So You Think You Can Dance – Vegas Week – Your Top 20

By On 06/05/2008 · 64 Comments · In Uncategorized

  

Posted are the auditions of all the contestants who were featured during the auditions rounds. Click on the link to watch. I’ll post the last names of the unknowns as soon as I have correct spellings. SYTYCD cannon fodder?

The Top 20

Top 20 Happy Dance! – Video

Big ass recap with VIDEOS After the JUMP…

Big BIG show tonight! I will try to summarize…

Over 200 dancers hit Vegas for a week to compete for the Top 20. After a pressure filled week, the judges whittle the contestants down, and at the end of the show, we are introduced to this season’s Top 20.

And finally, I am entertained. Vegas week is filled with lots of drama as the kids are put through grueling dance routines and exercises designed to test their mettle.

Six judges sit on the panel: Hip hop choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon, contemporary choreographer Mia Michaels, Debbie Allen, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.

“If you’re not a star get off the stage,” says Nigel, as he addresses the crowd. He’s looking to make dancers into stars again.

Day One:

The first challenge is a hip hop routine, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon. After an hour of rehearsal, the dancers audition.

But before that happens, Robert Muraine, a popper who auditioned in Los Angeles (audition) wants to quit the show. He’s never done choreography before, and he’s completely intimidated. Nigel calls him to the front of the stage and asks him to do his solo, which involves a lot of body contortions that look impossible to do, and are, quite frankly, kinda hard to watch (VIDEO). After he performs, the judges try to persuade him to stick it out. Mia tells him he’s been given a gift, and not to sh*t on it. In the end, he decides to leave. Nigel says, “Let’s move on with people who want to be here.” Despite his lack of training, Robert was sent straight to Vegas without having to do choreography. I had a feeling he wouldn’t make it very far.

The hip hop performances finally begin. The dancers line up in rows of 10 to audition. After they dance, they stand and wait as the judges confer. Nigel asks some dancers to step forward, and either the front or back line is dismissed. In this round, Courtney Galiano moves on, but, sparkle girl (audition), Rebecca Hart, is cut.

Also eliminated: strip club DJ Ryan Race (audition), and ballroom dancer Ricky Sun (audition). By 3 pm 150 dancers performe, and 62 are eliminated.

Those who pass to the next round get to relax by the pool. Meanwhile, Claire Callaway, (audition) the contestant who was injured Season 2, promised a slot in Vegas Season 3, but had a baby instead is fighting for her life back at the theater. She barely made passed her audition. She doesn’t fare much better in Vegas, she’s cut in this first round. (VIDEO). At the end of the day, 203 dancers perform and only 129 remain.

Day Two

The night before, the producers tell the contestants to wear something “sexy and sassy”. The day’s choreographer is Tice Diorio, and he rehearses the group in a Broadway routine.

In today’s first lineup is Erica Gee (audition). After auditioning for 3 years in a row, she’s convinced it’s her year to make the Top 20, but it’s not to be. She’s partnered with another girl, Britney Parks, and although their routine is clever (Britney plays the male lead) Britney makes it through, but Erica does not. (VIDEO). She’s shocked, and worried that she’s displeased her parents who’ve sacrificed to pay for her training. Damn, those stage parents!

After a bunch of Awesome! Dancers! make it to the next round, the twins, Anthony and Antwain Hart take the stage. The twins are worried that the judging panel will try to break them up. (VIDEO) If the twins know anything about how Reality TV works, they know what the deal is. Breaking up siblings and best friends for awesome Tee Vee drama is a staple. Of course it happens. Anthony advances, while Antwain does not. Ironically, it was Anthony who nearly didn’t make it when the two auditioned together in Charleston. (audition).

More people are cut. “Maybe I’m not as pretty as all these little blondies running around,” says one contestant, “But, I’m not going to get plastic surgery just for So You Think You Can Dance.” Them grapes are sour!

By lunchtime, the Broadway round is over, and the judges decide to keep 94 dancers. The original number is cut down by more than half.

