We were down to the Top 12, and finally I felt like we started to see some real competition-level dancing (especially in the first half of the night; things went downhill from there). Each couple danced two numbers in hopes of making it into the Top 10. So it was the last week for the couples being voted for as a pair; it's an individual competition from here on out, with new couples drawn each week. Good. Let's get this moving.

First up were Ryan and Ellenore, doing a Lindy hop choreographed by new choreographer Carla Heiney. Too bad they couldn't get S2 winner Benji back in this; he did a swing number or two in seasons past. It was set to "I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter" by the Boilermaker Jazz Band. Carla promised something high-energy, and it was, but I don't know if the mid-tempo song was a good choice. Lots of tricks, lots of kicks, that's for sure. It's interesting; Ryan is built like the Hulk, but his lifts seemed a little strained to me. However, whatever flaws they had were totally erased by the last 30 seconds of the number, which were hugely fun, packed with great moves, and brilliantly executed. Shankman explained the Ryan issue: he injured his back this week, and that must have been what I was seeing on his face. Anyway, Adam loved it. Mary was equally complimentary, and both she and Nigel were both happy to see the style back on the show after like three seasons. Yeah, that's kind of nuts. It's such a spirited style, and clearly very challenging to the dancers. It should be on all the time.

Legacy and Kathryn pulled jazz with Sonya Tayeh, who created a piece about a guy who can't control himself whenever he sees his lady. Set to "So Deep" by Hot Chip. Legacy started out doing this crazy fast crab walk across the floor using only his hands. He was shirtless again, which certainly got us off to a good start. Kathryn looked hot too in a tight red leather swimsuit-like number. It was a fun, sexy routine, and it allowed both of them to show off their strengths: Kathryn her flexibility, extension, and grace; Legacy his crazy b-boy moves, insane rhythm, and strong physicality. It was a sexy, fun number, and I loved the whole thing. I dismissed these two early in the competition, but they have probably become my favorite pair. They kill everything thrown at them. I do think Kathryn is routinely overshadowed by Legacy, so I'm curious to see what happens to her when they get split up next week.

New couple Karen and Victor pulled a tango by Tony Meredith & Melanie. So Karen got awfully lucky, since this is in her wheelhouse, and she needed it since she very much should have gone home last week after that embarrassing solo. I worried about Victor, because while I think he's a very good dancer, I don't think he's a very masculine dancer, and the tango requires that. But he acquitted himself nicely. It was a sultry number, and Victor dominated her, and was believably, well, straight. Karen looked gorgeous, and danced the shit out of it. The best tango we've seen on this show in a while. Adam praised Victor's strength and poise, and enjoyed the chemistry between the two of them. Mary was impressed with the difficulty level of the routine, and the way that the dancers lived up to it. Mary put Karen on the Hot Tamale Train, but didn't put Victor on it. Um, why? Victor is fucking hot. Nigel pointed out that Victor sticks his ass out too much. Dear Nigel: Victor knows all of his assets, and he knows how to use them.

Nathan and Mollee got hip-hop with Jamal Sims, who created a routine based around the day that Alexander Graham Bell created the telephone, with Nathan as Bell, and Mollee as his assistant. O...K...? Set to "Ring-A-Ling" by Black Eyed Peas. Apparently Alexander Graham Bell did not invent the comb, because Nathan's hair was a mess. I thought the first 30 seconds were terrible; I had no idea what was happening, and I don't think the dancers did either. Nathan hit it plenty hard, as he should, since he's a hip-hopper (in part). Mollee seemed like she was trying to catch up most of the time, and was way too soft. I really don't think she's all that good, you guys. She did some gymnastic tricks toward the end, but I think she's survived on "charm" alone. Adam said that Mollee hurt her ankle again - when is this girl not injured? He also said that she was soft in parts, but Nathan was clearly enjoying himself. Sure. Mary agreed that the beginning was weak, but it got better, and noted several bobbles. She said it was "mostly synchronized." We're nearly Top 10; "mostly synchronized" is simply not good enough. Nigel said that he was looking forward to them getting split up and dancing with more mature partners, because this was juvenile hip-hop 101.

Noelle & Russell got a samba by Tony & Melanie, which was outside of the elements for both of them. Set to "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira. Noelle was too pageant-faced for me. Samba is dirty. She was essentially wearing dental floss and tinsel; it's not about smile, it's about smolder. I thought Rusell outdanced her, and he impressed me again with how well he synched up with the style. The piece got better as it went along, but it was probably the weakest dance of the night at that point. Adam immediately went into the fact that their attitude was way too nicey-nicey for such a nasty party dance. Mary said they just didn't get deep enough into the dance and the moves, but she liked the amount of energy they put into it. But she was disappointed. Nigel also felt that the routine was clinical rather than VD clinic (that last part was me). Nigel suggested that they might be in trouble based on that routine alone.

Jakob and Ahsleigh got a lyrical jazz piece by Sonya Tayeh, which Ashleigh described as the toughest challenge she has had yet, because she had to let herself go. The music was "Time Flies" by Lykke Li. Jakob's extension is just crazy. Also crazy: his costume. Terrible. I felt like Jakob was dancing around Ashleigh for the first half of it; that happens a lot for me, it seems like she's given very little to do while he carries the routine week after week. But she started showing up halfway through, doing some impressive strength and balance maneuvers. Still, Jakob literally spun around her at points, while she just...walked across the stage. The piece was elegant and intimate, and I liked it as a whole, but I am very concerned about Ashleigh next week. Adam isn't, though; he pointed out that she's grown so much, and that her quality of movement betrayed nothing of a stereotypical ballroom dancer. As for Jakob, Adam instructed him to never wear those pants again. Amen. Mary almost started crying when she talked about the couple breaking up. Nigel said that his favorite routine of the night was no longer Sonya's first jazz routine, it was Sonya's second jazz routine.

Second numbers: Ellenore & Ryan got Broadway by Spencer, who did a piece about the dark side of fame, with Ryan acting as the dangerous svengali and Ellenore as the naïve ingénue. Set to "Razzle Dazzle" from "Chicago." Ryan really gets into playing these dark characters, and he acted the piece well. I did not appreciate the overly literal sequins sprinkled over Ellenore's face timed to the "sequins in your eyes" line. Ellenore did a good job portraying a vacant doll (Spencer seemed to be borrowing quite a bit from another "Chicago" number, "We Both Reached for the Gun"). It was very well danced, with some great synchronized moves. Adam thought Ryan was great, but Ellenore was a rock star, giving her high praise for her extension and technique. Mary called Ellenore "the it girl," because she's so unique. I actually find her a female version of Mark from S4, but I liked him, and I still like her.

Legacy and Kathryn got a Viennese waltz by Jean-Marc and France. The concept was that Legacy was a dancer who has never had the chance to show off his stuff, and Kathryn was the guardian angel who supports him. Set to "Your Guardian Angel" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Kathryn looked breathtaking and dominated the routine for me. She definitely led the dance, which I found to be a nice change of pace - how often have the women on this show led a waltz? It was a decidedly modern take on the waltz, but it still had enough rise and fall that I didn't feel robbed. Legacy held his own, and did several strong lifts, but Kathryn was really a revelation to me. Legacy ended the piece crying, and while I found his shtick contrived in Vegas, I think he's honestly just a big softie, and I kind of love him. I'm sorry. And Nigel yelled, "How can we be mean to you after that? That was very smart." HA! Exactly. Adam and Mary critiqued the footwork, especially Legacy. I suppose that's true; I was just too distracted by how lovely and floating the whole thing was. All the judges told Kathryn how gorgeous she was, but they seemed to forget how fucking awesome she danced that, and that's too bad.

Karen and Victor got a hip-hop number by annoying bitch Lauriann Gibson, who apparently decided to leave her harpy at home and instead trotted out useless self-help mantras. Blech. She said the piece was about "moving mountains," and wouldn't you know it? It was set to "Moving Mountains" by Usher. She is fast eclipsing Tyce DiOrio on my hack-o-meter. Victor did not hit that routine hard enough at all. There was nothing "street" in his performance. Although I don't know if that was his fault, or the choreography, honestly. There was lots of scampering and over-emotive pushing movements. At two points in the song Victor carried Karen. There were several slides. It frankly looked like incredibly simple movements. I mean, I couldn't do it, but I'm not a wannabe professional dancer. Adam was wishy-washy in his comments, but said they danced it "great." No. They weren't even together in parts. Mary hit the nail on the head by calling it "OK," and that there was nothing memorable. I put that 100 percent on Gibson, because it was a middling routine at best, and they didn't even dance it to its best. Nigel said he didn't feel any chemistry between them, between them and the music, or between them and the style. Yep.

For their second number, Mollee and Nathan got a "SYTYCD" first: a can-can, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. For once this season Mollee was believably sexy, not cute. That's probably because this dance is about teasing and flirting rather than being overtly sultry. The high-kick portion was out of control, and I thought Mollee actually did a really good job in the beginning. Then Nathan started in on his crazy pirouettes, and Mollee seemed to lose the plot. Then they launched into simultaneously flying kicks, which were great, and then Mollee attempted pointe work and pretty much failed at it. I'm sure the ankle will be used as the excuse, but it looked awkward no matter what. It was a fun routine, and this couple was well suited to it, but it was terribly start-and-stop, lacking continuous flow. Nigel said that they had the energy the routine required, and were able to execute all the moves. I would quibble with the energy comment, since I felt like they petered out mid-way through.

Noelle and Russell got contemporary from Tyce DiOrio, who did a number in which the two of them painted their partnership upon one another, set to "A Case of You" by Diana Krall. Noelle started out shaky in a one-armed handstand. I didn't really get the story Tyce was supposedly telling, but it sure was a strong piece. He's good at these sexy, angry contemporary pieces. Russell did some very strong partnering work. There was an actual paint palette in the middle of the stage that the two of them smeared on themselves at a couple points; that was silly and useless. I believe Russell stumbled at one point, which saddened me. Adam said the two of them were gorgeous, which was true, and singled out their lovely aerial moves. Mary pointed out how nicely the piece rolled and folded from one movement to the next. Nigel was glad that they got a strong second number after a weak first one - it was kind of the opposite of poor Victor and Karen.

Ashleigh and Jakob closed the show with a cha-cha by Jean-Marc and France. Set to "Cha Cha Heels" by Rosabel. Jakob was not believable in the masculine role. Ashleigh, in her own style, commanded the stage. But the whole thing lacked heat. It felt like they were playing, instead of really dancing the style. Some great tricks, Ashleigh looked smoking hot. But it was ultimately disappointing. It's interesting that all the judges fell all over how incredible Ashleigh was, but we have seen much stronger cha-chas on this show (Chelsie Hightower, Lacey Schwimmer, Kayla from last season just off the top of my head). She was good, but she wasn't anywhere near as strong as I expected to be in her style. And nobody brought up the fact that Jakob was essentially voguing across the stage.

In trouble: Victor and Karen almost certainly. If we're going strictly by dancing, I would also put Mollee and Nathan in there (mostly for their first number) and probably Noelle and Russell. I liked the second routine, but it had problems, and I thought the first routine was completely off, attitude-wise. And of those six, Victor and Noelle are the most disposable at this point.