[To better cover the technical talents of season 6, we've brought on  Dr. Goddess, a fan columnist with decades of dance experience. She will share her dance-pertise in a weekly column recapping and reviewing So You Think You Can Dance with an eye on technique.]

"Now, this is a show about improvement and, I mean, how do you improve, like, what do you become? It's gonna be freakish." -- Adam Shankman
                                         
Indeed, So You Think You Can Dance was freakish. Channing Cooke and Phillip Attmore kicked things off---literally---with Jason Gilkison's jive routine and the perfect costuming to showcase Channing's perfect legs. Both she and Phillip started and ended well but it took them a while to fully engage the performance. The energy did dip mid-performance and, yes, the final pull-through and flip was so awkward, I thought Phillip might be going home.


Ashleigh Di Lello having to play seductress to Jakob Carr in Tyce D'Orio's "sexy broadway" number was cruelly ironic. And, yes, Ashleigh, sharing that your hubby would want to take you home after the routine was TMI! Sadly, she experienced deja vu when she was again outdanced by Jakob, a human being in liquid form. His leaps and splits are so high and crisp, I wonder if he simply changes his biological make-up mid-air. I did enjoy seeing Ashleigh's deep plie' and smooth, beautiful lines; but I disagree that she was "phenomenal", as Mary exclaimed. Ashleigh gave good face but her movement was boring. I blame her weaknesses, this time, on the choreography (sorry, Tyce).

Choosing Tabitha and Napolean D'uomo must feel like bliss; because they bring their love as a couple into choreographing some of the most passionately wonderful hip hop duets. I am still reeling over Joshua and Katee's performance to "No Air" (Sigh). Unfortunately, Ariana DeBose and Peter Sabasino were both out of their element and Ariana could have brought more popping and stiffness to her movement. The two had great chemistry and synchronicity in the beginning of the dance, although I agree they lost a bit mid-way.

The foxtrot is a ballroom dance that requires "elegance and the sophistication of jazz", as choreographers Tony Meredith and Melanie La Patin explain, which meant that both Russell Ferguson and Noelle Marsh would be far from their respective genres. Russell has been quite lucky to have such great ballroom teachers and performers as partners---first, Iveta Lukosite, a world champion and now La Patin, his choreographer! Thus, his lines were great, he had energy, carried a straight, upright posture and performed his lifts very well.

However, there was something incredibly sloppy about Russell's costume (was it too big?) and I think I want him to see a loctician (a hair stylist who specializes in locs), so he can demonstrate different styles throughout this competition. I do wish Adam would stop being surprised that Russell is multi-talented and just give him good, critical notes like Mary and Nigel did, so he can improve and move on.

Travis Wall has proven himself to be a creative, compassionate choreographer whose extraordinarily beautiful, contemporary piece was placed upon the capable shoulders of Bianca Revels and Victor Smalley. Victor has truly mastered "spotting" (finding one spot upon which to focus and guide one's turns), which is why his pirouettes are needlepoint sharp and flawless. Bianca surprised me when they danced in sync, doing glissades (glides) across the floor and exhibiting fluidity and grace, showing us how she has already grown as a dancer.

Karen Hauer and Kevin Hunte are one of the best looking pairings in the history of So You Think You Can Dance, with two of the most beautiful sets of eyes I have seen. I burst out laughing when Cat Deeley squealed, "How gorgeous are you two? It's ridiculous!" Kevin's movements were fluid and strong, while Karen was masterful and sexy. They both had great showmanship; but I found myself uninspired by the choreography because I think they all played it safe, caving to Kevin's inexperience. Karen said she was scared in rehearsal and by the looks of how slow and awkward they executed their last flip, it was obvious she was being honest. I am glad Nigel complimented Kevin on his "rond de jamb" (a circular leg movement on the floor or in the air, with a nicely pointed foot). Slight differences in technique and performance will make all the difference in this show.

Can I tell you how excited I was when Ryan Di Lello and Ellenore Scott were announced as the pair to dance Sonya Tayeh's contemporary jazz choreography?! Theirs was an eccentric, funky kind of dance that was somewhat hard to judge but Ellenore's superb "grand battements" (kicks), splits and leaps with her perfect legs were supported by Ryan's strong, dramatic performance. They gave a good show. It was not "the best So You Think You Can Dance has ever seen" partly because Ellenore, who was supposed to be an angel in flight, held back when she leapt into Ryan's arms. Still, their chemistry was dynamic and kudos to Ryan for stepping completely out of the ballroom dancer mould!

Pauline Mata and Brandon Dumlao were supposed to dance the smooth waltz such that they would be "lighter than air" with "zero gravity" and glide "smooth across the floor". I thought their performance was graceful and beautiful, except for once when Brandon put Pauline down hard to the floor. Still, they were an adorable couple with obvious chemistry and excelling lighting!

And speaking of chemistry, I heart Dave Scott and his beautiful smile. Did I really hear he is 6'3"? (Dear God, you know I am almost 6'0 tall, love dance and hip hop. Please let Dave be single, heterosexual, looking and willing to date tall women. Love, Kimberly).

Ahem...so, Dave choreographs a funky, fun and eccentric hip hop routine for Kathryn McCormick and Legacy Perez. I admit to thinking, "poor Kathryn" when I first heard this pairing but you are so lucky, Legacy! Nevertheless, I was quite impressed. Missy Elliott's "On and On" is filled with verbal accents and quirky sound effects, which both performed exceptionally well. Their synchronicity was off the chain in the beginning and they did a stellar job staying in character and committing to the performance. Hence, Mary's "Yabba Dabba Doo!"

I loved the teen pairing of Mollee Gray and Nathan Trasoras because they are both cheery, excellent dancers with high energy. Once their in sync arms sang, "Turn it up! Turn it up! Turn it up right now!" with Gloria Estefan, I was sold! Even their opening position was beautiful and those forward splits into that tremendous back flip was thrilling! I am a renewed fan of disco, thanks to choreographer, Doriana Sanchez! Nathan had strong, powerful lifts and gave great face and kudos to Mollee for staying in control of her legs like a grown woman when she descended from her last lift. They were so much fun to watch!

As for the eliminations, I am just disgusted. I knew it would be hard; and Russell's bottom-dwelling was for performance purposes only. But Ariana was one of my favorites and a great ball of energy and compassion. "Love in [her] eyes," Nigel? Really? And with Brandon almost certainly being able to come back next season, Ariana was the only one who got cut tonight. It hurts. I cried. I am an artist and I am sensitive. But the show must go on...

So stay tuned and keep dancing!

--Dr. Goddess, BuddyTV Fan Columnist
(Image Courtesy of FOX)

Dr. Goddess is a performing artist, dancer, choreographer, poet and scholar whose been dancing since seven years old, loves the art of dance and has been following So You Think You Can Dance since season one! In many other places in the world, she's known as Kimberly C. Ellis.