I went to the taping of the So You Think You Can Dance finale last night. It was an incredible show. Almost all of the routines were mind blowing in person. I can’t wait to see how they translate on screen. I got moved to the first row of VIP above the Jidges Stand at the last second, so I had a great view with a different perspective, but the audience below seemed to respond similarly, and Adam and Mary were weepy messes all night.

The line-up, as I remember it, in order (was trying to be in the moment, not taking notes):

1. Kathryn/Ryan – Samba
GREAT, lots of gaping moments, shirtless Ryan. I think this is where Adam worked it into his critique that, “Ryan, you are blah blah blah, and just so… so… SHIRTLESS!”

2. Ellenore/Jakob – Broadway by Tyce
Very Good. Less vaudeville, more 70s/Fosse. The judges told Ellenore she was smoldering. That Tyce let her be Fosse-esque and let Jakob be… Jakob-esque. Maybe it was here that they teased Jakob for doing a jete in every routine.

3. Ashleigh/Russell – Lyrical Jazz
Ashleigh was a guardian angel in white and Russell was shirtless. Ashleigh is not my favorite, but the dance made a few of us weepy. My husband and I laughed that they used a fan but managed to avoid the cheesy 80s photoshoot effect (at least in person). Judges liked it. Nigel made another comment about the men not having shirts.

4. Ellenore/Ryan – Jazz
I liked this a lot. Nigel, not so much. They were a robot couple, which is right up Ellenore’s alley. I thought she did great. Nigel said that since they were emotionless, all he could focus on was the technical side, and so he was more aware of errors and shortcomings, not being swept away by story or feelings.

5. Ashleigh/Jakob – Foxtrot
The judges called this a Jazzy-Trot more than a foxtrot. Adam made a joke about how that sounded more like an illness than a dance. Nigel told them that they had great chemistry. I know I liked it a lot at the time, but right now I have no memory of it.

6. Ellenore/Russell – Paso Doble
(Very Good) This dance can be a disaster, but this wasn’t. It was pretty thrilling in person. Along the lines of last year’s with Brandon and Janine.

7. Kathryn/Jakob – Pas de deux (Think this was the Sonya routine)
(WOW GREAT!!!) I didn’t breathe through this one, and then I cried. Even the jaded, stony-faced VIPs around me were wiping their eyes, and Mary and Adam were messes. I looked down by their feet later, and the area was littered with balled up kleenex.

8. Ashleigh/Ryan – Contemp./Travis Wall
This would have been better if placed somewhere else in the lineup. Coming right after the routine with J & K, it paled a little, although Travis’s choreography was still stellar, and it was really touching watching the married couple dance — more touching to see them crying their eyes out afterward. Ryan couldn’t speak. Nigel told them to their faces that people feel they’re only here because of her injury and its effect on last week. Ashleigh looked stricken. But then he said that they’d shown their worth this week.

I sat next to Ellenore’s friend, and she said she could tell that they had choreographed around Ashleigh’s injured shoulder but that she still did amazing.

9. Kathryn/Russell – Hip Hop/NappyTabs
I loved it! Kathryn was really on fire last night, and of course Russell was going to do well. I believe they got a standing ovation.

Last for the performance episode, they filmed the beginning of the show. Strange. They did it first the last time I came (top 12, season 5).

Then there was a long break wherein Cory the Warm Up Guy passed out candy to the hungry masses (literally going around with one of those jumbo variety bags from Costco), held an impromptu version of Singing Bee with some of the more extroverted audience members and Ryan’s stepdad, and infuriated the two guys behind me that couldn’t believe how long it took to film a television show.

The final thing for the evening was the group routine for Wednesday’s results show. They did it last night instead of on Wed. morning, like they usually do it.

The theme was skimpily clad dancers in black with heavy, smudged eye makeup and frizzy hair (wait, a lot of them are that way) dancing with chairs. Legacy led it off, dancing in his style (love Legacy), and there was a great moment where Nathan and Victor crossed each other doing leaps. At the end, our top six come out and do their own strut/dance. We saw them do it about six or seven times, minimum. It was really great, though. I could have stayed for more. I don’t know who the choreographer was or the song (but its lyrics were don’t be scared of me, don’t be scared of me).