Ballroom dance is the next round, led by choreographer, Jean Marc Genereaux, who teaches the contestants a fox trot. Some of the hip hop dancers, including Joshua Allen and his fellow hip hop dancer Comfort (Nigel told her in Dallas she was the best female hip hop dancer he’d seen) find ballroom dancing a bit daunting, to say the least. But after practicing hard, they dance the round together beautifully. The judges congratulate them as they are passed on to the next round. They both break down into tears of relief when it’s all over. (VIDEO).

Cut in this round: the lovely Devin Oshiro (audition), and the incredibly annoying pageant girl (audition) Paige Jones. After she has a disastrous ballroom performance with hip hop dancer Will Adams, she’s given the chance to dance with a more experienced partner later (VIDEO). She’s sent home anyway. Huzzah! At the end of the day, 5 dancers who were cut from the ballroom round are chosen to “dance for their lives” in their own styles. Paige’s initial dance partner, Will Adams is also eliminated.

It’s the end of the day, and the dancers are put into groups. They are given a CD and told they have to learn a choreography and present it the next morning. Stress, arguing and sleep deprivation will surely lead to some train-wreck performances in the AM.

Day Three

The groups are back in the morning to perform for the judges after being up nearly all night rehearsing. The first group includes hip hop dancer Twitch, contemporary dancer Jason Glover, and tap dancer Bianca Revels. They struggle with their routine all night, but are reasonably happy with the final results. The judges, however, are not so happy. Their routine is a big hot mess, with the random tap-dancing thrown in appearing like an afterthought. Mary is pissed that Bianca took so much time tap dancing at the end. The judges vote, and Jason, with two votes against him, is forced to “dance for his life” later on in the day. The rest make it through to the next round, but leave the auditorium devastated. Jason is crying, and Twitch feels like he let the group down. (VIDEO).

The group routines pretty much suck, but the odds are really against this round turning out well. The round really serves to dish up some good trainwreck TV, and that it does. The next group, with Jessica King, Derrick Spears and Comfort Fedoke fares a little better after a night filled with conflict. (VIDEO).

At the end of the morning, Jason Glover dances for his life, and he manages to squeak by.

Only 4 dancers are cut from the group rounds (further proving it only exists to make TV drama, rather than advance dancers) including single mom, Courtney Pearson (audition).

Mia Michaels’ contemporary choreography fills up the rest of Day 3. Sixty-eight sleep-deprived dancers are left to learn her difficult choreography, and she pushes them to the brink.

Tap dancer Lizz Plott (audition) is slowly losing her mind. Between the lack of sleep, her legs giving out and the difficulty of the dance, she’s becoming manic as she works frantically to make it through the round. She does well enough, and the judges begin to compliment her. But she talks back to Nigel when he suggests that she get a handle on her stress. The panel is aggravated enough to take back their compliments and cut her. So much for talking back to the judges. (VIDEO).

The next contestant to completely lose his sh*t is Jeremiah Hughes (audition). His reaction to his inability to master the choreography is to stomp angrily off the stage. Afterward, he gains his composure enough to apologize. Very weird dude. (VIDEO).

Twenty-two dancers are cut from this round, including Jason Glover.

Forty-Seven dancers remain. Nine of them have to “dance for their lives,” including jazz dancer Sheila Keiser (audition), contemporary dancers Dominic Pearson and Mark Kanemura and hip hop dancer, Twitch.

Dominic’s SYTYCD stint ends as he pulls a muscle during his routine. He rides off with the medics. Mark is saved by a creative and humorous routine to “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Twitch performs well enough, and he advances too. But it’s back to Engineering school for Sheila, who doesn’t make the cut. (VIDEO)

The last round has the remaining contestants performing solos for the judging panel. (VIDEO). And after, they find out who makes the Top 20.

The big dramatic reveal involves having the contestant walk down a long corridor to meet the judges. Their auditions play on monitors along the walls.

