Here is the official statement from Billy’s family from SYTYCDism:

Billy Bell, 19, has dropped out of the show due to an unspecified illness. In his place, 21-year-old Hip Hop dancer Brandon Dumlao will join the Top 20 and will compete Tuesday (Oct. 27) in the season’s first performance show.

Billy’s family would like to thank all of the fans that came out to show their support for Billy this season. It has been an amazing experience for all of us and has really meant a lot to Billy. We feel like Billy made it through all of the tough auditions and now that the fun was beginning, he has to leave the show. We were all very disappointed when we heard the news and Billy was devastated when his doctors told the show that if he continued to dance on the show before he recovered, he could possibly die. It will take several weeks for him to recover and as a result, he will be unable to return to Juilliard as of right now. We are hoping he will be able to return in the Spring. Billy is still quite ill but was released from the hospital today. He’s feeling better but still needs to rest.

As of right now, Billy is hoping to re-audition for Season 7. He really enjoyed working with the show and had a lot of fun. Although he is sad that he will not be a part of Season 6, he hopes that the producers will allow him to return for the next season. If you would like to wish Billy a speedy recovery, I’m sure he would appreciate it. You can do so by posting on the facebook fan page or his facebook.

Thank you so much for sharing your love and support with our family.
The Bell Family

Billy was replaced with 21-year-old Hip Hop dancer Brandon Dumlao. The pinoy dancer will join the Top 20 and will compete Tuesday, Oct. 27 (Wednesday in Manila), in the season’s first performance show.

“We are disappointed that Billy cannot continue dancing in the competition on the advice of his doctor and wish him a speedy recovery,” executive producer/judge Nigel Lythgoe said. “However, we are fortunate that Brandon Dumlao has agreed to return.”

So there’s not just one pinoy in So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 but two! Both Pauline Mata and Brandon Dumlao will start their quest tomorrow for the title “America’s Favorite Dancer.”

VIDEO LINK: Brandon Dumlao’s Dance Videos

She is Pauline Mata, 19 years old, from West Covina California. Pauline is a Jazz dance teacher at Dellos Dance Studio in Walnut, California. Aside from dancing, her interests include singing karaoke and eating.

After the selection of the Top 20 for SYTYCD season 6, Pauline is still amazingly overwhelmed. “It still hasn’t clicked. I auditioned last season, made it to Top 32 but got cut before Top 20. And I’m surprised to be here now, because I got injured the last day of Vegas. I was wearing heels, I did a jump, I landed wrong, sprained my ankle and couldn’t do the choreography. When they told me that I’d made the Top 20, I lost it on stage. I’m so lucky to be here,” she said.

Pauline’s friend, Alexie Agdeppa, who’s also a Filipina, almost made it in the Top 20. Both Alexie and Pauline breezed through the Vegas round but it was Pauline who made it in the Top 20.

In recent development, another Pinoy entered the Top 20. Meet him on my next post.

VIDEO LINK: So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 – Top 20 Revealed

Images courtesy of Fox.

Kayla Radomski is fourth placer:

Evan Kasprzak is third placer:

Brandon Bryant is second placer:

Jeanine Mason is this year’s America’s Favorite Dancer:

Jeanine is the second female contestant to win the title. The two-episode finale of So You Think You Can Dance were held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

The three couples who landed in the bottom three were:

* Karla and Vitolio
* Kayla and Kupono
* Jeanine and Phillip

Nigel Lythgoe said: “Karla you are without question a very very good dancer but somehow on this journey through So You Think You Can Dance, you haven’t quite captured the star quality that we felt you had at the beginning.”

Karla’s partner Vitolio was also eliminated. 6 couples remain vying for the title of America’s favorite dancer.

VIDEO LINK: Karla and Vitolio Eliminated on SYTYCD

Karla and Vitolio danced the Quickstep by the tune of “Puttin on the Ritz” by Rufus Wainwright. They were choreographed by Jean Marc and France.

The Quickstep was considered the “kiss of death” because it is perceived as the most difficult among ballroom dances. But Karla and Vitolio, both have been in the bottom 3 twice, stepped it up and just flew across the dance floor. The highlight of the dance was the quick change when Vitolio ripped Karla’s dress to reveal a new outfit.

Nigel Lythgoe said: “There was so many good things about that, loved the choreography, loved the quick change…sometimes the lines took away from the style, but overall it was really entertaining, you’re getting your personality out there.”

Mary Murphy said: “So much for the Kiss of Death dance, you brought it alive, Vitolio you kept in close hold…really well done…young lady, really beautiful out there, congratulations to both of you.”

Mia Michaels said: “This piece was amazing, he made you, you really did step up…I was surprised…Vitolio you confuse me….at times you’re all over the place…[but tonight] I’m so proud of you…You made out with it. Karla, you looked scared some of the time, you need to keep your face bright.”

VIDEO LINK: Karla and Vitolio – Quickstep

PLEASE SAVE KARLA! 1-888-836-7607

Karla and Jonathan were choreographed by Dave Scott to the tune of “By My Side” by Jada Kiss feat. Ne-Yo. Scott describes the piece as a love story, with a gangsta feel.

Karla, who has a hip hop background, was able to get the moves right but Jonathan was not hitting it hard as he admitted that he isn’t the gangsta type. The choreography itself wasn’t exciting and it’s pretty dull for a hip hop routine.

