The Top 4 boys await the judges verdict. Mia said the Top 4 girls were the best Top 4 girls she's ever seen on SYTYCD.

The Top 8: 'A great evening of dance,' says Mia Michaels

Updated Thu. Oct. 8 2009 8:09 AM ET

Lindsay Zier-Vogel, CTV.ca

"That was a great evening of dance," Mia Michaels said, thoroughly impressed by the Top 8. "It's been an absolute pleasure," Dan Karaty agreed.

It was a tough week for the Top 8 as they withstood injuries, exhaustion and roller coasters of emotion. After saying farewell to Top 10 dancers Austin and Amy, the Top 8 were back on stage and ready to showcase their strengths.

This show was the most challenging one yet as the dancers chose new partners and performed not one, but two duets, along with solos and an all-girls and an all-guys piece.

On Wednesday night's live results shows, the guy and the girl with the fewest votes will be eliminated after performing one last time for Canada.

Both the winner and runner-up will each drive away with a 2010 Mazda 3 Sport and one lucky dancer will win the title of Canada's Favourite Dancer and the ultimate prize of $100,000.

On the judging panel this week were Jean Marc Genereux and Tré Armstrong and guest judges Dan Karaty and Emmy Award-winning Mia Michaels, who was sporting a newly shaved platinum hair cut.

"I want to see them take it to the next level," Mia said at the top of the show. Dan suggested the Top 8 get on stage and just enjoy themselves: "You never know when it's going to end."

Jean Marc noted that Everett had been kicked in the nose twice this week and Emanuel had sprained his ankle. Even still, he enthused: "I think we're going to have our best show ever!"

Theatre: Top 4 guys

To begin this Jersey Boys-inspired number, Cody, Emanuel, Everett and Vincent stood behind old-school microphones, costumed in suits and fedoras.

The movement, choreographed by Melissa Williams, was smooth and flashy as the dancers partnered their microphone stands. With back flips, pirouettes and switch centre splits, the dancers showcased their personal strengths and got the crowd cheering as they threw their suit jackets into the audience.

Mia loved the concept, but found the performance a bit messy. "I want to see the smoothness. That style should feel a little cleaner," she said.

Dan didn't think it was their strongest performance, but loved watching all four of them together on stage and encouraged them to keep pushing.

"Great way to open our show," Tré said, calling them mighty fine. "Great synchronization," Jean Marc noted. "We love you for sure."

Rumba: Tara-Jean Popowich, 20, Lethbridge, Alta., and Vincent Desjardins, 20, Trois-Rivières, Que.

Tara-Jean drew Vincent as a partner this week and they picked the rumba. "It's the dance of love," choreographer Eric Caty said.

Costumed in a cream and silver dress, Tara-Jean was elegant next to Vincent's white suit jacket and pants. Their first lift went off without a hitch and their hips were slow and sensual above the dappled stage. They ended with a passionate kiss.

Mia said the piece brought tears to her eyes and gave her goose bumps. "You were so inside of it and that's what I always look for," Mia gushed. "You are the king of this stage," she told Vincent and called Tara-Jean his queen.

Dan admitted he wasn't the romantic type, "But that got to me," he said. "It looked like you've been dancing together for a long, long time."

Tré said she really believed Tara-Jean as a ballroom dancer. "You have a magnetism to you," she said. "I believed your emotion," she told Vincent and gave the pair a standing ovation.

Jean Marc said Tara-Jean truly captured the essence of a ballroom dancer. "Your craft, your artistry is crazy," he said to Vincent, noting the ease with which he partnered Tara-Jean.

Solo: Jayme Rae

Before her contemporary solo, Jayme Rae told audiences how much she's grown as a dancer. "It's a dream come true," she said before getting on stage. In a blue shirt and a black bodysuit, she performed her angst-filled, sensual solo.

Hip-hop: Kim Gingras, 24, Montreal, Que., and Cody Bonnell, 19, Unionville, Ont.