First up is Kelli Baker (audition) daughter of High School Musical choreographer Bonnie Story. Nigel tells her she’s a fabulous dancer, but they want to see “a little more personality emerge” from her. Surprisingly, Kelli is cut.

Courtney Galiano is a Yes. For Latin dancers Chelsea Hightower and Susie Garcia, it’s a YES. For contemporary dancers Chelsea Traille and Kourtni Lind, it’s a YES.

Anthony Hart does not advance. Evan Kasprzak (audition), Jannette Manara (audition), Aliona Vetrenko and Leonidas Proskurov (audition), Bianca Revels (audition) are all sent home.

Joshua Allen is called out by the judges for having more training than he’s admitted to, because of some of the moves he’s used in his routines. Nevertheless, he is a YES.

Top 20 Part 1 -VIDEO

Twitch is a YES. Kherington Payne is a YES. Ballet Dancer Rayven is a YES. Matt Dorame is a YES. Thayne Jasperson is a YES. Marquis Cunningham is a YES. Mark Canamura is a YES. Comfort Fedoke is a YES. West coast swing dancer, Jamie Bayard is a YES. Contemporary dancer Chris Jarosz is a YES, despite several dancers just like him making the cut.

Markus Shields (audition), Asuka Kondoh (audition), and Derrick Spears are cut.

Jessica King is a YES. William Wingfield is a protege of Debbie Allen and he is a YES. This means Debbie won’t be able to judge while he’s on the show.

Top 20 Part 2 – VIDEO

There are 4 dancers left. It’s between Brandon Bryant (audition) and Gev Manoukian and good friends Katee Shean and Natalie Reid.

Brandon Bryant is cut, Gev Manoukian is a YES.

The two girls face the judges. When asked if she’d come back next year, Katee says she doesn’t know, because this year was so tough. Nigel stops the reveal abruptly to hold a meeting with the judges. Katee was their pick, but now the judges are thinking she doesn’t have what it takes to follow through. Yada yada yada.

The judges hold a re-vote. Mary switches her vote to Natalie. The vote is a tie, so the judges give the spot to Katee Shean and she is a YES. Best friend, Natalie Reid, is sent home. Big TV Drama!

Top 20 Part 3 – VIDEO

The Top 20 is in place. Next week, the voting begins.

 
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  • vixen

    i’m bummed that evan got cut. :(

    *holding out hope for gev*

    eeeee, gev ftw!

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    Wow, Nigel really is an ass.

    And WTF is his obsession with personality? It’s not like these dancers especially are gonna be some huge celebrities who are gonna need to always be “on” personality-wise for the paps.

  • JessC77

    The guy who did the Bohemian Rapsody dance made it through, right?

  • vixen

    And WTF is his obsession with personality? Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not like these dancers especially are gonna be some huge celebrities who are gonna need to always be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  personality-wise for the paps.

    well, first of all, nigel’s kind of a dick. but mostly i think it’s just that more than anything, he’s casting a tv show, and they want the contestants to be interesting. or to at least be able to pretend to be interesting.

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    I’m a bit sad they didn’t choose Natalie over Katie. I thought she was better in the initial auditions, and they showed us nothing else. Katie was cuter, so maybe that’s it. Either way, Nigel is an ass.

  • catdog

    I’m pissed – I wanted the Gene Kelly guy (pic on main page) to go thru. What a bunch of bull!

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    but mostly i think ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s just that more than anything, heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s casting a tv show, and they want the contestants to be interesting.

    Well, that’s all well and true, but there is a fine line between casting a character and casting a dancer with personality, imo. Casting a “character” can sometimes backfire.

  • hessilou

    pj – I agree with your comment about Natalie – her first audition was one of my favs. Wonder if she messed up a bit during Vegas? (I’m on the West Coast, so I haven’t seen the show yet…)

  • Ladybug

    Am steamed over not getting to watch Evan dance anymore. Boo!!!

    As is always the case with this show, one has to see how it all shakes out. You never know who will emerge with some amazing talent and shine in unexpected places.

