Host Cat Deeley Flanked by Asuka Kondoh & Jonathan Platero

Jonathan and Asuka were eliminated during the Top 16 week, leaving partners Karla and Vitolio to become a new couple. On a call after their elimination, Jonathan and Asuka opened up about their experience on So You Think You Can Dance and shared their hopes for the future.

Jonathan Platero, the 21 year old salsa dancer from New York, landed in the bottom three after a hip hop routine that wasn’t as hard-hitting as the judges desired. When Nigel said he’d be willing to bet that Jonathan and Karla’s hip hop routine would land them in the bottom three, Jonathan admitted that he was a bit hurt to hear that, however he did say that “each judge is entitled to their own opinion, and it was a tough style for me, so I couldn’t blame him.”

When fighting for his spot in the competition, Jonathan performed a solo that incorporated salsa moves and acrobatics. Jonathan said that there is only so much you can do in 30 seconds, and mixing the moves worked for him the first time he danced a solo.

During the Top 16 performance show, Jonathan mentioned that if he weren’t a dancer, he’d want to be an acrobat with Cirque du Soleil. “I always love doing acrobatics,” Jonathan said on the call, “so I definitely want to still pursue that.”

In addition to dance and acrobatics, Jonathan is interested in acting in the future. He would also love to be in music videos with Janet Jackson or Britney Spears.

Jonathan would have loved to stick around in the competition longer to work with jazz and contemporary choreographer Sonya Tayeh. He leaves behind his partner, Karla, who will now be paired with Vitolio. Jonathan had great things to say about Karla- “She was amazing. She was easy to get along with. She was able to adapt with anybody.” He thinks that Karla and Vitolio will do great together.

Lastly, from this experience Jonathan has learned “just never give up!”

Asuka Kondoh, the 25 year old Latin ballroom dancer from Irvine, was eliminated after performing a jazz routine and ballroom solo during the Top 16 week. In regards to performing a solo as a ballroom dancer, Asuka said, “I think it’s a little bit harder for us to show all our abilities, just because it is a partner dance.”

During Season 4 auditions, Asuka made it to Vegas week and then was cut at the end. Between Season 4 auditions and Season 5 auditions, Asuka took hip hop and ballet classes to refresh and prepare for another year of auditions, and she continued to train in her own style.

Jazz was the most difficult style for Asuka to learn. “I think everything was just against what I normally want to do as a Latin ballroom dancer. It was lots of level changes…being in bent knees, being lifted, everything was just completely not what I’m used to doing.”

Asuka heard about the news of Michael Jackson’s death just minutes before taking the stage for the Top 16 results show. She stated, “I think he’s a big inspiration to all dancers out there. Not just dancers, but the general public. He was such a big part of everyone’s lives, but he changed the dancing world.”

Unfortunately, Asuka was never able to perform a Latin ballroom dance during the performance shows. In addition to dancing in her own style, Asuka wished she had the opportunity to work with Napoleon and Tabitha, Louis van Amstel for Latin dance, Sonya Tayeh, and Mia Michaels.

Before Asuka gets back to dancing, she plans on taking a week to rest her body and mind.