The Top 20 revealed!
Updated Mon. Aug. 24 2009 8:58 AM ET
By Lindsay Zier-Vogel, CTV.ca
The time has come, Canada. So You Think You Can Dance Canada toured the country looking for the hottest dancers and after a grueling Finals Week, the judges narrowed down the competition from nearly 200 to 46.
The remaining dancers are as close as they've ever been to the Top 20, where dancers will perform weekly, and compete for the highly coveted title of Canada's Favourite Dancer.
Before the judges make their final decision, dancers have to perform their solo, though they won't receive any feedback or comments from the judges.
Amy Gardner was up first with a contemporary routine that turned up the heat and impressed the judges.
Vincent Desjardins took to the stage next with a jive that was complete with acrobatics.
Amelia Randall was exceptionally nervous before her contemporary number and Shavar Blackwood ended his hip-hop routine without his shirt on.
Juliette Irons' contemporary solo was quirky and Daniel Dory got bucc with some krumping.
The dancers filled the stage with amazing moves that got the judges dancing in their seats. There was tapping, hard-hitting hip-hop, wild leaps, fast footwork, crazy flips and emotional yearning.
Dressed in all white, Danielle Gardner performed her contemporary routine before Taylor James' contemporary number and Kim Gingras got the stage revved up with hip-hop.
Rodrigo Basurto dedicated his hip-hop solo to the people who helped him over the last four years and after Melanie Mah's contemporary routine, Nicolas Bégin's b-boying got a big smile when he pulled out a rose for Tré.
Austin Di Iulio was last up. It was the first time he'd be dancing without a sock, he admitted, before getting on stage and he replaced any turns with wall-to-wall flips.
Dancers were relieved and running off adrenaline when they got off stage.
Next up, was the moment of truth and after the judges deliberated, dancers waited nervously in a holding area, wondering and hoping if they had done enough.
First to cross the stage was Tara-Jean Popowich. Last year, the judges told her she needed to work on her lines and extensions, and were thrilled to tell her she was the first to be part of the Top 20. "We love you!" Jean Marc said.
Jonathan Arsenault, who has a malformed blood vessel in his brain, felt that Finals Week reminded him how much he loves to dance. Luther, however told him that even though he was passionate on stage, his presence on camera wasn't strong enough. He fought tears, but managed to smile. "This is just a blip," he said assuredly.
Nathalie Heath auditioned last year, and felt much stronger this year. "I feel good about what I did," she said with crossed fingers. Though the judges were proud of her, they wanted her to continue working on her strength and power. She promised to return next year.
Corynne Barron stepped on stage in her tutu and was ecstatic to find out that she had made it into the Top 20, but the following dancer, Sebastian Mersch, was told he needed to work on dances outside of the contemporary genre. "Please, please, please come back," Blake asked him.
Tré told Nicolas Bégin he was one of the best b-boys on the show, and he jumped up and down when he found out he had made it to the Top 20.
Danny Lawn admitted he wanted only to make it to the Top 20 and Luther broke it to him that he had indeed made it through.
"My insides feel like they're being microwaved," Taylor James said before stepping on stage. Blake shared the news with him that he made it to the Top 20. "It's my favourite damn show," he said in the hallway.
Hip-hopper Rodrigo Basurto didn't have enough training in other genres and left disappointed as did a string of dancers who fought tears in the hallway.
The tension in the holding area was unbearable, and Vincent Desjardins was clearly relieved to know he had made it through.
Blake told Gessuri Gaitan he was one of the most unique people in the competition, but his strength in other genres wasn't strong enough. He exited the stage gracefully.
Jayme Rae Dailey found her own two feet for her solo, after her sister was eliminated after the contemporary round and she burst into excited tears when she found out she had made it into the Top 20.
Danielle Gardiner was next up. "You're such a beautiful dancer stylistically and technically," the judges said, but they didn't think she popped enough. It was the hardest decision for the judges, but a teary Danielle didn't make it to the Top 20, and neither did hip-hopper Shavar Blackwood.
Cody Bonnell was thrilled to make it through, as was Jenna Lynn Higgins and Melanie Mah.
Tap dancer Everett Smith was shaking in his boots, but got to tap his way into the Top 20.
The judges loved Jeff Mortensen's amazing tricks and a unique style of dancing, but they wanted him to be able to pick up choreography more quickly. Amelia Randall also left with a broken heart.
Maritimer Natalie Lyons impressed Luther with her krumping and she leapt into the air when she found out she made it to the Top 20.
Amy Gardner and Anthony Grafton's dreams came true as they were inducted into the Top 20, but Camille Norton's dreams were dashed. There was a series of 'nos' including a no for Juliette Irons, a decision that was as upsetting for Blake as it was for her.
Tatiana Parker, however, made it through and did a victory dance for the judges and danced off stage.
Hip-hopper Daniel Dory leaped for joy when he found out about his spot in the Top 20.
Last year, Kim Gingras was cut after ballroom and watched her boyfriend Vincent Noiseux dance all the way to Top 8. This year, she wanted it to be her year, and she was so grateful to find out she made it to the Top 20.
Melanie Buttarazzi and Iana Gorodjanova were the final two girls, but there was only one place left and it went to Melanie. They hugged each other and supported each other off stage.
The pressure was on when Austin Di Iulio and Emanuel Sandhu nervously took the stage together. They had both auditioned last year, and left disappointed, but this year they both made it through to the Top 20. "Go make Canada proud," Jean Marc told them.
Canada, say hello to your Top 20!
Top 10 Girls:
Amy Gardner, 21, Calgary, Alta.
Corynne Barron, 18, Edmonton, Alta.
Jayme Rae Dailey, 21, Montreal, Que.
Jenna Lynn Higgins, 18, Toronto, Ont.
Kim Gingras, 23, Montreal, Que.
Melanie Buttarazzi, 22, Woodbridge, Ont.
Melanie Mah, 19, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Natalie Lyons, 23, Halifax, N.S.
Tara-Jean Popowich, 20, Lethbridge, Alta.
Tatiana Parker, 21, Toronto, Ont.
Top 10 Guys:
Anthony Grafton, 24, Calgary, Alta.
Austin Di Iulio, 19, Mississauga, Ont.
Cody Bonnell, 19, Unionville, Ont.
Daniel Dory, 23, Montreal, Que.
Danny Lawn, 21, Brockville, Ont.
Emanuel Sandhu, 28, Vancouver, B.C.
Everett Smith, 25, Glen Morris, Ont.
Nicolas Bégin, 24, Quebec City, Que.
Taylor James, 22, Vancouver, B.C.
Vincent Desjardins, 20, Trois-Rivières, Que.
source:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... 08&no_ads=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;