    And who knows what motivates Nigel because, if nothing else, he is completely inconsistent. We know this from Idol. Still, he is much better here than when he shoots his mouth off over anything involving Idol.

    This show has been entertaining to me from day one, Season One, and I don’t expect that will change this year. I really look forward to it.

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    hessilou – I didn’t really notice them showing either of them in Vegas until the end. I may have been distracted.

    Also, I was pissed at the first popper dude for quitting. He should not have taken that spot to Vegas just to quit. He hasdno interest in bettering himself as a dancer, and I think it’s a disservice to those who really cared.

    ETA: I guess I’m the only one who thought that Evan (Gene Kelly guy) was overrated last night. I’m not sad to see him not in the top 20.

  • wfowfowfo

    Wow… Nigel’s casting a television show — and the dancing is just a part of it. I was sad that the young age-fibbing africian american guy that danced so beautifully in his audition was cut. He didn’t show much of a personality — and he’s so muscle-bound… things that make you go hmmmm?

    Loved the Bohemian Rapsody guy too (Mark somebody), and he did make it through. That dance for your life was totally terrific. I hope we get to see more of that at some point.

    Debbie Allen called the flying rapper-dude on his obvious ballet training — can’t wait to find out his story.

    My Fox affiliate just said they’re going to talk to the finalist — I’ll try and pay attention!

    Can’t wait for your recap, MJ. It’ll be a good show — it usually is fun and the music is great.

  • JessC77

    Loved the Bohemian Rapsody guy too, and he did make it through.

    Thanks wfowfowfo, I wasn’t sure.

    Can’t wait till the next show!

  • SpenserJ

    I thought Evan was good – but the bulk of the top 20 are better. So, tonight was the first night I really paid attention. My random thoughts (sorry if this is really long):

    – YEAH TWITCH!!! I love that guy. I think the tv viewing audience will warm to his charming personality.
    – Joshua: He’s amazing. And, it wasn’t just us; the judges figured out he’d been hiding some serious technical skill as well.
    - Liz the blond tapper: a lesson in when to STFU.
    - Jeremiah: arrogant prick, excessive push ups, roid rage perhaps? Glad he’s gone.
    - Dominic: OUCH. Lose your focus, hurt yourself is lesson number one.
    - Kelly Baker: that’s a loss. No way I pick Kherrington effing Payne over her. That’s Nigel’s lust for blond contemporary dancers rearing its ugly head.
    - Courtney: gorgeous dancer, gorgeous girl. America is going to love her me thinks.
    - Suzie Garcia: is she 45?
    - The Hart Twins: super talented. They don’t need this show; those boys should go on the road. Their schtick is their twinness. That can’t be showcased here.
    - William: amazing skill, definitely one to watch. Too bad that Debbie can’t be a guest judge now. I love her bizarre ramblings.
    - I want Natalie to be MY best friend.
    - Chelsea (the ballroom one): her partnering skills are phenomenal. Whichever male gets her first in the partner-picking lottery will be very lucky and maybe go further than he would otherwise.

    ETA:

    Also, I was pissed at the first popper dude for quitting. He should not have taken that spot to Vegas just to quit.

    Totally agree PJ. That was a bullshit move.

  • daisy

    BS on picking Katie over Natalie, I think that Nigel is right this time…
    (I cannot believe I am saying this), she will never last with the pressures of the next rounds.
    Promising top 20, I was hoping for less contemporary dancers and more hip hop experts to get thru, enjoy the free wheeling aspects of this form of
    dance and it is a joy to watch. The Dance for the life part of the show is one of my fav parts, just get out there and show your stuff…

  • lilbrusc102

    ok, so I’ve been religiously reading your blog since American Idol season 5 but never got around to registering and posting until now, however, I just had to say how excited I am that Twitch made it! I loved him last year and was sad he didn’t make it through even though Hok was my boy. I am glad he made it this year though!

    I’m also excited about Kourtni and Joshua Allen!

  • idolfan86

    What a sucky top 20.

