Last week, the competition began on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' and along with it came some pretty astonishing praise for one of the contestants. Alex Wong was paired with "All-Star" Allison Holker on a Sonya Tayeh contemporary piece, and he proved that he is definitely one of the best dancers of the season.

Judge Mia Michaels went so far as to claim that he had just performed the single greatest performance of not only any season of 'So You Think You Can Dance,' but also of any edition of it worldwide. Did Alex's performance really top all of the great and memorable ones from the past?

We chose 10 performances that have stuck with us through the years, most of them resonating so powerfully they've earned names. While impressive and beautifully danced, whether Wong's routine will join this illustrious group will remain to be seen.

1. The Bench - Heidi Groskreutz & Travis Wall
'Calling You,' Celine Dion

If you're going to talk about the top performances of all-time for 'So You Think You Can Dance,' you might as well start with the one that put the show on the map. Mia Michaels choreographed this piece, which has come to be known simply as "The Bench," and it went on to win an Emmy Award in 2007.

Performance, storytelling and emotion dominated the piece, transcending expectations and making a renowned superstar out of Michaels outside of the dance community. Both Groskreutz and Wall went on to the finals of the second season, with Wall coming in second, and later returning to the series as a formidable choreographer of his own (more on that later).



2. The Hummingbird and the Flower - Jaimie Goodwin & Hotuko 'Hok' Konishi
'The Chairman's Waltz,' from Memoirs of a Geisha

The series' second Emmy came for this piece, choreographed by Wade Robson. What Robson showed is that you can incorporate the existing skills of your dancers to push the boundaries of a style and create true artistry. Konishi went on to win the third season of 'America's Best Dance Crew' with QUEST crew, while Goodwin danced in 'High School Musical 3.'

With his background in break dancing, Robson created the hummingbird character for Konishi, allowing him to shine in a jazz routine that might otherwise have been out of his realm. Goodwin, who was more in her element, flourished as a growing flower. The two seemingly disparate roles came together beautifully.



3. The Boardroom - Sabra Johnson & Neil Haskell
'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),' Eurythmics

Many of the more memorable routines of the series seem to involve props of some sort. While the prop certainly helps to make a performance stand out in our minds, it is the masterful use of the props within brilliant choreography that makes these numbers stand out. Both Johnson and Haskell turned an ordinary folding table into the centerpiece of a dance about big business, underhanded negotiations and the struggle for corporate power.

Choreographer Mandy Moore lost to Robson's above-mentioned number for the Emmy Award, but this dance played a huge part in pushing Johnson to the win in the third season. Haskell made it to the finals as well, finishing in third place.



4. Transformers - Lauren Gottlieb & Pasha Kovalev
'Fuego,' Pitbull

The opening and closing pose of this Shane Sparks Emmy-nominated piece immediately stamped it into our minds. Sparks incorporated unique visuals into his hip-hop routine, beginning an evolution of hip-hop choreography on the show that continued with the arrival of NappyTab (more on that next). The performance is also remembered for pulling Kovalev so far from his ballroom roots and proving him the most diverse of that brand of dancer the show had seen to date.

Sparks rode the successes he was finding on 'So You Think You Can Dance' to a regular judging role on 'America's Best Dance Crew,' continuing to feature in choreography on 'SYTYCD' as his schedule permitted. Both Gottlieb and Kovalev have returned as "All-Stars" this season.



5. Soldier - Katee Shean & Joshua Allen
'No Air,' Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

As the highest ranking female and male of the fourth season, it might be easier to put up their entire catalogue of performances together. Shean and Allen were a power couple the likes of which the show has never seen and likely will never again. Each week, they blew us away in virtually every style they were given.

But their first number refuses to be ignored. Showing instant chemistry in this Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo hip-hop number, the pair told a heart-wrenching story of love and fear, elevating both themselves and hip-hop choreography to new heights.

The best quality video I could find included the before and after banter, so jump straight to the 2:00 mark for the dance itself.


6. Briefcase - Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura
'Bleeding Love,' Leona Lewis

When dance achieves greatness, it becomes an emotional experience, both for the dancers as well as the audience. Hightower imbued her performance with such raw anguish that we couldn't help feeling the pain of her desire and passion for the man she loved. The D'Umos lost the Emmy on this one to a Tyce Diorio contemporary piece featuring William Wingfield and Jessica King, but the imagery of this piece lingers longer.

After spending time on the road with Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour, Kanemura has returned this season as an "All-Star." Hightower, meanwhile, is one of the professionals featured on 'Dancing With the Stars.'



7. The Necklace - Jeanine Mason & Jason Glover
'If It Kills Me,' Jason Mraz

Some props are massive pieces of furniture that dominate both the stage and the performance. Others are minor trinkets, that nevertheless add a layer to an already astounding accomplishment. Former runner-up Travis Wall (told you we'd get back to him), came back to 'SYTYCD' in the fifth season as a choreographer, and immediately demanded our attention with this powerful story of the struggles of love.

Both Mason and Glover fully enveloped their characters and the passion for one another, fighting throughout intricate movements for the necklace and one another's hearts, sealing their movement with a closing kiss. Glover achieved the Top 8, while Mason went on to win.



8. Addiction - Kayla Radomski & Kupono Aweau
'Gravity,' Sarah Bareilles

Choreographer Mia Michaels took full advantage of Aweau's unique stage presence and off-kilter approach to his solo work by casting him as the addictive force destroying Radomski's life in this contemporary powerhouse from season five. Both dancers perfectly embodied their roles, with Radomski's struggles evident in all of her movements, while Aweau remained aloof, dominant, stiff and powerful.

The pair shared a great partnership that helped push Radomski into the finale, where she finished in fourth place. Michaels may have returned to 'So You Think You Can Dance' this season, replacing Mary Murphy as a permanent judge, but we're hopeful this doesn't mean we've seen the last of her as a choreographer.



9. The Door - Katee Shean & Stephen 'Twitch' Boss
'Mercy,' Duffy

We tried not to repeat dancers on this list, which means there are plenty of worthy performances that didn't make it here, but Shean is in a league of her own. Her work with long-time partner Joshua was a thing of beauty that had to be acknowledged, but she nevertheless made further magic with eventual runner-up Boss in yet another Mia Michaels contemporary piece.

This time, Michaels added a door to the stage, creating a whole slew of ways for the pair to play with it. The ultimate routine offered a lot of fun and attitude, along with some unforgettable visuals. It also gave Michaels her first Emmy nomination since her win for "The Bench." Boss has returned this season as an "All-Star."



10. Cancer - Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi
'This Woman's Work,' Maxwell

Sometimes you need nothing more than a powerful story to move an audience. Perhaps the wrap that Sandvig wore to cover her hair could be considered a prop, but it was her performance that sold us on her character's struggle with cancer. As the support system that kept her going, Obayomi was strong and confident, literally lifting her to new heights.

Choreographer Tyce Diorio used the art form of dance to express the true-life struggle of someone close to him, and the ensuing performance rang with such authenticity that it moved the judges as well as the audience. Sandvig was seen recently as a dancer on 'Glee,' while Obayomi has returned as an "All-Star" this season.



Alex Wong & Allison Holker
'Hallelujah,' Jeff Buckley

Lest you think we're going to leave it to your memory to see if Alex Wong and Allison Holker's performance of that Sonya Tayeh contemporary routine is among the best of the best, here it is to remind you. That your memory may even need to be jogged stands as further proof that, while good, Wong has not yet achieved 'SYTYCD Classic' status on that stage. Maybe it was the beauty of Buckley's song that got into Micheals' mind and warped her perceptions.



Let us know in the comments if you think Wong's performance is ready to stand alongside this group.

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