Even a second chance at redemption couldn’t save contemporary dancer Caitlin Kinney and hip-hop audience-favorite Phillip Chbeeb as the search for America’s favorite dancer continued on Fox’s hit show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Chbeeb’s jive routine, which executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe said was the best he had danced out of his own style, failed to inspire viewers to vote despite landing him a spot on judge Mary Murphy’s coveted hot tamale train.

Kinney, dancing in her own style, lacked rave reviews from the panel with guest judge Tyce Diorio noting she needed to “take it further” and not play it safe on stage.

In the end, it came down to a lack of star quality for Chbeeb and Kinney. But in a surprise turn, Lythgoe revealed both eliminated dancers would be joining the finalists on the road for the “So You Think You Can Dance” tour. Do you agree Kinney and Chbeeb deserve a chance to tour the nation after failing to make the top ten?

Also dancing for their lives on Thursday were contemporary dancers Jeanine Mason and Jason Glover, prima ballerina Melissa Sandvig and her partner Ade Obayomi, who found themselves in the bottom three for the first time in the competition.
On Wednesday, the six remaining couples performed together for the last time, giving dance lovers a double dose of entertainment. Murphy’s proverbial locomotive rolled into town, picking up a number of contestants, as the couples dug deep to perform two routines.
First at the station were judge-favorites Kayla Radomski and Kupono Aweau, who performed a malevolent contemporary number inspired by addiction, choreographed by Emmy-award winner Mia Michaels.

Lythgoe praised a makeup-free Radomski for her superb technique while Murphy said she was “flawless” and danced from an honest place.

Contestants Brandon Bryant and Janette Manrara were the next couple to illicit ear-piercing screams from Murphy for their smoldering Argentine tango.

The couple’s fire and attention to detail prompted a standing ovation from Lythgoe who said, “For a ballroom routine that was about as close to perfection that I have ever seen on this stage.”

Evan Kasprzak had an off night while his partner Randi Evans landed on the train and seemed to carry him through both the samba and their hip-hop number, which told the story of a young couple dealing with an unexpected pregnancy. Despite Kasprzak’s lack of story-telling ability, Lythgoe still expressed his enthusiasm for the pair saying, “without question one of my favorite couples and a great asset to this program.”

It’s now every contestant for themselves as the original couples break up and partners will vary from week to week. Viewers will now decide who will stay and who will go home, but the question is, will American get it right?