The top 14 performed last night with Kelley Abbey as guest judge.

The boys opened the show with a group routine to 'Cool' from West Side Story. The judges said unfortunately it “lacked intensity” and the “intention didn’t quite get there” for Kelley, but Matt “loved the unison”. Jason was very disappointed with it, as West Side Story is his “favourite musical”, and he thought their intensity was “not even close”. He felt the dancers must learn the steps “with intention” if they want to master the whole performance. I tend to agree with Jason on this one, I wasn't disappointed though as I didn't have high expectations.



Issi & Don were up next with Fabio Robles’s Street Latin routine. With Don receiving comments about his dancing sitting in front of the beat all the time, he took the time to chat with Matt backstage and get some tips during the week on how to fix the problem. The judges commended him for his growth and felt he really had improved and this was the best he has been so far. Matt thought the performance was “a bit clunky” when it needed to be seamless, but felt it was “the best” Don had done at sticking in the middle of the beat. For me, the routine lacked any real chemistry or passion. I agreed with Kelley when she said it didn't have any vitality or spark. I think there were some awkward moments in the dancing but overall it was much better than last week. They were very lucky to get Street Latin I think.



Heath & Jessica P had a Paul Malek Contemporary routine next. The judges thought the performance was passionate, Heath was a “caring partner” and Bonnie gave Jessica a “growth badge”. Jason felt she had done “better then any other ballroom dancer” in the past and commended her on having the most “incredible journey” of growth on the show. Matt “loved it so much” because he believed the performance and Kelley thought it was their “best routine so far”. I agree with the judges here, I thought Heath was especially great in his own genre and I really bought into the story - the darkness and the struggle between them. It was very intense and I couldn't take my eyes off them. This would be one of my favourites of the night.



Robbie & Ivy were up next with a Jason Gilkison Paso Doble. Jason “knew” they were going to come out and “own that” and commended them for another stand out performance, pointing out Robbie’s “intensity” and Ivy’s screen presence. Kelly felt the couple “really were popping” and believed Ivy was a good actress in her dancing, which she had also brought out in Robbie. In a great moment for Robbie, Matt said “You started as a boy, you just became a man” and it was “the first time” Matt has been on the edge of his seat in the competition. I thought the routine was perfect for them and Jason had really worked hard to make sure it would be the right fit for them (right down to the little wardrobe adjustments to make Robbie appear taller). I think because Jason understood both of their personalities he was able to mould the routine around them. I believed the passion in the routine, for me Ivy was actually the stand out because she's so sexy and the camera loves her so much. I didn't love it as much as the audience but I thought it was great overall. I especially enjoyed the beginning and the end.



Kieran & Carly had a Debbie Ellis Contemporary routine about lovers being torn apart by their families. Matt “loved the unison” and thought they “absolutely nailed it”. Jason thought it was Carly’s best work in the competition and loved her in it. He felt they were showing “exactly what this competition” was about - growth. I basically agree with everything the judges said. As a couple, these two have just been on fire and they obviously have so much trust which is really evident in the lifts which are so effortless. I think this would be the one time I can say they were both great - usually I say Kieran is better but I think they both matched beautifully here. This would be one of the other routines of the night for me.



Matt & Jessie H. performed a Square Division Jazz routine next. From the rehearsal video it was obvious Matt had a stressful lead up to the routine, unsure of where to focus his efforts to grow himself in this competition. He felt the judges had not given him clear critique about how to move forward. Matt Lee thought Jessie H. tended to out dance Matt, but believed tonight he had kept up well. In a humble moment Jason admitted he had given them “bad adjudication” last week and was keen to make up for it with his praise for a routine he thought was “the best they had done” in the competition. Kelly thought “it really needed to hit hard and it did.”, but felt Matt needed to push his boundaries to keep up with Jessie. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would - while I'll admit I can't wait to see them perform a contemporary piece where Jessie in particular can really shine, I must say that these two are my power couple at the moment because they have this ease between them when it comes to chemistry so they just bounce off each other with the comedy of two of the routines they've had. I think they both matched each other evenly here and as a couple I think they were the most cohesive (just behind Carly and Keiran). This was one of my other favourites of the night.



Phillipe & Renee were next with a Waltz by Leanne Bampton about two strangers meeting in the rain. Jason thought they didn’t pull off the effortlessness of the Waltz, but “Loved the way” Phillipe looked at Renee throughout the performance. But Matt thought the performance was not “going to be memorable” and they would be forgotten in the highs of the other routines. This routine really fell flat for me, I felt like Phillipe was better than Renee here and a little more relaxed. There were a few moments where I thought they connected well facially (especially the little smile from Phillipe) and I think they have chemistry but it didn't work here. My main issue is a little strange but I couldn't stand the outfit they put Renee in - I felt as if they should have put her in a beautiful floaty dress and it would add more to the piece, it sort of made her look a bit awkward (for me anyway).



Nick & Jess S. had Hip Hop with Tiana. In the rehearsal clip Nick appeared to be struggling, not only with the fact that he'd lost two partners and he didn't know when he'd lose his next (or would be next to go himself) but also with the choreography. The old school Hip Hop routine really pushed them both to their limits, but Nick in particular had a lot of trouble with the steps. Jason felt the “biggest issue” was with the unison, Kelly “loved the old school flavour” but felt Nick “struggled” with it. Jason felt the same, thinking they didn’t “spend enough time making it clean”. Jess revealed that she was finding the criticism really hard to take each week and she had never experienced anything like it before as a dancer. Nick admitted that he was struggling hard with the routine, and was unable to get some of the big steps. Kelly advised them to “take that criticism and make it constructive”. This routine just didn't work for me which is really unfortunate as I think Nick and Jess have the potential to be a real power couple - both being among my favourites and they're just so hot together! I think the routine was just too hard for them to pull off. Jess obviously fared much better than Nick here. I really hope they both pull through, I know I'll be voting.



The girls group routine was the 'Cell Block Tango' from Chicago. Jason “Loved the finish” but felt the small amount of dancing wasn’t clean enough. Matt felt they were “all strong and committed” but felt they weren’t in control of their props. Kelley was left wanting, not believing the murderous intent of the characters that she expected from the routine. For me, Jess, Ivy and Jessie stood out but I agree there was a lack of unison.