  • jpfan

    Totally shallow but where are the hot Russian guys? I miss Danny, Neil and Pasha from last season. Oh well.

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    Danny and Neil weren’t Russian. Some may say they were hot, though.

  • jenniewdc

    Can anyone tell me how to watch the clips? I have no clue. Once I click on “Audition,” I don’t know what else to do.

    Help, please!

    And thanks in advance.

  • jpfan

    I know Danny and Neil weren’t Russian. :) I just miss them. But this show usually has a few great Russian dancers. This season not a one. Boo.

  • lilbrusc102

    jpfan, I kinda agree….Pasha was all kinds of hot! I miss the eye candy for sure….

  • snuffles

    jpfan
    Jun 5th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
    Totally shallow but where are the hot Russian guys? I miss Danny, Neil and Pasha from last season. Oh well.

    I was just thinking the same thing! LOL! There’s been a hot Russian ballroom dancer EVERY season!

  • AZIdolFan

    only one male ballroom dancer got thru right? my favorites right now are Gev, Joshua, Matt and Chelsea. We shall see who my favorites are next week.

  • sumidol

    Awww – I missed the whole show tonight. I will have some catching up to do now thanks to Mjs. Evan didnt make it? I thought he was a sure thing. I didnt watch enough of the rest to know really though. Yay, on to the real show now. Ok, I went over the list real quick and I just have to say – Suzie Garcia??? Really? (Oh I love Dom’s cute little face) I cant wait to see how this all plays out

  • sumidol

    Jennie, there should be a big arrow in the middle that you click on. For me, if that doesnt appear right away I hit refresh and then it does appear and I can watch.

  • Hoppy

    Sarah, I actually completely get the obsession with personality on this show.

    When we were watching tonight’s episode, I said something about how the talent really is INSANE on this show and it is incredibly difficult to cut anyone because they are all so brilliant and work so hard. So, I get it. It comes down to personality. They want people that the audience can root for and the people you want to pick up your phone and vote for. And honestly? That’s what makes this show for me. The dancers are ALL talented and you don’t see un-talented ones slip through the cracks just to make good TV. (Unlike Idol, were you get singers way out of their league in the top 24, but they are quirky or make interesting TV.) But the dancers I remember the most? They are the ones with talent AND personality. Travis, Dominic, Sara, Pasha, Danny, etc. These are all brilliant dancers and interesting personalities. If they were just brilliant dancers, then I wouldn’t be rooting them on and picking favorites. I’d just be like, “Ehh, they’re all good. I don’t care who wins.”

  • julieitis

    Wow. I’m just all kinds of bummed that Evan didn’t make it. I was counting on him to help me get over my David Cook obsessions :)

  • Jezco

    Chelsea Hightower, Joshua Allen and Gev are my favorites . . . Gev is actually from my city . . . I wonder when he moved in, since if he’s 21 he should have graduated with me or the year before me but he’s not in my yearbook . . . hmm . . .

  • jersey

    I haven’t watched this show but does anyone know if Jason Glover is any relation to Savion Glover – the tap dancing ex-Sesame Street actor?

  • gingerly

    I guess I will have to start watching this next week. I’ve looked at some of the videos posted and remembered why I love this show. I don’t expect it to cure my David Cook obsession though and I can’t see me getting obsessed with a dancer. It will pass the time nicely in any event.

  • jenniewdc

    Sumidol — Thanks for your instructions about how to see the clips. Unfortunately, they don’t work for me either at home or at the office.

    I don’t see any big red arrow. And after I hit “Refresh,” there’s still no big red arrow. Don’t know what the problem could be.

    Anyone else have any suggestions so I could watch the Audition clips?

  • Chicago-sally

    Courtney was good.

  • Chicago-sally

    How is it Bianca didn’t advance, she was good.

  • SpenserJ

    and the incredibly annoying pageant girl (audition) Paige Jones. After she has a disastrous ballroom performance with hip hop dancer Will Adams, sheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s given the chance to dance with a more experienced partner later. Sheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s sent home anyway.

