Ashleigh's Non-Solo:

America is still allowed to vote for Ashleigh tonight, despite the fact she's not performing. I wonder if the "doctor's note" rule that Nigel used with Noelle's season starting injury will apply to Ashleigh at the end of the season.

Ellenore and Legacy- Contemporary
Choreographer: Travis Wall
Song: "Machine Gun" by Portishead

Apparently this is a Mr. and Mrs. Smith themed contemporary routine.

This routine has incredible physical and emotional intensity right from the get go and is really showing off both Ellenore and Legacy's strengths, they're powers are being completely maximized by the choreography. Ellenore's the consummate character and her extension is insane. Legacy is an acrobat and willing to sacrifice his body for the art of a dance. Both certainly are in this routine, it is fearless and reminds me of a sexy contemporary assassins tango. A routine where a prop and concept worked and didn't over power the dancers, bravo Travis Wall, bravo Legacy and Ellenore. My favorite performance of Legacy all season I think. I'll be watching it at least 10 times tonight.

Judges Say:

Adam says that Ellenore and Legacy murdered it. Mary thought the routine was tailor made for Legacy and Ellenore and that it was unbelievable. Nigel teases that it was a romantic routine but he loved the danger of the routine. He also thinks similar to another table based routine that Travis Wall might be getting an Emmy nomination for that routine. By the looks of it Travis still hasn't picked his jaw up off the floor.

Jakob's Solo
"When You Say my Name" by Mario Spinetti

Jakob is effortless in moves that most dancer's would find impossible. His solo utilizes the stage well, shows off his flexibility, acrobatic prowess, but not the emotion that many people need to feel to vote for a dancer. Technically so stunning, but a bit cold.

Ashleigh and Russell - Hip Hop
Choreographer: Shane Sparks
Song: Too Much Booty

This is going to be a really hard and aggressive, un-lyrical routine. Um Hooray... Russell will be dancing with Shane's assistant Rachel.

This hard hitting style really works for Russell and his krump background. While he's not a hip-hopper per se, there seems to be no worry about him not hitting moves hard and he already has great isolation and control skills. By the looks of it he's okay at the bumping and grinding asked for him of this routine too. Small but effective tutting section and Russell's personality is coming out in spades. There's a bit of chemistry lacking between him and the assistant, but I can't blame that on him. Yet again, Russell has made the best of an unfortunate situation and has proved he can dance under whatever circumstance life throws at him....he is 100% deserving of a spot in that finale next week.

Judges Say:

Adam loved the old school style of the routine and appreciated how hard Russell was hitting the moves and thought he looked great. Mary has fallen in love with Russell and appreciates that he lays it all and gives it all 100% of all the time, she loves his attack. She thinks nobody does it like Russell and I tend to agree, even if he doesn't win (but I think I he might) he's about to be a star. Nigel shouts out Russell's ability to stay cool in a tough situation and that he hit the routine hard. 

Mollee Solo
Heartburn by Alicia Keys

Mollee isn't relying on the usual acrobatics as much in this solo, instead going for showing of her personality, extension, and the strength of her lines. Tracing the heart with her foot? It was actually kinda lovable. She fell out of a turn early at the beginning of her solo which seemed to throw her off course, but it was still a stronger solo for me than her past ... because it was dancing not gymnastics.

Ryan and Kathryn - Cha Cha
Choreographer: Jason Gilkinson
Song: "Put Your Hands on Me" by Joss Stone

Ryan says there are some moves in this routine that would be difficult for most ballroom couples to learn. This makes me perversely excited...I think Kathryn can do it.

I love this couple together, they are beautifully matched in size, style, and personality and both are showing they're real performers. One of my favorite pairings of the season. This is a sexy cha cha and Kathryn definitely has the cha cha hips and sass down. Ryan is crisp and strong and definitely in his element. Kathryn has some of the best legs of the competition -- her extension is crisp, her footwork is fast and precise, the cha cha showed it off perfectly. She couldn't be peaking at a better time, she looked like a pro. That looked like a professional routine on the world stage, it was incredible.

And the crowd seems to agree they are getting a standing ovation and Jason Gilkinson's jaw is dropped.

Judges Say:

Adam thought it was a beautiful accomplished piece of teamwork and he loved that. He also thinks it's good for Ryan's marriage that Ashleigh wasn't their because he thought the chemistry was smoking. Mary is also getting teary and screamy about the routine, saying the who dance floor was on fire from beginning to end. Mary said she would have never guessed that Kathryn was a ballroom dancer and gives Kathryn and Ryan two tickets on the Hot Tamale train. Hot damn, she really hasn't said it that much this season, which makes it a more potent compliment and way less annoying. They even get first class tickets! Nigel thought that Kathryn looked like she was a Latin Ballroom dancer and he thought the two of them together were magical.

Legacy's Solo
"Fancy Footwork" by Chromeo

Legacy's solos defy gravity and my knowledge of the human skeleton and they are usually the highlight of every solo session. Unfortunately, he spent too much time with a schtick about getting a phone call. That was wasted seconds where we could see Legacy doing some jaw dropping tricks, what a shame.

Ellenore's Solo
"I Got That Feelin'" by James Brown

Ellenore seems to be relying less on the quirk and just showing off her power, leaps, and lines. Until the very end when she breaks out in a James Brown shimmy. You could tell she was favoring one arm -- it often stopped painfully while the other extended with abandon.


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