SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE….Vegas Week

Thousands auditioned but only 152 dancers made it Las Vegas.  One by one they will be sent home until only the top 20 dancers are standing. These 20 will compete this season for your votes with one being named America’s Favorite Dancer!

Welcome to Vegas Week!

Your Vegas Week judges are: Tyce Diorio, Mia Michaels, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.

Vegas Week started off with each of the dancer’s performing a solo in their own style. The judges didn’t provide any critique but the performances were being carefully watched.  After each group of ten solos the judges conferred, and if a dancer received three or more votes they moved on. If not, it was the end of Vegas Week for them.

I suppose if you are a true dancer then you are used to rejection and heartache, but I can’t imagine making it through the hometown auditions and all the way to Vegas only to be cut after one short performance. Devastating. I couldn’t take that stress.  It’s why I decided to kill the dream and stopped dancing. Right…yup.

A familiar face was the first one to take the stage. Nathan Trasoras blew the judges away during his Season 5 audition.  Unfortunately he wasn’t old enough to compete, but that didn’t stop the judges from giving him a ticket straight through to Vegas…for Season 6. Once again he was fantastic. And once again I had to remind myself that I’m technically old enough to be his mother (I would have been Lifetime movie young, but it’s still possible.  Oh the jailbait that SYTYCD dangles in front of my eyes each season).

Next up was Ellenore Scott who brought not only technique but major personality to her audition. She was sassy. I liked her a lot.

Bounce dancer Shelby Skipper was just as fun, and well, bouncy as I remembered him from his audition.  He had the judges boppin’ at the table. Unfortunately he was cut in a later round, but I commend him on bringing his style of dance to the attention of so many new eyes.

About 25% of the dancers were cut on the first day.  But the kids had no time to breathe, it was on to the next step.  In the next round, the dancers had to quickly learn a not so easy hip hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napolean.

Ryan Kasperzak, a familiar face from last season, barely made it through the Hip Hop round. The judges were split down the middle, but he had the three votes to move him forward.  Nigel chastised him for perhaps spending too much time watching his brother Evan make it to the final four last season, and not working hard enough on his own craft.  Ouch, and a little unfair, no? I’m over the Kasperzak’s but I thought that was a little harsh.

For those who made it through the Hip Hop round it was on to Ballroom with choreographer Louis van Amstel Light (sorry I just couldn’t resist, no matter how hard I tried.) The routine that these dancers had to learn in one hour was insane.  Not only were the steps and transitions ridiculously hard, but the pace was so fast I had to double check to make sure I hadn’t accidentally hit fast forward on my remote.

Krumper Russell Ferguson, representing Boston, is the first Krumper ever to make it to Vegas Week.  For the ballroom round he was paired with Yvetta Iwontevenpretendtoknowhowtospellherlastname-ita. The two rocked their ballroom routine and I think Russell took everyone by surprise by his talent. He quickly became one of my favorite dancers of this season and I hope he makes it to the Top 20.  We need some Boston blood on that stage this season.

Another fan favorite (well a fan favorite if you’re name isn’t Jessica Murphy) Ryan Kazperzak was shockingly cut in this round. But let’s face it. He wasn’t as good as he was last season.  And there was no way the judges were going to let him through to the Top 20.

One of my personal favorites from the audition rounds, Contemporary dancer Johnathan Litzler was also cut after dancing for his life. So sad.  Come back next year, please!

Although I spied him lurking in the background a few times, Jakob Karr, my favorite auditioner, has yet to be showcased in Vegas.

Next week we’re back in Sin City for more of Vegas Week.  77 dancers remain.  Who will be cut and who will make it to Season 4 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

One more quick note. Earlier today Nigel tweeted that this season, before the competition officially begins, the Top 20 will perform, not for your votes but in an effort to showcase their talent.  Since for some odd reason so many of the Top 20 dancers aren’t featured throughout the auditions, I think it’s nice for them to be able to show the audience what they’re all about.  It evens the playing field a little, especially since at least a handful of the Top 20 will have already had ample screen time.

I dont’ know about you but for me Season 6 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE started tonight.  I can’t wait for the Top 20 to be revealed and for the dancing to begin! I’m ready for some crazy new talent this season and I think some of these dancers can really bring it!