    I forgot how much I cracked up at Paige being cut. She was perfectly awful, even with a fantastic partner. Then, as she was leaving and being all bittercakes about what they said – she mumbles something about how can she not be elegant when pageants are all about elegance or some such nonsense. That was hysterical.

    I almost got a little weepy myself when Joshua and Comfort made it through that ballroom routine.

    MJ – I am really impressed with you. It must have taken a lot of work to do such an in-depth recap of a show you just started watching. Thanks for taking the time to do that, it was a great read!

  • JessC77

    Anyone else have any suggestions so I could watch the Audition clips?

    Jenniewdc…try just clicking on the video screen or under the screen, is there a play arrow there?

  • clickchick

    This is my first season watching. I too was SO bummed that Evan didn’t go through. He was charming, unique, and a beautiful dancer. Don’t get Susie Garcia’s appeal whatsoever. Kherrighan is too… much. One of those ultra-perfectionists that has to do everything well. She could grow on me I suppose, but right now I am waiting for her to prove herself.

    So far, find myself rooting for Twitch, Courtney, Kortnei, and Chelsea. Debbie Allen’s student looks promising as well.

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    I forgot how much I cracked up at Paige being cut. She was perfectly awful, even with a fantastic partner. Then, as she was leaving and being all bittercakes about what they said – she mumbles something about how can she not be elegant when pageants are all about elegance or some such nonsense. That was hysterical.

    I usually feel bad for the ones cut, but not her! I enjoyed it immensely. I loved how she couldn’t wait to undo her “ugly ballroom hair.” LMFAO.

  • Obsessor

    Long time reader, first time poster. MJ, thanks for covering this great show.

    What happened to Cooper Zamarano? He was the dark haired dancer from Wednesday’s show who reminded Nigel of Travis.

  • jenniewdc

    JessC77 — Thanks for replying. No, I don’t see any red play arrow anywhere. My screen is blank in the middle under the name of the Audition Clip. I’ve clicked around the screen, but nothing happens.

    If anyone has any ideas how I could access the Audition Clips, please let me know. Maybe this is a stupid question, but do I have to join Red Lasso or something in order to view the clips?

  • JessC77

    Your welcome jenniewdc.

    do I have to join Red Lasso or something in order to view the clips?

    No, you don’t have to join……this is weird. I’m out of ideas. Hopefully someone else will know something. Sorry.

  • rher

    I loved last year’s group so much, and I find this year’s group so different! I hope I will learn to enjoy them. I miss Hok and Dominic! So many contemporary (modern) dancers this year.

    I don’t remember her name, but I was sad to see the amazing ballroom dancer girl with the 2-toned short hair. She was amazing, and I am surprised that she was cut. I also wanted Natalie to stay because I thought she was the more elegant dancer, and her looks brought something different to this crowd. So far, I’ll be watching Josua Allen and Mark Kanemura, but things may change as I see more next week.

  • B

    And WTF is his obsession with personality? Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not like these dancers especially are gonna be some huge celebrities who are gonna need to always be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  personality-wise for the paps.

    I’ve always found myself enjoying the dancers with personality more than the bland ones. The bland ones don’t last very long. And for the dancers with personality, their personality really shines through in their dancing, which is what makes their dances so enjoyable (in part) for me. Nigel also LOVES dancers who he thinks will grow throughout the competition (i.e Ivan from season 2 or Dominic from last season).

    I’m disappointed Brandon Bryant wasn’t put through, but I actually trust that the judges knew what they were doing when they cut him. Unlike AI, these people are VERY qualified to be judging a dance show.

    and YAY for the amount of contemporary dancers they put into the top 20!!I always find that they’re some of the most versatile and talented dancers on the show. (Travis, Allison, Natalie from s2 and Sabra, Neil, Jaimie from s3).

    I’m really looking forward to next week’s show. Unlike AI, the contestants who don’t get a ton of early screen time aren’t fodder.

    Oh, and Mark Kanemura’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” routine was great.

    MJ, you are a trooper! Thanks for the recap!

