So You Think You Can Dance Canada: Your finalists are ... (spoiler alert)

(Results start coming in on So You Think You Can Dance Canada on Tuesday in a CTV photo.)

Way to keep us on our toes, So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

Leah Miller started Tuesday's results show by saying that "the journey ends for two more guys and two more girls."

No surprise, I thought, since we knew the final performance show would air next Monday and they needed to get down from top eight to the final four.

All eight danced solos, even though they didn't count for anything since the votes were already in (and Leah confirmed that it was votes determining who went, not the judges). Then one by one, the dancers got either the good or bad news: a spot in the finale or elimination.

Denitsa Ikonomova was the first girl to leave. Then Christian Millette learned he was in the finale, so excited he was rolling on the stage and then wiping tears from his eyes. Jordan Clark was the next to get good news. Then it was bad news for Adam LoPapa. Then Matt Marr got a spot in the finale, followed by Lindsay Leuschner, and only Shane Simpson and Melissa Mitro were left onstage.

"I'm sorry, guys, I'm so sorry," Leah told them.

I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that front-runner Melissa had not made the top four when judge Jean-Marc Genereux said, "We love you and guess what? In Season 4 we gonna have a top six!"

Melissa and Shane fell to the stage clutching each other and the other dancers piled on top of them. It was a touching and exhilarating moment (see the photo at the bottom of the post).

My only question is whether Melissa and Shane were the bottom vote getters out of the top six or whether the finalists were announced in no particular order. 

I'll tell you one thing, it's going to be a really interesting last performance show and finale.

Last week, I would have said it was between Melissa and Jordan for the Season 4 championship, and it still may be, but I can't count Lindsay out. She had a fantastic night on Monday's show and delivered another gorgeous solo on Tuesday.

And then again, Matt has never, ever been in bottom three, so who's to say he doesn't sneak past those three amazing young women and scoop the title? On the other hand, Christian's long been my favourite male dancer and he's been strong all season long. Shane, meanwhile, has been a judges' favourite and has recently displayed a confidence to match his great technique.

You see what I mean? It's a tough call.

All I know is I'm going to have a fabulous time watching these six dance at Saturday's taping.

There was a more jubilant tone than I would have expected during Tuesday's show, likely because all the dancers were so proud and happy just to be in top eight.

Jean-Marc called them "real athletes, warriors and true artists," and thanked them for representing Canada.

"Each and every one of you on that stage has treated us to some amazing, amazing dancing this season. I just want to say Canada rocks," said guest judge Mary Murphy, ending with prolonged screaming (poor Blake McGrath's ears).

Blake said all of the top eight would have bright, bright futures no matter what happened with the results and Tre Armstrong called them "the most fantastic top eight ever to grace our stage."

Both Denitsa and Adam focused on their fellow dancers in their farewell remarks.

"Thank you so much, you guys," Denitsa told them. "Honestly, it's been such a pleasure ... you have become my family. All the top 22 dancers have become my family and all the judges, thank you so much for the opportunity. It's been such a pleasure for a ballroom girl to make the top eight. I can't even express how happy I am and how proud I am."

Said Adam, "It's meant the world to me being here with all these great dancers. The time that I had to spend with them, they've all become my really close family and I just want to say, guys, I'm proud of you."

I'd say they all have something to be proud of. 

And there's more to come. You can catch the final performance show Monday at 8 p.m. on CTV (it's a 90-minute show), then catch the recap here and my videos with the top six dancers. 

And I'd love your feedback. Were you surprised to see a top six? Did you think Adam would get a spot in the finale (I thought there was a chance)? Who do you think will win?

Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter here. And I now have a Facebook page. And here's that great photo I was telling you about.

(Host Leah Miller reacts as the top six dancers huddle at the end of Tuesday's results show in a CTV photo.)

Comments

[Jak]

I'm happy with a top 6 in the finale. If Shane and Melissa really got the fewest votes, how could the judges not put them through. It would have been crazy for them not to be in the finale. I did think Adam had a shot and I would have put him in the top 6. Very classy guy as well. Both he and Denitsa left so graciously. Matt clearly has a big fan base voting for him. I've been surprised that he keeps going through, but on the other hand he has something very engaging - charisma, charm whatever it is, people like him.

[tnosnibor]

Wow! That is a great photograph! Look at Lindsay and Melissa, especially. They look so happy! (And I love Leah's dress - so pretty.)
I was so shocked when I thought that Melissa wasn't in the finale. When Leah announced that Jordan was in, I thought for sure that Lindsay was out. I should probably rewatch the last few minutes of the show because I don't think I could comprehend what I was taking in once it was said that there'd be a top 6. I didn't think I'd be happy with a top 6 (I wasn't a big fan of the top 6 finale show in season 6 of the US show), but last night, I was happy when they said top 6.
I did think that Adam would get a spot in the finale if there was a top 6. I thought Shane would be the one not to make the finale. I was positive that Matt would make it through and fairly certain that Christian would, too. I like Adam a lot, so I'm a bit disappointed that he didn't.
No idea who will win, and for the first time, I don't really have an opinion. I like all of these dancers, especially the girls.

[Siobhan]

My big fear is that the national vote will split 6 ways, which will allow the regional Matt vote to propel him to the top, which would be really unfortunate. He's by far the weakest of all the dancers left. It won't even be Canada's favourite dancer, it will be New Brunswick's favourite dancer...

[Debra Yeo]

Siobhan, I can't disagree with you when it comes to Matt's technical ability, although I think he's a very good dancer. But like Jak says, he's got something else going on: a charm, a charisma, a passion that is appealing to people.
I'm with tnosnibor, I like all of them. I still would say Christian is my favourite guy, but I can't pick a favourite out of the girls. And I won't be upset if any of these six win.
And Adam and Denitsa, very gracious. I had a fun time talking to them Wednesday morning. I just have to find some free time to transcribe my tape and get the interview posted.
Oh and I love that photo, tnosnibor. So much joy on their faces. I am really excited about seeing the six of them on Saturday night.

[V.]

just for the heck of it I decided I was going to run that math.

There are 4 contestants from ontario left in the game. Shane, Melissa, Jordan, Lyndsay
there is one contestant from Quebec
Christian
and then there's Matt from NB.

So lets pretend that everyone is voting. that means
13 210 667 people voting in Ontario alone.

Let's say all the maritimes are voting Matt so that's NB, NS, PEI and let's throw in NL in there to for fun that makes 2.346.266 people voting.

so that means even if the vote is split 4 ways between the people in Ontario that's still 3.302 666 a whole million more people then Matt could generate with only the region vote.

With that said. that would also mean that Christian with 7 909 375 people voting from Quebec would win the competition.

So can we stop picking on Matt please :-(

[tnosnibor]

Well said, V. Too add to your comment, even if he does win, who's to say that it's because all of the Martimes + NL is voting for him? (By the way, well done on not including NL as a province in the Maritimes - most incorrectly include it as a Maritime province.) And if he wins, and it's because he got the Maritime + NL vote, is that really such a big deal?

[Debra Yeo]

V, I'm glad you did that instead of me. Numbers aren't my strong suit. :)

[kevin]

Hi Debra... It's Kevin again from the Atlantic, just want to say that we were at the show on Saturday Night and we give tons of praise to all of the 6 dancers for not only the dancing they did but the excitement and enthusiam that they give to each other.... We had the opportunity to meet each of them and top class folks all the way, they have all become a mini family as one unit....Each of those dancers give support and praise to each other and the folks that put negative comments are the ones who don't get it (just saying)...Each of them are Champions overall, the folks that was in the studio of course had their favourite dancer and of course voted like mad on Monday Night for them however each person there gave support to ALL the Dancers (they do get it)...

Just to finish it off last yesterday 1 hour before the show here in Matt's hometown we had a major power outage over 20,000 people had no power, could not see the performances last night and also lots had no phones to call..... So if Matt Wins and I HOPE HE DOES maybe then people may realize that he has fans all over Canada and the Atlantic is so proud of him....

[Debra Yeo]

Kevin, glad you got to see the show in person. It was a great night to be there, the energy level was so high. I agree with you 100 per cent on the dancers. I am always struck by how great they are when I get a chance to talk to them, so devoted to their craft, so humble and so supportive of each other. Sorry about the power failure. I think Matt still has a lot of fans beyond the East Coast.