So You Think You Can Dance: Brooklyn and Denver Auditions

If this season’s American Idol was any indication of how great the contestants will be on this year’s talent reality shows, well then, this is going to be the best fifth season of So You Think You Can Dance yet! It’s time for auditions but we’ll focus on the good and those we’ll actually get to see again.

The first stop consisted of seeing the Brooklyn auditioners. Seeing as Brooklyn is the home of the BBoys, I was hoping to see a crazy amount of awesome hip hoppers and breakers, but ’twas not so. Tabitha and Napoleon were the guest judges, and every time I see them my heart goes thump, thump. They’re married and love dancing and love making dances together. HOW SWEET!

Here’s the run down of those you should look out for and those you should be happy you never have to see again.

ASKED BACK

Gabi Rojas was raised in the circus. Her body is deteriorating because of rheumatoid arthritis, but you’d never know by the beautiful performance she put on. Already the first person predicted to be in the Top 20.

Peter Sabasino is the first tapper to be put through to Vegas, and straight away at that. It’s always hard to judge tapping because I know it’s difficult and love the rhythm of it, but it’s so focused on one small area of the body that I don’t know enough to say what’s great or just good. But the judges thought he was fantastic.

Nobuya Nagahama did some pop n’ locking. He was the first REAL hip hopper we got to see, and I was underwhelmed but the judges like him enough to check out his choreography. It was smooth sailing to Vegas after that.

Arielle Taylor and Kellen Stancil both did some great contemporary dancing. Arielle tried out in Season three but didn’t make it because she was so young and just not mentally ready. She came back mature and readier than ever. Kellen danced with an umbrella and was inspired by the memory of his late aunt. Both go straight to Vegas.

Chimezie Nwosu did some hip hopping and flipping. He’s the kind of guy who’s athletic enough to do some cool stuff if it’s given to him but clearly doesn’t have the knack for choreography himself. The judges see the potential however so it’s off to Vegas for his.

SENT HOME

Tiffany Geigel was this year’s first inspirational audition. She was born with spondaic thoracic dysplasia which means she has less spinal vertebrae than we do so everything in her upper body is smushed together. You could tell she loved to dance, and she had talent, but her disability definitely didn’t allow her to do some of the things needed to be a great dancer. The best thing about her was her spirit and how she showed everyone that no matter what, if you love something you can do it if you only try.

THE REALLY STRANGE

I’ve seen “joint-tortionism” on America’s Best Dance Crew, but never done like this. Saalim “Storyboard” Muslim and Habby “Hobgoblin” Jacques are Mutation. And when they rub some “schmean” on their faces, (basically some green paint) they turn into something truly scary. The idea is cool, but bone breaking isn’t really dancing. Like the judges said, they’d be great for movies, but not for the show which is probably why they left before learning the choreography.

Of all the Brooklyn dancers, 41 were sent through to the next round. That’s A LOT in my opinion.

In Denver, we’re joined by last season’s new judge Sonya. She doesn’t look as crazy as she did last season with her mohawk. Maybe the hawk is just toned down today.

ASKED BACK

Hopefully you’ll remember Natalie Reid because I sure as hell do. She lost out to her bestie who came thiiis close to winning last season. I would say, at the time, they definitely picked the better of the two, but Natalie’s had a chance to improve and comes back even better. Off to Vegas you go.

Brandon Bryant was in the same boat as Nat. He lost out to Gev who did extremely well last year also. Technically he was already great, it was more about not having the personality like Gev did. He proved once more that he should be in the competition, but Nigel begs him to bring some personality to Vegas.

Kayla Radomski lives with her grandparents who are so cute. They totally love her and her dancing, and it makes me want to cry. And the judges love her too, especially Sonja who seems to love EVERYONE who’s remotely good.

SENT HOME

Elias Holloway auditioned with his 16-year-old brother. He’s a swimmer, but in the last few years, they’ve picked up some pop n’ locking. I wouldn’t say he was AMAZING, but he has a cute personality and definitely enough talent to go to the choreography round. He was sent home when he couldn’t pick it up fast enough but asked to practice and come back next year.

THE REALLY STRANGE

Allison Moist danced with conviction but also channeled a lion for her performance. She looked more like a cat to me. You know, when you’re 10 and paint a black nose and black whiskers on your face. Oh, and there was a light saber.

Misha Belfer and Mitchel Kibel. One is gay and the other is straight, which I think makes the dance even WEIRDER. Nigel has gotten a lot of flack for some of the comments the judges made about these two male partners. I could understand if they both were gay, and had that sexy thing going on for their partner and one chose to act the typically male role and the other the “typically” female but they switched roles which just made me more confused. I didn’t care that they were two men, but not only did they mess up royally, but the whole switching back and forth was off.

Of all the Denver dancers, 19 were sent through which is more like the number I was looking for in Brooklyn, but I guess if there’s such a huge discrepancy that tells you the difference in the amount of dance talent in those cities. We do have some of the greatest dance schools in the country if not the world here in NYC.

Can’t wait for the next So You Think You Can Dance auditions in Memphis and Miami next week.

Season 5, Episode 1: New York and Denver Auditions (originally aired May 21, 2009)

For another take on this episode, check out What did the umbrella represent to you? by Robin Reed.

For more on So You Think You Can Dance, click here.

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