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    If anyone has any ideas how I could access the Audition Clips, please let me know. Maybe this is a stupid question, but do I have to join Red Lasso or something in order to view the clips?

    You do need to have flash installed. Try downloading this:

    Adobe Flash Player

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    Thanks guys. The capping is a bit stilted, because I’m still learning about the show. I’m counting on you guys to fill me in, which you already are! Nice to know the little-seen contestants aren’t cannon fodder, and that you trust the judgement of the judges panel.

  • geekygirl

    MJ we got idol later on but this show isn’t being picked up here as far as I can tell, at least not on any of the channels on my set. I love this show for the amazing talent and it is a real treat to be able to watch clips from it. Thank you sooo much!

    I like you fell in love with Evan, I thought for sure he was a shoe in! I adored Gene Kelly, an amazing athletic dancer. I was surprised about Brandon as well.

    I’m not an expert on dancing and I can’t dance myself but this show like idol is a joy to watch when you can see real talent and not just exhibitionism. I could take every reality show and send them to Pluto in a shuttle, but these two I would keep. You got great taste!

    And I have to say the judges on here are sooo spot on with excellent advice. Not full of the tired cliches the idol judges spew every season.

  • B

    For those who are tuning in for the first time, here are some of my favorite dances from the past two seasons…they’re a pretty good indication of how talented some of these people really are.

    Season 3:

    Neil & Sara, Disco

    Neil & Sabra, Jazz

    Kameron & Lacey, Contemporary

    Danny & Lacey, Samba

    Shauna, Solo

    Season 2:

    (the dance that won Mia Michaels her Emmy)
    Travis & Heidi, Contemporary

    Ivan & Allison, Contemporary

    Travis & Martha, Broadway

    Travis & Heidi, Paso Doble

    Travis, Solo

    Natalie, Solo

    Natalie, Solo

  • jenniewdc

    Thanks, MJ — I guess not having the Adobe Flash Player is the problem. I’ll try it when I get home.

    Thanks so much for the great window on American Idol that you give us, and now on So, You Think You Can Dance. Much work for you/Much fun for us!

  • jackietheblade

    Did anyone else find the music played during Mia’s Choreography last night amazing and captivating? Anyone have any idea what it was or how to find it? I’ve been scouring the net and I’m coming up with nothing. I will lose my mind if i don’t find it.

  • Grammie Kari

    Debbie Allen called the flying rapper-dude on his obvious ballet training à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t wait to find out his story.

    I have a feeling this guy was not so poor at one time. There has to be drama, so here’s one part. The same thing goes with picking Katie over Natalie. I wonder how long she will last?

    I miss my sexy Russian guy also!

    I wonder if there will be anyone new on the show?

  • KrazeeK120

    I’ve been out of town unexpectedly since Tuesday evening for business. I’m going to need some SERIOUS help with the pool since I didn’t see either of the shows this week!!!!

    ETA: I really wish Evan had gotten through. He goes to my college, and even though he’s not actually from my city, he would probably be the closest thing to a celebrity we’ll ever have.

  • AZIdolFan
  • Caffiend

    MJ, wow, girl, you sure put a lot of work into bringing us this. You’re the bomb!

    I must say I really enjoyed the equivalent of “Hollywood Week” show last night. I found it quite compelling. First time I’ve ever watched this show, but I’m hooked. I wonder if I can get tickets….

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    I wonder if I can get ticketsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.

    I’ll bet you could! :)

  • onlygirl
  • Ladybug

    MJ. Thanks for the detailed, and exciting!! recap! This is some great TeeVee, indeed. I got very hooked on this show from the get-go and have not been disappointed, other than not getting my fave guy through this summer. Ah well. Someone will catch my fancy. Happens every year.

    Wow! How tough is it to make it through Hell Days and then, at the very end, get cut. OY!

    B — Loved your choices. :thumbup_tb: Definitely mine, too.

