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So You Think You Can Dance auditions in South-West

curlio

2008-05-29 15:30:58

So You Think You Can Dance continued their auditions in the South-West last night as we traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah and Dallas, Texas. Host Cat Deeley said that they were aiming for new talent that they hadn't seen yet.

Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy were there for the judging of course. Joining the pair in Salt Lake City was Mandy Moore, who has choreographed on the show before but never served as a judge.

First up was Chelsie Hightower. Chelsie's family has been through some financial troubles lately but they have sacrificed nearly everything for Chelsie's dancing. Her brother even paid for part of her tuition in dancing school. She has 5 brothers so she is very tough. Chelsie borrowed someone else's dance partner to dance with. They never talked about who she was dancing with, but I thought he was very good too. The pair of them, for having not partnered together before, worked very well together. Nigel liked that she used all of her face in that routine. Mary thought her legs were very sexy, particularly because of the way she used them. Mandy thought she has star quality. Chelsie gets a ticket to Las Vegas

Next up was Brett Banford, who has Down's Syndrome. He wanted to be on the show to be an inspiration to people with disabilities. Brett is a messenger for the Special Olympics as well. His dancing, while fun to watch, wasn't up to the quality needed for the show. The judges were very nice about it though. Nigel said that he would be honest and not patronize him. Nigel calls him a good mover and an inspiration for everyone. He thinks that he would be a good mover in a club. Mary tells Brett to keep dancing and enjoying himself but he isn't strong enough for the show. Mandy liked that he had everyone cheering for him. Brett doesn't get through.

Michael Moore has a large family of Native American dancers. He doesn't dance like they do however. He did join a dance company to try to get his dance routine more legitimate for his audition. Nigel thought it was desperate and hectic. Michael agrees that it was bad. Mandy thought his biggest problem facing the back, rather than the judges. Michael admits it but doesn't know how he managed to get turned around. Michael doesn't get through either.

Gev Manoukian does breakdancing on ice. He auditioned two years ago, but didn't make it. He says it pushed him to train more in the technical aspects of dancing, not just the breakdancing stuff. Nigel likes that he is controlled and exciting. The judges want him to stick around for the choreography round.

Lindsey Judkins was next. Nigel thought she was good but needs to watch that she doesn't open her eyes too wide. Mary thinks she's very cute and a good mover. Mandy is concerned that she might be one dimensional. Nigel thinks she'll breeze through the choreography round, so she gets to go straight to Vegas.

A clip on marriages and kids leads to Nicole Downer, a stay-at-home mom to 4 children under 6. She brings her children with her to the auditions. Her audition looked more like a mom who is dancing to try to embarrass her children rather than as a real talent. Nigel asks her how long she's been doing this. Nicole said she did tap for 14 years, but had to give it up. Nigel thought it was fun. Mary loves her personality. Mandy tells her to keep dance in her life. They don't give her a ticket to Vegas.

Kelli Baker has a very famous mother. Her mom is Bonnie Story, who won an Emmy for her choreography in High School Musical. Kelli had a part in it as well. Kelli says she has to audition for her mom, she doesn't just get her part through nepotism. Dusty gives her a "WOOHOO" and notes that if she makes the Top 20 he's sure to watch now. Her dancing was beautiful and graceful. Nigel calls her one of the best this season. Mary tells her that everyone in life has to find their own way, then calls her the best dancer all season. Mandy had goosebumps when watching her. She gets a ticket to Vegas.

Then we were up to the choreography round with Travis Wall. Gev managed to impress enough to get a ticket to Vegas, after Nigel asked him if he would carry on picking up choreography and come back another year. After Gev says yes, Nigel gives him his ticket.

Day two starts off with Naomie Christensen, who is an actress and financial advisor. Nigel asks her what she was doing. Naomie says it was a jazz thing but she messed up in the middle. Mary gives her a reality check and tells her it wasn't dancing and it wasn't good. She feels like Naomie is putting people on. Mandy is speechless, and feels like they are being punked.

This leads to a clip of bad dancers considering new career options other than dance. Then we get a guy who has a career that Nigel envies. Ryaan Race is a DJ at a Strip Club. He had been dating a female dancer he knew before she started dancing. She left him a couple of weeks ago, so he's going to dance his misery out. Nigel calls him unique, then asks about his job. Nigel thinks it's a fantastic job. Mary loved it. Mandy asks if he choreographed that. He says it was freestyle. They want to see him in the choreography round.

Matt Dorame and Thayne Jasperson get quick tickets to Vegas, though Nigel asks Matt to never wear the shorts he wore again.

Last up for Salt Lake City were two friends, Kortney Pearson and Michelle Stringham. They had been friends for 5 years. They married and divorced at about the same time. Kortney has a son. Michelle is a dance fitness instructor, and Kortney helps her out now. First up was Kortney. Nigel tells her she needs to get her technique back, as this is her first time back in 5 years. Mary enjoyed watching her. Mandy thinks she has potential. Kortney gets to go to the choreography round. Then it was Michelle's turn. Michelle has the same story, she hadn't danced in 5 years either. Nigel noted that she slipped a lot. Michelle said that the stage used to be a Marley floor. Michelle also gets through to the choreography round.

In the choreography round, all three make it through – Michelle, Kortney and Ryaan.

Then we were off to Dallas for auditions there. Hopefully the dancers there are better than the singers there. Joining on the judging team as the guest judge for Dallas was Adam Shankman, who has choreographed for the show but again hasn't been a judge.

Brian Davidson says he dances what he feels period. He says period a lot. He says he doesn't get nervous, period. He wasn't good, period. Nigel isn't sure what he was doing, he wasn't dancing. He and Nigel have a bit of a tiff, Nigel tells him he needs to work harder to be on this show.

