‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Dallas And Nashville Auditions, Day 1 In Vegas

Yee Haw! Last night on So You Think You Can Dance, the judges rounded up the best dancers they could find in Dallas, but came up short of talent when they moved on to Nashville. It went down as the worst day of auditions in SYTYCD history. Only seven tickets to Vegas were handed out in the two-day Tennessee stint.

Speaking of Vegas, last night was also Day 1 of Vegas callbacks. With only five guys and five girl contestants making it to finals this season, the pressure was on. SYTYCD hopefuls had to dance through the pain of injured legs, fractured egos, and the ultimate pain of all: learning Cha Cha choreography from Toni Redpath (dubbed by Nazi Barbie). Now, let’s review who lived to dance another day and who had to cash in their chips and head home.

First, in Dallas Adam and Nigel were joined by Mr. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter himself, Tyce Diorio and Australian ballroom dancer Toni Redpath.

SCOOTER STYLE Wednesday night had Hella Hung, last night we had Conor Mclaughlin aka Scooter Rocket. At first got our hopes up in the beginning that we might have a rebirth of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s roller skating musical Starlight Express, but Conor’s blading skills fell short. Dressed in what looked like a laser tag shield and helmet. Much to Nigel’s dismay underneath was a guy who looked more much to th. Conor dug his grave further when he told the judges their expectations were too high He is somewhat entertaining and plays the guitar, perhaps he’s better suited for America’s Got Talent

MARGE SIMPSON Move over Snookie, we found a budding reality star with a hair poof bigger than yours. Waify Nicole Knudson first catches the judges eye with the large bun she wears at the top of her hair. Her “electric” contemporary number had actually Tyce speechless. He was literally stunned to silence. Nicole even took Toni’s breath away. When he finally gained the ability to speak again, Tyce told Nicole that talent like her comes along every hundred years and then dated himself by saying, “You’re everything and a bag of chips.” We’d be surprised if she doesnt make it to the top 10. (By the way, does anyone know what those headphones Nicole was wearing were all about)

THE DALLAS COWBOYS NEWEST CHEERLEADER? The words 29-year-old Deroccius Harris described his dance style included “pop”, “jazz hands”, and “masculine” (can masculine and jazz hands ever be used to describe the same thing?). While the judges thought Deroccius’ routine to “Toxic” a poor fit for the show, we don’t 100% agree with Nigel. Deroccius isn’t destined to be a Cowboys’ cheerleader, he’s meant to play a part in the next installment of the Bring It On franchise.

TONI WANTS TO CRAWL OVER THE TABLE AND GET INVOLVED, HUH? Jordan Johnson looks more like a punk rocker than a potential SYTYCD-er, but looks can be deceiving. Jordan delivered an amazing performance that was “dangerous. exciting” and even funny. He looks like he’s lived hard and he has. He spent five years fighting to stay sober. Toni seemed less interested in his dancing and more taken with his sexy vibe. “You’re not traditionally handsome but your energy is sexy. I want to crawl over the table and get involved.” He got a ticket to Vegas, naturally.

Then it was on to Nashville, a city that’s rich in country music, but apparently poor in dance talent.

“KELSEY’S BOYFRIEND IS NOT A VERY NICE GUY” Faith Looney and her BFF Kelsey (who was not auditioning) gave a routine that is sure to be making the rounds on YouTube this week. The two girls partnered for Flamenco dancing. Guest judge Joey Dowling said that she thought with the way their danced their low energy routine that they were kidding, they weren’t which only makes this audition train-wreck more hilarious. No ticket to Vegas, but they’re still best friends, until Kelsey’s boyfriend gets in the way again. Faith and Kelsey, this is going to be you at your 10 year high school reunion.

After a slew of unqualified dancers, the only saving grace in Nashville was SYTYCD’s past special performer Brian Gaynor. Even with scoliosis Brian was able to perform a routine that not only moved the judges to tears, but made Owl City’s “Fireflies” enjoyable. Nigel promises Brian and his new dance crew a slot later on in the season to perform on the SYTYCD stage.

VEGAS BABY In Vegas we met up with judges Lil C, Adam , Toni Redpath, Nigel, Tyce, and Mary Murphy (where have you been hiding, Mary?!).

Past contestants Alex Wong (Season 5 Top 20) and Billy Bell (Season 6 Top 20) both passed their Vegas auditions with flying colors, unfortunately with only five guys making it on to Hollywood they’re at a greater disadvantage than in previous seasons.

We were reunited with our favorite small town dancer Kent Boyd who was called on stage by Nigel with the dancers receiving special recognition.  Anthony Burrell and Sarah Brinson were both dancing injured, he with a sprained hamstring and she with a back injury. Anthony moved on, but sadly, the judges decided it was a “No” for Sarah. We were the most shocked that Tyce pulled out some of the kindest words to bid her adieu. Who knew he could be sincere?

During the hip hop choreography (taught by Tabitha D’Uomo) our rhythmic gymnast Rachel soon learned that two weeks of dance training isn’t enough to keep you in the competition (was this a surprise to anyone else?).

NO WIRE HANGERS! Those who made it to the next round of choreography, cha cha, faced the biggest obstacle yet, Toni Redpath’s “teaching style”. Barking orders like a drill sergeant with a bad case of hemorrhoids, Toni gave us flashes of Faye Dunaway in Mommy Dearest and the contestants nicknamed her Nazi Barbie.

Naturally with only 90 minutes to learn the routine from Redpath, the contestants were all a bit nervous, particularly Nicole “Marge Simpson” Knudson. The judges figure out her problem: her hair. It shouldn’t be up in a bun. Wait, really?! They give her a second chance to dance the routine with her hair down and she nails it. (Next season to spice things up they’re going to combine the show with Bravo’s Shear Genius and give the title to the best dancer with the best hair makeover.)

We were really pulling for Jordan in the ballroom round, but he just didn’t have the chops. We hope this rejection doesn’t send him back into rehab.

Cue Irene Cara’s “What A Feelin'” Ade Chike Torbert, who wowed the judges in New York, was dancing with two left feet in Vegas. Nigel granted him the opportunity to be the first Season 7 contestant to dance for his life. After a contemporary number danced in just a pair of black jeans, Nigel scolded Ade Chike, “How dare you deny us the beauty of that movement.” He will live to dance another day.

As we close out on the first eliminations in Vegas the only left for us to wonder is did someone slip Mary Murphy a sedative or is Season 7’s crop of dancers incapable of making Mary hoot and holler?