'So You Think You Can Dance': One city to go

This is it. So You Think You Can Dance only needs to hold auditions in one more place and it's on to Vegas and our Top 20. So excited! Our last stop for the first round - Milwaukee, WI. Hopefully they'll show better than Dallas seemingly did.

Cat informs us via voice over that there have been 179 dancers sent to Vegas thus far. That seems like an awful lot more than last year...but then I don't remember how many were sent last year. C'est la vie.

Before we get on with the show, we're treated to some of the best past auditions that we haven't been able to see, including a montage of dance clips spliced with Nigel "dropping slang." I must say I'd rather hear two hours of Nigel being hip than Randy Jackson "being hip." Ack.

Michael Kim/21/MA/Popping - He tried out in Season 2 and didn't make it past Vegas because the Latin dancing ambushed him. After taking more classes, he finally decided to tryout again in DC. Michael hits everything really hard and clean without being heavy or clompy. After a love-fest from Mary, Nigel and Weak Sauce Dan, amazingly Michael got a ticket straight through.

Roommates Katee Shean/19/CA/Contemporary and Natalie Reid/22/CA/Contemporary auditioned in Los Angeles. Katee goes first. She's another one of those "smile when you watch her" dancers. She has great extension through her limbs and really finishes her moves. Mia tells her that she's "a joy to watch" and she gets her ticket. Cat lets Katee peak into the auditorium as Natalie goes. What I like about her is both her odd yet beautiful movements and the fact that she actually had mood for the song. Nigel commended her on showing that you don't have to plaster a grin on your face to be captivating. As I assumed, Mia really liked her and she also got a ticket.

Janette Manrara/24/FL & Romulo Villaverde/19/FL/Salsa - They auditioned in DC and as they took the stage, there were a series of lecherous grunts from the judges panel, primarily from Weak Sauce Dan and Mary somewhat mockingly in return. They're probably the most impressive Salsa dancers they've shown so far, receiving a standing ovation from the other dancers in the audience. Janette's got great legs and Romulo is a very strong partner. The highlight was this part where she's in a back-bend and her head starts on his back and goes to the knees and down to the feet. It's crazy. The judges compliment them on the crazy awesome tricks while they caution Romulo on letting his excitement get the best of him in his movements. They get sent to the choreography round and, unfortunately, only Janette gets sent to Vegas. But Romulo vows to come back next year.

Back to the Milwaukee auditions. Joining Mary and Nigel this time are Napoleon & Tabitha, a husband/wife team that have choreographed for Missy Elliott, Kanye West and Christina Aguilera. Anyone who's done steps for Missy has my undying love. Also, the frost pixie strikes again as the once sunny day they were experiencing turns into a flurry of snow.

Immediate Tickets to Vegas
Bianca Rivels/19/IL/Tap - I think this is our first tapper so far. Her body language is very Gregory Hines. She's very smooth and has a classic quality to her dancing. Nigel calls her "superb" and she gets solid comments from all...which equals a ticket.

Evan Kasprzak/20/MI/Jazz - He's like Gene Kelly with a smidge of Fosse and Donald O'Connor and a touch of modern day. Very old school musicals - love it. Evan also threw in a crazy high split leap in the middle. Like me, the judges really appreciated his whole vibe and he's straight on through. He's on my list of favorites.

Kourtni Lind/18/CA/Contemporary - I find her to be adorable with her blonde pixie hair. She's makes great shapes and really carries her movements all the way to her digits and toes. Mia will love her. Kourtni also is one of the few dancers who didn't smile through her whole routine. The judges gushed over her with Nigel, after saying she looks a bit like Uma Thurman, saying Quentin Tarentino would want to do Kill Bill:The Musical after seeing this audition.

Rebecca Hart/19/CA/Contemporary - This is her second try this season. During her first audition in LA, she was told that she seemed too much like a "competition dancer." Since she really wants this she made adjustments and two weeks later Rebecca's back. Nigel told her it was the best he'd seen that day. Tabitha sees the love but also cautions that it seemed a bit "rehearsed" in some parts. But the fact that she made such strides in such a short amount of time really paid off so it's off to Vegas with her.

Cooper Zamorano/19/CA/Contemporary - Our first televised dancer on Day 2, he's got some Travis to him - both in dance style and in hairstyle. Nigel cautioned him about making faces while dancing but makes it straight through anyway.

