So You Think You Can Dance received quite a bit of hype before it started on BBC1 a few weeks ago. Not only is it already one of the most popular shows in America, but it was the return of Arlene Phillips – former Strictly Come Dancing judge – to our screens, after the controversy concerning her replacement by Alesha Dixon on the Strictly panel. However, as with any show of this type, it's not about the judges (or so they keep telling us, anyway), but the contestants. So who are the final 8 who think they can be Britain's best dancer..?
1.Drew.
A musical theatre and contemporary dancer, 24-year-old Drew McOnie has become known over the past few weeks for his curly hair and infectious grin, as well as his sheer energy when dancing!
Best routine so far? The contemporary dance – forever known as “the bed routine” - he performed with Hayley in week 2.
2.Robbie.
22-year-old Robbie White is a contemporary dancer from Stockport who was nicknamed “the drunken spider” during the audition process due to his tall, slim physique and exceedingly long limbs!
Best routine so far? Pretty much any of his solo routines where he's allowed to do the contemporary style he loves best.
3.Alastair.
Alastair Postlethwaite is a 28-year-old classical ballet dancer and farmer from Preston, who has recovered well from being in the dance-off two weeks ago.
Best routine so far? His Broadway routine with Mandy in week 1.
4.Tommy
Baby-faced Tommy Franzen (who is actually 28!) is a hip-hop dancer from Sweden, who actually started out in Musical Theatre at the age of 14. He has shown fantastic energy and a cheeky character throughout the show so far.
Best routine so far? Hip-hop routine with Charlie in week 1
5.Charlie
19-year-old jazz dancer Charlie Bruce may be the youngest in the competition, but she has shown fantastic maturity alongside her infectiously bubble personality over the past few weeks.
Best routine so far? Her contemporary routine with Robbie last week. Incredible!
6.Lizzie
Lizzie Gough is a 25-year-old hip-hop dancer from Southampton who has stood out as a favourite right from the early auditions. Her quirky sense of style combined with her incredible dance ability make her really stand out from the crowd.
Best routine so far? Her lyrical hip-hop routine with Mark in week 1
7.Mandy
A jazz / contemporay dancer, 31-year-old American Mandy actually retired from professional dancing but returned for the purposes of this show. Despite being the oldest comtestant, her versatility and energy can easily rival any of her younger competitors.
Best routine so far? Her Broadway routine with Alastair in week 1
8.Yanet
27-year-old Yanet Fuentes is a Salsa dancer from Cuba who started out in gymnastics as a youngster. Her energy and passion for dance have shone throughout the competition so far.
Best routine so far? Her salsa routine with Tommy last week.
So, now it's time to get on with tonight's show. Before any of the couples performed, we were treated to performance from the remaining 4 girls. A routine which, to be honest, looked to be more to do with the dresses than the dancing – the choreograhy by the end seemed to just consist or an endless loop of jump, spin, kick, shimmy... having said that, they all danced it very well, but I don't think many votes will be won or lost on these group routines.
First up for the couples – Robbie and Yanet, who had already been paired together in weeks 1 / 2, with a Lindyhop routine. They certainly couldn't have put any more energy into it, but Yanet wasn't as great technically as she has been at some other dances, and Robbie the “drunken spider” was definitely back, as his limbs seemingly took on a life of their own! The judges agreed that it wasn't great, but the harshest comments came from judge Sisco claiming that Yanet was the weakest girl left in the competition. Time will tell if the public agree – but it was obvious at that point she would be going home if faced with a place in the bottom 2 tonight.
As with last week's show, after each duet one male and one female dancer would perform their 30 second solos. First up with them tonight – Alastair and Lizzie. As usual, Alastair performed with a tremendous amount of poise and elegance – so much so that the fact he seemed to almost lose his balance on one of the spins seems (almost) irrelevant. Lizzie, meanwhile, is growing in confidence every week and it shows in her dancing. Such energy!
The next couple up were Charlie and Drew, in a lyrical hip-hop routine about two sad clowns – a bit random, but we can go with it... Personally I loved it and thought the routine showed off both of their persoanlities perfectly, but the judges weren't so sure, saying that it was “a catastrophe” and calling Charlie “cutesy” (but that's why I -and many others – love her!) Also, Arlene made comment about the props used in the routine – take it up with the choreographer then! That's not the dancers' fault!
Next up with their indiviual solo routines were Tommy and Mandy. Havung been in the bottom 2 guys last week Tommy knew he had to deliver a great routine – which he did, and more! To fit so many impressive street dance moves into 30 seconds – and into as “non-street” a song as Blame it on the Boogie – is nothing short of incredible, in my opinion. He's a real dark horse in this competition. Mandy performed a beautifully elegant contemporary routine, but I just fail to see what she has that sets her apart from the other girls. She's been bottom 2 twice before, so it'll be interesting to see if that solo will help keep her safe tonight.
The next couple to perform were Lizzie and Alastiar – two completely different styles of dancers, performing a contemporary routine... which isn't the natural style of danec for either of them. Regardless, they delivered a flawless performance and are both proving themselves week on week to be incredibly versatile dancers; a point which was picked up on by Arlene in her comments following the routine. Assuming they get through tonight, both of them must be in with a shot at winning the whole show.
The next solo routines came from Robbie and Yanet, with Robbie proving once again that he is an effortless dancer with grace, style and fantastic poise. Yanet, on the other hand, did a routine which I felt any of the girls there could have done quite easily. Yes she's a good salsa dancer, but I agree with Nigel that she's the weakest female dancer left in the competition.
The final couple of the night – Mandy and Tommy. Not before we're treated to both of them talking about neither of their families being there to support them – here was me thinking we had found a talent show that wasn't playing off the contestants' sob stories...
As for the routine – fantastic. Mandy was in her element, and Tommy was flawlessly performing moves he had never even heard of before. Named by the judges as the best routine of the night – I have to agree. Easily.
The final solo rouyines of the night came courtesy of Drew and Charlie. Drew really comes into his element when he's able to choreograhy his own moves – including plenty of pirouettes – and his personality always shines through – wasn't too sure about the gold phone handset he was using as a prop though! Charlie's personality always comes through every time she dances solo, and it must be said she is an incredible dancer, but I'm sometimes left feeling she needs to put in some more 'unique' moves to her solo routines – a lot of it looks like it's been copied from the other girls!
Finally, the boys' group routine – seriously, these contestants deserve medals for remembering which dance they're meant to be doing at any given time, never mind remembering steps! They were doing the Cygnet movement from Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, taught to them by the legendary choreographer himself. Did they save the best til last? Definitely. The routine was performed flawlessly by all 4 guys, and they looked to be really enjoying themselves. One of the best performances of the whole series.
In the results show, Cat announced that tonight's dance off would be between Drew and Robbie for the boys, and Charlie and Yanet for the girls. The scream that went up when Robbie was announced as being in the danger zone seemed not so much a cheer for the guys who were through but a scream of shock from Robbie's fans – even the judges stated that they didn't expect him – or Drew- to be in the bottom 2 tonight, with Nigel going as far as saying that he had believed they would be the 2 male contestants in the final. However, one had to go, and Drew didn't look too shocked to find he would be going home. Meanwhile, having repeated their solo routines from earlier in the night, both girls looked terrified awaiting the judges' verdict – and it was once again unanimous, with Yanet failing to make it through to next week's semi-final.
Did the right people go home? Who do you want to win? And how much more shocked can Alastair possibly manage to look if he makes it through again next week!? Have your say over on the So You Think You Can Dance forum!