Somehow, I believe these changes have something to do with $$. I'm not sure if having this set up means they have better control over who goes out on tour (and thus can make sure the tour makes $$) or if the talent this year isn't as strong as they would like and so they are covering with "all-stars."

The ratings weren't great last year, so this might be the last Hail Mary.

Mia will be back, but I'm disappointed that this last reveal of Nigel's means we'll still only have 2 dancers on the stage, rather than sometimes mixing it up more.

A good first guess for an all-star: Lacey, who did not go back to DWTS?

yep, and she is a great partner.

They probably need at least 1 man and 1 woman in:

ballroom, hip hop (or whatever SYTYCD thinks hip hop is), modern to start. If that is the foundation, the "all stars" can cover the other styles (broadway, lyrical, styles within ballroom and hh) pretty well. I hope they choose individuals who have been known to be good partners (e.g. Lacey, Danny, Russell).

I think it's really odd to feature people on stage in every performance who aren't being judged. What if they completely out-dance the contestant, or at least steal the focus?

That's the core problem, IMO - people will vote for New Dancer Y because she's partnered with Danny, or whatever.

The other totally killer partner was Jakob. He made every single woman he danced with look wonderful (i.e. Fug Princess and Tween Terror both!)

I thought that Kathryn did a good job as a partner, too. She carried Legacy into the Top 8, and even made the Other Tween Terror look good in the "Choreography" Broadway number.

Jakob would be heaven. Kathryn would be good, too. She worked miracles with Legacy. I want to make a list of dancers from each season who I'd love to see back.

Another reason I'm iffy on this innovation is that the all stars will only be dancing in their own styles and half the fun of this show is watching the kids really stretch and grow and push themselves to be better dancers. Half the fun of someone like Josh, say, was watching this guy who was primarily a hip hop specialist tear it up in Bollywood or do a gorgeous waltz or be so amazing in a Mia contemporary. Josh in hip hop is great, but i'd want more than just that from him.

I think a lot of the low ratings last season had to do with the ill advised attempt to do back-to-back seasons.

What Kat said.

I agree Kat.

Also the judges will be eliminating until the finale. I wonder why they are giving the judges so much power when we are down to the top 10 anyway. Any spec regarding why Mia is back and Mary is doing choreo? I thought Mia abruptly leaving last season was bad news.

Anyone know what SYTYCD's ratings were in the summer? I thought they weren't that great bug I could be wrong.

Nigel's Twitter:

I am thrilled that representing the various dance genres of Popping, Locking, Krump etc in the All-Stars Dance-Pool from Season 4 is TWITCH!