So You Think You Can Dance: Are We There Yet?

There were pirouettes, tears, leaps and laughter.  However, we didn’t really get to know many of the people on stage and only saw mere snippets of their abilities.  Thus, I’m not fully invested yet.  But we’re just one week away, and once that top twenty is set, it’s all going to change. I couldn’t be more ready.

Neither could Laurie Ann Gibson and Nigel, who both acted like coaches hopped up on more whey shakes and caffeine than humanly necessary. I’ve never seen her so intense, and that says a lot since she’s normally an 8 on the intensity scale, but tonight‘s cattle drive routine was definitely a 15. To steal just a small bit of quoting goodness from the lady, let‘s get into and “now DANCE!”

With Laurie Ann’s jazz routine, things are off to a sad, bad start as the auditions get underway. The show’s first married couples did poorly, but while Karen Hauer barely squeaked by, her husband Matthew just plain tanked. Even Willem de Vries, our certified gay, ballroom dancer and Iveta (my early pick to get to the top ten at least!) were cut in the first six minutes.

We met Mollee Gray in Los Angeles. She’s still just as sweet, but maybe not as put together as when we last saw her. I was hoping to see some of that talent I thought she was hiding, and I got quite the opposite. She ended up twisting  her ankle and handicapping herself as well as her group for the choreography round which was up next. Somehow she still managed to scoot by round after round so maybe the judges remember what I saw when she first auditioned or they’re just filling their cute little blond quota.

Another person who sailed through, though this time with style, was Russell Ferguson, this year’s official krumper. Do I really believe he’s had absolutely no formal training? I’m not so sure, but he gets a pat on the back for being so strong throughout Vegas week.

I’ve got to say I was pretty disappointed by this year’s group choreography round. And, surprised! It wasn’t because there was a lot of poor execution or a lack of creativity. Besides Molle’s group who gets shredded, everyone else seemed to impress the judges. We only see one good performance - Russell’s group. It was fun and creative and refreshing since they were first, and I hoped figured that it would be bomb after bomb from there on out. No luck for me! Where was all the drama SYTYCD? The exhaustion? The head butting? The TEARS?!

For Mia’s contemporary round, she goes from dragon lady to Zen lady. Last year, she was a ball buster and this year she’s leading meditations? Maybe seeing herself in a negative light on camera brought her back down to the real world. Though if her routine was any indication of what we’ll be getting this year, I hope that part of her stays crazy stupid!

The star this time around is Kevin Hunt who almost made it season three. Boy is a hip hopper, but he murdered contemporary. Billy, Molly, and Russell also do well. And then, there was Legacy. He almost brought me to tears. “It changed something inside of me. It’s your energy. Just your movement means something. And you just made me a better dancer.” Just another day in the life of Mia Michaels, life changer. He also impressed her so it was a win-win for everyone!

The final round of choreography is Broadway with Tyce. The girls are up first, and Pauline Mata gets screen time because her ankle bone swelled up to the size of a baseball. It gave me goosebumps, though, thankfully, not as gross as the Toegate. All she can think of is dancing, and all I can think is “your ankle bone looks like it’s about to pop out of your leg! How can you think of anything else?!” I don’t know how performers do it. Kudos!

Ashleigh Di Lello, the lackluster other half to her husband Ryan, finally impressed the judges (and me!) with some star quality. And Ryan makes everyone on the panel but Nigel drool so it’s no surprise that he’s a shoe-in to move on. Billy Bell makes Adam cry with his graceful moves and beautiful lines, getting Mia to ask “What are you?” and Tyce to ask “Where did you come from hunny?” I would call that Mission Top 20 Accomplished for Billy.

WRAP IT UP
So what did you all think? Where you surprised at some of the cuts? And did you agree with the contestants they put through? Are you forming your own top 20 in your head, and if so, who’d be in it? Are you as shocked and saddened by the recent Mia news?

The dance must twirl on, however, and we’re so close to seeing some full and fabulous dance routines. I can taste it. Tastes like sweat, tears and victory. Mmmmm.

Season 6, Episodes 8:  Vegas Callbacks, Part 2 (originally aired October October 14, 2009)

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Wednesdays at 8/7c on Fox

Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro