So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 Top 20 Results Show

Jun 17, 2011
Terry Finch

SYTYCD Top 20 Dancers at the Results Show - Photo from: fox.com/dance

On Thursday, June 16, 2011, the Top 20 Results episode aired for So You Think You Can Dance Season 8. Two dancers were to be voted off by the judges.

Thursday, June 16, 2011 - Host Cat Deeley kicked off the episode by reminding the audience that contemporary dancer Mitchell was not able to dance in the Top 20 performances. However, doctors had cleared him to dance his solo as part of the bottom group of dancers in this episode. He would be up for elimination.

SYTYCD Season 8 - Top 20 Group Routine

The Top 20 dancers (actually, the Top 19 since Mitchell was not able to learn the number) performed the first group routine of the season to "XR2" by M.I.A. The jazz routine was choreographed by Sonya Tayeh.

The judges from the previous episode returned to decide the dancers' fates: choreographer and producer Nigel Lythgoe, ballroom expert Mary Murphy, and guest judge Megan Mullally.

Nigel made a special announcement for this year's National Dance Day, which will be held on July 30. This year, there will be three routines online, of varying difficulties, that anyone can learn and perform on National Dance Day.

SYTYCD Season 8 - Top 20 Results

The dancers were given their results in couples: Melanie and Marko, who danced a contemporary routine by Travis Wall (statues) were Safe. Missy and Wadi were also Safe after their Sean Cheesman jazz dance. Iveta and Nick, who performed a quickstep, were Safe.

The next group of couples included Ashley and Chris, who performed a hip hop routine, and were Safe. Also Safe was Caitlynn, who performed her Sonya Tayeh jazz routine with All-Star Robert after MItchell's injury. In the Bottom Three were Jordan and Tadd, who danced an afro jazz number, and Clarice and Jess, who had Broadway.

Before the final bottom couple was announced, Keri Hilson performed her new song "Lose Control".

From the final three couples, two were Safe: Ryan and Ricky, who performed a lyrical hip hop, and Sasha and Alexander, who danced a contemporary number. The third couple in the Bottom Three was Miranda and Robert, who danced a jive.

Before the dancers performed their solos to gain the judges' approval, a dancer from the Bolshoi ballet performed a Gopak (traditional Russian dance).

SYTYCD Season 8 - Top 20 Dance-For-Your-Life Solos

The seven dancers in the bottom (three couples and MItchell) performed their solos. MItchell danced his contemporary solo to "Say" by John Mayer. Jordan's jazz performance was set to "Hot Like Wow" by Nadia Oh. Tadd b-boyed to "Jump, Jive an' Wail" by The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Clarice performed her jazz solo to "Glam" by Christina Aguilera, and Jess danced his Broadway solo to "Mr. Bojangles" by Robbie Williams. Miranda's contemporary performance was set to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Leona Lewis. Finally, Robert performed his b-boy solo to "Electric" by Omarion.

While the judges deliberated, Cat introduced the world premiere of Lady Gaga's video for her new single, "Edge of Glory". She also announced that Lady Gaga has agreed to sit in as a guest judge later in this season of SYTYCD.

SYTYCD Season 8 - Top 20 Judges' Decision

Cat brought the four guys back on stage to hear the judges' decision, and Nigel asked Mitchell and Robert to perform their solos again. After they re-did their solos, the judges asked all the bottom girls and guys to come back on the stage.

In a move that has not been taken on any other Top 20 results show, Nigel announced that they would NOT be letting any of the dancers go this week. However, next week there will be two male dancers and two female dancers sent home.