The last time they were in Boston, Russell won. Will the winner come from Boston again?
Our judges tonight are Nigel, Mary, and Adam.
Phillip Kudryavstev and Ashley Goldman- Boston, MA- Ballroom
Phil won a Dancing With The Stars ballroom competition. Ashley talks a lot. They used to date. I think both of them are likely Top 20 contenders, but I get a Top 10-20 feel on them. I don’t know why. I think they are great ballroom dancers, but not astounding. I think we’ve seen better, and I think we’ve seen better this season. Mary loved Phil. Adam thinks Phil still likes Ashley because he caught her staring at her butt. They both go straight to Vegas.
Natalie Vilos- Hawaii- Jazz
She’s using a prop. A lamp shade. Really? She’s auditioning because it is on her bucket list. She seems like a really cool person though. Nigel asks her if she will be “turning herself on”. lol. She dances to Fever. She’s got a pageant smile to her, and the dancing is OK. I’m predicting choreo. I’m wrong, she gets a No from all three judges. Sanity restored! Adam gets on stage and does a dance with her lampshade.
John Tesoreio- Boston, MA- BBoy/Hip hop
He dances while anotehr guy beat boxes. This is really entertaining. Probably one of my favorite audition of all time. Talk about a brilliant idea and way to stand out in an audition. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to bring the beatboxer with him, I’m assuming. Nigel thought it was performance art, and he created something really entertaining. Mary said they never had anything like this before. Adam says he’s a born entertainer. Nigel, Mary, and Adam put him through to choreo (BOOOOOOO!).
Katlyn Rodriguez- Brooklyn, NY- Salsa
Her partner dropped off the face of the earth right before the audition, so her brother learned the choreo for her so she’d have a partner. Her brother is 16, and has a future on the show for sure if he keeps training. To learn all that at the last second is crazy. Katlyn is fantastic. The judges mainly focus on Jeremy, and not on Katlyn. Mary starts crying, and says she was mesmerized by Katlyn. Mary says Katlyn is a hot tamale and screams. Adam thought it was fantastic, and also screams. Nigel wants choreo. Nigel also tells Jeremy to reaudition when he’s of age. Katlyn is through to choreo.
Jennifer Jones- Philadelphia, PA- Jazz
She developed an eating disorder in order to be a ballerina. She changed her focus to jazz so she didn’t feel so much pressure. First off, she’s crazy sexy and has a great look. This girl could go far. The judges seem to really appreciate her. She has really expressive eyes, and her lines are incredible. She looks like Jennifer Beals. They make some flashdance jokes. Mary says she is SO so you think you can dance. She’s going to Vegas!
A montage of some other dancers. One girl and two guys, the guys are really good. They all get tickets to Vegas.
Tommy Tibball- Ozone Park, NY- Contemporary
His family opened a dance studio for him and his sisters to run. He’s been to Vegas in a previous season. He’s a terrific mover, and his legs seem to go on for days. He has great lines. The move where he pushes himself off the floor an onto the tips of his toes is sick. Nigel says he hasn’t seen anyone like him since Jacob Karr and Billy Bell. Adam wants him to be on the show really bad. He’s going to Vegas!
Jennie Begley-Aurora, CO- Ballet
Her big brother helped her get to the audition. She couldn’t afford to go, and he paid for her to audition. When I heard her hometown, I thought we were going to have a completely different story. Adam calls her the real deal. I think her style is a blend of Ballet and Contemporary, honestly, but she’s tremendous to watch. One of the best of the season. Like watching the real Black Swan. Mary and Adam give her a standing O. Adam says that was his favorite audition in Boston, and compliments her lines. Mary says she was one of the best auditions in Boston, and she made it look effortless. Nigel makes Adam and Mary say No to choreo, before he says Yes to Vegas. She looks so sad as they’re saying No. Nigel asks her brother if he has been eating her meals. RUDE. What the hell dude.
Choreo round. John and Katlyn are in this round. I think they both deserved Vegas tickets. Ryan and Marko are teaching the choreo round this time. Both dancers are struggling. Nigel cuts John. Mary tells Katlyn that she’s made Vegas. Seven more dancers made it out of choreo, including Katlyn’s choreo partner.
Boston Day Two!
Jason Kidd- Baltimore, MD- Animator
He lived in a rough neighborhood as a kid, and he’s always wanted to dance. This show has been a goal for him. He competed in the dance olympics in Germany and took 5th. The girls love him in the audience. He might be as good as Cyrus, definitely. I’d be willing to see them dance off. Nigel walks onto stage and gives him a ticket to Vegas.
Shannon “Shizzy Shake” Tarantino- Bloomington, NJ- Contemporary
Very pretty girl, with large expansive movements. She’s terrific. One of my favorite this season. Her movement is effortless. Some people are born to dance, and this girl is one of them. She’s going straight through to Vegas.
