As the judges liked to say, Thursday’s finale of “So You Think You Can Dance” was BUCK!

America loves inspiring underdogs and season No. 4 proved no exception to that rule as hip-hopper Joshua Allen beat fellow street dancer Twitch (Stephen Boss) to be crowned America’s Favorite Dancer on the final episode that brought back the very best of the show.

As fans saw in earlier episodes this summer and previous seasons, technical perfection doesn’t always outshine charm and charisma. The very polished Katee Shean — whom many expected to either win or at least be in the top two — was out before the two final male contestants.

From Joshua’s grin to his oft-noted backside, the stocky, sensitive hip-hopper (he could be the most teary dancer they’ve ever had on the show) charmed his way to the top. His partnership with Katee brought us some of the best routines of the season, even if he did seem a bit tired at times in Wednesday’s performance show.

This season arguably featured the strongest batch of dancers ever — both in personality and skill — making each week’s elimination tough to swallow. Thursday’s finale made viewers forget the sometimes questionable judging and the over-the-top love-fests that judges had with choreographers this year.

Fans relived the chills they got from the season’s best dance routines and were reunited with favorite choreographers Wade Robson (That’s him at right. He’s been busy doing Criss Angel’s new Las Vegas magic show “Believe”) and Shane Sparks (now a judge on “America’s Best Dance Crew“). Audiences also revisited poppers Robert Muraine and Phillip Chbeeb (see Muraine showcase his talent in an Ikea ad here). Long time viewers were also treated to appearances by Benji, Travis, Hok, Donyelle, Lauren, Lacey, Dominic, Ivan and many other past favorites.

But as fans from “Dance” suffer withdrawal the day after the show’s end, they will no doubt be arguing whether America got it right in picking Joshua as this seaon’s No. 1. After the stage lights have dimmed, who will forge a stronger career — the hip hoppers with street cred and loads of charm, or the girl with the technical ability and grace to match. Any thoughts? 

(Reporting and writing by Solarina Ho)

The final competitive show on the fourth season of Fox TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance” was not the predictable love-in of year’s past. Wednesday night was the last time Courtney Galiano, Twitch (Stephen Laurel Boss), Katee Shean and Joshua Allen danced competitively and the judges left voters with a laundry list of the top four’s technical shortcomings. 

Courtney took the brunt of critiques, beginning with flashback footage of an audition in which choreographer Tyce Diorio commented on her lack of foot and leg extension. 

After Courtney’s solo, guest judge Mandy Moore — not to be confused with the pop singer and actress — told a teary Courtney to get into a dance class and work on defining her lines, while judge Nigel Lythgoe harped on her for not finishing every move after she danced a Diorio-choreographed Broadway routine

During Courtney’s jive number with Joshua, Lythgoe reprimanded the exhausted pair for a lack of energy and double bounce saying, “It was tough on you? Tough! Be better every single time.”

Even the highly-praised Katee was not immune as Moore encouraged her to continue taking ballet classes in order to work on her feet and artistry.

However, the absence of technique lead to a shower of superlatives for the top two guys as Lythgoe praised the hip-hop finalists for being an inspiration to untrained dancers everywhere. 

After performing a haunting Wade Robson contemporary routine with Katee, Lythgoe said Joshua had set a new standard on the show for street competitors, adding that America got it right when voters cast off Debbie Allen’s protégé Will Wingfield.

So the question now, for voters on the TV talent show is whether the final technique critiques will hurt the ladies’ chances of becoming “America’s Favorite Dancer” or can a lack of training work in favor for the top-two guys?

Millions of voters will have their say and on Thursday’s season finale, the results show.

(Reporting and writing by Ashleigh Patterson)

The search for America’s favorite dancer on Fox TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” narrowed Thursday night to a surprisingly strong showing from the hip-hop league.

After Mark Kanemura’s elimination, Twitch (Stephen Laurel Boss) and Joshua Allen advanced to next week’s finale, marking the first time hip-hop dancers will represent the top-two male performers and half of the final four — spots reserved in previous seasons for classically-trained dancers.

Hip-hop head spinners typically have the most difficult time demonstrating their versatility on the show as they transition from poppin’ and lockin’ to the Argentine tango and contemporary routines. 

