by LauraBelle
None of us were quite sure what to expect from So You Think You Can Dance. Being it was from the people behind American Idol, we questioned whether it was supposed to be like Fox's biggest hit with dancing subbed in for singing. The thought of William Hung dancing was a bit too frightening.
The other concern was the rumor that Paula Abdul was leaving American Idol because of the Corey Clark sex scandal, and would now be joining what has affectionately become known as Dance Idol, and replaced on American Idol by Whitney Houston.
With no Paula Abdul in sight, Lauren Sanchez was our host. Producer Nigel Lythgoe from American Idol led the panel of judges. It was anyone's guess if any of them could be as caustic as Simon Cowell.
The audition process also separated this show from its singing Fox counterpart. In each city the dancers would audition in three stages. In the first they would dance for the judges alone. If they were allowed through, they would then learn a routine from a choreographer. If they passed this stage, they would then audition in pairs and learn yet more choreography. A very select few would then be allowed to be one of fifty going to Hollywood.
In the first audition city of New York we saw Jason Maschi, an ocean lifeguard. As he dances an average routine to disco hit Freak Out, he is quickly dismissed, with Nigel saying if Jason saved lives like he danced, there would be a lot of people drowning. Also average is Candace Latham, a dance teacher. Nigel, the far more outspoken of the judges, tells her she spun well, but so did his wife's clothes dryer.
We see so much of Cheryl Texicara's background, we know she'll be moving on. Currently working in a burger joint, she admits to only dancing for two years with a major in psychology. Nigel tells Cheryl she looked like Britney when she danced, and quite frankly she just looked like Britney, period. As assumed, she makes it through.
Fun Zone worker, Christine Delano, says she has her own style. That she did, including moments of pulling up her pants as they slipped down below her ample waistline. She doesn't make it through.
There were many breakdancers, but the one that impresses the judges the most is Daniel Gordon, and he is allowed on despite some reservations. There are also many belly dancers auditioning. The best of this bunch is busty Isis. She had said Isis was her real name, and the judges ask if her "accessories" are real as well. After she replies they are now, Isis proceeds to the next round.
Many types of jazz dancers – Ukranian, Spanish and "Whatever this is" – are seen, but it is American Jazz dancer, Erin Pelligrew that impresses judges enough to move on. Hip hop artists are in great abundance, too, but it is an Indian hip hop artist that is sent on to the the next round.
In a very odd exchange, four Ukranian gymnasts who don't speak English take the stage. After much trial and error conversation, three are there to dance and another is there to do gymnastics with one of the dancers ... we think. We never do get a real clear picture of what everyone is there intending to do. They did some acrobatics combined with what Nigel calls "moody walking about." The fourth person is never seen dancing or doing anything, so it's never clear exactly what she is doing there.
A choreographer joins those that made it to the second round and teaches them a quick routine. Daniel turns out to be a one-trick pony and is let go, as is the Indian hip hop dancer. Surprisingly Isis can do more than belly dance and moves along with the others to round three.
Everyone in the third round is split into working in partners to see a different facet of their dancing. After, the remaining dancers are seen one-by-one by the judges to be evaluated and told if they are moving on to Hollywood or not. Cheryl is told she's moving on. Even though the judges aren't too sure how well she did working with a partner, Erin is told she is moving on as well. Isis, unfortunately, is sent home with her "accessories." Cheryl and Erin are the only ones to make it through from this first day in New York.
Day two of New York auditions brings a new crop of dancers and first up is Musa Cooper, a New York City sidewalk breakdancer. He says dancing makes his heart move. At the end of his audition dance he does this shaking body thing. Nigel tells him he looks like Dr. Frankenstein's subject having volts sent through him, yet he is well-received and sent on to the next round.
Kamilah Barrett has a dancing style that she's been told reeks of sexuality. She explains it to the judges as hip hop jazz with a little pizzazz. I don't know about the pizzazz, but she definitely does reek of sexuality. Nigel tells her for some reason she is one of his favorites, and she moves on.
Anthony Bryant is not one of his favorites. When Anthony, barefoot and clad in short tight shorts and a shirt left all unbuttoned, says he'll be doing a certain dance, Nigel says, "Called ...." Anthony then mishears him and thinks Nigel asked if he was "cold." Juliard-trained Anthony moves into a beautiful flowing dance, but ends it weirdly with a very feminine-looking ribbon dance. Nigel hates the ribbon, but loves the technique, tells him he's never seen a guy do a Russian Olympic gymnast routine, and sends him on to the next round.
Mandy Thomas takes the stage and she immediately becomes a favorite. She can't speak to the judges, but it's not because she lost her voice as they assumed; she's just crying because she's happy to be there. Nigel tries to calm her by telling her she's just dancing in front of three ugly Brits. The other judges take offense, and change it to only one ugly Brit. This works and Mandy cracks a smile. She does a cute dance and even comes off the stage and puts her hat on Nigel, who notices she lost the nervousness while dancing. She is told she is moving on and starts crying again.
Ashley Dawson performs an odd interpretive dance. I'll admit this gal is flexible, but to me it's just odd. The judges are all impressed, though, and she makes it through. Everyone across the board is impressed with Melissa Vella, who works in a day care center. She has been selected to go to Beijing to represent Team USA for her dancing. Nigel tells her he hopes the others watched her, as her dance had everything he is looking for.
Large Brandon Jones does a great hip hop routine. Nigel isn't so sure how he'll do in the later rounds, but likes his personality and sends him on. Breakdancer Dominic Sophia displays some personality as well. After, Nigel asks if his testicles are still there while Dominic explains dancing like that makes your boxers ride up. He moves on. Perhaps he should find some different underwear before round two.
