Melinda Sullivan became the third finalist eliminated from So Yo Think You Can Dance's seventh season during last night's live broadcast of the Fox reality competition series.
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The 22-year-old tap dancer from Thousand Oaks, 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.
"I think I'm most thankful to share my gifts that I've been given and to share my music with beautiful, beautiful artists," said Sullivan after her elimination was revealed.
"I'm excited to honor my family, my mentors and tap dance. So thank you for having me."
Sullivan and all-star partner Pasha Kovalev performed a salsa routine choreographed by Fabian Sanchez during Wednesday night's broadcast.
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While the judges thought she looked great and committed herself to the performance, it was otherwise largely panned.
"I have a small problem in the fact that I don't feel the fluidity of your movement. We've spoken about fluidity this evening. It feels like you're doing step into a step into a step -- there's a breakdown somewhere of the movement," had said Nigel Lythgoe.
"Consequently, the musicality of it didn't sit comfortably."
Mia Michaels said it was like Sullivan was dancing with bricks on her legs and was then thrown into a pool and simply trying to survive.
"Everyone's going to hate me for this, I feel like we made a mistake last week by letting [Cristina Santana] go," added Michaels, and fellow judge Adam Shankman agreed.
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In addition to Sullivan, Robert Roldan, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Thousand Oaks, CA who currently resides in North Hollywood, CA, and Billy Bell, a 20-year-old contemporary dancer from Palm Beach, FL who currently resides in New York, NY, were also revealed to be in the bottom three during last night's broadcast.
Both Roldan and Bell were revealed to be in the bottom three at the same time.
"They're not connecting, that's the first problem," said Michaels.
"Billy, we talked about it [Wednesday] night. There's just this disconnect. You're so brilliant, you're probably so sick of people telling you how brilliant you are. I think that could possibly be the problem, because it's stopping you from completely being open to growth and to being vulnerable and to making mistakes. The only way to be better is by making mistakes, and you're staying as Billy. We need you to take risks. With Robert, I think you have a great personality, but I think when you hit the stage... I think you have to figure that out. Both of you need to relentlessly figure it out and make that shift."
It was the third consecutive week that Sullivan found herself among the bottom three, while it was the second straight week for Roldan.
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"We are unanimous this week," said Lythgoe at the conclusion of last night's broadcast.
"Billy and Robert, you've heard a lot tonight and I think Mia hit the nail on the head -- you've really got to figure out for yourselves what it is sometimes we can't tell you. So I'd like you both to go and sit down for this evening."
Lythgoe then addressed Sullivan.
"I adore you, we all do, that's why you're here on this program," he said.
"You, without question, dance to the beat of your own drum. This evening, it was a real pleasure to listen to you tap a cappella -- it really was great for me to hear that. I don't think you will ever have a problem working... I'm absolutely positive of that. But this evening, I'm sorry to say, it's your last evening with us in the competition."
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So You Think You Can Dance's next seventh-season episode will air on Wednesday, July 7 at 8PM ET/PT, with the Top 8 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