So are Joshua and Twitch skirting by on charisma alone? Or does one of them deserve to win it all despite a lack of rock-solid technique?

Joshua proved on Wednesday night he could hold his own against partner Katee Shean, a very technically-sound dancer, as the pair performed a contemporary number choreographed by Tyce Diorio. Judge Adam Shankman raved about the divine nature of the pair, calling them the “Holy Trinity of dance.”

But even years of training and more than one million votes couldn’t save Chelsie Hightower, who has been a favorite of the judges this season. She was knocked out of contention, advancing Courtney Ann Galiano and Katee to the final round.

Chelsie danced a red-hot fire around her partner Twitch during a Mambo choreographed by Toni Meredith and Melanie LaPatin.  Shankman gushed, calling Chelsie an “animal” on the dance floor. But as last week’s shocking elimination of Will Wingfield demonstrated, the competition determines America’s favorite dancer – not necessarily America’s best.

(Reporting and Writing by Ashleigh Patterson)

  Were you stunned by Will Wingfield’s departure on “So You Think You Can Dance”, or did you predict a well-deserved upset?

   Whether Will’s demise was a travesty or poetic justice depends on who you ask. Purists are no doubt appalled that arguably the best male dancer this season even ended up in the bottom four. Yet for fans who’ve bristled all season at the judges’ effusive gushing over renowned choreographer Debbie Allen’s protege, it may have simply turned them off Will altogether.
    But viewers now have the upper hand, and the votes, and Will may have been hindered by his relative lack of stage charisma compared to Twitch, Mark Kanemura and Joshua Allen. 
    The voter backlash may also explain why Mark is inexplicably still safe (much to his own shock — his incredulous expression was perhaps the best moment of the night).
    We all love Mark (who could forget “Bleeding Love”?), but even he must have known what he was up against: “I will not be in the bottom…” was written on his paper prop for the detention-themed hip hop routine with Comfort. Sensing the danger he was in, fans clearly heard the call and rallied.
    The ever popular Twitch also seemed to have pulled off stronger performances with partner Katee Shean this week than Joshua, who fell out of his spin during the disco routine with Chelsie Hightower.
    But it was Joshua who escaped unscathed by viewers and the judges. The panel ignored the mistake along with stiff transitions and mediocre dancing and raved about the performance.
     Was Will’s departure a wake-up call or a hint of things to come? And with only two weeks left, who will stay on the hot-tamale train? 
    (Writing by Solarina Ho) 
       

Down to the final top 10 dancers, it was gearing up to be a tough decision-making week for fans of TV talent show “So You Think You Can Dance,” but someone — or some two — had to go.

In the end, it was Kherington Payne and Gev Manoukian who were the first to say goodbye.  Joining them in the bottom (but safe for another week) were Mark Kanemura and Comfort Fedoke, who rejoined the group after original top 10 contestant Jessica King had to bow out. (Doctors told her the pain in her side was due to broken and fractured ribs, but there were no explanations on how she got those injuries. A previous dance number?)

Based on Kherington’s past popularity with partner Twitch (aka Stephen Boss) and Comfort’s perpetual lineup at the bottom, it seemed Comfort was set to go home for a second time. Things didn’t quite work out that way, though. Given a second chance and nothing to lose, Comfort put in one of her strongest showings and was praised by judge Nigel Lythgoe as finally living up to her potential in a hip hop number with Twitch. It may have been good enough to make voters forgive their painful waltz earlier.

Meanwhile, Kherington’s country two-step with new partner Mark was riddled with so many glaring mistakes it made viewers forget some of her best performances with Twitch. Her attitude in backstage clips this week may have surprised some fans as well. They prompted judge and choreographer Lil C to tell her, ”Your ride has been turbulence free. You can’t get upset just because we turned the heat up in the kitchen just a tad.”

For Gev, he lost the great chemistry he shared with former partner Courtney Galiano. He put in a respectable contemporary dance with new partner Chelsie, but was outshone by her ballroom skills during their jive.

This was the first week dancers were switched up with new partners. The weekly change will offer some fun-to-watch new pairings (like Will Wingfield and Katee Shean this week) and may expose the weaknesses of others left without the superior skills of their partners. This coming week, fans will see who continues to dance, and who must leave the stage.

 (Reporting and Writing by Solarina Ho)