Are you ready for...So You Think You Can Dance dance dance dance !!!!!
It's summer and So You Think You Can Dance is back with a few changes. Mia Michaels is back as a permanent judge (although I'd rather see her choreograph, then judge), only 10 make it to the live stage, and many of our favorite past contestants will be back as partners for the live show. But back to the auditions...yes I know I'm a few days late, but I'm a busy young professional. :)
Thursday night's episode found us in NY for auditions. After a fun opening montage that made you want to get up and dance, we met Sarah Brinson, the "big" dancer who has learned to look past the opinions of others and focus on being her best. After Sarah's beautiful dance, Nigel asks Sarah if her parents are dancers. While not dancers, they are in fact athletes...golfers to be exact. In a case of "insert foot in mouth," Nigel follows up with, "Has your mom played with Tiger Woods?" Really Nigel?? To recover, they gave Sarah a well deserved ticket to Vegas!
Up next it was time to shake your bon-bon with Giselle Peacock and Henry Byalikov...I was waiting for a wardrobe malfunction. Seriously! I though her top was going to slide off and show us more than we wanted to see! Thankfully her shirt stayed on and they were both off to Vegas.
No SYTYCD audition is complete without the "what was that?" dancers. Up first for public embarrassment was Mike Perlman aka "1 2 3 Party!" who describes his style as "dance-tastic furious footwork from the 80's." You know this is going to be good! Complete with neon green shirts, layered shorts, knee high tube socks and problems with the Boston PD, Mike showed us how to get down...80's style! If you're having an 80's party and want some crazy dancing, call 1 2 3 Party!
After a few more passionate clips of dancers who according to Adam "love dancing more than dancing loves them" we get to see the return of Teddy Tedholm who made it to Vegas last year and is back hoping to go all the way. With the first brilliant performance of the auditions and by far my favorite of the night, Teddy moved Mia and Adam to tears. Dancers like Teddy is why I love this show.
One of the best things about SYTYCD auditions is that all dance styles are allowed, even country line dancing...Scott Vogel country line dancing. Scott's fun personality makes it easy to look past his job (which he's passionate about) as a cleaner of crime scenes. Unfortunately for Scott, he did not make it to the next round.
OMG! Here comes Jamie Grecco who creates cult horror movies. He/She shows up on stage dressed in a skirt and performs a bit of a gross (or humorous-depending on your mood) strip tease, but here's the kicker...he's wearing a fruit hat! The judges loved it, but not enough for Vegas. I could have done without seeing it...ever!
There is something about contemporary and jazz pieces that captivate my attention and make me wish I could dance! When those boys (and girls) leap across the stage, like a deer running through a field, I am in awe!! The strength, the agility, the flexibility, the beauty. I'm in love!
Megan Carter, a self-proclaimed "thick" dancer, closes out NY and "schools" us all on stereotypes. You don't have to be skinny and petite to be a great dancer. Megan made it to choreography, but unfortunately was cut at the end of the day.
Up next...Miami.
(To be continued..)
