'So You Think You Can Dance': Vegas week begins!
At long last, it's Vegas week on season six of "So You Think You Can Dance." And as a reward for making it through all the auditions, umm, we see some fan favorites get cut. But that's Vegas week, baby!
Solo standouts:
Nathan Trasoras/18/Contemporary - We saw Nathan last year during auditions, when he was both fantastic and ineligible. He's still the former. Also: ADORABLE. I want to put him in my pocket and carry him around with me.
Ellenore Scott/19/Contemporary - I love her routine! It's set to staccato plinky string music, has tons of humor and personality, and is basically fabulous, garnering a standing ovation from the crowd.
Second round:
Awesome b-boy Jean Lloret somehow doesn't make it through hip hop, while my quirky hero Teddy Argyle Pants sails on (only to be cut in the ballroom round). Ryan Kasprzak, sadly, is pretty shaky and barely squeaks by.
The ballroom routine is seriously challenging. So challenging that we're treated to more icky bloody close-ups, this time of Billy Bell's accidentally smashed nose. Russell, the krumper who was an early favorite for many of us, is partnered with Iveta the ballroom all-star. She's unsurprisingly great, and he is right there with her. If this kid isn't Top 20 material, I don't know who is!
Ryan is unfortunately too stiff in ballroom and doesn't make it through. Bummer! What happened to the Year of the Tapper?! B-boy Legacy struggles with the idea of dancing to someone else's choreography and is forced to dance a solo to stay in the competition, as is contemporary dancer John Litzler. Of course these guys are both fantastic soloists, but John's nerves get the best of him and while his acrobatic moves are great, his personality doesn't shine through. Legacy, however, will live to dance another day - unlike Skip, our New Orleans Bounce pioneer. Nuts.
Cheers and Jeers:
Jeers to half of our same sex ballroom couple being eliminated (fairly, but saaaaad). Cheers to not putting Ryan through just because he's Evan's brother - they both have fantastic solos, but share the same weakness of being unable to smoothly pick up other styles. Cheers to Mia Michaels. Just because.
Any outrageous eliminations you want to vent about? New favorites?
I'm so happy. This year looks to be very strong as Ryan - who would've been a shoo in for top 20 in any of the last 3 seasons based on the fact that they always took the final cut the following season - was cut and same with Teddy (another featured dancer from earlier this season). Ditto with a couple of the other dancers who got the profile treatment in the audition shows (incl. the hearing impaired girl).
Re: Year of the Tapper -> there are still 3 tappers left that were featured in the auditions in Bianca, the dancer who was Ryan's roommate on the Fosse tour (sorry name is escaping me) and a 3rd male tap dancer (again name is escaping me) -> youngish African-American dancer. I believe the 3rd tapper has auditioned in a previous season as well.
I love that the judges aren't giving the dancers 3 and 4 chances - they are cut on their 1st or 2nd chance.
Looks to be an awesome season shaping up.
Just wanted to add a comment about Mia Michaels. She was a guest judge this week on SYTYCD Canada (along with Dan Karaty) and she said yesterday (Tuesdays are the performance shows) that the top 4 girls (was Top 8 week) were the best on any SYTYCD stage EVER (I'm not sure if she's ever participated on any versions outside the U.S. or Canada but that still encompasses seasons)!
Also, Mia has shaved her head. She'll also be choreographing a group routine (I think they said for next week's results show, but not a bill on that) so be on the lookout for that if you can.
I think I saw, in the sea of faceless cuts, Megan Kinney. With nary a word spoken of her. I could be wrong, but if I am not, I am sad. I liked her.
Hope to see several of the cuts return with some more practice and training under their belts!
Krumper Russell amazed me.
Thank god Ryan Kasprzak is gone!!!! I'm glad to see minimal favoritism for him since he clearly didn't bring it this year
also, mia is s douche bag, everything that comes out of her mouth is fake. she's just trying to get on the good side of canada as she's a guest...not to mention she's currently promoting her own products/merchandise across canada.
I think I'm on board with Mia, the top 4 girls on SYTYCDCanada might be the best I've seen as a group although I wouldn't say they're the best dancers ever on the show individually. And I dig her shaved head. I dig her. I'm not sure she's a fake, I just think she has a very high opinion of herself (bit of a turn-off). I'm sad about Ryan but it's true that he wasn't great. He was better last season and should have been picked over his bro back then, although it's true that they share the shame shortcomings.
And Russell? HELLOOOO! Wow, I was not expecting such a good ballroom performance and I hope he makes it. I absolutely love Legacy and kind of disagreed with Mia's comment. He doesn't stop too much, he performs and connects with the audience with the attitude of a B-boy. Isn't that what they ask of dancers?
I think it's gonna be the best season yet...
I think I'm on board with Mia, the top 4 girls on SYTYCDCanada might be the best I've seen as a group although I wouldn't say they're the best dancers ever on the show individually. And I dig her shaved head. I dig her. I'm not sure she's a fake, I just think she has a very high opinion of herself (bit of a turn-off). I'm sad about Ryan but it's true that he wasn't great. He was better last season and should have been picked over his bro back then, although it's true that they share the shame shortcomings.
And Russell? HELLOOOO! Wow, I was not expecting such a good ballroom performance and I hope he makes it. I absolutely love Legacy and kind of disagreed with Mia's comment. He doesn't stop too much, he performs and connects with the audience with the attitude of a B-boy. Isn't that what they ask of dancers?
I think it's gonna be the best season yet...
whats that song legacy danced to?
@Mar -- Legacy danced to "Lady" by the Commodores ... pretty surprising old-school choice. :-)
I have been a loyal viewer for 6 seasons. I have not always agreed with America's choice of winner.. but generally believe the judges to be on the mark.
HOWEVER.. cutting a brilliant artist like Ryan was RIDICULOUS. Sadly, they've lost me. I'll say a prayer for the crumper and the ballroom dancer. Other than that.. hope to see Ryan next season. WHAT A TERRIBLE DECISION.. JUDGES!