Ballroom Dance Channel

Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Salt Lake City Auditions of So You Think You Can Dance.  This is our final city before heading off to Vegas…let’s see what talent is in store for Nigel, Mary, and Mia Michaels tonight.

We begin Day 1 with Bryan, who can’t wait to show off his power moves and great flexibility.  His routine is quite energetic, and I’m amazed by the strength of his arms.  Nigel believes this is one of the best Hip-Hop auditions this season, and the judges love his spirit and energy.  They send Bryan off to the choreography round.

Our next dancer is Tristy, who has had terrible luck riding in cars.  She’s been in 25 cars accidents in 3 years, and she was always a passenger, never the driver.  I’m sure nobody ever wants to ride anywhere with the poor girl again.  She’s learned to really appreciate life and do what she loves.  Her routine is pretty rough, but you can tell that she really tried hard and gave it her best.  The judges ask her if she’s had any training, and she says she’s been training for 3 years.  Nigel tells her that whoever is teaching her is definitely not giving her her money’s worth.  Tristy is not moving on to the next round.

Hayley has also had some tough luck…while rehearsing a pass, she did not land as she was supposed to and wound up with a herniated disc in her spine.  She was told that she would have permanent nerve damage, but with acupuncture and therapy she is doing well.  Her performance is powerful and emotional, filled with amazing gymnastics.  Her splits are just incredible!  The judges love that she is strong, confident, and uninhibited.  Hayley tells them that she cannot live without dance in her life.  Mia asks her about her handstands, so she shows that off as well.  Hayley is going to Vegas!

We see quite a few incredible female dancers, including Megan Kinney, the sister of Caitlyn from last season’s Top 20.  Her strong technical solo is taking her to Vegas again!  Also going to Vegas is Genise, who performs a gorgeous contemporary number.

Our next girl to dance is Ariana, who is a local burlesque dancer.  She thinks the way to the judges’ hearts is a striptease.  Most of her movement is on her chair, until she strips down to her red undies for the judges.  This woman seriously needs a pole to dance with!  Of course Nigel loves it, while Mary and Mia are speechless.  They decide to send Ariana to the choreography round.

Our final solo is from Iveta, who is originally from Lithuania.  She came to the United States hoping for great opportunities.  She performs a captivating Rumba with her partner, who is not auditioning.  Her spins are just amazing.  Nigel calls her vivacious and thinks she’s the most brilliant ballroom dancer he’s seen since Pasha and Anya.  Mary is so moved that she cries, saying Iveta is exquisite.  Mia thinks she’s magical and it’s a privilege to see her dance.  Iveta is going to Vegas!

In the choreography round by Pasha and Anya, Bryan quits after about 15 minutes, realizing that he needs more training and will come back next season.  Ariana really looks like a mess out there, and the judges tell her to go get more training before next time as well.  13 dancers are moving on to Vegas.

We start Day 2 with Pascal, who admits to being kind of crazy and says you have to be different so you can be entertaining.  He shows us some very strange, spastic movements.  It actually looked like he was going into convulsions at one point, then he rips apart his shirt and does the worm.  His insanity rubs off on the judges, who can’t control themselves anymore.  Mary feels like this is an exorcism.  Nigel says it made him think Pascal has a bad case of food poisoning, and the judges didn’t see any actual dancing in the routine.  Pascal is not moving on to the next round.

After some clips of really great couples auditioning, we meet another couple…Ashleigh and Ryan.  They started out as competitors, then fell in love and got married.  Their moves are crisp and sexy, but she is a little too campy for me in a number that’s supposed to be passionate.  The judges love Ryan, but think Ashleigh is a bit too fake and not as in tune with her husband as they would have liked.  Both of them are sent to the choreography round.

Our last couple is Leigh and Josh.  They have only been dancing together for 2 weeks, but they are very good together!  The moves are sharp, sexy, and passionate.  At the end of the number, Leigh’s toenail comes off, leaving her to bleed all over the place.  Nigel calls for a medic to bandage her up.  The judges believe they are a good pair, but think Leigh is more amazing.  Leigh is going to Vegas (after she goes to the hospital) and Josh is headed for the choreography round.

In the choreography round, Josh does not do so well and is not moving on.  Ryan and Ashleigh are both going to Vegas, along with 19 more dancers.

Tune in tomorrow night when Vegas Week begins…which of our 152 dancers will make it to the Top 20 and go to Hollywood?  The excitement of Las Vegas starts tomorrow.  Until then, good night everybody!