The last set of Las Vegas cuts has arrived, cutting 77 dancers down to only 20 on So You Think You Can Dance. That would be the TOP 20, the ones we've all been waiting for.

Their first routine is jazz, taught by a smaller and sassier version of what I imagine Foxy Brown would be - if she were a dance Nazi. The musicality of the dancers is all over the place in the first round and it just looks sloppy. Karen, one half of the married Latin dancers, survives. Her husband Matthew has no idea what he's doing during his choreography group's round and doesn't join his wife. It's a little sad to watch her sob on his shoulder as he's the one going home.

The cuts and saves are dramatic as Nigel viciously rips into the wide eyed dancers. Yvetta the ballroom wunderkind and Lucas the last surviving partner of the all male Latin duo both say good-bye, but Molly (LA's prodigy by way of Utah), Billy (the kid that suffered a bloody nose last round) and Russell (the krumper all move on). Poor little Molly injured her foot, more specifically her ankle. Sadly, the future of her dancing on Season 6 is in the hands of doctors. She returns from the physicians with a diagnosis of "severe sprain" and is eager to move on to the group choreography round.



The remaining dancers are broken into groups, forced to collaborate and choreograph their own routines. This is probably the hardest part of the entire audition. The nerves and exhaustion just destroy the ability to think creatively and work well with others. If those abilities survive, who's to say that the choreography will even be good? The first group showcases the Broadway style and has Russell the krumper becoming the current apartment favorite, cheekily combining the strengths of the other four contemporary dancers with a bit of his break-ability. They all please the judges and showcase an inventive Broadway routine that doesn't make me want to barf. Which is all I can ask of Broadway.

Molly, the severely sprained ankle attached to a wondrous dancer, tries to maintain her character but Mia unfortunately hits it on the head. "It was stupid," to quote Ms. Michaels. The entire group is surprisingly saved by the sentiment Nigel voiced and others judges shared. To paraphrase, the group creatively worked around the injury and performed well enough to survive. It appeared to be a co-ed high school talent show number at best to me, but whatever saves Molly is ok in my book. When she dances all eyes are on her, she's absolutely magnetic.

The next round is a quick trip through hell heaven as Mia Michaels choreographs the dancers' next number. She's all hugs and positive mantras this time around. Perhaps she's on a new Rx? They gush over a hip-hopper doing wonderfully in the Mia dance, but Billy the bloody-nose dancer and Molly ROCK Mia's piece. The selections the producers decided to show were lovely, most noticeably Billy's leg slapping himself on the side of his head as he was on releve on his other leg. Crazy good. They move on.

One thing to notice is that there are almost no "ugly" folks in this round of auditions. Nice teeth, sharp cheekbones, and beautiful smiles all around, along with the gorgeous bodies that come with being a dancer. The producers definitely chose the best of the flock, both in looks and in talent. Legacy, the breaker with the face of my future husband, hehe, managed to draw something from way down deep and make Mia's piece look like his own. He survived to the final choreography round as well.

Tyce choreographs the routine, one for men and another for women, in the Broadway style. I hold back the almost inevitable vomit and watch. Pauling, a Season 5 final 30 dancer, took the stage with the first group. She goes for it and TOUCHES HER ANKLE TO THE GROUND during a final run through. It's hideous. Is it dislocated? Snapped? The joint is messed up for sure and she definitely won't be dancing again anytime soon. She is carried offstage to sit in the audience and after a quick visit to the hospital she returns with a sprain and instructions to stay off of it for two days - which might as well be a full year considering that this is where the top 20 are decided.

Ashley, one half of the Ashley/Ryan married dancing couple duo, has been in his shadow all week long. But in the Broadway routine she is able to shine on her own. Her husband Ryan showcased his hot body and C-cup man boobs (ok, pecs) during the male Broadway routine. He's passed through but the excerpts of him weren't that impressive.

The remaining dancers get to showcase their solos, sans critique, one last time. Adam Shankman weeps as Billy (the bloody nose) dances. His legs aren't attached to his hips like a normal human. Was he born turned out? Most likely. He was so obviously made to move like nobody else, but unfortunately the damn producers are making us all wait until next week to see who makes the final cut to be on TV. The days can't go by fast enough!

Grade: A


Story by Kate Kostal

Starpulse contributing writer