Lots of alumni in the audience: Janette (yay), Jason, Brandon, Ade, Tony Bellissimo, Joshua, ?.

No intro packages or solos. Wall to wall dancing and judging, instead.

A great night! Met Jakob’s mom as we left the lot — was just me, my husband, and her in a dark side road, would have been weirder to ignore her. She was really nice, very worried about her boy and nervous about Wednesday’s results.

Dance #1 - Kathryn/Ryan - Samba
Choreographed by Jason Gilkison. Ryan was incredibly strong and in his element and Kathryn was keeping up nicely. Probably helped that they had a fabulous cha cha together last week and were able to keep the chemistry going into this week. Ended with Kathryn doing a crazy split over Ryan's head and onto his back (Jason Gilkison really knows how to end a dance!). Judges all loved it to bits. It wasn't the best of the night but it showed off both dancers quite well. Good first impression!

Dance #2 - Ellenore/Jakob - Broadway
Choreographed by Tyce Diorio. Ellenore played the sexy vixen type and between her and Jakob their legs were going crazyyy . Not sure if I would personally consider it amazing (I don't usually like his choreo and have much preferred the stuff done by Spencer Liff this season) but I guess I give Tyce credit for creating something not boring? It felt much more dynamic than his stuff usually is. That may have been helped greatly by Ellenore and Jakob's mad skills. BTW, music came from Fosse, I think something by Liza. Judges gave Tyce a tongue bathing and generally positive feedback to Jakob and Ellenore both. Praised Ellenore for breaking out of her quirky box (by embodying a sexy character I guess?) and they loved that it generally kept both dancers true to their style.

Dance #3 - Ashleigh/Russell - Lyrical Jazz
Choreographed by Sonya. The song was a very pretty number w/ lots of syncopated beats, with allowed for lyrical flow and Sonya's jerky signature movements. This was pretty much a showcase for Russell. Granted the choreo didn't give much for Ashleigh to do but man, Russell was flying, leaping, and spinning all across the stage. And very convincingly. Ash was mainly floating around prettily and helping Russell transition between moves...there were some lovely moments where she assisted him into a leap or spin. According to the judges she was supposed to be an angel or something watching over Russell so that kind of makes sense. The judges LOVED Russell and couldn't stop praising his versatility and talent, lots of comments on how much of an inspiration he is. Nigel said he couldn't critique Ashleigh because he was so drawn to Russell instead. Mary and Adam still gave her credit for blending in so seamlessly with the dance and playing her part well.

Dance #4 - Ellenore/Ryan - Jazz
Choreographed by Garry Stewart. Had a very techno, robotic feel, though I guess that's the choreographer's style. Had similar elements to Legacy/Ash contemp though it felt L/A had to jump and move around much more. Transitions looked much easier here though there were still some nice dynamic moments. Probably the only dance that has less than effusive comments from the judges but overall it was danced well. Nigel said he had a hard time watching b/c without the emotion, it became a very technical dance and he was very picky about the movement choices. Mary liked it b/c it was different and Adam gave a very middle of the road, good job! type of evaluation. But for me, knowing the style of the choreographer, I didn't expect it to be anything different from what I saw and the dancers did well with what they were given. Unfortunately since every other dance either emotional or powerpacked, so this one did stick out as a weak point in the night.

Dance #5 - Ashleigh/Jakob - Foxtrot
Choreographed by Jean Marc Generaux. Very beautiful, flowy (and according to Adam, jazzy) foxtrot and lovely seeing Jakob and Ashleigh paired together again! Ash was beautiful in this and you could tell she enjoyed both dancing with her old partner and having something in her wheelhouse. Jakob looked great as usual and was a strong partner, particularly in the lift sequences. Overall it looked effortless! And of course the choreography managed to sneak in a tour jete for Jakob, which Nigel nitpicked on during judging . Generally the judges really enjoyed it and gave Ashleigh the props they didn't really give her for her first dance. They also acknowledged that Jakob has been an exceptionally strong and unselfish partner this season.

