The Top 4 moments after they finished Dan Karaty's choreography. Allie's balletic solo. Miles pops his solo. Natalli uses her dramatic skirt during her routine. The last pose in Nico's rock-inspired solo.

The Top 4 battle to be Canada's Favourite Dancer

Updated Thu. Dec. 4 2008 1:27 PM ET

Lindsay Zier-Vogel, CTV.ca

Last week, after a record breaking three million votes, the Top 4 were chosen. This week, Allie, Miles, Natalli and Nico had their work cut out for them. Not only did they perform a group piece, they also performed duets as in previous shows. Also, the girls danced together, the guys performed a duet and they also performed solos.

After the show, audience members will vote for their favourite individual dancer and the results will be revealed in a live Finale show on Sunday, December 7 at 9pm (ET/PT).

After introducing the Top 4 dancers, host Leah Miller said hello to the other 16 dancers who were watching the show from the catwalk. Next up, Leah introduced permanent judges Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux with guest judges, Luther Brown and Blake McGrath.

Street Jazz: Top 4 Group Piece

The Top 4 kicked off the show with Dan Karaty's quirky Mad-hatter themed street jazz number. The girls started on stage in black top hats and canes with long red eyelashes. Miles and Nico joined them costumed in red top hats and tails. The movement was sharp and robotic as the girls commandeered the guys right off the stage.

Luther congratulated Dan for his piece and the Top 4 for their perseverance. "For the last nine weeks, you guys have been dancing non-stop. They've been going full out ya'll, give it up," he said, getting the crowd cheering.

"You're all fighters at the end of the day," Blake said next. "Game on and congratulations."

Before Tré offered her comments on the performance, she told the audience that Leah had won the Viewer's Choice Gemini Award for the Hottest Canadian Female Star. She then congratulated the dancers, calling them beautiful, versatile dancers.

Jean Marc was up next and said, "They all deserve to be Canada's favourite dancer."

Solo: Allie Bertram, 18, Calgary, Alta.

Before performing her solo, the audience took a look at a taped package of Allie's highlights. In Halifax, she won over the panel and pirouetted away with Dan Karaty's heart. "I think if you have a classical background, you can do anything and that's what you're showing us," Guest judge Rex Harrington said to her.

She started her solo in the stairs, barefoot and in a bright red tutu. Her choreography showed off her flexibility with huge split jumps and strong turns.

"You're just a joy," Luther said first, excited by Allie's performance.

Blake was also impressed: "You have been the heart of this competition. Technically, you're just flawless." He added that he wants to see her continuing to push herself.

"I'm in awe of you. I love you, don't you stop," Tré said, tearing up.

"I think this young lady transformed the most out of the all the little ladies," Jean Marc said. "Her smile lights up the sky and the sky is the limits."

"I've learned so much and you don't realize it until the end when you look back. It's amazing," Allie said, beaming.

Solo: Miles Faber, 21, Calgary, Alta.

"This is the biggest thing dancing-wise that's ever happened to me," Miles said before taking to the stage. Costumed in a black suit jacket with a purple shirt, and matching purple sneakers, Miles performed his hard-hitting popping solo.

"Miles, I love it," Luther started. "You are the most improved dancer on the show. You took every style you were given," he said.

"You're the funkiest white boy I know," Blake said and added that if the show was called So You Think You Can Transform, Miles would win.

"If I had to give an award to the most entertaining dance on our stage, I'd give it to you," Tré said and encouraged him to continue to develop his technique.

Jean Marc called Miles the Renaissance man. "Miles is the guy who asks the most questions and the one who is the most improved," he said.

"Thank you," Miles said. "I don't know what to say. I've learned so much from all of you," he said gratefully.

Hip-hop: Natalli Reznik, 29, Toronto, Ont., and Miles Faber, 21, Calgary, Alta.

Miles and Natalli laughed throughout their rehearsals with choreographer, Sho-Tyme. "[Dancing] should make you happy," Sho-Tyme said. "Laughing is good. Honestly, they're going to rip it."

"You know what they say," Miles said before they hit the stage, "there's no time like Sho-Tyme."

In camouflage pants and black hats, they performed the tough, hard-hitting choreography. Halfway through the routine, Miles forgot the movement, but picked it back up to complete the piece with Natalli. After they finished, Miles was visibly upset.

"What you need to do is keep pushing the way you have for this entire show," Luther said to Miles. "You can't make this defeat." Though he noted they "massacred a couple steps," to Natalli, he said, "You are the hardest hittin' blonde girl I know."

"Do not get defeated. Wipe that look off your face right now,' Blake said to Miles. "You have two routines to come out here and blow it out of the water," he reminded both of them.

Tré was also supportive. "Don't forget you are Mister Entertainer," she said to Miles. "You messed up but you kept letting your emotion out. You finished strong, and that's what we want."

"Natalli, kudos, mama. You had it, honey. You killed it," she said.

Miles and Natalli received a standing ovation from the choreographers and the judges reminded them, "Canada loves you," Jean Marc reminded

"You just proved that you're human and that's why people love you," Jean Marc said to Miles. To Natalli, he said, "You killed it."

Contemporary: Allie Bertram, 18, Calgary, Alta., and Nico Archambault, 24, Montreal, Que.

Allie and Nico were up next with a contemporary number by Stacey Tookey. The story line, Stacey explained, was of a couple saying a difficult goodbye as the male character heads to war, while the female character shares special news with him.

They started on the side of the stage with Allie in a navy shift dress and Nico costumed in army pants. The choreography was filled with asymmetrical, off-balance turns, unison sections and huge lifts. Their emotional strength was represented in the movement as they caught each other and at the very end, Allie revealed her secret by placing Nico's hand on her belly.

