'So You Think You Can Dance' cuts two more finalists, reveals Top 8

Jamie Goodwin and Kameron Bink were sent packing during last night's live results show of So You Think You Can Dance's third season, becoming the sixth male and female finalists to be eliminated from the Fox reality competition series.


With "more than six-and-a-half million" votes cast following Wednesday night's performance episode, Jamie and Kameron's elimination was the first to be strictly based on home viewer votes.  In addition, Wednesday night's performance episode also saw the Top 10 finalists paired into new couples.  Each finalist also performed the same solo routine, a contemporary number choreographed by Wade Robson.

Jamie, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Virginia Beach, and Kameron, a 20-year-old contemporary/hip-hop dancer from Coral Springs, FL, were two of the Top 10 finalists to receive the lowest number of viewer votes.  They were joined by Lauren Gottlieb, an 18-year-old contemporary/jazz dancer who currently lives in Sherman Oaks, CA, and Dominic Sandoval, a 21-year-old B-boy/hip-hop dancer from Roseville, CA, as member of the bottom four.

Jamie and her new partner Dominic performed the Viennese Waltz on Wednesday night.  So You Think You Can Dance guest judge and choreographer Mia Michaels commented that Jamie's "lines were beautiful" but warned her to be "careful" with her mouth because she "opens it a lot" when dancing. 

For her solo routine, permanent So You Think You Can Dance judge and the show's executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said he was concerned Jamie was expressing only a "single emotion," while fellow permanent judge Mary Murphy thought Goodwin was "soft" when she needed to be and "very strong" when she needed to be.


"I felt your expression in this dance and I loved it," said Mary, a sentiment home viewers apparently didn't agree with.

"This has been a dream... an absolute dream," said Jamie when her elimination was revealed.  "Ever since I watched the show last year and saw the tour, I was really inspired to do this.  So thank you for the opportunity."

Kameron and his new partner Sabra Johnson, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Roy, UT, performed a contemporary routine on Wednesday night. Mia said while Kameron is a "beautiful man" and "strong," she sensed something was holding him back. Nigel said he "didn't quite believe the emotional journey" Kameron was on during the routine.  However Nigel was singing a different tune following Kameron's solo routine.

"I take everything back," he said.  "I think you were really terrific in this and you danced it really well."

However home viewers apparently didn't agree.  When host Cat Deeley asked Mia what she thought of Kameron being a member of the bottom four, the best Mia could muster was "shocked."


"Just having the opportunity to work with all the dancers sitting over there and all the choreographers... Just to be around everybody that's so talented and passionate is really inspiring," said Kameron when his elimination was revealed.  "I really want to thank you guys for this opportunity."

Prior to revealing the finalists who received the lowest number of viewer votes, Nigel and Mia both had to address some controversy that had arisen following Wednesday night's performance episode.

"Apparently I wore a jacket that offended the U.S. Marines very severely," began Mia.  "I had no idea.  It was done for fashion, and I had no idea the emblem that was on my arm was upside down and it was very offensive to the U.S. Marines and what they stand for and what they've worked for.  I publicly apologize for that because I had no intention of offending anybody."

Next Nigel had to defend Wade's contemporary routine that served as the solo number for all of the Top 10 finalists on Wednesday night.  The routine was set to John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change," and each of the finalists wore white shirts with a peace emblem drawn on the front and various words written on the back, such as "unity, communication and trust."

"Wade did an anti-war routine," said Nigel.  "And I don't certainly want to fuel the flames or get myself into trouble with any of this -- at a time that is difficult with both our countries (America and Britain) still at war... Even though it may be argued that some wars are necessary, I don't know anybody who's pro-war.  Who wants a war?  So to say you're anti-war doesn't necessarily mean to say you are not patriotic and you're not supporting the troops in really difficult situations."


Nigel said Wade never had any intentions of "upsetting anybody" and he apologized for both the show and the choreographer.

So You Think You Can Dance 3's Top 8 finalists are:  Dominic; Lauren; Sabra; Danny Tidwell, a 23-year-old contemporary/Jazz dancer from New York, NY; Neil Haskell, a 20-year-old contemporary jazz dancer from Clarence Center, NY; Lacey Schwimmer, an 18-year-old swing and international Latin dancer from Redlands, CA; Sara Von Gillern, a 23-year-old hip-hop/B-girl dancer from Ft. Collins, CO; and Pasha Kovalev, a 27-year-old Latin ballroom dancer from Fort Lee, NJ.

Next Wednesday, August 1 at 8PM ET/PT, the Top 8 finalists will all be performing new couple and solo routines during the 90-minute broadcast.  Then on Thursday, August 2 at 9PM ET, one male and one female finalist will be eliminated from the competition during the live one-hour results show, which will reveal the Top 6.






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio