Lex Ishimoto and All-Star Gaby Diaz perform a samba choreographed by Sasha Farber on “So You Think You Can Dance” on Sept. 11. (Photo by Adam Rose)

The Top 4 contestants Koine Iwasaki, Kiki Nyemchek, Lex Ishimoto and Taylor Sieve on “So You Think You Can Dance.” (Photo by Adam Rose)

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Koine Iwasaki and Lex Ishimoto perform a disco routine to “Knock on Wood,” choreographed by Doriana Sanchez, on “So You Think You Can Dance” on Sept. 11. (Photo by Adam Rose)

Koine Iwasaki and Lex Ishimoto perform a disco routine to “Knock on Wood,” choreographed by Doriana Sanchez, on “So You Think You Can Dance” on Sept. 11. (Photo by Adam Rose)

Lex Ishimoto and All-Star Gaby Diaz perform a samba choreographed by Sasha Farber on “So You Think You Can Dance” on Sept. 11. (Photo by Adam Rose)



Lex Ishimoto is on “So You Think You Can Dance,” airing Mondays on Fox. (Photo by Adam Rose/FOX)

The Top 6 contestants walked onto Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” stage on Monday knowing that when host Cat Deeley finally announced the results, two of them would be heading home and just four would return for the final show of Season 14 next week.

Fans of Orange County’s Lex Ishimoto were able to breathe a sigh of relief early on as he was the first contestant to be sent to the finals.

It was a victory slightly dampened by concern for Ishimoto, who seemed to be in pain after performing a lift-filled disco routine with fellow contestant Koine Iwasaki.

Before giving his comments on the routine, judge Nigel Lythgoe said to Ishimoto: “What’s happened? I know something’s happened.”

But Ishimoto, stoic as usual, shrugged it off (and then hobbled off), chalking the discomfort up to old injuries.

Ishimoto performed dances in two genres out of his style, a samba with All-Star Gaby Diaz and the disco with Iwasaki that almost did him in. We guess that even he was apprehensive before the live show from an Instagram caption that read, “Um. Tomorrow will be … interesting.”

He went on to say that dancing with his partner Diaz “will make it an easier process.”

This may have been Ishimoto admitting that he isn’t a natural at every dance style despite his continued success throughout the season.

Ishimoto has never been in the bottom three and rarely receives a negative critique from judges Mary Murphy, Vanessa Hudgens and Lythgoe.

Following Ishimoto into the finale on Monday, Sept. 18, are ballroom dancer Kiki Nyemchek and contemporary dancers Iwaski and Taylor Sieve.

The fate of the remaining four dancers rests with America’s audience, who vote after the show.

Ishimoto performed an impressive solo that displayed his trademark blend of contemporary, acrobatics and how-did-he-do-that-moments, but will that be enough?

We’ll find out soon if a 19-year-old from Irvine is “America’s Favorite Dancer” and if winning “So You Think You Can Dance” will help him live out his personal motto — #StayLegendary.