04E12 - The Top 14 Perform

Host Cat Deeley promised at the outset that the final 14 dancers will face some changes and the competition would get more difficult for the final seven couples. She soon explained that each of the couples would have to dance twice for the first time this season.Hip hop choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo served as guest judges, joining regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Jessica & Will: Jessica and Will provided the first dance of the night, which was the jive. It came complete with an impressive flip that left the crowd in awe, but the judges pointed out some technical flaws. Mary said there were a lot of missed connections and Nigel harped on Jessica a bit, saying that she was a little lazy with some of her movements. For their second dance, the couple got a jazz routine that included using a shirt as a prop. Tabitha made some remarks about loving watching Will dance without a shirt on, but said she also enjoyed the dancing. Napoleon said he felt like Jessica was holding Will down, after saying Will could go far in the competition. Mary said it was fire, saying they were both outstanding and put them both on the "Hot Tamale Train." Nigel praised Jessica for overcoming her own worries about her ability, and said "everyone will be picking up the telephone" to vote for that routine.Comfort & Thayne: New partners Comfort and Thayne first performed a Broadway routine to "Cool" from "West Side Story." Tabitha said the new partners were a good match and that she was "lovin' it." Mary agreed that it was a "great new partnership." Nigel said the performance was meant to have big bursts of passion, and that "wasn't there." He said it wasn't good enough and that they would have been booed off Broadway. Comfort and Thayne's second dance was a waltz that was all about long lost loves. Napoleon said he wasn't a waltz expert, but he really enjoyed it. Tabitha said she wasn't crazy about Thayne. Mary said she is a waltz expert and she "loved it." Nigel agreed that it was great and said it was "tremendous."Kourtni & Matt: Contemporary dancers Kourtni and Matt took on a hip hop routine that Tabitha thought they did OK with, but Napoleon chimed in by saying that it wouldn't have worked at a hip hop competition. Mary said that even though it was groovy and slow, it still should have made the judges feel something. She said she liked it, but didn't "feel" anything. Nigel said there was nothing to get a hold of and called it "hip hop on sleeping pills." Kourtni and Matt went from hip hop to mambo, which Kourtni called the hardest dance she's ever tried to do. Tabitha said she was hot and cold on it. Mary excitedly said Kourtni was hot, but as a couple the chemistry wasn't there. Nigel said it was a tough routine, but said it had to be sharper. To Matt, in particular, he said he needed to see better.Chelsie & Mark: The first dance from Chelsie and Mark was a jazz routine that they were worried was a little fast. Tabitha praised the couple for being able to tell a story regardless of what they're given. Napoleon agreed, saying they perform together well. Mary sighed and acted like she was going to say something bad, but then shouted "I Just loved it!!!" Nigel said he didn't feel like it was fast because it just worked. For their second dance, Chelsie was at home with the foxtrot but had to help her partner Mark through it a bit. Chelsie wrapped up the dance with a feather in her mouth that she didn't let bother her a bit, which Tabitha enjoyed. Mary said there were some difficult moves, but they pulled off the routine. Nigel said Mark looked a little uncomfortable.Kherington & Twitch: Kherington and Twitch first treated the crowd to a paso doble that was wild, dramatic and had the matador in Twitch coming out, according to Napoleon. Tabitha said it was a slow build and said Twitch couldn't embrace his character until halfway through. Mary said it was full of passion, but said it was "just OK" before relenting and saying she was entertained. Nigel said Twitch came up a little short. A contemporary routine from Mia Michaels was up next for Kherington and Twitch, whose routine included a mattress that they each took turns jumping on while tossing flowers in the air. Tabitha said it was "awesome, awesome, awesome..." and Napoleon loved the storytelling. Mary said Michaels outdid herself this time. She said "passion is a fever and I think mine just went up." Nigel said the couple was committed to the routine and said it was a thoroughly entertaining, then he put them in his top three couples.Katee & Joshua: Katee said she'd been wanting to work with Mia Michaels for weeks, and now that she got her chance she didn't want to let her down. Joshua was speechless after the performance, getting almost emotional as he said, "It's just so much more than dancing." Tabitha said she loved every bit of it, and Napoleon agreed that Joshua and Katee "just get it." Mary loved it and said the couple has yet to miss this season. She praised Katee, in particular. Nigel said it was a routine that is simple in look, but really difficult to do and it proved that Joshua and Katee are one of the few couples that will make this season outstanding. For their second dance, Katee and Joshua took on the west coast swing. Tabitha said it was a fun little number. Mary said she enjoyed it very much. Nigel praised Joshua and Katee for their ability to adapt to styles.Courtney & Gev: Courtney was excited about doing hip hop, but Gev was nervous about trying the east coast style. Dressed in matching Eli Manning jerseys, they hit the stage hard, but Napoleon worried that Gev didn't keep up with Courtney. Tabitha, too, said Gev's hits were bouncy but she was "feeling" Courtney. Mary agreed that Gev didn't hit it hard enough, but Courtney was impressive. Nigel said it was more funky than hip hop and it felt like "Cinderella getting ugly." A Broadway routine was up next for Courtney and Gev. Napoleon praised Gev for getting into his character and said he might have found his niche. Mary said it worked and said Courtney and Gev could find themselves in the finals. Nigel said they gave it all they could give, and that was good enough for him.