Gene and Elena Bersten- Ballroom
He auditioned in season 6, but didn’t make the top 20. This time, he brought his wife and baby with him. His wife is also auditioning. Shes not as good as the other ballroom dancers we’ve seen this season, but he’s OK. I could see him doing well.
E-Knock- Hip Hop
I remember him from Season 3, when they show his audition. In 2011, his cousin died. He was a camp director, met a girl named Kate, whose mom offered him a job at her dance studio teaching hip hop. He actually moved for that job, and to be a part of this new family. He dances to an original track remix of Without You, which uses cuts off the news report featuring his cousins death. He leaves everything on that dance floor. That Russian was amazing. Adam starts sobbing like someone just broke up with him. Really, a powerful piece. Nigel calls him an artist. I noticed that he had to put a piece of tape over whatever label is on his hat. Mary said it was beautiful. Adam calls him a remarkable storyteller. He gets a yes to choreo. STOP GIVING HIP HOP DANCERS YES TO CHOREO. Send them to Vegas.
Another montage of good dancers. All three make it to Vegas.
Alexis Juliano- Coral Springs, FL- Tap
She wants to emotionally engage you. She throws in some big moves, in addition to her tapping, to prove that she can possibly do other styles. She’s dancing to Mr Bojangles. Huge response from the crowd. Nigel thinks she missed a shuffle. Mary thought it was fabulous. Adam says it’s how you finish that matters. Nigel starts to talk about choreo, so Alexis hits a few dancing poses to suggest that she knows other styles, and she gets her ticket to Vegas.
Anthony Bryant- Divaville, USA- Delusional
He’s baaaack. He’s the ribbon dancer from Season 1, where he was told he wasn’t masculine enough. Then he came back in Season 4 and got cut again and threw a diva fit. He claims to have changed. He hopes they enjoy him. Nigel says he’s happy to see him. Honestly, if I didn’t know who this was, I would say choreography round for sure. He’s obviously been training. Nigel says he’s a brilliant dancer. Mary says he’s a brilliant dancer, and that he’s matured, and has gotten stronger. Adam says he has stellar ability. Mary says Yes, Adam says Yes, Nigel says Yes to choreo. Anthony says he doesn’t want to continue then… what the hell. WHAT THE HELL. You FINALLY got a YES from the judges, and you turn it DOWN? What a delusional doofus. Luckily, he ages out of the competition this year. So, buh-bye for good.
Some more crazy dancers including a boy who dances in heels.
Anthony Savoy- New York, NY- Contemporary
He’s in a professional dance company. His eyebrows are INSANE. He’s dancing to Gravity. He’s terrific. One of the best of the season. If he can get eyebrows that aren’t insane, he’ll be a contender. Nigel remarks how he hasn’t heard him land at all. Standing O from Adam. Nigel talks about Anthony’s inner strength. Mary loves his lines and elevation. They start saying Yes to choreo, then the audience cheers Vegas, and then Nigel says Vegas, and he was just trying to show everyone how humble Anthony was.
Another montage. A hot latin guy takes his shirt off. A latin dancer, female, has tons of fringe. Another ballroom danccer, male, gets through to Vegas.
Kate Kapshandy- Hoboken, NJ- Ballroom
Is auditioning with Max from Season 5 (Top 20). Auditioning with a former SYTYCDer seems like a surefire bet. She moves well. She’s a bit too Jersey for my taste. She’s orange. Mary seems to love her. Mary screams. Mary says she’s been waiting all season for Kate. She calls her a hot tamale and says she’s the first, but we know she’s not. Nigel thought he was watching a pro from Dancing With The Stars. Adam starts to do his Bruno impersonation, which leads to Kate going through to Vegas.
Toshi- Hip Hop/Pop and Lock/ Animation/ Breaking
He can barely understand English. He says his dancing is like a video game. Really entertaining solo. One of my favorites of all time, and possibly the season. He throws all of his moves in, and tells a story, much like Hok used to do back in the day. Nigel loved it. Humor and creativity. Mary says he was fabulous. Adam calls him living art. They all say no to choreo, and then yes to Vegas. They know he can’t do choreo, and they don’t want to cut him. lol.
Choreo Round 2
E-Knock has to do choreo. He’s doing a good job actually. He’s trained in other styles at that dance studio, I’m guessing. Nigel says that wasn’t good enough to go through to Vegas. What the hell? I hate this show sometimes. I thought he was doing a good job, especially for a hip hop dancer. Back in the theatre, 11 more dancers make Vegas, including E-Knock’s partner.
Next week is Memphis. Join me then as I liveblog again. Sound off in the comments below. Did E-Knock deserve Vegas?
