The top 18 dancers sashayed straight into competition — and eliminations — on Tuesday’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance.

The two-hour long show was the final round to be decided entirely by the panel of three judges before voting is handed back over to viewers on November 10.

It was a packed show, with all nine couples performing ahead of the same-day elimination.

The night started off with Noelle Marsh, freshly recovered from an injury that kept her out of the competition last week, and partner Russell Ferguson in a tennis-inspired hip-hop battle.

The routine, choreographed by first-time contributor Jamal Sims, was fast-paced, but fell short for all three judges.

“It was just so fast that I think you really didn’t get a hold of it,” said judge Nigel Lythgoe, adding that he found the routine disappointing.

Ashleigh Di Lello and Jakob Carr were up next with a Viennese Waltz that prompted judge Adam Shankman to gush, “I am madly in love with you guys.”

Also evoking rave reviews were fan favorites Mollee Gray and Nathan Trasoras. The show’s youngest couple aced a tough Bollywood number prompting host Cat Deeley to rename the genre “Molleewood.”

Latin dancer Karen Hauer, who was the first contestant this season to board judge Mary Murphy’s Hot Tamale Train, was so spicy in this week’s hip hop routine that Shankman fell out of his chair – literally.

Meanwhile partner Kevin Hunte’s dancing was so “hot, hot, hot” that Murphy invited him to hop on the Tamale Train too.

Contemporary dancer Katheryn McCormick shone in the most “compelling” act of the evening, a Stacey Tookey contemporary number about a woman and her fear — potrayed by partner Legacy Perez, who was praised for his growth in the competition.

“Legacy, you are a different man than I have ever seen before,” said Shankman. “You turned a corner, buddy… you were dancing.”

Also garnering rave reviews were Ryan Di Lello and partner Ellenore Scott — who danced the majority of a challenging Argentine Tango with her dress stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

Falling short this week were Bianca Revels and Victor Smalley, who struggled with their Tyce Diorio Broadway routine.

Meanwhile, Channing Cooke and Philip Attmore were criticized over the lifts in their piece, but praised for their support of one another.

After a brief meeting, the judges decided Revels, Smalley, Attmore and Marsh would have to dance for their lives. After the solos, Lythgoe announced that, in a split decision, tapper Revels was being sent home.

Attmore was also sent home, with Lythgoe adding that it broke his heart to let two tappers go in one night.

Next week, voting is back in your hands.

Are you glad to have the power to vote again? Do you think the judges made the right choices? Was it a good idea to let two tappers go in one night?

(Noelle Marsh (L) and Russell Ferguson (R) perform a Hip Hop routine choreographed by Jamal Sims on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE . ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Becker/FOX)

(Nathan Trasoras (L) and Mollee Gray (R) perform a Bollywood routine choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Becker/FOX)

(Ellenore Scott (L) and Ryan Di Lello (R) perform an Argentine Tango choreographed by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Becker/FOX)