SYTYCD

View Date: 10/21/09

Tonight the top 20 dancers were announced. The episode started off with showing us the remaining 38 contestants sitting in the room awaiting the final decisions. The first dancer that found out his fate was Nathan, who was the underage dancer in Season 5 who was given a ticket straight through to Vegas for Season 6. The news was very good for him, with Mia telling him that he would be competing this season. The male ballet dancer who auditioned in LA in very short yellow shorts was let go from the competition with the request that he come out of himself a little more. Katherine, a girl we did not get to see much of yet, was the first girl to make it through to Season 6.

Channing, Ariana, and Elena were included in the female dancers making it through to the competition. Billy, who made Adam cry during his second solo in Vegas, made it to the top 20 and will need to ask Julliard to hold his scholarship for him while he competes. Amber did not make it through, more from her performance and lack of personality showing through her dancing than her technique. Russell, the krumper, made it through to the top 20 with flying colors and huge praise from Mia Michaels and the other judges. Kevin, a hip hop dancer, likewise made it through.

This season, 3 tap dancers made it to the final cuts in Vegas week. Bianca, who we saw last year and “challenged” Ryan Kasperzak during the auditions, became the first tapper in the history of the show to make it to the top 20. Philip, who had toured and roomed with Ryan, also made it to Season 6. Peter, the third of the tappers to get his decision, also made it through. So, not only will we see our first tap dancer on the show, we will have 3 in the Top 20.

Victor, after seeing several dancers sent on their way, made several changes to his appearance during Vegas week taking into account the judges' comments. After giving him some grief, the judges informed him that he would be moving forward, as would the next dancer, Jacob. Molly, a young female contemporary dancer that had hurt her ankle during Vegas week but was able to continue, made it through with the advice that she needs to dance older.

Pauline, who was injured during the Broadway round in Vegas, was surprising sent through to the top 20. Noel, Molly's best friend, was up next and received good news from the judges, and both she and Molly were beyond thrilled. B-boy Legacy was up next in front of the judges, and also made it through after some major joshing by the judges. Paula, who had been cut in a previous season at this point, will be joining the top 20.

Finally, it was down to 4 people left, all ballroom dancers, and including the married couple. First to go in to see the judges were the guys, Gene and Ryan. Ryan, who was definitely a strong dancer all the way through the auditions and Vegas, was announced to be going through to the next round. Karen, who also auditioned with her husband, was up against Ryan's wife Ashley for the final female spot. Karen was announced to be the final female dancer, as she did out-perform Ashley all week long. Yet somehow, Ashley was allowed to also go through to the Top 20 because Paula turned down her spot because she was offered a contract for a movie.

So with that, the Top 20 for Season 6 was set. While not all of the names are right in this posting, future entries will have everyone accurately identified.

10 words or less: Looks to be a great season.