    It will be very, very difficult to match last year. It was stunningly good, but I have high hopes since the same choreographers are in place and I know the judges picked some talented dancers. (There’s just too much talent on this show in my view.)

  • onlygirl

    Okay, so that didn’t work well, here’s trying the first again.

    SexyBack

  • hollygo9

    that picture looks like a skittle spill. They should be dancing about magic rainbows.

  • Ladybug

    that picture looks like a skittle spill. They should be dancing about magic rainbows.

    LOL! When I saw that pic, I thought the SYT people just went down to the local rail yard and said, “Hey? Any of you guys want to make our banner?”

  • erennick

    Nice to know the little-seen contestants arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t cannon fodder,

    Some of the unknown dancers are definitely cannon fodder. Although, they are all talented, there are different levels of talent and believe it or not, some that are lacking in personality. They are not all liked by the judges and that becomes evident after the first routine. The judges are all skilled at “judging,” but they have their biases. They definitely put four people (give or take) into the Top 20 that really shouldn’t be there. Of course, the judges put the pairs together too, so that can help or hurt the contestants.

    However, I love this show! The routines are amazing, and the kids are unbelievable to watch (especially after the first couple of weeks)!

    I also like that way the voting is done, so there are no “shock eliminations.” They have a bottom three and the judges save two, without ever revealing who had the least number of votes. And, the guys and girls are not necessarily eliminated in pairs.

  • s0x_prisoner

    Ooh I really like Kourtni. Her audition was lovely!

  • ericalina

    this is awesome, MJ!

    not sure if anyone has said this already re: cannon fodder, but i think it’s not as pronounced on SYTYCD as it is on IDOL. in fact, last year we hardly saw sabra during the pre-top 20 shows (if at all) and then she won. i think you will see during the top 20 critiques that the judges are very rarely merciless without reason, and it seems that they don’t just put people in the top 20 to tear them down, which seems to happen on IDOL a lot more often, to the point of everyone wondering why on earth would the judges have put so-and-so through to begin with, other than to tear the person down!

  • wfowfowfo

    I hesitate to admit to how long I was clicking on SYTYCD links today. All these auditions and links and the old favorite dances posted, which brought on more old favorite dances — I really do love this show. It’s great too, because I’ve found some really cool new music I wouldn’t have otherwise. They always give credits to the musicians, etc., it’s a summer love fest for me.

    I forgot how sexy Neil was. And Pasha — smoking!

    Can’t wait to see more of Mark and Gav this year. I found some stuff on Mark, and he’s a corographer from Hawaii — I’ll find the link in the a.m. and post it. I’ll admit to being a bit of a girlie-girl, I always find a guy to crush on. It’s going to be fun and will help with the Cook withdrawals.

    Thanks again MJ (and others!) for all the links.

  • hcpoirot

    Dont be too worry about dancers that didnot had any screen time before Top 20. Sabra also didnot had any slot time last year, she and Dominique slum in bottom 3 at the first week but got saved by the judges cause they were great at solo dance. So does Danny, who before Top 5 had round up 3 times in bottom 23 but always got saved by the judges cause he was talented.

    So the dancers who didnot had any screen time can shine when top 20 begin thru their dancing and YES thru their personality. If this is a show where the judges pick the winner and not the public,maybe personality didnot count so much, but with the public voye, I had to say both skill and personality had to be 50:50.

    Thats why this show always called the winner “American favourite dancer” and not “American Best Dancer”.

    Anyway, hope this year had a wonderful routines by the choreographers. I had noyiced this year probably was the worst year for the ballroom dancers, maybe only 2-3 finalist made into top 20? The hip hop style had around 4-5 finalist. The rest are jazz and contemporary dancers.

  • PalmettoStateRocks

    MJ, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I’m delighted you’re blogging SYTYCD this year. Your recap was just awesome. I’ve been watching this show since it’s first season and really enjoy it. Lot’s of talent, good judging with honest, well-meaning comments (except for Skankman, sometimes), choreographers’ egos and snark, and best of all – lots of fun! Your involvement will make it even more enjoyable!