DonnaK:  I have to hand it to the judges on So You Think You Can Dance - they really picked one hell of a Top 20 this year! With only a couple of exceptions (two of whom are already gone), this group is even stronger and more talented than last year’s crop, which is really saying something. For the contestants to all be performing this well so early on in the competition I’m thinking this is going to be one HELL of a close race.

This week’s dances were all quite exceptional. Highlights of the night for me… Randi and Evan doing a Louis Van Amstel jive routine. WOW… I was completely blown away by these two. I’m on record for being a huge Evan fan, but I had never paid much attention to Randi. She’s certainly getting my attention with dances like this and her jazz routine last week. I also have to get super mad props to Karla and Johnathan for their gorgeous contemporary routine choreographed by SYTYCD Canada’s Stacey Tookey. Not only was is a beautiful routine expertly danced, it also happened to be to “Falling Slowly”, a Glen Hansard/Frames ballad I just adore. Low lights of the night begin with me having to admit to a certain degree of bias here - I just don’t really get Sonya Tayeh’s choreography. She work only moves me about half the time, and her jazz routine this week sadly wasn’t one that I liked very much at all. But I have to say that Melissa and Ade danced the HELL out of it, so props to them. Two of the weakest dances were both Shane Sparks hip hop numbers - one by Caitlin and Jason and the other by Ashley and Kupono. I expect both of them to be in the bottom three tonight. Joining them their will be the weakest dance of the night - Jeanine and Phillip’s horrendous tango choreographed by Tony Meredith. Oh, man… that was just a train wreck. I felt so bad for Phillip, but if he can’t start picking up other styles he’s not even going to make the Top 10. :(

Here’s the one routine that has me in a tizzy - Asuke and Vitolio’s Louis Van Amstel waltz. Mary cried because she was so moved by it. Lil’ C and Nigel couldn’t praise it enough. But I truly felt that Vitolio, as much as I love that boy, just flubbed it too much. Asuke was gorgeous and danced the living hell out of it, that’s for sure. But Vitolio’s inexperience showed and showed badly, and I just didn’t feel that his passion made up for his lack of technique. Were this my show, they’d be in the bottom three instead of Ashley and Kupono, but I don’t see that happening. Anyone else torn on this dance?

Enough rambling - award time! This week it was fairly easy for me. There were only two dances that were truly and totally awesome, and only one that knocked my socks right off. Of course, I’m talking about my boy Brandon and the wonderful Janette doing a Doriana Sanchez disco. Oh my gods, this was simply an awesome display of ability, grace, charisma and technique. Those two flew aall over that stage and lit it up like a Christmas tree. My favorite moment? Lil’ C finally telling Brandon that he was indeed a star and how impressed Lil’ C was by him. YAY! Validation for Brandon! Now to convert Mia Michaels! Please enjoy The Awesome Dance of the Week by Brandon and Janette:

The runner up came close to being as awesome as Janette and Brandon but fell just a little short. The runner up for Awesome Dance of the Week has to go to Kayla and Max for their amazing pop jazz routine by Brian Friedman. The characters were there, the power was there, the chemistry, the lines, the emotion - it all came together so wonderfully. I can see noticeable improvement from Max already - I think he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. And Kayla had been under my radar, but now I’m going to be keeping a close eye on her. These two are phenomenal, so please enjoy this great Runner Up number by Kayla and Max:

Well, there you go - the Awesome Dance of the Week Awards are out. Floor’s open to anyone who wants to jump in - what do you guys think? What dances moved you and which didn’t? I’d love to hear it!