Dance #6 - Ellenore/Russell - Paso Doble
Choreographed by Jason Gilkison. Very dramatic opening with Ellenore dancing in the dark against a red, backlit background. She looked super fabulous in a Spanish inspired costume and performed with all the sexiness required for her role. Russell was equally impressive and exuded the manliness and strength needed for paso. While all three ballroom pieces were excellent (no duds tonight!), the paso was probably the most exciting and impressive given that the other two had the benefit of a ballroom expert. Judging was mostly positive again -- Mary acknowledged that while Russell was still lacking somewhat in proper technique, he more than made up for it in performance. I think this was also the dance where they say Ellenore had never looked better in her dancing. Nigel pointed out that it didn't quite surpass Brandon/Jeanine's paso from last season's finale (as the camera pans over to Brandon in the audience) but he pretty much says this competition is down to either Russell or Jakob.

Dance #7 - Kathryn/Jakob - Contemporary
Choreographed by Desmond and Dwight. Okay, this is my opinion and I've stated it before, but I truly believe this was HANDS DOWN the BEST dance of the night, if not the best of the season (okay, that may be a bit hyperbolic ). The song was very familiar but I have no idea what the name is or who sings it...it was a very smooth, soulful song, somewhat in the vein of Al Green's "How Do You Mend A Broken Heart" (NOT that song, just had a similar vibe!). The dance itself looked very powerful and seemed to require a lot of strength/athleticism from J/K but still was oh SO sensual...the chemistry was on fire. There were some crazy moves like Jakob going from a handstand and straight into a split and a lovely moment in the song where there's a brief pause and both J/K freeze in the middle of their movement...just showed how connected they were in this dance. Judges AND audience gave them a standing O. Mary and Adam were both reduced to tears and Nigel had to do most of the talking. Adam said this dance was pretty much a show stopper and how honored he was to watch them. The dance is kind of a blur in my head now, so I totally need to review it again on Tuesday but all I can say was it gave me chills and took my breath away live. Really hoping it comes off the same on screen!

Dance #8 - Ashleigh/Ryan - Contemporary
Choreographed by Travis Wall. J/K's contemp was seriously a tough act to follow but A/R were just so absolutely sweet in this. It was a very pretty piece, definitely the opposite from last week and not even emo like his other pieces . Really drew a lot from A/R's relationship -- very tender and showed a lot of strength and trust, particularly evidenced by a move where Ashleigh throws her body back blind towards Ryan across the stage and he catches her in mid air. Compared to the other pieces tonight was it a memorable finale piece? When judging only the dancing, probably not. But the emotion A/R brought to this was very moving and thus helped it hold its own somewhat after J/K's routine. R and A were both in tears when they finished the dance and you could see how much it meant for them to be there together, sharing that moment. Adam asked them how they felt doing this and while it was difficult for them to get words out, they summed it up as pretty much a perfect ending to their journey together. I know some people are very suspicious by shows of emotion by contestants but this was very genuine...and speaking as someone who's married, I can definitely understand why they would be emotional and how important and wonderful this was for them. The judging pretty much focused on how nice it was for them to do this together rather than the actual dancing, and of course a mini-tongue bath from Nigel about Travis, but I think at this point everyone could tell they were not threats to Jakob, Russell or Kathryn.

Dance #9 - Kathryn/Russell - Hip Hop
Choreographed by Nappytabs, who looked a little nervous for the judging but this was probably NT at their best . And like I said before, it wasn't even lyrical! I'm pretty convinced Kathryn is the only girl in the competition who could have pulled this off and kept up with Russell. She was hitting it hard and looking FIERCE. Russell, as expected, was dancing the hell out of this -- down and dirty and super strong. There were some great partnered moments like when Kathryn flips onto Russell's shoulders and they dance in sync while she sits on top. They bought so much energy to the table and it was probably the best one to end the night! Judges were madly in love with this and couldn't get over how well they did together. They were also impressed with how R and K managed to end on such a high note, given the dances they had to do earlier in the night.