‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Alex Wong Can’t Dance, Cat Goes to Bat for Ade’Chike, Can it Get Any Better for Lauren Froderman?

There was drama in the latest episode of SYTYCD Wednesday night. Alex Wong ruptured his Achilles tendon during practice, and was forced to watch from the sideline, per doctor’s orders. Whether he will dance next week is unknown, but according to executive producer and Judge Nigel Lythgoe, Wong will automatically be placed in the bottom three this week, and if he can’t dance next week, he will be disqualified from the competition.

So You Think You Can Dance Competitors Have Grown

The episode started off with each competitor dancing with an all-star and ended with competitors performing with each other. According to Lythgoe and judges Mia Michaels and Adam Shankman, most of the contestants have grown over the weeks, and I agree. When they first started with the tryouts, they were all an absolute mess; it just goes to show that weeks of practice and hours of training payoff big time.

Billy Bell Smiles

Last week Billy Bell and Robert Roldan were in the bottom three, along with Melinda Sullivan, who was dismissed. Billy garnered good reviews from the judges this week, while dancing with all-star Allison; Lythgoe said the performance was the best he’d put on yet and Michaels declared him “Fabulicious.” It was wonderful to see Billy smile again.

Robert Roldan is Not Arrogant

Lythgoe wants everyone to know that Robert Roldan is not arrogant. Lythgoe went online to see what viewers were saying about Robert, and took umbrage at the accusations of arrogance. “He is one of the best dancers,” Lythgoe said, adding that people were just making things up and he was perplexed that Robert ended up in the bottom three at all. Adam Shankman chimed in and said Robert gives 100 percent in everything he does.

Lauren Froderman Has the Eye of the Tiger–and Smolders

Lauren Froderman just gets better every time she takes to the stage and this time she smoldered. She danced with her all-star partner and “had to pretend I was a tiger.” Apparently it worked. “No question, you’ve matured,” said Lythgoe, adding that she is no longer a little girl. Michaels said the performance was “pure murderation” and Shankman admired the “smoke in your eyes.”

Lighten Up on Ade’Chike’, Mia Michaels

Michaels and Shankman disagreed with Lythgoe about Ade’Chike’s performance with his all-star partner. Lythgoe said Ade’Chike’ was up to the task and it was the best routine he’d performed in a dance that was outside his contemporary style. Michaels thought Ade’Chike’ was riding on the coattails of previous praise he’d received. “It was so much not there,” Michaels said. “It was doughnuts.” She elaborated by saying that meant “empty” and “nothing.”

Judges Disagree

Whenever Michaels and Shankman disagree with Lythgoe, I have to wonder if they really mean it. Or are they trying to exert their own personalities and to prove they’re not there to rubber stamp everything he says? That the judging is not as choreographed as the dances?

Michaels, though, has a bad habit of comparing dancers to people who are not currently in the competition. Ade’Chike’ was going to dance with Alex Wong before Wong was injured, so he performed his Bollywood specialty with an all-star. “It seemed a little African,” Michaels said after the performance. “I miss Alex right now.”

Judge the Dancers Dancing–Not the Absent Ones

That is just rude! Last week Michaels told Melinda Sullivan they had made a mistake in letting Cristina Santana go the week before instead of her. Is there a purpose here? Is this really constructive criticism? I know nothing about judging, but shouldn’t the focus be on the people performing? I could say I wish Fred Astaire was there, but what good would that do?

Cat Goes to Bat

For her part, Host Cat Deeley seemed a little peeved about these critiques, and went to bat for Ade’Chike’, noting that he’d followed the judges’ advice from prior weeks.

Last but not least, Ashley Galvan is as good and cute as ever (even with the trousers that were a bit long in the crotch, according to Lythgoe), Jose still lights up the room with his smile and Kent thinks Lauren has a cute butt.

Dancers and Specialties

Lauren Froderman (contemporary)
Ashley Galvan (lyrical)
Jose “Full Deck” Ruiz (breaking)
Melinda Sullivan (tap)
Ade`Chike` Torbert (contemporary)
Kent Boyd (contemporary)
Billy Bell (contemporary)
Robert Roldan(contemporary)
Alex Wong (ballet)

www.fox.com

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