Lists
Guess what! This is finally the last audition episode before Vegas week! Honestly I think Vegas week is maybe my favorite episode of each season, so I'm happy these auditions are finally over. But you know what made me crack up? During the preview for Vegas, the voiceover says something like, "only 20 will survive," and then the video cuts to someone messing up a trick and going unconscious. Dramatic much? Sheesh.
The final auditions took place in Salt Lake City, with guest judge Adam Shankman joining regulars Nigel and Mary. Before I get into the auditions in earnest, I want to touch on a couple things. First, tacky editing. Look, I know. You're trying to get ratings. But it bothers me when the judges and everyone else is really nice to heartfelt people in person, and then completely make fun of her with the editing. I'm talking about the girl inspired by the cosmos, obviously, Lynn Gravatt. I just didn't appreciate how they made fun of her when she was so earnest and sweet, and clearly was just inspired by dance.
On the other hand, they make a big deal about another dancer who we ultimately know isn't going to make it on the show, but because he has an inspiring story and appears to be an extremely kind and genuine person (which Lynn seemed to be too, he's just less weird about it), he gets standing ovations and all sorts of stuff. And I'm not knocking Leroy Martinez, don't get me wrong here. I just get a little aggravated by how they edit things on the show sometimes, you know? I can't be the only one.
ANYWAY. Sorry. Off the soapbox now, I promise.
I think my favorite audition of the night has to go to the krumping girl, Mariah Spears. Man she was ON it. I was seriously impressed, because you'd never just look at her and think oh yeah, she's a krumper. They sent her to choreography, and she nailed it. Go girl! I also really enjoyed Dareian Kujawa, who I merely wrote "beautiful, softness" by in my notes. Also surprisingly impressive, to me, was Witney Carson, the latin ballroom dancer who looks about 12 years old. But she was pretty damn good, garnering the first Mary woo hoo of the season. Finally, I thought Gene Lonardo, though his praying mantis audition was undeniably sort of strange, was actually also pretty dang good. They set it up like he was going to be terrible, but he wasn't!
Why didn't I mention Adrian Lee in my favorites? Because along with the judges, I have to agree, his audition choreography was less than stellar. However, that being said, I think his could be a compelling comeback story, and he's obviously got talent. Whether the other repeat offenders to Vegas week will have as much luck as him, I'm not sure, because I think he probably has the biggest chance of all of them. That we've seen so far, anyway. There could be others in there that they didn't show us yet.
There were a few other dancers that didn't impress me as much that were also put through to Vegas. Deanna Tomasetta, the Italian contemporary-ish dancer. Lindsay Arnold, another latin ballroom girl who I thought was fine but not as good as the other one. And... Rachel Applehans, who got these scribbles, "stripper audition? Tongue?! EW. Burlesque jazz, okay." As the judges put it, she had way more burlesque than jazz in her audition, but after going through choreography was sent through to Vegas.
Well, that's about it for the audition rounds! Do you have any favorites heading into Vegas week? Any predictions about who's going to make the top 20?
Previous Episode -- Next Episode
- Sytycd S10: Vegas Week
Vegas week is always the hardest week to recap, so this may be a little haphazard with random comments. It's hard to cover everything. The solo round gets rid of at least 50 dancers. Must always be a bummer to get there and then just have to leave....
- Sytycd S10: Memphis Auditions
Wayne Brady joins Mary and Nigel in the final episode of auditions in Memphis. Thank goodness this is the last audition episode, am I right?! Dorian "BluPrint" Hector - Animation, in same crew as Cyrus from last season. Self-described style as sort of...
- Sytycd Season 8 - Nyc & Slc Auditions
Man, I don't know about everyone else, but these two hour audition shows really wear me out. So much to process, and some of the people you like that they focus on won't even make it that far in Vegas! Speaking of Vegas - are we going to see Alex...
- ...set: Sytycd S7 Auditions La & Chicago
Night two of season seven of So You Think You Can Dance features Los Angeles and Chicago. I really can't wait until we get to Vegas because these audition periods can be exhausting and sometimes quite boring. Only one more night of auditions and then...
- ...set: Sytycd S7 Auditions Nyc & Miami
Watching "regular" TV - that is to say, scripted rather than reality - most of the time has made me forget just how commercial-heavy this show is. To which I say - UGH. Each commercial break had an extra minute as compared to normal! You learn what's...