Nigel said: “It feels like it’s been ironed out…no excitement in the routine…no danger in it. It wasn’t good enough. For me instead of gangsta, it was like a Sunday School picnic outing…you’re too good to be in the bottom three, but unless you bring it you’ll gonna be.”

Mary said: “Things weren’t synchronized, the chemistry didn’t feel like it was really powerful. Last week was one of the most amazing routines and the way that you danced it, of the season and it will stay strong by the end of the weeks to come. So it is a little bit hard right now. I know you are desperate to nail it…Maybe it’s just a small setback tonight but hopefull you’ll get another chance to prove yourself.”

Toni says: “Street has to have a groove and a funk, and if you’re gangsta and you don’t have the groove, it’s just gonna feel store bought…you gotta have the funk, you gotta have the hard hit and you gotta be together.”

VIDEO LINKS:

Karla and Jonathan – Hip Hop

Melissa and Ade – Rumba

Our very own Karla Garcia with her partner Jonathan danced the contemporary on So You Think You Can Dance Top 18 performance night and they both killed it and left the judges spellbound.

Karla and Jonathan were choreographed by Stacey Tookey, a new addition to the SYTYCD USA family. Nigel said she was the best choreographer from SYTYCD Canada that’s why they brought her to the US.

Karla and Jonathan danced contemporary, Karla’s genre, to the tune of the Academy Award winning song “Falling Slowly” by The Frames. The piece is about two stranger that have an accidental meeting that have to deal with temptation.

Here’s what the judges said about their performance:

Mary: I have never said this in 5 seasons. Jonathan, you did that style better than your own. That is crazy, i mean, come on. Holy smoke! When we talk about growth on this show, this is only the second week. The two of you are the underdogs. Tonight, the light is just…whoa..whammed right on the two of you! That was amazing Oh my gosh…Karla how beautiful from the second you even started to move, the lines that you’ve made….Jonathan your feet, i mean, i’m just spellbound by the two of you!

Nigel: I couldn’t believe it because that center of gravity, Jonathan, that you had, it was almost like it was based on Tai Chi, there were no false moves. It was absolutely incredible how you both performed. Last week, you were both this close from being cut from the program. It was absolutely sensational!

Lil C: I thought you two danced it beautifully, i thought there was perfect balance there…i thought it was buck!

Even the host Cat Deeley said Karla and Jonathan’s was the first Deeley chills of the season.

VIDEO LINK: Karla and Jonathan – Contemporary – SYTYCD 5 Top 18

Big thanks to MJ’s Big Blog for the videos.

After their routine, Shankman said it was “Really good” and even self-beeped himself when describing how good they were. Mary gave them the biggest scream for this early in the season and Nigel said they had slipped under the radar but have burst onto the stage with dynamic chemistry.

Video Link: Karla and Jonathan – Cha Cha – SYTYCD

After Melody Lacayanga, another Filipina made it as finalist in season 5 of the top-rating reality competition in the US “So You Think You Can Dance” and she’s none other than Karla Garcia!

23-year-old Karla Garcia lives on Oxon Hill, MD but currently resides in Brooklyn New York. Her dance specialty is Jazz/Contemporary. She is a graduate of New York University. Her early dance experience included learning traditional Filipino folk dancing. Garcia performed on Broadway in “Hot Feet,” danced in the ensemble of the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” and went on to tour with “Wicked.” She is a member of “Boogie Bots Crew.”

Video Link: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH KARLA GARCIA

Courtesy of Fox. Photographed by Mike Ruiz.

Here is the official list:

1. Janette Manrara
2. Vitolio
3. Kayla Radomski
4. Kupono Aweau
5. Paris Torres
6. Jenine Mason
7. Karla Garcia
8. Ade Obayomi
9. Jonathan Matero
10. Brandon Bryant
11. Tony Bellissimo
12. Maksim Kapitannikov
13. Caitlin Kinney
14. Melissa Sandvig
15. Jason Glover
16. Ashley Valerio
17. Randi Evans
18. Philip Chbeeb
19. Evan Kasprzak
20. Asuka Kondoh

Video Link: Up Close and Personal with the Top 20 of SYTYCD5

SYTYCD All Stars: Travis Wall, Neil Haskell, Blake McGrath, Benji Schwimmer, Lacey Schwimmer, Dmitri, Hok, Ashlee, Dominic, Lauren and our very own Melody Lacayanga and Ryan Conferido. (etc.)

Where are They Now? Video

The Best of So You Think You Can Dance

Videos courtesy of krunkyou.

Joshua is a street dancer who wowed the judges during the Dallas auditions with his hip hop routine. And he impressed the judges even more when he nailed every routine being thrown at him week after week.

After “nearly 60 million votes,” according to host Kat Deeley, the 19-year-old Joshua from Texas edged out another untrained dancer, Twitch Boss, for the $100,000 prize, the title of “America’s favorite dancer” and a part in the upcoming film, “Step It Up 3-D.”

20-year-old Courtney Galiano finished third. And for the first time, a cash prize of $50,000 was given to the last remaining female dancer, Katee Shean. The under-rated dancer who has proven she’s a shoo-in for the title finished 3rd.

Video Links:

Katee and Twitch – Contemporary

Courtney and Mark – Contemporary

Joshua and Katee – Hip Hop

Katee and Will – Cirque de Soleil (The judges’ favorite routine of the season)

Chelsea and Mark – Hip Hop (This is my favorite routine of the season)

Top 4 – So You Think You Can Dance

Mary Murphy and Dmitri Special Number