It was an “impossible choice” and the decision wasn’t unanimous, but ultimately the judges farewelled ballroomer Damien and Hip Hopper Pania. To rub salt into the wound, they’d just learned from Mary Murphy that this year’s winner will perform on SYTYCD America – in front of 20 million people!!!
Bottom 3 “veterans” Lamb & Timomatic and Amy & Damien were joined this week by first-timers Ben & Pania. The Dances For Your Lives were again critical with Jason saying it was no longer about commitment but about “choices”.
Unfortunately, Pania failed to show anything new and joined boyfriend Emmanuel who was eliminated last week. Ben made an “interesting decision” to underplay his solo, but just managed to edge out 18 year old Damien, whose elimination produced a huge “No!!!” from the audience.
Amy & Ben now have to forge a new partnership with an extra degree of difficulty – our Top 12 couples will each perform 2 routines this Sunday night! Who will survive and make our prestigious Top 10?
Top 14 Contemporary Routine
Our Top 14 showed us how much they’ve grown in a touching tribute to the Victorian bushfire victims choreographed by Juliette Verne to James Morrison’s “You make it real”.
Mary announces huge surprise - winner to dance on SYTYCD America!
Birthday girl Mary hinted last night that she had a surprise and what a surprise it is! The winner of this Season of SYTYCD Australia will not only go to Hollywood, and get to hang with Mary – they’ll get to perform on So You Think You Can Dance America in front of an audience of 20 million! Unbelievable!!!!
Ben & Pania first into Bottom 3
The first 3 couples called onto stage to hear their fates were Gianne & BJ, Kat & Danny and Ben & Pania. Kat & Danny had their names called first but they could relax – they were safe. Would it be Gianne & BJ in the Bottom 3 two weeks running? No, it was a first time among the cellar-dwellers for Ben & Pania.
Amy & Damien and Lamb & Timomatic complete Bottom 3
The remaining 4 couples took to the stage knowing that only two couples could escape having to dance for their lives. Penny & Charlie once again avoided the drop. Would Loredo make Bottom 3 three weeks running? No, with new partner Talia he was safe. That meant Amy & Damien and Lamb & Timomatic would be dancing for their lives.
Loredo & Talia win McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it” moment
After losing their partners last Monday, Loredo & Talia had to tackle a frenetic salsa this week and compete against couples who’d been working together for a month.
Loredo also had to deal with Mary Murphy’s critical comments of Sunday night. The public didn’t care. They voted their salsa this week’s McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it” moment.
Kaz James and Macy Gray live
As the dancers prepared their solos, local boy made good, Kaz James and international superstar buddy, Macy Gray, took to the stage to sing his new single, “Can’t hold back”. One of those backup dancers looked familiar? Could that have been our Kate?
Girls dance for their lives
Pania’s solo was first up, and she seized the “opportunity to show herself” with a typically hard-hitting Hip Hop routine. Amy wanted to “change things up” and spread her wings to Edith Piaf’s “Non, je ne regrette rien” – obviously hoping to have no regrets whatever the outcome. Lamb wanted to show the judges she had technique in a rousing routine dedicated to the joy of her 6-week old baby nephew.
Boys dance for their lives
Ben got the first chance to impress with a Bob Fosse tribute that showed us how he feels when he dances. Damien in trademark black showed us he could be a “little bit hip” and a “little bit sexy”. Timomatic wanted to bring back the confidence and got one of his first genuine opportunities to show Australia what he can do.
Impossible choice
Mary said it was going to be hard, Matt said that whoever left would go onto bigger and better things, and Bonnie said that it was going to be “impossible”. Jason said that at this stage it was not about commitment but about “choices”. Who had made good choices and whose choices would condemn them to elimination?
Girls’ verdict – Pania joins Emmanuel
Jason said the girls had done a great job and could all leave with their heads held high. He spared Amy any more anxiety by announcing she was safe. He said Lamb had made a “brave” decision to move away from her Hip Hop origins in her solo while the judges needed to ask whether Pania had shown “anything different”? They chose to reward Lamb’s bravery and say goodbye to poor Pania.
Pania says “Go hard or go home!”
Nat said Pania had shown “style, class and finesse” and the former Kiwi gave thanks to Australia for their votes, and to the judges for the opportunity. She defended her choice of solo because she felt hadn’t had the chance to show her own brand of dance during the show, and encouraged the remaining dancers to “go hard or go home”. She had come so far.
Guys’ verdict – Damien goes but Ben was close
Jason cut to the chase and said that Timomatic was the guy who could take a seat. “Well done on your solo”. That left Ben and Damien – the oldest male dancer and the youngest.
Jason told Ben that he was a huge fan of Bob Fosse – who inspired Ben’s solo – but that the Gold Coast dancer had made a “very very interesting choice” in underplaying his Dance For Your Life. With Damien, the question among the judges had been whether he had “done enough to show all of you”. Ultimately, the judges had been unable to all agree, but Ben could wipe his brow. Damien was leaving.
Damien exceeds his expectations.
Damien said everyone in the Top 20 were “amazing” and he didn’t know that it was possible to get so close to a group of people so quickly. He had originally only hoped to dance in front of the judges so in reaching Top 14 Monday he had exceeded his wildest expectations. Still, he left feeling he had more to give and more to learn. Check out his amazing journey!
Next up – Top 12 go 2-up
Amy & Ben must now try to match Talia & Loredo in forging a new partnership and elevating themselves out of the cellar and into the top tier of the competition. That just got a little harder. As the credits rolled, Nat announced that our Top 12 couples will have to perform not one dance – but two!!! Don’t miss it!!!
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