'So You Think You Can Dance' Recap - Audition #4

Forgive me for starting my recap with something personal that’s nevertheless quite related to the topic of So You Think You Can Dance at hand. Before watching Wednesday’s show, the last night of SYTYCD auditions, I was at a play rehearsal where a very kindly choreographer had the arduous task of teaching me how to waltz. As I’ve previously stated, I have the dance ability of a drunk toddler and even refused to do the Hora at my own Bar Mitzvah. Luckily, the dance was fairly easy and my character’s dance ability was only slightly better than my own, but it gave me another level of respect for the SYTYCD contestants. In the two hours it took this episode of SYTYCD to air, I learned (but not mastered) a 30-second routine. This experience solidified two things for me: the ease and fluidity that these dancers bring to the table is so, so much harder than it looks and, well, I’m glad I’m on the recapping side!

Like the previous audition week recaps, I’m just going to talk about my top five auditions from this show. They are:

Elaine Kimble
While the judges thought Elaine played it safe, I found her lyrical solo mesmerizing. Yes, her story of medical woes was moving – Elaine, born with a hole in her heart, is quite literally dancing for her life – but what moved me even more was her solo. There was no gimmick to her moves, no tricks, only exquisite technique and some gorgeous dancing.

Angelina Granitz
Inspired by her brother, a fellow dancer she nicknamed Bubbie (who, for the record, looked nothing like my Bubbie), Angelina took up dance, an act which completely transformed this shy teen. During the interview Angelina was awkward and nervous, albeit in a cute Zooey Deschanel kinda well, but when she started to dance the quirk melted away and Angelina transformed into a mature, sensuous dancer. With grace, fluidity, emotion and beautiful moves, Angelina is one to watch.

Cristina Moya-Palacios
Cristina brought amazing control and an amazing emotionality to her solo, an ode to her baby brother who has endured over 20 surgeries. But while a lesser dancer might have relied more on her emotional story, Cristina let her moves do the talking. And what fantastic moves they were.

Eric “Silky” Moore
Eric, a student of the show who has auditioned before, delivered a fantastic (lyrical hip-hop?) solo based on his grandma’s stay at a mental hospital. Combining pain and humor, amazing athleticism, great acting and, beyond anything, some phenomenal dancing, Silky’s solo was amazingly memorable and amazingly strong.

Ricky Ubeda
Let’s just talk honestly: I think Ricky will make the Top 20 and I think Ricky has a very good chance of being an audience favorite this year. Put this stunning dancer and, yes, very handsome guy in front of the screaming Dance fangirls and he’ll be set. But his dancing? Well it was pretty impeccable.

Others who auditioned were: Mariah Reives (whose magnetic, sensuous, spunky performance was only marred by some amateurish overacting); Kelly MacCoy (whose got talent for sure, and some amazing splits up her sleeve, but whose dancing lacked some maturity); Christopher “Mr. Strange” Griffin (who was a original Dragon House member, showed off strong musicality and flexibility in his solo that was very entertaining if not somewhat as entertaining as Dragon House virtuoso Cyrus); Conrad Dechabbert (whose facial expressions didn’t match the intense performance but whose moves and musicality were very strong); Traveous “Dynamic” Woods (who brought the same boyish energy, fun and bone-breaking moves as his BFF Fik-Shun but was cut at choreo); Brandon “Sideshow” Feimster (who would be a great street dancer but isn’t good enough for the show, especially given his piss-poor attitude*); Marissa Milale (who wowed the judges with her fierce athleticism and Princess Warrior attitude but who showed me a bit too many flips and not quite enough dancing**); Brandon “Crazy Legs” Jacob (whose routine wsa hard to judge, I’m not cranking authority, but was great fun); and Jerrod Swain (who, like “Sideshow,” would be a great street dancer but wasn’t well-rounded enough for the show).

* I was glad to see the rest of the Dragon House crew apologize for “Sideshow’s” bad attitude and rude comments. I’ve always liked the House’s moves, but now I respect their integrity too.

** Perhaps I was too distracted by the fact that Marissa was just one tumble away from having a major wardrobe malfunction. I mean she’s a gorgeous girl but if she wants to make it to the live shows, a better fitting bra might be in order.