Phillip Courter/20/MI/Breaking - He had great personality up there and did this fantastic no handed backflip to his chest. After he finishes dancing and before the judges can give their evaluations, Phillip talks a little about how hard it was to see his friend Yesi get hurt (he went on right after her - see below) and tears up a bit. Nigel offers a bit of consolation before telling him how great he was. Same goes from Mary and Tabitha & Napoleon (to quote Tabitha, "Stop crying 'cause you did wonderful."). Surprisingly to me, and some of the dancers in the audience, he gets himself a ticket.

Lizz Plott/24/NY/Tap - Our second tapper of the first round brings it to us acappella, which is always impressive. Nigel really digs her. Interestingly, she tried out last year but did Contemporary/Hip Hop instead which is why she wanted to make a return. Mary called her the best female tap dancer that she's seen. And it's a good thing she mentioned trying out with different styles - it dispenses with the need for the choreography round and sends her straight on to Vegas.

Stand-Outs
Ashley Henry/25//IN/Hip Hop - She may not have the technique but she can shake her can like anybody's business. To her credit, Ashley does have tons of charisma. Tabitha compliments her on that front and tells her to take dance classes, as that would make her be "on fire." The judges were charmed enough to send her to the choreography round. Nigel giving the reason that it will push her to take classes. When she talks to the judges and gets the inevitable no, she tells them that she already got two ballet classes set up back home and that she'll see them next year.

Susie Garcia/24/FL/Latin - She's dressed like a Pussycat Doll and works it out with as much flash. Nigel says that at times there was no flow but at other times she reminded him of Shakira. Her knee-high Chuck Taylors didn't help her cause - a lot of her moves would've been enhanced by heels. But I liked her and the judges eventually pushed her to the next round to see if she can do the steps. And, much to her joy, she made a much better impression the second time and gets a Golden Ticket.

Brice Casimir/18/AZ/Hip Hop - He's originally from Cameroon and has been in the States from a little over two years and has wanted to try out for the show since he first saw it. There was some great ticking and he's got a lot of promise, but he isn't quite there yet. The big problem, as the judges point out, is that he's dancing too inward and isn't playing to the audience. However, he'll get a second chance to impress during the choreography round. Unfortunately it's no go but Napoleon tells him they hope to see him next year.

Yesenia Gomez/24/MI/Hip Hop - Yesi makes her appearance on the second day. She tried out last year and got 4 rounds into the Vegas auditions (Mia's section) before getting cut. But it inspired her to work very hard on her technique and get in better shape to try again. But...crap! She turned her knee during the performance and didn't get much into her routine. After bursting into tears and passionately telling how her life changed for the better after they gave her a chance, Nigel told her that he wants her to take care of the knee and to come back next season. Which sucks because she's injured but it's good see that all the judges (and dancers in the audience) were really supportive of her.

Raymond Love/22/MI/Hip Hop - He performs with a female partner who isn't auditioning. Nigel stops them about 15 seconds into it and lays into Raymond for not emoting before allowing them to start again. He upped the ante a bit but it still felt a little flat...though the number he choreographed was great. When discussing the motivation for the number, he revealed that there was a lot of stuff in his head based on the flack he was getting based on his being a minister. But they push the emotional Raymond through to the choreography round to give him another shot. Unfortunately, he's got too much mental baggage to break through. Nigel does tell him though that he's got a future in choreography if the dancing doesn't work out for him but to come back next year.

Danielle Chorizo - The last dancer on Day 1, Danielle did a ridiculous yet impressive routine to "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls complete with an umbrella, shiny black raincoat and fan. But there's something very familiar about this...um, girl. Nigel, guessing that it's Ryan Seacrest at first (jokingly), is convinced he knows this dancer. And he does. It's Travis Wall in drag. Fantastic!

Assorted Bits & Pieces:

• About 30 dancers in total were sent to Vegas.
• While I appreciate seeing a couple extra great auditions, I'm still miffed that The Best Female Hip Hopper Nigel's Ever Seen wasn't included in that bunch. Boo, hiss!
• I really hope Tabitha & Napoleon choreograph this season. I hope I hope I hope. If Shane Sparks doesn't get to participate because of America's Best Dance Crew, having Missy choreographers would be an excellent consolation.

Did you see any potential front-runners this episode? Did you have a favorite? And do you have any guess who might be in the Top 20 based on what we've seen up to this point?

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