Kim drew Cody as her partner and together they chose hip-hop with Luther Brown. "Today's piece is a throw back," Luther said. "They're going to sweat, sweat, sweat!"

Costumed in all black, Cody joined Kim, who was also costumed in black, with a bright, red bra top. The movement was hard-hitting with tight unison sections. The routine was fierce and aggressive, and as fast as Luther promised.

"That was dope," Mia began. She loved Cody's lack of inhibitions and was also incredibly impressed with Kim: "You danced it hard! You're consistent and you just have the 'it' factor."

"This is what hip-hop was when I started dancing," Dan said. "You both did a really great job. Well done, guys."

Tré was impressed with Cody's presence on stage. "Sharp and smooth," she said of his movement. She agreed with Dan about Kim having the 'it' factor.

"I love the vibe of it," Jean Marc said about the routine. "You hit so many good musical pockets."

Tyce Diorio and the Top 8

Next, Leah announced that Emmy Award-winning choreographer Tyce Diorio will make his first appearance on SYTYCDC as he creates a theatre routine for the Top 8 for the Wednesday night live results show.

Contemporary: Melanie Mah, 19, Richmond Hill, Ont., and Emanuel Sandhu, 28, Vancouver, B.C.

Melanie drew Emanuel as her partner and they learned a contemporary routine with choreographer Sabrina Matthews who was making her debut on the SYTYCDC stage. The story is of a relationship that the guy desperately wants to hold onto, while the girl is ready to leave it, Sabrina explained.

"They're going to be pushed not only physically, but also emotionally," Sabrina said.

Emanuel wore black dress pants and Melanie was costumed in a grey shift dress. It was an emotionally wrought piece with arms that changed from being flung, to intricately carving up the space. The jumps and pirouettes were technical and the piece concluded with Melanie leaving Emanuel with his hands and arms empty.

Mia was thrilled by Melanie's performance: "You're the exact kind of female dancer I love to work with. You're technical and vulnerable, strong and powerful and you're humble." She loved Emanuel's commitment, but thought he was lacking technically.

"I think you're both wonderful dancers," Dan started. "Melanie I thought you were amazing," he said, but believed Emanuel forced the performance.

"Emanuel, you danced it for me, but the emotion was missing," Tré said. "Your torso needs to move," she said. "Melanie, I got the story from you," she said. "You were brilliant in that piece for me."

Jean Marc loved Melanie's performance. "You are a rising star," he told her. "You dance big," he said to Emanuel, appreciating his perseverance.

Solo: Everett

Before taking his tap shoes on stage, Everett told audiences how important his family's support is to him. "I love to entertain, I love to teach and I love to inspire," he added.

In a grey suit and fedora, Everett performed his tap solo in the centre of a spotlight.

Mambo: Jayme Rae Dailey, 21, Montreal, Que., and Everett Smith, 25, Glen Morris, Ont.

Jayme Rae picked Everett as her partner and they learned a mambo with choreographer Gustavo Vargas. "You can't be shy with it," Gustavo said before the dancers got on stage.

Under bright pink lights, Jayme Rae sparkled in a yellow fringed outfit. The spins were tight, the shimmies fast and furious as they both got into their spicy Latin characters.

"That was hot-alicious," Mia said, adding that she loved Jayme Rae's costume. "You danced that like you lived in Cuba your whole life," Mia said. She also liked Everett's progression over the duration of the piece.

"Jayme Rae, you just killed that! The lifts were incredible," Dan said. He also loved the unison section. "From beginning to end, best performance of the night so far," Dan decreed.

Tré loved the lines of Jayme Rae's legs. "You're meant for a mambo!" she said. She was impressed that Everett stepped outside of himself. "Job well done," she said.

Jean Marc loved the musicality of the performance. "You're so good at ballroom," he told Jayme Rae and gave the pair a standing ovation.

Solo: Melanie

Before her solo, Melanie told audiences she started dancing when she was 5. Though her parents hope she eventually goes to medical school, she became emotional at the support her parents have given her over the course of the competition.