"It's filled with so much emotionally and spirituality," Luther said. "The lines were clean and the lifts were sweet." He called Nico the perfect partner and said he really believed Allie's connection to Nico. "I haven't seen you really connect like that in a long time."

Blake called it Stacey's best piece yet. "It was just a breath of fresh air. It was moving and effortless and technical and real," he said, adding that he believed that one of them would win the competition.

"You got me going today, Allie,' Tré said emotionally. "You guys are brilliant. Thank you," she said with her hands on her heart.

Jean Marc also got emotional. "They were alone and allowed us to witness their private moment," he said with admiration. "You two are very special. You are a true inspiration."

Solo: Natalli Reznik, 29, Toronto, Ont.

"I feel like this is the first time in my dance career that I'm extremely nervous," Natalli said before her solo. In a flowing black skirt, and bra top, she performed her routine complete with wild turns, whipping the folds of her skirt.

"I love watching you dance," Luther said. "You need to be extra proud of yourself."

"When you step on that stage to do a solo, you do something different every time," Blake said, applauding her versatility. "It's been an honour to watch you dance."

Tré was also impressed: "You are someone you don't want to inhibit. Nobody should ever hold you down."

"You are a woman, a gypsy and the diva of our comp," Jean Marc said, adding that he loves her uniqueness.

Solo: Nico Archambault, 24, Montreal, Que.

"You're never done learning," Nico said before the highlights of 'Dance' journey. "I'm so, so, so happy and excited to be here."

He began his solo on the stairs, costumed in black jeans and a white shirt and performed his tough and aggressive rock-inspired contemporary routine.

"Nico, since the show's started, you've never let me down," Luther said, adding that he appreciates his professionalism.

Blake agreed that Nico was a professional. "It's been a blessing to work with you," he says. "You get my vote, buddy," he said.

Tré said she loved Nico's look, style, and confident, positive swagger.

"At the end of the day, you are not just a sexy rock star," Jean Marc told Nico. "He's humble and he's real," he added. He became emotional.

"I just want to say thank you very much," Nico said. "No matter what happens, I got to learn with all of you, all the choreographers, it was amazing."

Theatre: Allie Bertram, 18, Calgary, Alta., and Miles Faber, 21, Calgary, Alta.

"They are such fantastic dancers and such a great team," choreographer Sean Cheesman said of Allie and Miles before their rehearsals began. The story of his theatre piece centered on a classic situation: a fight for a TV remote.

"I am the couch commando," Miles joked before they started their routine. "Girls always win," Allie joked back.

Allie and Miles squared off around an arm chair and began their fight over the remote control. Miles showed off some b-boying moves, while Allie showed off her balletic flexibility.

Luther started first and said he was impressed that Miles bounced back. "Allie, I've never seen you have so much fun," he added.

"Miles, thank you for rising and getting yourself back in the game," Blake said next. "I enjoyed myself a little bit, but I didn't enjoy myself enough," he added, over boos from the crowd. "You needed to own that stage," he said. "Bring it harder next time."

Tré enjoyed the piece. "I thought it was fun and light-hearted," she said, noting that she saw connection between the two of them.

Though Jean Marc understood Blake's comments, he said he loved their energy, Allie's quality of dance and Miles' character.

Go-Go: Allie Bertram, 18, Calgary, Alta., and Natalli Reznik, 29, Toronto, Ont.

Before the dancers took to the stage, choreographer Melissa Williams noted her choreography was very percussive.

The dancers started up on the catwalk in sparkled bra tops and fringed skirts with knee-high white boots. The movement was sharp and sexy as they danced on top of a sequined box.

Luther wasn't entirely impressed. It wasn't the worst piece ever, he said, but felt they needed to hit it harder.

Blake said they both looked the part, but didn't think they acted and danced the part. "It felt more like a club feel than a live performance feel," he said.

Tré didn't think they maximized the potential of the choreography, but saw the right attitude and emotion in their hand movements.

"I thought it was pretty good," Jean Marc said to great applause. "It was fantastic for me."

Capoeira: Miles Faber, 21, Calgary, Alta., and Nico Archambault, 24, Montreal, Que.

Choreographer Paul Becker brought capoeira to the SYTYCDC stage for the Top 20 group number and brought it back for Miles and Nico. This Afro-Brazilian martial art form combines both dance and fighting.

The piece opened with the guys in intense balancing poses. From there, the choreography exploded into rhythmic feints and kicks, cartwheels and wild partnering. The movement was dramatic and aggressive and they both ended up on the floor.

After they performed, Nico and Miles hugged each other.

"That is so difficult to do," Luther said, impressed. "I think everyone here needs to really understand that was a very hard routine. You guys will definitely leave this competition with experiences other dancers will never, ever get," he said.

"I hope you guys inspire so many young male dancers," Blake said, equally impressed. He was amazed by the tricks and proud of them for staying grounded.

"That was a lot of fun," Tré said next, noting that though they could have gotten lower in their bodies, they had convinced her. "You did it pure justice."

"That was a beautiful, well-orchestrated fight." Jean Marc said. "They both knocked my socks off," he said smiling, and pulled out two black socks from under the judging table.

Finals Comments

All of the judges were incredibly impressed by the work ethic and strength of the four finalists. They congratulated each of them for their perseverance and talent and Blake wished he could crown them all Canada's favourite dancer.

Sunday: Results Night

Canada's First Favourite Dance will be announced on Sunday evening as the rest of the Top 20 dancers join the four finalists to perform group pieces and highlights from the season.

Find out who is crowned Canada's First Favourite Dancer: Sunday, Dec. 7 at 9 pm ET/PT!

 

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