'So You Think You Can Dance' cuts Alexie Agdeppa, reveals Top 10

Alexie Agdeppa became the first finalist eliminated from So Yo Think You Can Dance's seventh season during last night's live broadcast of the Fox reality competition series.


The 26-year-old jazz dancer from Rowland Heights, CA who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA was ousted from the competition by So You Think You Can Dance's judging panel after finding herself among the bottom three finalists based on home viewer votes cast immediately following Wednesday night's live performance episode broadcast.

"This is what I dream of at night," said Agdeppa in a video package that followed her elimination. "This experience has changed my life. I've gotten to live a dream."

Agdeppa and all-star partner Stephen "Twitch" Boss performed a hip-hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo during Wednesday night's broadcast, and all of the judges agreed it was too cute and not hard-hitting enough.

"You're such a cute little dancer. You're so sweet. I think you've got to be careful in this style, that it isn't too cutesy because with Tabitha and Napoleon's choreography, there is always a resistance there that you seem to go through," had commented Nigel Lythgoe.


"You watch Twitch, he hits it and the resistance comes in against it, and then he gets to the point. You're just getting straight there. So be careful with this style that it does flow but every now and again it just stops and hits that air bender."

Mia Michaels also said that Agdeppa danced like a "young, adorable girl."

"There was no hip-hop groove. There was no swag," she added. "There was no coolness to it. It felt just like cute."

Adam Shankman thought Agdeppa was able to use "charisma" to her benefit during the routine.

"When you see Tabitha dance, she dances with all of the sensuality of a woman and all the power of a guy. That's what you've got to do. You've got to dig into the floor, you've got to hit your stops. You've got to challenge your guy," he said.


In addition to Agdeppa, Melinda Sullivan, a 22-year-old tap dancer from Thousand Oaks, CA who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, and Cristina Santana, a 24-year-old salsa dancer from San Diego, CA, were also revealed to be in the bottom three during last night's broadcast.

"I feel like you have worked so hard to be on the show and with that performance [Wednesday] night, it didn't show that you worked so hard," commented Michaels after Agdeppa was revealed to be in the bottom three.

"You let it slide. You didn't put what we know Alexie to be. It felt very held back. I just feel like this show is all about growth, stepping into your potential, and now it's town to download."

The three dancers then performed solo routines in their individual styles before the judges revealed their decision, which Lythgoe said was "unanimous."

"Alexie, you were very contained in your movement tonight. You're only a small dancer, but you really must learn to dance to the extent of your movement," he added.


"You are somewhat juvenile in your dance style. Please be careful because you are the oldest of our girls at 26. So therefore you must find this maturity. I'm sorry to say that you are the first one leaving us on the show."

So You Think You Can Dance's next seventh-season episode will air on Wednesday, June 23 at 8PM ET/PT, with the Top 10 finalists performing for home viewers votes.

Then on Thursday at 9PM ET/PT, the bottom three dancers based on home viewer votes will be revealed before the judges eliminate one more from the competition.






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio