So You Think You Can Dance 5/28- Salt Lake City and Dallas…

Cat welcomes us to Salt Lake City for the first part of tonight’s show. Just like last week, I’m gonna highlight the dancers that stick out to me for reasons good, bad, and whatever…

Salt Lake City:
Judges: Nigel, Mary, and Mandy Moore

Chelsea Hightower- Before she even dances, I can tell she’s gonna get through. Because we get a video package where we meet her family and even go to her home. So she’s gettin’ through. Plus, she’s got an emotional back-story. She does appear to be pretty good though too, especially considering she’s doing ballroom with a partner that she borrowed from another dancer. The judges all love her, and, unfortunately, Mary uses the phrase Hot Tamale, indicating that the hot tamale train will be returning this season. I’m hoping it derails.

Brett Bamford- He has Downs Syndrome. Now, I may come across like a total d-bag for saying this, but I was kind of expecting a really bad audition. But he wasn’t half bad. It was more martial-arts dance than actual dance. The judges like him and say he’s a good mover, but he’s not a dancer, and they don’t put him through. He gets emotional music behind the speech he makes at the end about people with disabilities being able to do anything. My cold, cold heart does melt a little.

Michael Moore (Not sure if this is the right name)- His dancing isn’t of note (even he admits this), but he’s notable because he jokes around about how bad he was and what he knew he did wrong and about the idiot really bad dancers who claim they teach dance.

Shortly after this audition, they showed Cat eating it on the ice. Yet another reason I love her, she’s funny and takes it in stride.

Khazak Ice Breakdancer- His name may be Gaev- I didn’t catch his name, but he was really good. Good movement, rhythm and he mixed in contemporary into the breaking, which worked really well. He’s asked back for the choreography.

Apparently, most of the dancers in Utah are married and have kids. I don’t really have anything witty to say.

Nicole Downer- She brought her four kids to the audition. She’s 27, but looks older. She’s not very good. She doesn’t make it through.

Kelly Baker- Her mom is a famous dancer/choreographer. She was in High School Musical. She’s apparently had a lot of pressure on her. She’s got great extensions, and, should she make it far. I can’t wait to see Mia Michaels get her hands on this girl. This girl has such ridiculous extensions and lines and she raises her leg to like a 200° angle. It’s ridiculous. Mary says she’s too emotional to scream. She gets straight through to Vegas.

Choreography Round Day 1- Travis is back to teach the choreography round. It appears to be the same routine. Gev, despite Nigel douchebaggingly teasing him the other way, gets to Vegas.

Day 2

Ryan Race- He’s a strip club DJ. He kind of creeps me out. His girlfriend left him two weeks ago. I maybe kinda understand why. But he’s actually really good. He’s got a really good fluidity to his breaking. Nigel compares him to a plastic man and Nigel wants his job. He goes to choreography.

Matt Dorame- Really good lines and extensions, especially for a guy. He also seems to be enjoying himself on stage. The judges all love him.

Kortney and Michelle- Two Utah blonds who got married and divorced at the same time as each other. They’re best friends and co-fitness teachers. Kortney is ok, not great but not bad, and makes it to choreography. Michelle is much better, and even though she keeps slipping because of her socks, also makes it to choreography.

Choreography Day 2- Michelle, Kortney, and Ryan all make it to Vegas.

Dallas
Judges: Nigel, Mary, and untalented director Adam Shankman (Hairspray is an exception)

Chad Agnor – He’s a full contact fight trainer, who also teaches hip hop and line dancing. He pulled his hamstring while waiting to audition. Nigel warns him against auditioning for his own safety, but he auditions anyways. They tell him to come back next year when he’s uninjured.

Paige Jones- Beauty queen. My viewing companion used the word bimbo three times during her pre-dance package. Her dancing doesn’t seem all that good to me. Nigel wasn’t a big fan of her dancing type, but he likes her. Nigel, remarkably, asks her not to expose herself. She’s sent through to choreography.

Joshua Allen- Pretty good pooper, but not as good as big three breakers from LA (Robert Muraine, Twitch, and Philip Chbeeb). He’s got definite potential though. He’s ridiculously agile though. He goes to the choreography.

Cassidy Something or Other- White girl hip-hop/popper dancer. She wants to prove white girls can booty pop. She doesn’t. Nigel calls it one of the worst auditions they’ve seen. I don’t think that’s quite fair. It’s not good, but I’ve seen so many worse ones and we’re in the second audition show. They cut her.

John and Arielle- He’s a prop here clearly, but he exhibits her beautifully, being there for all the lifts she needs. She’s pretty fantastic though. The judges kind of just acknowledge that John was there to be strong and lift her. They send John to choreography and Arielle gets a ticket straight through to Vegas.

Steven Arner- He’s bad, but he’s of note because he pisses Mary Murphy off. Well, he actually pisses everyone off. He actually seems pretty humble, until they suggest that he needs work in his hop. He then calls Mary a bleeped obscenity which I can’t quite interpret.

Choreography Day 2- John gets cut, but Paige and Joshua make it to Vegas.