‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Breaking up the band(s)

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Last night marked the final time that the top 10 couples on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ would perform together before being randomly paired off for the rest of the show. How will the dancers fare after they’re split up from their original partners? Some predictions:

Sabra Johnson and Dominic Sandoval: These two will be interesting to watch once they’re broken up, because they seem to be matched in physicality and spice, turning out equally cute and energetic performances week after week. Sabra seems like she would have more to lose from the breakup because Dominic appears to tease some bonus personality out of her. It’s not hard to imagine Dominic continuing to thrive with the other women on the show, although his impishness would be an interesting contrast to Anya Garnis’ sophistication or Sara VonGillern’s toughness.

Jaimie Goodwin and Hok Konishi: Despite Jaimie’s claims of having a crush on Hok, this couple appear to have the least amount of chemistry. Hok at times appears to be out-and-out annoyed by Jaimie’s personality, and although the two have their own skills as dancers, last night’s uninspiring ‘Mr. Bojangles’ routine showed they don’t necessarily raise each other up technique-wise. It would be interesting to see Hok paired with Anya, one of the other international dancers on the show, or Sara for some co-ed breaking.

Sara VonGillern and Pasha Kovalev: They’re a very attractive pair, and in their short time together have shown off some sexy, fun routines. Any girl on the show would be lucky to dance with Pasha, who, with his ballroom background, is a natural partner. Sara brings attitude and professionalism to the stage without trying to convince the audience that she’s a ‘fun girl!’ She and Kameron Bink or Neil Haskell seem like they’d work well together. But how would she match up to Danny Tidwell’s regality or Dominic’s hyper persona?

Lauren Gottlieb and Neil Haskell: They’ve been a cool couple to watch thus far, especially nailing their routines the last two weeks, but they both seem to have the chops and personality to survive when paired with anyone else in the competition. They appear to have plenty of chemistry but don’t necessarily need each other to demonstrate their own particular strengths.

Lacey Schwimmer and Kameron Bink: These two almost seem to rely too heavily on their chemistry, coming across at times like a brother/sister combination, only without the dead-on technique that Lacey would demonstrate with her actual brother, last year’s winner Benji Schwimmer. Kameron seemed to suffer the most from the critique of the judges last night, so it will be interesting to see how he’ll survive with another partner, especially one who might have a more subdued personality than Lacey.

Which couples will remain to be shuffled together seems to be up in the air -- over the last few weeks many of the more obviously weaker competitors were eliminated. America and the judges will need to start voting with their hearts and guts as equally as with their brains.

-- Claire Zulkey