'So You Think You Can Dance' cuts its first four ninth-season finalists

So You Think You Can Dance eliminated its first four finalists and determined the ninth season's Top 16 contestants during Wednesday night's live show on Fox.


Alexa Anderson, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Chandler, AZ; Daniel Baker, a 24-year-old ballet dancer from Newcastle, Australia; Nick Bloxsom-Carter, a 20-year-old ballroom dancer from Oak Park, CA; and Janaya French, a 20-year-old lyrical contemporary dancer from Aurora, CA, were eliminated by So You Think You Can Dance judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy and guest judge Adam Shankman after they found themselves in the week's bottom-six dancers based on home viewer votes cast immediately following last Wednesday night's show, which featured the season's Top 20 finalists performing.

"It was amazing. I've made so many amazing memories and I've made so many good friends," Alexa said following her ouster.

"I just want to say thank you. It was an amazing experience and I'll never forget anybody who was a part of it, so thank you," added Janaya after the elimination results were announced.

Witney Carson, an 18-year-old Latin ballroom dancer from American Fork, UT, and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, a 23-year-old ballet dancer from Zurich, Switzerland, were the other two bottom-six vote-getting dancers still in danger of elimination during Wednesday night's broadcast, but they were saved by the So You Think You Can Dance judges.


The judges were required to eliminate four individuals -- two males and two females -- last night based on their performances from the week prior but also their new routines performed Wednesday night. The judges also based their decision on other criteria including what the dancers' choreographers had to say about their talent, progress and potential in the competition.

Witney and Chehon were paired together, while Alexa and Daniel were also a couple. Nick's partner was Amber Jackson, and Janaya danced with Brandon Mitchell.

So You Think You Can Dance's third ninth-season performance show, which will also feature another round of elimination results, will air on Wednesday, July 25 at 8PM ET/PT and the 16 remaining finalists will dance again for home viewer votes.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski