Top 8 week stressed our dancers like never before. Not only did they have to perform 3 routines instead of 2, they had to farewell Penny, one of the competition favourites. But the show must go on, and with Gianne back on deck, our Top 8 delivered 10 stunning routines that turned up a new favourite. Top 8 Sunday Night Summary The standout couple were Ben & Talia who, according to Matt, were “both on the train to the Finale”. “Amazing” Amy put on a master class in technique and, with Timomatic channelling MJ, delivered the “favourite routine of the night”. Charlie and Gianne did remarkably in a day less of rehearsals, with Charlie “brilliant” on hip hop home turf. Kat delivered a “sophistication” beyond her years and Jason Gilkison declared he had a “new favourite boy” in the competition. That boy was BJ. Farewell Penny The show opened with the devastating news that everyone’s favourite cheerleader, Penny, had a stress fracture of her rib and was out of the competition. The only girl who had never been in the Bottom 3, Penny had formed a power partnership with Charlie and won the hearts of millions of Australians. Jason Gilkison said she’d been a “breath of fresh air” and Matt said this was “a dancer’s worst nightmare”. Bonnie said Penny had made the show “so much richer” and Jason Coleman said that he, like the rest of Australia, “had embraced the Penny”. Penny bravely came on stage and through tears watched her Journey Recap – and what a journey it was. From that unforgettable “angry cheerleader” audition, to her tears on the Green Mile when she found she’d made Top 20, to the show-stopping “Single ladies” with Charlie, the breathtaking “You found me”, the moment she cracked up Mary Murphy by declaring “It’s all good!” as she squinted through her one good eye, to her beautiful bridal foxtrot, the revelation that she was leaving, and the floods of tears when Gianne appeared to repl