Lists
SYTYCD S9: Salt Lake City Auditions
Guess what! This is finally the last audition episode before Vegas week! Honestly I think Vegas week is maybe my favorite episode of each season, so I'm happy these auditions are finally over. But you know what made me crack up? During the preview for Vegas, the voiceover says something like, "only 20 will survive," and then the video cuts to someone messing up a trick and going unconscious. Dramatic much? Sheesh.
The final auditions took place in Salt Lake City, with guest judge Adam Shankman joining regulars Nigel and Mary. Before I get into the auditions in earnest, I want to touch on a couple things. First, tacky editing. Look, I know. You're trying to get ratings. But it bothers me when the judges and everyone else is really nice to heartfelt people in person, and then completely make fun of her with the editing. I'm talking about the girl inspired by the cosmos, obviously, Lynn Gravatt. I just didn't appreciate how they made fun of her when she was so earnest and sweet, and clearly was just inspired by dance.On the other hand, they make a big deal about another dancer who we ultimately know isn't going to make it on the show, but because he has an inspiring story and appears to be an extremely kind and genuine person (which Lynn seemed to be too, he's just less weird about it), he gets standing ovations and all sorts of stuff. And I'm not knocking Leroy Martinez, don't get me wrong here. I just get a little aggravated by how they edit things on the show sometimes, you know? I can't be the only one.
ANYWAY. Sorry. Off the soapbox now, I promise.
I think my favorite audition of the night has to go to the krumping girl, Mariah Spears. Man she was ON it. I was seriously impressed, because you'd never just look at her and think oh yeah, she's a krumper. They sent her to choreography, and she nailed it. Go girl! I also really enjoyed Dareian Kujawa, who I merely wrote "beautiful, softness" by in my notes. Also surprisingly impressive, to me, was Witney Carson, the latin ballroom dancer who looks about 12 years old. But she was pretty damn good, garnering the first Mary woo hoo of the season. Finally, I thought Gene Lonardo, though his praying mantis audition was undeniably sort of strange, was actually also pretty dang good. They set it up like he was going to be terrible, but he wasn't!
Why didn't I mention Adrian Lee in my favorites? Because along with the judges, I have to agree, his audition choreography was less than stellar. However, that being said, I think his could be a compelling comeback story, and he's obviously got talent. Whether the other repeat offenders to Vegas week will have as much luck as him, I'm not sure, because I think he probably has the biggest chance of all of them. That we've seen so far, anyway. There could be others in there that they didn't show us yet.
There were a few other dancers that didn't impress me as much that were also put through to Vegas. Deanna Tomasetta, the Italian contemporary-ish dancer. Lindsay Arnold, another latin ballroom girl who I thought was fine but not as good as the other one. And... Rachel Applehans, who got these scribbles, "stripper audition? Tongue?! EW. Burlesque jazz, okay." As the judges put it, she had way more burlesque than jazz in her audition, but after going through choreography was sent through to Vegas.
Well, that's about it for the audition rounds! Do you have any favorites heading into Vegas week? Any predictions about who's going to make the top 20?
Previous Episode -- Next Episode
- Sytycd S10: Vegas Week
Vegas week is always the hardest week to recap, so this may be a little haphazard with random comments. It's hard to cover everything. The solo round gets rid of at least 50 dancers. Must always be a bummer to get there and then just have to leave....
- Sytycd S10: Memphis Auditions
Wayne Brady joins Mary and Nigel in the final episode of auditions in Memphis. Thank goodness this is the last audition episode, am I right?! Dorian "BluPrint" Hector - Animation, in same crew as Cyrus from last season. Self-described style as sort of...
- Sytycd Season 8 - Nyc & Slc Auditions
Man, I don't know about everyone else, but these two hour audition shows really wear me out. So much to process, and some of the people you like that they focus on won't even make it that far in Vegas! Speaking of Vegas - are we going to see Alex...
- ...set: Sytycd S7 Auditions La & Chicago
Night two of season seven of So You Think You Can Dance features Los Angeles and Chicago. I really can't wait until we get to Vegas because these audition periods can be exhausting and sometimes quite boring. Only one more night of auditions and then...
- ...set: Sytycd S7 Auditions Nyc & Miami
Watching "regular" TV - that is to say, scripted rather than reality - most of the time has made me forget just how commercial-heavy this show is. To which I say - UGH. Each commercial break had an extra minute as compared to normal! You learn what's...