Pamela Highgrove enters the competition with much confidence. Nigel isn't thrilled. He tells her the face pull she was doing made her look ugly. He also says her lockin' was old school, and even Toni Basil did it in Mickey. She takes great offense and tells him he should take a class in lockin', believing he doesn't know what he's talking about. As she leaves, she calls him a wannabe. That'll fix it. That will make Nigel want to invite you to Hollywood.
All the dancers sent through this day are then led by the choreographer through the same routine as the group the day before. Mandy is freaking out once again and becomes inconsolable, to the point a paramedic is called for her. She is never able to calm herself down and leaves the competition. Another dancer leaves as well, saying the choreography they are asking people to do will leave only white people with lots of money.
Brandon holds his own in partners, and Kamilah does quite well, but is told in her one-on-one that Nigel is worried she will turn into a diva. Nevertheless, she is going on to Hollywood. She leaps off the stage and kisses the judges as Nigel says that was worth it. Brandon is told his looks are deceiving. They love the style he showed in partner work, and he admits it was his first time working with a partner. He is told he is unique with a big heart, and will be going to Hollywood.
Melissa is asked about her Beijing invite. Nigel tells her the bad news is she's not doing Beijing after all; the good news is that she's going to Hollywood instead. Not going on is Anthony who takes great offense when Nigel tells him his dancing looks too feminine. He says if he'd known they were looking for masculine, he would have done that. Nigel points out when you're working with a partner who is female, it's obvious who should be the masculine one.
The judges still enjoy Ashley and her interpretive dancing. She is being sent to Hollywood. All in all there are ten people from New York that are moving on.
In Chicago, Nigel is the only judge, the others having other commitments. American Idol choreographer, Carrie Ann Inuba, last seen on Dancing With The Stars, fills in.
Waiting in the hallway is Johnny B., with even more confidence than Pamela Highgrove, if at all possible. He also brags of his rap CD he made, which for some reason he thinks will be on Chicago radio station B96 soon. He is challenged to a rap battle by Nigel Holt and is shown up. Nigel dances for the judges to Rock The Casbah. Judge Nigel notices that Nigel the dancer has a bald spot from doing head spins. He is sent on to the next round. Johnny dances the same way he raps, and is sent home.
Dance instructor Maricza Valentin left her husband in favor of her dancing; it obviously means a lot to her. She performs with five of her students to La Bamba. They all make it through.
A series of bad dancers are shown, led by Chris Jackson, who looks like every guy I've seen at a wedding after a few beers, and a girl that farts while she's dancing. I bet that impressed 'em.
Andrea Saveli works eighty to ninety hours a week as the assistant manager for a food service company, as a private caterer and also as a dance instructor. She did well, but Nigel notes that Andrea didn't smile once during her routine. She believes she doesn't need to as sexy girls have ambiance. What? She is asked to smile more in the next round as she moves on.
Street performers Zachary Clark and Dustin Dinwiddie are painted as statues and don't dance, per se, but more or less do their street routine. Nigel isn't sure they are that good and tells them if he were a pigeon, he would let them know what he thinks. Nevertheless he's giving them a chance and moving them on.
Chris Corres shows up with his wife who is due to give birth in two-and-a-half weeks. Nigel believes Chris promises more with his dance style than what he actually delivers. He gets a chance to deliver more and is moved on. Breakdancers John Quincy Vereem and Nicholas Gates both deliver and make it through to the next round. Nicholas had a unique style where he laid on the ground at the end and made the sound and movement of a thumping heart.
Lisa Deschaaf made it to the Hollywood round of American Idol. She's out to try her luck with dancing this time. Nigel tells her that even though she is twenty-nine, she dances like she is eighteen or nineteen and points out that is not a compliment. She is being sent on to see if she can bring more sophistication to her style.
Eugene Gaskin, even bigger than Brandon, dances barefoot. When Nigel mentions he doesn't look like a dancer, Eugene says there's a dancer deep inside him. Nigel quips, "How many dancers are inside of you?" He is told he is not for this show and later blames it on stereotypes.
Carrie Ann leads all these Chicago dancers in the second round in a salsa routine. In the partners round, Nigel the dancer is partnered with Maricza, and Nigel is always one step behind her. He is sent home and is not happy. In the one-on-ones, Maricza is told she is a very good partner, but is questioned on her abilities to dance solo. She points out as an instructor, she hasn't had to follow someone else's choreography for quite some time. Noting the importance of dance in her life since divorcing in favor of it, Nigel sends her to Hollywood.
Ashley is told she isn't included in the twenty-five strongest dancers, but promises if she is picked she will work very hard to be one of those twenty-five. Nigel takes a chance and sends her on. Chris Corres isn't getting the chance. The good news is he'll be home for the birth of his baby; the bad news is he won't be in Hollywood.
Andrea makes it to Hollywood, asks if she can hug Nigel, and says her parents would kiss him. Nicholas and Lisa move on as well. Lauren makes a major faux pas and tells Lisa outside her father must be proud of her. Oops, it's her fiance.
By the end of the show, I wasn't quite sure what to think. It wasn't American Idol, and I noticed they made changes to the audition process like the ones we have been asking for from Idol. Yet, something has been lost. We only saw a few bad auditions, which we thought we wanted, but without that, much of the fun factor and personality seem to be lost. I had a hard time getting into this show, but am hoping after auditions are over it will pick up some speed.
If you think these contestants can dance, email me at LauraBelle@realityshack.com
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