The new set on 'So You Think You Can Dance' looks wider, flashier, but a bit distracting at first. Cat, Mary, Nigel, and Adam are all back, but new are the fresh crop of dancers. In a new move the first show isn't an elimination episode but a pre-season showcase to introduce the top 20 to the audience. This is a good idea: the die-hard viewers will be able to have a look at each dancer in their element before the elimination episodes begin. Each dancer performs in their preferred style of dance just this once, and next time the pairs will be made and the random styles of dance will be assigned.

The show is opened by a Wade Robson group number. With most Wade numbers, an exciting, interesting idea results in a badass and memorable routine for the show. The group number has a chic 1930s theme, reminiscent of the gang wars from "West Side Story." The 20 are split into four groups that are showcased in segments. A few parts were less than synchronized, but being the first number with ALL the dancers, I'll let it slide. Some eight counts used big groups motions that looked like the pathetic dance scene from "She's All That" done in the correct context - an actual dance showcase. There were no real sore thumbs sticking out in the premier group number.

The hip-hop dancers included Russell, Legacy and Kevin. A krumper, hip-hop pop n' locker, and a B-Boy. Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed a routine for the trio that was more energetic than any hip-hop piece from the last year. These three gelled well, and as Napoleon put it, "You just throw it at them and they rip it." The use of the stage had Russell hamming it up for the camera off the front and Legcay doing his creepy reverse crab-walk backwards between the two of them. More hip-hop like this will save dancers week after week and keep the audience young, urban, and voraciously texting all season long. No real word yet on if these three can survive being put into technically challenging routines.

The contemporary number featured Channing, Jakob, Ariana, and Nathan taught by Tyce separates the wheat from the chaff. Jakob and Nathan use this piece to establish themselves as the men to watch this entire show. Nathan's outside pirouettes with front attitude (outside? help me out, dancers!) and Jakob's leaps were freakishly good. Ariana had a beautifully timed and executed leap but I couldn't remember what Channing did. Despite receiving a raving critique from Mary, who seemed to love everyone, Channing just didn't seem to sell it to anyone else. If this is what she's strongest at, she needs to do it for her solo so as not to be lost in the shadows of stronger performers.

The three tappers, Bianca, Peter, and Phillip, danced to "Take the A Train" by Ella Fitzgerald. They tapped, they schmoozed for the camera, and apparently they were good. Bianca's performance was a lot less smiley and sickening than the boys, which bodes well for her adjustment in other styles. I think the audience was politely clapping for something they really didn't enjoy or understand, like much of the viewers. I don't see any of them winning, not by a long shot, if they excel in tap and are just adequate in other styles. As Nigel points out "they'll be doing everybody else's style, and nobody will be doing theirs." If they're fantastic at everything else - better than Billy? Jakob? Nathan? Ellenore? - and do tap solos each time they'll be the most versatile performers on the show. But will America give a damn?

The jazz routine showcases Mollee, Pauline, and Ellenore as "sexy" distorted-tutu wearing femme fatales. The hilarious thing is Mollee doesn't come close to pulling off a sexpot image and the choreography is more contemporary than sexy, or more modern than sexy….there's a lot of unexpected motion and travel across the stage but, well…It's more of a showcase of each dancer's control and strengths than it is as a sexy routine. A few parts were not as tight as they should be but these dancers had extension, power and I want them all to survive so I'm willing to overlook a routine that fell flat for me when the build-up touted it as a steamy, quick trio.

The penultimate routine included Victor, Noelle, Kathryn, and Billy who perform eda Mandy Moore (no, not that one) contemporary piece set to Coldplay's "Viva la Vida." A lift or two could have been executed better, but the foursome looked like a seasoned dance troupe for the most part. The girls held their own and the boys, especially Billy, were passionate about their focus and facial expressions. Kathryn is currently my least favorite as she screwed up the lifts with Billy. To fair they are partner lifts and could've possibly been his fault, but he's better than her and her wailing is annoying so sorry, no dice. These four showcased as a group was the best all around routine put out on this special showcase.

Top 20 finalists perform a routine choreographed by Wade Robson © Fox Broadcasting Co.

To cap the night, Karen, Ryan and Ashleigh shimmied to a Latin routine. For those of you just joining us, Ryan and Ashleigh are married and we're of course dying to see them ripped apart when one of them is kicked off. We're the American viewing audience, we love a good drama. The number is a three person samba that taxes Ryan a bit more than the others. He stands out, overshadowing his wife as he did in the rounds leading up to this episode, but Karen also seemed to fade into the background. It might be indicative of the style that is Latin dance: it is meant to be a couple's number. They had some of the tappers' schmoozy expression but a bit more edge, creating an enjoyable performance overall. For all that Ashleigh brings to a peppy performance I want to see what she can do with something as powerful as the breast cancer number from last season. It may just save her as she's come off as a one-note thus far.

Early favorites at this point are useless, but if you must bet Billy, Jakob, and Viktor take it for the boys as Ariana, Ellenore, Pauline, and Noelle are the girls I'm rooting for after a single episode. The elimination rounds start next, so feel free to taunt and complain if any of the aforementioned dancers end up watching the rest of this season at home.

Grade: A*

*This being a special showcase of dancer's strongest style, they better earn a high grade

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Story by Kate Kostal

Starpulse contributing writer