In a black skirt and sparkly black bra top, Melanie performed her contemporary routine complete with geometric hand movements and finished with a huge smile.

Jazz: Top 4 girls

Costumed in sparkly dresses in purple, orange, red and pink, Jayme Rae, Kim, Melanie and Tara-Jean took to the stage for Sean Cheesman's jazz number. Starting on chairs, the girls performed this jazzy, sensual piece that highlighted their technique and flexibility. In perfect unison, the girls wowed the audience.

"You four ladies, in the five years I've been a part of SYTYCD, are the best Top 4 girls," Mia gushed, adding that she feels privileged to be able to watch them.

"That had sex appeal, it had technique, it had sophistication," Dan said, adding: "I'd be shocked if one of you doesn't take home the trophy."

Tré was similarly impressed: "So unique, so on point, so together every time," she said.

"You four are the best of the SYTYCD nation," Jean Marc said, citing their incredible "energy, synergy and facility."

Krump: Tara-Jean Popowich, 20, Lethbridge, Alta., and Vincent Desjardins, 20, Trois-Rivières, Que.

In a departure from their rumba, Tara-Jean and Vincent took to the stage next with Lil "C"'s krump routine. "Everything's very internal in this piece," Lil "C" said.

Costumed in tough street clothes and black caps, the dancers got fierce and performed the aggressive movement with a lot of energy.

"Vincent, you actually did an astounding job with that," Mia said and encouraged him to allow his ugly side out. "Tara-Jean, you are ridiculous...Wow! Wow! Rough and tough...it was awesome," she said.

"You hit that much harder than most people do," Dan said next. He too wanted more from Vincent, but was impressed by his transformation from a ballroom dancer. Dan loved Tara-Jean's performance: "We could not possibly ask for anything more from you."

Tré loved the chest pumps that opened the piece. "You are a big explosion," she told Tara-Jean. "You murdered it," she told Vincent and suggested he loosen up the movements in his neck and torso.

"Krump is about using the rebound," Jean Marc noted about the genre. He was impressed by both dancers and called Tara-Jean "bucc-alicious."

Solo: Emanuel

Emanuel told audiences he started dancing when he was 2 years old, before he started skating. "What's really important to me is the audience," he said adding that he's proud of his evolution as a dancer.

"I thrive on challenge," he said before getting on stage for an emotional contemporary routine. "Pretty impressive on a sprained ankle," Leah said afterwards.

Smooth waltz: Kim Gingras, 24, Montreal, Que., and Cody Bonnell, 19, Unionville, Ont.

Kim and Cody picked the smooth waltz with choreographer Pierre Allaire. "I'm nervous," Kim said, saying it was one of the most challenging pieces she's learned yet. "We're going to be smoooooth," she and Cody joked before getting on stage.

In a flowing emerald green dress, Kim was partnered by an elegantly costumed Cody in a while collared shirt. The movement was smooth and lyrical as they floated over the stage. After a kiss on the cheek, they ended with their arms around each other on the edge of the stage.

Mia was not impressed with the performance, and said the routine exposed their lack of technical ballroom training. "I'm just telling you what I see and I'm really very honest," she added.

"It was sweet," Dan said next, adding that it didn't look as professional as their previous routine.

"I believed your mannerisms and presentation," Tré told Cody, though she wanted to see more ballroom technique from both dancers.

Jean Marc noted the performance was lacking dynamics, but added that he believes both dancers are strong. "Cody, I trust you to take a lady into a lift and out of a lift," he said and called Kim a "rock solid performer."

Disco: Melanie Mah, 19, Richmond Hill, Ont., and Emanuel Sandhu, 28, Vancouver, B.C.

"The challenge for my disco is usually the same thing and it's usually the speed, and this one is no exception," choreographer Melissa Williams said about the dance Melanie and Emanuel were about to perform.

The dancers started across the stage from each other and moved through the purple lighting. Emanuel was costumed in a royal blue one piece outfit and Melanie was in a purple sequined dress and matching headband. The footwork was fast, the lifts challenging.

