It’s my favorite part of So You Think You Can Dance! The last few seasons, when it has been time for the Top 10, we were treated to routines partnered with All-Stars! And Monday night’s All-Stars are some of my favorites! Host Cat Deeley is always as excited as I am (okay maybe a little more since she knows them). I bet it’s judges Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul, and Jason Derulo‘s favorite part too. And the opening number from Sonya Tayeh, one of the best choreographers on the planet, was unbelievable. It was almost surreal, it was THAT good.

There’s good news and sad news and fun news. Get all that, plus the performances and the lovely image gallery below. Results are there too, so spoiler alert!

Some sad news for JJ. She was hurt this week, so no performing, plus she’s automatically in the bottom two street dancers.

Some good news: Whomever is crowned “America’s Favorite Dancer” will earn a place in JLo’s Las Vegas show. That message was delivered via video from the sexy diva herself.

And in other fun news: All of the solos were performed to the music from the hit FOX show, Empire.

And here we go!

Choreographer(s): Warren Carlyle
Dancers: Hailee & All-Star Brandon (season 5)
Style: Broadway
Song: “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Tony Bennet & Lady Gaga

What!?!?!?!? What a perfect dance for our “Liza Gaga!” All-Star Brandon just elevated her to star status. She fit exquisitely in with the music, the style… she lived that dance.

Choreographer(s): Nick Flores & RJ Durell
Dancers: Derek & All-Star Kayla (season 5)
Style: Jazz
Song: “Got It” by Marian Hill

Again… goosebump chills. First, I could not look away from All-Star Kayla, and I don’t know how Derek did not fall in love with her on the spot. It is impossible for me to fathom how bodies can move that magically.

Choreographers: Chris Scott
Dancers: Virgil and All-Star Comfort (season 4)
Style: Hip-Hop
Song: “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” by The Temptations

Such fun! It was cute. It was playful. I had a giant smile on my face the entire time. Virgil is the consummate performer, with the smooth moves to go with the smooth song.

Choreographers: Ray Leeper
Dancers: Megz & All-Star Marko (season 8)
Style: Jazz
Song: “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquoi

I got worried that one of my faves, Megz, would not be able to pull it off, but she did! This routine was so fun. You could tell she was having a blast with Marko (who wouldn’t?). She, of course, had perfect flips, but her other moves were hitting that beat so hard.

Choreographer(s): Travis Wall
Dancers: Edson & All-Star Jaime (season 2)
Style: Contemporary
Song: “Your Day Will Come” by Son Lux

This was slow, ethereal beauty, you could see each muscle rippling with each move.

Choreographer(s): Pharside & Phoenix
Dancers: Neptune & All-Star Jasmine (season 10)
Style: Hip-Hop
Song: “Milk Was A Bad Choice” by Yultron

That… was a wild and fantastic routine. They really performed. So in sync, so tight. This was super good. I cannot even choose my favorite routine out of all these fantastic ones.

Choreographers: Dee Caspary
Dancers: Jim & All-Star Jessica (season 11)
Style: Contemporary
Song: “Heal” by Tom Odell

This dance was well executed. Jim floats instead of dances. Quite beautiful. This kid is going to go far.

Choreographer(s): Nakul Dev Mahajan
Dancers: Jaja & All-Star Alex (season 7)
Style: Bollywood
Song: “Naacho Re” by Jai Ho (soundtrack)

Okay! I found my favorite routine! By one of my 2 favorite girls, my Jaja, and one of my favorite All-Stars, Alex, and it was so fun! Her smile lit up the room. The dance was breathtaking perfection! She hit every single move. She really was a princess.

Choreographers: Pharside & Phoenix
Dancers: Gaby & All-Star Joshua (season 4 winner)
Style: Hip-Hop
Song: “I’m Really Hot” by Missy Elliot

This martial artsy hip-hop number made me dance in my chair. The beginning with Joshua flipping so high he was flying, started it off right. Gaby held her own. The pulling-through-the-legs-then-up-twirl-catch move (my technical term) was crazy good. the very last move was unexpected, yet effective.

Solos featuring songs from Empire:

SYTYCD: Virgil

Song: “Conqueror” by Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett

SYTYCD: Neptune

Song: “Power Of the Empire” By Empire Cast feat. Yazz

SYTYCD: Gaby

Song: “Can’t Truss ‘Em” by Empire Cast feat. Yazz

SYTYCD: Jaja

Song: “Keep It Movin” by Empire Cast feat. Serayah McNeill & Yazz

SYTYCD: Jim

Song: “You’re So Beautiful” by Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz

SYTYCD: Hailee

Song: “Nothing To Lose” Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett

SYTYCD: Derek

Song: “Drip Drop” by Empire cast feat. Yazz & Serayah McNeill

SYTYCD: Megz

Song: “No Apologies” by Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz

SYTYCD: Edson

Song: “I Wanna Love You” by Jussie Smollett

Which solo did you think was the strongest?

Results: Edson and JJ were eliminated. What do you think about America’s decision?

SYTYCD airs Monday nights at 8pm ET on FOX.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE | Behind The Group Number: “Earth Intruders” | FOX

Sonya Tayeh explains her inspiration behind the group number. She describes the dance as a march that breaks into a celebratory dance and back and forth.

Image Gallery

[Source: FOX]