In the first elimination decided by the public, Australia chose to say goodbye to our Brazilian beauty Gianne and our Jamaican lion Loredo. The dancers cried, Nat cried and so did our judges. They were choked up because, as Jason said, “We were you”.
The public seemed to agree with the judges’ assessment that Gianne & Loredo had failed to “get” Travers Ross’s intricate Hip Hop. But was the chorey the real problem or was Jason right - "It wasn't good enough"? Have your say in the comments below.
We’re disappointed to lose two more great dancers, but we have some great new couples for Top 8 – even if one of them looks very familiar. Read on to discover the 4 couples you’ll see this Sunday at 7.30pm.
Top 10 Disco with Project Moda
Guest choreographers Project Moda kitted out our Top 10 in fabulous 70s gear to dance disco to Madonna’s “Music Inferno”.
It was a funky opening to a show where all ten dancers were going to be on edge. Loved the Afro, Loredo.
Bottom 3 couples becomes Bottom 4 dancers
Now we’re in Top 10 territory, the elimination format changes slightly. Instead of the voters deciding the Bottom 3 couples, you now decide the Bottom 4 dancers. The 2 boys and the 2 girls with the least votes have to dance for their lives before hearing the verdict. And now it’s not the judges who decide who ultimately leaves, but Australia.
Penny & Talia hear their fates
First up were Charlie’s old partner, Penny, and his new, partner, Talia. Which one would be in our Bottom 2 girls?
As their fans shrieked their support, Nat revealed that Talia was safe. Poor Penny looked a little upset but Nat soon told her that she would be here next week too.
Bottom 2 girls revealed
That left three women who had all been in the Bottom 3 before: Gianne, Amy & Kat. The crowd went crazy with anxiety, but only one of their dancers could be safe – and that was Amy.
So our Bottom 2 girls were Gianne and Kat. Which 2 boys would be joining them in the Dance For Your Life?
Charlie or BJ in Bottom 2?
Charlie has never been in the Bottom group but BJ knows what it feels like to dance a solo on a knife-edge. But it’s getting to be a faint memory – he’s safe and so is Chucky Cheese.
Ben, Loredo or Timomatic?
Of course, the great news for Charlie and BJ wasn’t so great for the remaining 3 guys. Only one was going to join them in safety. Who was that lucky man? It was “perfect partner” Ben. Loredo and Timomatic would be dancing solos for the 3rd and 4th times respectively.
Amy & BJ win McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it” moment again
She’s won it before with Damien. He’s won it before with Gianne. Now they’ve each won it twice. Amy & BJ have won the McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it” moment for their Marko-choreographed Lyrical contemporary piece. Congratulations, Amy & BJ!
The Fray Live on SYTYCD
Dance continues to deliver fabulous live acts on Monday night and this time it was international power pop group, the Fray.
In the middle of their Australian tour, they sang their #1 hit, “You found me”, a track made more famous by Penny & Charlie in Top 16 week.
Bottom 4 Dance For Their Lives
Gianne was first up, dressed in gold – but not a lot of it – dancing her favourite African style and reminding us why she was once Queen of Rio’s Carnavale. Kat was up next, dancing her Pussycat Hip Hop, and sending her fans wild. Timomatic delivered a smooth, debonair hip hop and Loredo concluded with a routine that was also out of Africa – concluding with 5 monumental leaps that left the audience gasping.
Girls’ Verdict
Gianne looked a picture of serenity as she waited to hear her verdict while Kat looked a bundle of nerves. Our youngest dancer need not have worried. Our most senior contestant was going home.
As you’d expect, Gianne took the verdict with grace and a beaming smile. Through tears, Nat said that Gianne had brought joy into all our lives during her incredible time on the show. Gianne thanked everyone and said that making the Top 10 had been an amazing achievement. .
Guys’ verdict
Timomatic and Loredo came on stage to hear their verdict, but after losing his most recent partner, our former Lion King dancer looked like he knew the writing was on the wall. Nat confirmed his worst fears. Loredo was going home.
Loredo does it for his Mum
Loredo said through tears that he had done it all for his Mum back in Jamaica. He said he’d had a tough journey and, without family or friends here in Sydney, he’d relied on the support of the dancers and the public. But, as he said in his Eviction Journey video package, “There is no losing in this competition. Every step is a winning step”.
Judges choked up
Matt said it had been much worse not knowing and that he felt quite “choked up”. Bonnie said she couldn’t ease the dancers’ pain, but said she felt they had travelled on the journey with them – before dissolving into tears. Jason said that the emotions the judges were feeling showed why Dance was a different sort of reality show. They cared about the dancers because, for 20 years, “we were you”.
Meet your Top 8 Couples
Our Top 8 then assembled onstage for the Hat Pick. If they drew a partner they’d had this week, they had to draw again.
Penny was first up, and first name out was Ben. But she’d danced with him – and quite beautifully – this week. So she had to draw another card. This time it was Charlie. Even though she’s danced with him before, it wasn’t last week, so they are paired again for Top 8.
Talia then drew Ben, which meant that Amy was with Timomatic because she’d danced with BJ this week. That left our Mr Versatile with the Pocket Rocket, Kat.
Those Top 8 pairings again: Charlie & Penny, Talia & Ben, Amy & Timomatic and Kat & BJ.
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