Tahanis determination in paving her own way is cool, and she loved the way Comfort looked. Maddie thought they took charge of the characters. Jason thought it was a lot of fun. Nigel couldn’t take his eyes off Tahani. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

12) Emma and Gaby- Tap with Emma- Rather Be by Pentatonix
The dance is about how much Emma loves Gaby, which makes Gaby tear up a bit. A fun, light piece. Compared to her Savion Glover routine earlier though, this is her second best routine of the night. Costumes are weak though. Maddie says it was so well done, and the tap was clear. Jason says there’s that same light they always love. Nigel thinks tap choreo is the hardest to do. Paula says the magic was Emma singing through it. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

13) Maddie and Travis Wall- Cage Of Bones
Contrast. Light vs Dark. Young vs Old. Maddie has been wanting to dance so bad. No way did Maddie change that fast. It’s an unusual Travis routine. Very eclectic and dark. I kinda like the twisty insanity of the routine.

I dread to see who is going home. No one really deserves to go home after tonight. Though, last week I wold have sen home Tate, so… there’s that. Nigel says the show has been incredible. He gives a pep talk to whoever might be going home. He says they are all stars. – Watch the Performance VIDEO

Tahani is eliminated. She looked like she knew it. So sad. She’s so good. – Watch the Elimination VIDEO

Who will win? JT? Tate? Kida? Emma? The final four compete next week. She’ll be back for the season finale in two weeks anyway.

About SirMac 241 Articles
Contributor to mjsbigblog.com. EIC of macthemovieguy.com, Contributor at houseofgeekery.com. Holds a BA in Film from the University of Central Florida.