Destination ‘So You Think You Can Dance’: A love story

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Look around the studio during a taping of “So You Think You Can Dance” and read the signs. “Kherington and Twitch!” raves one. “Courtney and Gev!” shouts another. Although at the end of the season just one person will be crowned “America’s favorite dancer,” the audience is falling in love with whole couples at the moment, and not individual contestants. For this reason, it is absolutely essential for each pair to display a believable and relatable relationship, both during their dances and during their video segments.

Twitch and Kherington Payne knew what they were doing when they renamed themselves “Twitchington” early in the season. They marketed themselves as a package deal. A power couple. And thus, they were the first pair to secure a spot in the collective consciousness. At SYTYCD High, Kherington and Twitch are the homecoming king and queen.

During Wednesday’s show, in perfect keeping with their cool kids reputation, Twitch poked fun at Kherington’s shopaholic tendencies. “Kherington, put down the shoes,” he deadpanned. Their relationship is light, fun and enviable. And nobody dares question their reign. When guest judge Mia Michaels so much as suggested that Kherington was “a little glossy for me,” the audience and other judges chewed her out. We want to believe Kherington really is as happy as she looks. Don’t ruin it for us, Mia Michaels!

Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian represent another romantic archetype: unrequited love. During his pre-performance video segment on Wednesday, Gev informed the audience that Courtney is more than just a pretty face; she’s studying to be a special education teacher. Could she be any more perfect? Gev seemed to ask. When given the opportunity to gush about Gev, Courtney instead told the audience that Gev used to look like a girl, citing embarrassing photos to support her argument. Ouch.

Last week, Nigel Lythgoe criticized Gev for failing to translate his feelings for Courtney to the dance floor. This week, Gev threw caution to the wind and showed his emotions through dance . . . and through a very enthusiastic booty grab. Sure, Courtney has a boyfriend, but we’re still rooting for Gev and hoping somehow he gets the girl. This is the stuff of rom-coms, people!

And then there’s Comfort Fedoke and Chris Jarosz. Backstage after the show last Thursday, Nigel called them the oddest couple in the competition. Comfort seems to oscillate between being amused by Chris and being embarrassed by him. They’re making it work, but only because they have to. During their failed attempt at an animalistic jazz routine this week, Comfort and Chris reminded the audience that opposites don’t always attract. I predict that the odd couple will land in the bottom this week.

Last week, the judges raved about Will Wingfield and dissed his partner Jessica King. This week, as a result, the couple’s choreographer attempted to showcase the heretofore unappreciated Jessica. Again, however, Will blew Jessica out of the water.

After their routine, guest judge Adam Shankman told Jessica that she was her own worst enemy. “I wish you knew how good you were,” he said. Thus, in the alternate reality of SYTYCD romance, Will is the charming, popular guy working overtime to comfort his insecure girlfriend. It’s relatable, but not appealing. Despite Will’s awesome disco moves, the couple could be in danger this week.

Kourtni Lind and Matt Dorame stand out in the competition and not just because, combined, they stand 12 feet tall. Kourtni has bleached hair and a tattoo, and Matt thinks that a ninja mask is a normal accessory. Mainstream? No. Well-matched? Yes. During their comic book-style contemporary dance on Wednesday, the wacky pair finally got to let their freak flag fly. Nigel was impressed by the dance but feared that America wouldn’t “get it.” Thursday’s results show will reveal whether America finds Kourtni and Matt too odd for comfort.

Chelsea Traille and Thayne Jasperson, like Comfort and Chris, are an oddly matched couple. In their pre-dance video, Chelsea revealed that Thayne secretly wants to be a designer. Thayne disclosed that Chelsea likes to steal flowers from vases. Huh? Weeks into the competition, Chelsea and Thayne’s dynamic remains vague and undefined. “I do think you’d both better get your solos ready,” warned Nigel after their quickstep. Alas, this reporter agrees.

Mark Kanemura is tall, dark and handsome, with angular features and piercing eyes. His partner, Chelsie Hightower, is like a fair-skinned cherub, with a round face and laughing eyes. They may be physical opposites, but Mark and Chelsie have a strange and special bond. They bring something quirky and eclectic to every routine they do. They’re like Kourtni and Matt 2.0. This week, during their hip-hop narrative about a workaholic husband and his neglected wife, Mark and Chelsie made something incredibly moving out of choreography that could have been corny in clumsier hands. Their fearless commitment won them a standing ovation.

Last, but certainly not least, we have Katee Shean and Joshua Allen: the couple that has it all. We’ve already witnessed the tenderness of their relationship (remember when Joshua talked about Katee’s smile?), and we’ve seen the humor in their relationship (remember when their Broadway routine catapulted Nigel out of his seat?). Tonight, however, we discovered a third facet of the tender, funny couple: a very, very sexy side. Nobody could have predicted that Katee and Joshua would be the first couple to steam up the windows of the SYTYCD studio!

And so, in closing, I’m predicting a bottom three of Chelsea and Thayne, Comfort and Chris, and Jessica and Will. Please come to our SYTYCD chat here, Thursday at 1pm, and tell me how wrong I am. I’ll be joined by fellow SYTYCD addict Claire Zulkey.

Till then,
Stephanie Lysaght

(Photo courtesy Fox)