After emotional goodbyes to Danny and Natalie, 12 dancers remain. The stakes are at an all-time high this week with spots in the highly coveted Top 10 nearly within reach.

Host Leah Miller introduced the Top 6 girls and the Top 6 guys, who took to the stage in pointe shoes, acid wash jeans, leather jackets and satin bustiers.

Joining judges Jean Marc Genereux and Tré Armstrong were guest judges, Emmy award-winning contemporary choreographer, Mia Michaels and artist-in-residence at the National Ballet of Canada, Rex Harrington.

The remaining Top 12 dancers are competing for the title of Canada's Favourite Dancer and the prize of $100,000. Both the winner and runner-up will also drive away with a 2010 Mazda 3 Sport.

This was the last time these couples will be dancing together as next week and every week from then on, the dancers will be paired up with new partners.

Theatre: Tara-Jean Popowich, 20, Lethbridge, Alta., and Everett Smith, 25, Glen Morris, Ont.

It seems Tara-Jean and Everett inspire fast footwork -- after performing a quickstep and a fast house number in previous shows, this week, they chose Theatre, a piece that choreographer Sean Cheesman turned into a lively 1930s inspired number.

"Let's throw some tap in," Sean said and so, Tara-Jean had a lot to learn to get up to speed with tap dancer Everett.

Tara-Jean and Everett danced their joyful character number complete with wild flips and silver tap shoes. The dancers took turns performing tap solos in a spotlight and finished the piece by jumping off the stage. The crowd was ecstatic.

"I am so excited right now!" Mia said, thrilled to see tap on the SYTYCDC stage. "You guys did an amazing job." She was so excited by the performance, she was breathless.

"I thought that was incredible!" Rex said next. "Everett, you remind me of a young Gene Kelly," he said enthusiastically and compared Tara-Jean to Shirley Temple and Ginger Rogers. He said he couldn't ask for anything more to open a show.

"Bang on performance,' Tré said. "I hope you tap your way into our Top 10!"

Jean Marc was also impressed by the opening number. "Engaging, electric, phenomenal," he gushed.

Jazz: Melanie Mah, 19, Richmond Hill, Ont., and Cody Bonnell, 19, Unionville, Ont.

Melanie and Cody danced hip-hop last week and picked a jazz number from the hat this week. Choreographer Melissa Williams created a dark, twisted vampire piece in which Melanie played the vixen and Cody played a "normal teenage boy."

Cody began the piece asleep in a silver chair with Melanie as the vampire seductress costumed in purple and black. There was intense lifts with Melanie leaping into Cody's arms and they ended the piece with Melanie sucking Cody's blood.

"Fangs are sexy," Mia started. "So strong, so sexy, so hardcore," she said about Melanie's performance. "You just take control of the stage and you took control of him."

She also said Cody had "ridiculous amounts of potential."

"Melanie, you are one of the most beautiful contemporary dancers up there...you show your inner soul and that's what it's all about," Rex gushed.

Tré loved Melanie's technique: "You did not disappoint. You're really beautiful to watch." She liked Cody's performance. "Keep pushing," she suggested.

Jean Marc raved about Melissa's choreography and noted how much Cody has grown. "You could have done a little better in your transitions," he said and called Melanie an "inexplicable force of nature."

Salsa: Corynne Barron, 18, Edmonton, Alta., and Austin Di Iulio, 20, Mississauga, Ont.

Last week, Corynne and Austin performed a passionate jazz number, but this week, they got a spicy and sassy salsa with choreographers Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin.

Tony explained the narrative of the piece: "Man meets girl, man wants girl, girl wants man!"

"It's going to be quite scandalous and sexy," Corynne said. "It's pretty hot," Austin agreed.

In a hot pink feather-fringed dress, Corynne took to the stage with Austin, who was costumed in all black. There were fast, tight spins, loads of hip swiveling and partnering that highlighted Corynne's long legs. They finished the number by crawling over each other at the edge of the stage.

"You owned it completely," Mia told Austin. "I believed you."

Rex said he had a soft spot for classically trained dancers and noted Corynne's "amazing facility."

"Austin, I think you did a really great job," he said and called him one of the strongest guys in the competition.

"Austin, I love when you move your hips...It was bang on for me!" Tré said about the performance.

Jean Marc said the other judges are entitled to their opinions, and said he loved the routine. "I love you guys!" he gushed, convinced he will see them in the Top 10.

Hip-hop: Kim Gingras, 24, Montreal, Que., and Emanuel Sandhu, 28, Vancouver, B.C.

