So You Think You Can Dance 5: Vegas Massacre
Posted by ERIN in So You Think You Can DanceJune 4th, 2009, 01:09 AM
This is the first time I’ve tuned into the So You Think You Can Dance auditions and Vegas week and, erm, is it always that brutal? I blame the editing - it was like lambs to slaughter! So many favorites from the past audition weeks were cut down at the knees, and in so many cases left me wondering, “Why?”
Most were dismissed without explanation beyond, “Sorry, your journey ends here.” If they were lucky they got feedback like, “You just haven’t lived up to our expectations.” *sad trombone* I wanted to hear more technical reasons why a lot of the dancers didn’t get through. A simple, “You need to work on [blank] to make it to further” would’ve been nice. Le sigh! SYTYCD videos (by MJS Big Blog) and recaps below:
Alex Wong (VIDEO) - Ripped, elegant ballet dancer. Made it to Top 32. His solo made me wish the producers would give him more screen time.
Tony Bellisimo (solo VIDEO, crying VIDEO) - Tony’s first solo had too much ‘acting’ and not enough dancing, but after watching clips of him performing other styles, I developed a Bellisimo crush. He “danced for his life” in Mia Michaels’ contemporary number and made it to the Top 32. When he broke down sobbing, I got all kinds of verklempt. Love him - what a cutie pie! Hope he makes the Top 20.
Brandon Bryant (VIDEO) - I still think he’s abso-fraking-lutely amazing to watch, but he got shat on by choreographers Lil C and Mia Michaels (love her dances and have no prob with her being demanding, but she was cruel in her comments all episode!). They both said they’d heard amazing things about his dancing from other judges, but when they saw him he was blah (again, we don’t hear why they’re unimpressed, only that they just don’t like him). Forget the criticism, Brandon, I love your humongous tree-trunk legs and the *pow* in your movements!
Caitlin Kinney (VIDEO) - Gymnast/recent hip-surgery survivor Caitlin let her nerves get the best of her during the choreography challenge and had to “dance for her life”. She just barely made it through to the Top 32. We’ll see if she can stay focused and grounded enough to make the Top 20.
Evan and Ryan Kasprzak (Nerdography routine VIDEO, West Side Story routine VIDEO) - The “Broadway Brothers” make it to Top 32 (I’m waiting for the judges to pit them against one another for a spot in the Top 20…). Ryan choreographed an impressive hip-hop routine called “Nerdography” which rallied the judges AND made Adam Shankman cry. If nothing else, they should bring Ryan back as a guest choreographer. So creative.
Phillip Chbeeb and Arielle Coker (VIDEO) - Chbeeb the Popper made it to the Top 32. His friend Arielle does not. Chbeeb reminds me of Ray Romano in the face, anyone else? I’m still not as head-over-heels about him, but he is definitely a judges’ favorite to make the Top 20.
Natalie Reid (VIDEO) - The poor red-headed favorite (a.k.a. Katee Shean’s roommate) got cut for reasons unknown (maybe she didn’t “bring it” enough for the judges?). Other contestants (and viewers at home) are stunned. So much for that storyline…
OTHERS CUT: Son of accepting football coach Travis Prokop (VIDEO), widow Talia Rickards (VIDEO), rheumatoid arthritis sufferer Gabi Rojas (VIDEO), goofy Japanese locker Nobuya Nagahama (VIDEO), infectious grinning popper Sammy Ramirez (VIDEO), tap dancers Eric “Silky” Moore (VIDEO) and Bianca Revels (VIDEO), pretty blond whose dad had MS Amanda Kerby, bubbly Priscilla Marrero (VIDEO), Caitlin Kinney’s curly-hair sister Megan.
MAYBE CUT? These folks were also my faves from audition weeks but may have been cut without fanfare. Memphis Jukin cop Marico Flake (VIDEO), Anna Dunn whose dad committed suicide (VIDEO), Kellen Stancil who did the lovely umbrella dance for his passed aunt (VIDEO), quirky Seattle oddball Kelsea Taylor (VIDEO).
ALSO IN THE TOP 32 (VIDEO): Latin ballroom couple Asuka Kondoh and Ricky Sun (VIDEO), gal with cutest grandparents evs Kayla Radomski (VIDEO), Hawaiian contemporary dancer Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau (VIDEO), ballroom split-flip sassypants Janette Manrara (VIDEO), “the naughty ballerina”and the beauty pageant gal.
Tonight, So You Think You Can Dance continues in Vegas where the remaining 32 (16 guys, 16 girls) get whittled down to the final 20 dancers. Who are you rooting for?
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June 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
You did not mention Bianca
June 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
sorry u did I missed that
June 4th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
LOVE those broadway brothers!
June 4th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I also like how this site saves my name and email everytime so i dont have to retype.
July 4th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
What are the name of the 12 people that got cut??
There was this hot as chick named Paula, i wanna see her audition!