DonnaK:  Finally, a performance show worthy of this season! This is perhaps the first time all season where I’ve felt that the hype the this is the best cast the show has ever had might be justified. The routines were choreographed wonderfully and all the dancers brought their A games. It’s going to be a tough cut but I think (mostly) the right people will wind up in the Top 10.

Every couple danced twice last night and it’s the last night these couples will remain together - once we hit the Top 10 the couples get split up. Ellenore and Ryan started the night off with a wonderfully respectable Lindy Hop choreographed by Carla Heiney which was crisp, technically sound and - most importantly - happy and energetic. I really loved their performance here, but they topped themselves later that night with a stupendous Broadway number by Spencer Liff. Ellenore has a magical ability to inhabit characters, and both hers and Ryan’s technique has gotten crisper and stronger. These two are a definite lock for the Top 10 and it’s a well deserved lock at that.

Kathyrn and Legacy blew the doors off the place with an outstanding Sonya jazz number that was just amazing. Sonya left a lot of room for Legacy to bring out his B-boy background and the piece as a whole was stunning. And then… the pair stumbled with an awkward and messy Viennese waltz. I think we finally found something Legacy can’t do, because no matter how hard he fought he just couldn’t get the movements down. The routine was really a hot mess but I feel confident that the strength of these two throughout the season will save them even if they wind up in the bottom three.

Karen and Victor danced a smoldering tango choreographed by Tony Meredith next that just SIZZLED. It was quite breathtaking and extraordinarily well performed by both, but especially Karen. Unfortunately they weren’t as lucky with their second number - a Laurieann Gibson hip hop routine. The two were out of sync, missed steps, barely hitting and just plain lost. I feel certain these two will be in the bottom three tomorrow - that tango can’t save them from all the mistakes the two have been making this season.

Mollee and Nathan were up next with a Jamal Sims hip hop number. This didn’t work for me at all - I thought Mollee couldn’t keep up with the number and just couldn’t get down and dirty enough. I seriously don’t understand why she’s still here, but I doubt she will be for much longer. The pair danced a Tyce Diorio can-can next - a first for the show - and did a respectable but not amazing job. I think the immaturity of these two is really showing more and more and I feel quite sure that they will wind up in the bottom three again tonight.

Noelle and Russell had a rocky start with a Tony Meredith samba. Russell’s lack of training showed clearly as the two fumbled their way through the number. I give Russell an A for effort and for how much he’s grown this season but, just like Legacy and the waltz, it didn’t gel. However, their second routine, a contemporary number by Tyce Diorio, simply blew my mind. I couldn’t believe how amazing and fluid this piece was and how spectacularly Russell danced it. The choreography was amazing, the dancing amazing, and this was hands down the Awesome Dance of the Week. Honestly I thought this was the best dance of the season so far, that’s how great it was.

Ashleigh and Jakob danced last in the rotation starting with a beautiful lyrical jazz number by Sonya. My dislike of Sonya’s work is well known here, but I have to say that both her routines last night were spectacular. I have to say it… Ashleigh has come a LONG way. She’s converted me - I’m a fan of her dancing now and honestly look forward to seeing her perform. She and Jakob were both wonderful in this and it was easily one of the best routines of the night. They then cemented a place in the Top 10 with a Jean-Marc Genereux cha cha that let Ashleigh sizzle. Seriously… that was hot. Both dancers were superb but it was Ashleigh who stole the show with that cha cha. These two are sailing into the Top 10 for sure.

This leaves Karen and Victor and Mollee and Nathan as our first bottom three couples. Both of the Di Lello couples I think are quite safe, so it just comes down to whether it will be Kathryn and Legacy or Noelle and Russell that joins them in the bottom. Both couple had one extraordinary dance and one bad one. Both are HUGE favorites, both with the judges and with the fans. Honestly it could go either way, but I think that it will be Legacy and Kathryn who fall, simply because their weak dance was the last one by them we saw. I don’t think it matters, however, because Kathryn, Legacy, Russell and Noelle will all be saved by the judges. In the end, I think Karen and Victor will get the axe - they just aren’t up to par with everyone else. I doubt the judges will have the courage to axe Mollee or Nathan even though I feel they deserve it, but I think America won’t take them for very long anyway.

So… that’s my take. Any other opinions in the house?