From contemporary last week, Kim was in her comfort zone with hip-hop this week. "The most important thing is getting grounded," choreographer Luther Brown said, adding that there'll be a lot of touching and grabbing, "situations," he called them.

In twin spotlights, the dancers started their hard-hitting hip-hop number. Kim was tough in vinyl pants and a blue leather jacket and Emanuel was in ripped jeans and a leather jacket. Part way through the dance, Kim pulled up Emanuel's shirt to reveal a well-defined six-pack.

"Rough and raw," Mia called the number. "Kim, you slayed it...You did it so well!" she said, naming Kim her favourite female dancer. "Your approach, your commitment is there," she told Emanuel, adding that she wanted to see stronger technique.

"It was totally sexy," Rex said. "I totally loved it," he said and put both dancers on the 'Sexy Rexy Rocket.' "You have surprised me," he told Emanuel. "You're one of the strongest performers. You commit to the choreography and show us your soul." He was also impressed with Kim's dancing.

"You could get a bit tougher," Tré said to Emanuel, but added she loved his performance.

"Kim, you are so strong!" she said, noting that she loved the tutting -- the intricate hand gestures. "You murdered that. You're a star!"

"Kim, you killed it!" Jean Marc said. "You're an amazing dancer," he continued, noting her isolations, her swagger and strong transitions. He was similarly impressed by Emanuel. "You exceeded my expectations. You changed your body language," he said.

"Both of you are stars!"

Contemporary: Jayme Rae Dailey, 21, Montreal, Que., and Daniel Dory, 23, Montreal, Que.

After performing a hip-hop routine last week, Jayme Rae and Daniel picked contemporary out of the hat. "It's about your wedding," choreographer Blake McGrath explained.

"It's very intense," Daniel said about the choreography. "I think we're going to finish off on a really good note," Jayme Rae said.

Jayme Rae was costumed in a white wedding dress and Daniel in a dapper tuxedo, and they began this romantic routine in a column of light. The movement began smoothly, but as their relationship disintegrated, the movement became jerky and disjointed, revealing the anguish and hurt of an unraveling partnership.

"Strong, strong piece," Mia gushed. "Beautifully executed...it was very, very special!"

Rex, too, loved the piece and was blown away by the depth of Jayme Rae's performance. He noted Daniel's strong partnering skills, but wanted to see more levels in his technique.

"You were beautiful in the execution of the piece," Tré said to Jayme Rae. She liked Daniel's performance, but wanted to see stronger contemporary lines and more emotions.

"You did a good job, a solid performance," Jean Marc said to Daniel. He grew emotional when addressing Jayme Rae: "You, my little princess of dance, you always kill me," he said fighting tears. "You attack everything that's thrown at you. Super beautiful and super powerful," he said.

Jive: Amy Gardner, 21, Calgary, Alta., and Vincent Desjardins, 20, Trois-Rivières, Que.

After a cha cha last week, Amy and Vincent chose a high energy, up-tempo jive with choreographers Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin.

"We're kicking up our heels," Tony said in rehearsal. "We're expecting miracles from Vincent, so Amy will have to step up to the plate." Melanie added.

"Amy, don't worry about anything, we're going to rock the stage," Vincent promised before they began performing.

Amy was costumed in a black and white sequined number and Vincent was in a royal blue jacket as they started the fast flying footwork. The kicks were sharp and the shimmies were shaking as they twisted and twirled under each other's arms. The piece ended with Amy draped over Vincent's bended knee.

"That was so much fun," Mia began. "It makes people want to dance. It makes people laugh and smile...Amy you were hot, it was fun," she said and was also impressed by Vincent's performance. "Your spirit is so precious and your talent is beyond amazing," she said and called him her favourite male dancer in the competition.

"Fantastic way to end the show," Rex said next. "You are charming," he said to Vincent, impressed by his partnering skills. "Tonight you really stepped up for me," he told Amy, adding that he wanted to see more tension in her legs.

"You both looked so happy," Tré said. "You're just glowing. You killed it, sir," she told Vincent. "You are the transformer this year," she added. "You shone in that as well," she told Amy.

"You have amazing technique, Vincent," Jean Marc said and told them that when they were side by side, they looked like pros. "You rocked the house. I loved it," he said.

Wednesday: Results Night

The Top 12 return on Wednesday with a hard-hitting hip-hop number with Luther Brown.

That same evening, the Top 12 will become 10 as the three couples with the fewest number of votes will have to dance for their lives, and one girl and one guy will be heading home.