"I love disco," Mia began. She was impressed by Emanuel as he's working through broken fingers and a sprained ankle. "There was a lot of personality," she said, calling Melanie "adorable."

Dan noted that going in and out of the lifts wasn't always the cleanest, but said, "When you were up there, it was golden!" He loved Emanuel's performance quality and called a beaming Melanie his favourite dancer on the show.

"Was it fun?" Tré asked "Yes! Loads of fun!" she said, adding that she wanted it to be more ferocious.

"Melanie Mah, you kill everything," Jean Marc said, adding that he enjoyed Emanuel's performance and loved the connection he had with Melanie.

Solo: Kim

Kim admitted to dancing as a kid, but was unable to take dance classes until she was 15. "I couldn't be blessed or more thankful for being here," she said, tearing up at her gratitude to her family for supporting her.

In vinyl tights and a red belt, she performed a hot hip-hop number in black stiletto boots "You sexy little thing," Leah said when she had finished.

Solo: Cody

Next up, Cody told audiences he started dancing when he was 10 because his mom said it would help with his hockey. "I just loved it," he said and traded in hockey for dance. He noted how supportive his friends are of his dancing and recalled the excitement he felt the first moment he was on the SYTYCDC stage.

In a t-shirt and acid wash jeans, he performed his lyrical hip-hop solo to cheering fans.

Jazz funk: Jayme Rae Dailey, 21, Montreal, Que., and Everett Smith, 25, Glen Morris, Ont.

Next up, Nico Archambault, Season 1's winner, had his choreographic debut on the SYTYCDC stage with co-choreographer Wynn Holmes. "We have a preppy boy who really likes the bad girl," Wynn explained about the duet between Jayme Rae and Everett.

Everett was costumed in thick glasses, plaid shirt and bow tie, where Jayme Rae was in ripped tights. It was tough choreography complete with intricate arm movements, tricks and lifts. Everett's character eventually lost his inhibitions and got fierce with Jayme Rae.

After the performance, the applause from the crowd was deafening.

"That was hot," Mia began. She loved the choreography and loved the performance. "You commit to it and you go for it," she told Everett.

"I loved every minute of it," Dan said, appreciating the entertainment quality of it. "You guys brought that to life. Really well done."

Tré especially loved the attention to detail. "You're so, so special," she said to Jayme Rae. "You are such a delight to watch."

Jean Marc loved the performance. "This young lady is simply a beast," he said to Jayme Rae. "You were the strongest couple of the night," he added.

Solo: Tara-Jean

"I started dancing when I was 3 in Lethbridge, Alberta," Tara-Jean told audiences. "To get this far, I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world," she said adding that she's a small town girl with big dreams.

She stepped out of her burgundy dress and in black underwear and a bra top, she performed an emotional solo with intricate hand gestures.

Solo: Vincent

Vincent said he was forced into dancing by his sister when he was 6, but soon fell in love with it. "I'm the only ballroom dancer here and I think it's a privilege," he said before stepping on stage.

Starting in a spotlight in a sleeveless collared shirt, Vincent performed a fast ballroom number to MC Hammer's 'U Can't Touch This.' The judges were dancing in their seats afterwards.

Leah chats injuries

As Jean Marc mentioned at the beginning of the show, Everett hurt his nose this week, but Emanuel was taken out of rehearsal to have his injured ankle looked at the hospital.

Fairness rules dictate that Melanie had to have a partner to rehearse with and some of her choreographers stepped up to the challenge.

Season 1's Nico Archambault learned the disco routine, and contemporary choreographer Sabrina Matthews asked Jonathan Renna, second soloist at the National Ballet of Canada, to partner Melanie. For the Top 4 guys routine, choreographer Gustavo Vargas stepped onto the stage.

Top 6 revealed on Wednesday's results night

The Top 8 will return to the SYTYCDC stage again on Wednesday with a theatre number created by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Tyce Diorio.

That same evening, the Top 8 will be narrowed down to 6 as the bottom four dancers will perform their solos and the two dancers with the fewest number of votes will be heading home.

 

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