When the polls closed at 7.15pm, Australia had decided that the bottom 3 couples were Amy & Damien, Stephen & Ash-Leigh and Max & Jesse - and these six talented performers then had to dance for their lives. The judges’ decision was not unanimous but ultimately they said a reluctant farewell to the feisty Max & the popular Jesse. We now have our Top 18.
Jesse was the first to learn his fate and looked shocked – his jaw visibly dropping. However, Nat said “we love you” and Jesse said that he’d had a “fantastic time” and “it was a shame to have to go”.
Jason then told Max that she was the unfortunate dancer who would be leaving with Jesse. Nat asked whether it was hard to be the first to go but Max said "it would hurt no matter when it happened" but she “loved those guys”.
Jason said the process had been “nerve-wracking”, Bonnie said it was “sad” but Matt said it was a reminder that “this is a competition”.
The show opened with our Top 20 performing another fabulous Kelley Abbey Jazz routine - and Emmanuel doing an amazing headstand - but there was no getting away from the fact that we were here to send two dancers home.
Matt was “really nervous” and Bonnie said that on the basis of last night’s show you’d have thought the couples "had been dancing together for 10 weeks". Jason thought it was pretty clear who the bottom 2 couples would be but was unsure who would join them.
The first 3 couples called on stage were Penny & Charlie, who had been the “pop routine” of Sunday night, Chanelle & Loredo who’d survived a fall and Stephen and Ash-Leigh who had been Jason’s “low light”. It came as no great surprise when Stephen & Ash-Leigh were invited to dance for their lives but Stephen was “pumped”.
The next 4 couples to learn the public’s verdict were Talia & Emmanuel whose characterisations had won over Bonnie, Lamb & Timomatic who “had something going on”, Amy & Damien whom Matt had thought were “contrived” and Kat & Danny who had been Jason’s “favourite routine” of the entire Top 20. Again, Amy and Damien must have known they would be joining the bottom three because she was “so ready”.
Last to discover the nation’s judgement were Ben & Pania who had provided a “fantastic start”, Gianne & BJ who had performed the “best quickstep ever”, and Max & Jesse whose routine had been “disjointed”. Jesse knew he’d performing for his life and Max would be joining him. Australia had done their job. Now it was up to the dancers – and the judges.
After Grammy-nominated Sam Sparro performed ”21st Century Life” live with our Top 20, the 3 men returned to perform the most important solos of their lives.
Stephen was as flamboyant as expected, giving us an homage to his dance roots in Dame Edna glasses which “felt amazing”. Damien performed an energetic routine “for a very special girl” which he thought was “awesome”. Jesse was feeling “vulnerable” but said it was good to get up and show what he could do. Matt thought they’d been “so varied” but “had they done enough?”
Ash-Leigh wanted to dispel that idea that she had no emotion by dancing a sexy number in an equally provocative dress. Amy chose to just be herself because she did “me really well” and Max just chose to “have fun”. Bonnie had been “surprised” Amy was in the bottom 3, said Max had been a “tough cookie” and that Ash’s solo was “great”.
As Sydney Dance Company performed an excerpt from Rafael Bonachela’s cutting edge work “360°”, the judges retired to make their difficult verdict.
When they returned, Damien, Stephen and Jesse were called on stage to hear whether they would survive beyond the first week of the competition. Jason said they had been “brave” to put themselves in this environment and told them the decision had not been unanimous – but that Stephen could sit down. He was safe.
That left Damien and Jesse - who was a far more seasoned dancer. So when Jason said that the dancer whose dream was ending would be Jesse, the Hip Hopper from Sydney was not the only one whose jaw dropped.
A class act, he said Dance had taught him to "have fun, keep it real and to chase those dreams”.
Now it was the turn of the ladies. Jason said his fellow judges had a lot of pride in their roles, and a "huge responsibility" so he didn’t want to prolong the agony for these fabulous talents. “It’s you, Max”.
Nat said it had been a rollercoaster for Max and her farewell package captured it all – her failure in Sydney, her ticket in Brisbane and her triumph on the Green Mile. She’s been a huge personality and we’ll miss her.
Jason said he hated making that decision and it had got him “all sweaty”. Bonnie said that the dancers had become like family but ultimately it was a competition to find Australia’s favourite dancer - and there could “only be one winner”. If you want that winner to be your favourite, you’ll need to vote!!!
Next up – Top 18
Our surviving dancers have the advantage of retaining their partnerships and tackling fresh choreography this Sunday night in our Top 18 episode. Will Penny & Charlie hit the same heights? Will Stephen & Ash-Leigh rebound from their near-death experience? Don’t miss it – Ten Sunday 7.30pm
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