Chad Agnor is a full contact fighter trainer, a ballroom dance instructor and also teaches line dancing and hip hop. Unfortunately he injures himself as he's warming up, pulling and possibly tearing his hamstring. Nigel tries to talk him out of auditioning as it is a serious injury. Chad decides to audition anyway. Nigel says that it isn't fair to ask them to judge him, because he wasn't his best. Ultimately Nigel tells him to come back next year. Chad was worried he'd be too old next year, but he is only 29 now, the age limit is 30 on the show.

Next up was Paige Jones, who is a 4.0 college student and a pageant queen. She gives the cameras a tour of her pink apartment. Naturally I hate her. I wasn't fond of her dancing either. It looked like it was "okay now I go here and do this, then I go over that way and do this move." Nigel notes that she and Mary have a similar smile. Nigel thought it was a bit dance-schooly, and not coming from the heart. Mary agrees that it was a bit competition-style and needed to be developed more. Adam thought there was no heart and zeal. They decide to put her through to choreography round.

Joshua Allen is a street dancer. After seeing him dance in loose clothing, I'm not sure I want to see him in a tight little leotard thing (it might be distracting if you know what I mean). He's very good at what he does though. His jumping split was the highest I've ever seen. Nigel tells him if he has to fight for his life he'll get through. Mary fell in love. They want to see him in the choreography round.

Cassidy Corder was a cheerleader who decided that the part of cheerleading she liked best was the dancing. She basically just got up there and shook her butt and her boobs like a cheap ‘ho. She thinks she's good at hip hop. She's not. Cassidy says she got nervous. Nigel thought it was one of the worst auditions they've seen. Mary thought she was just throwing her hair around. Cassidy wants a shot to do the choreography round. They don't give her that chance though.

Brianna Gardner and Kayleigh Darling both get quick boots as well.

John Dix and Arielle Coker were up next. Arielle wanted to audition and talked John into auditioning with her. They did a lot of lifts, he's a very strong guy but not much of a dancer. Nigel compares it to Step Up, thinking John looked like the strong non-dancer. Mary thought it was great partnering work. Adam liked that he got to her and caught her every time. Nigel says no to John. Mary says yes to both. Nigel then proposes that Arielle goes to Vegas while John goes to the choreography round.

We're then treated to a clip of people who are going to Vegas, I'm looking forward to the one girl that Nigel called one of the best female hip hop dancers.

Steven Arner was up last. He did a Hip Hop dance routine with a chair. Nigel asks him what he was doing. Steven says he got lost, but was doing good at the beginning. Nigel says it wasn't good. They have a bit of an exchange then move on to Mary who calls it terrible. Adam thought he looked like he was sleepwalking. Steven says he needs training in ballet and classical. Mary says he needs hip hop training. He calls her a bitch. Nigel points out that even his peers aren't clapping. Mary kicks him out of the auditorium.

Then we had only the choreography round. There were 72 dancers there for that. Pageant Queen Paige gets to go through (joy), as does Joshua. John however doesn't get to go through, but he seems happy for Arielle anyway.

Tonight we're on to Washington, D.C. and Charleston, S.C.

So You Think You Can Dance auditions roll on

So You Think You Can Dance starts season four

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GUEST ( Guest )

2008-05-29 17:50:51


	The reason Chelsie Hightower was featured with video of her at home with her family was because the producers knew a lot about her before she auditioned. This young woman has been participating in U.S. and international dance competetions since she was a pre-teen and had lessons from many top-knotch instructors/choreographers. I don't have any problem with contestants having extensive training or competitive dancing in their backgounds as long as they are amateurs. They shouldn't be penalized for starting dancing at an early age or reaching a high level of accomplishment. You do have to wonder if this girl really had to stand in line in the snow in Salt Lake City to get to perform for the judges? The same applies to Kelli Baker, the daughter of the well-known choreographer. Do performers with "resumes" get preferential treament? I hope not, because if it comes out that they do, it could damage the credibility of this show just as American Idol's reputation was somewhat tainted this past season with suggestions that some of the contestants were "planted" inn the competition because of their backgrounds.

Don't mind me, I'm just a guest.

GUEST ( Guest )

2008-05-31 01:56:46


	could someone pls tell me the song Travis uses for the choreography round?

Don't mind me, I'm just a guest.

Shenova ( Head Editor )

2008-05-31 04:26:10

She who thinks!
	"Hopefully the dancers there are better than the singers there." Memory reminder - A certain Jason was/is from Dallas...

curlio ( Website Owner )

2008-05-31 07:35:19

YATTA!
	Shenova said: "Hopefully the dancers there are better than the singers there." Memory reminder - A certain Jason was/is from Dallas... There are clearly exceptions Intelligent people CAN come from West Virginia, good singers/dancers CAN come from Texas...

"Now you know why lions eat their young" Capt. Phil Harris

winona1717

2008-06-03 01:11:04


	Guest said: The reason Chelsie Hightower was featured with video of her at home with her family was because the producers knew a lot about her before she auditioned. This young woman has been participating in U.S. and international dance competetions since she was a pre-teen and had lessons from many top-knotch instructors/choreographers. I don't have any problem with contestants having extensive training or competitive dancing in their backgounds as long as they are amateurs. They shouldn't be penalized for starting dancing at an early age or reaching a high level of accomplishment. So what was the reason Nicole Downer was featured with video of her at home with her family? The producers show videos of everybody, so that doesn't prove anything. And I want to see dancers who have been in competitions all their lives. How boring would it be to watch a bunch of total amateurs. It is rare to find someone who has just started dancing to make it through. And it is great to see all kinds of dancers, the best in their dancing styles, performing together.