Welcome to Pure So You Think You Can Dance

We’re known for our music in New Orleans, so I know the SYTYCD music is going to kick it in this episode. And I’m hoping I’ll be up to the task of finding it all, but I’m sure I’ll need your help. You ready? Here we go.

Opening: Infinity 2008 (Klaas Remix)”  – Guru Josh Project

In the line: “Do Your Thing” -Basement Jaxx

Shelby “Skip” Skipper (New Orleans bounce guy): “Street Team Anthem” -Big Choo (not on iTunes)

Jonathan Litzler (guy with all the acrobatics): “Potrero Road” -The Mother Hips

Alison Nance: “Black and Gold” -Katy Perry

Calvin Turner Jr.: “This Time” -John Legend

Edward Spots: “Majesty” -Dave Tweedie (still not on iTunes yet, I’ll let y’all know)

Eric Le Blanc (guy from Westwego who drank all the energy drinks): “Boom Boom Pow” -Black Eyed Peas

Justin Kenney (amazing b-boy with the “airflares” and the “babies” that they took a huge gamble on when they sent him to Vegas despite lackluster choreography): “Beggin’” -Madcon

Choreography: “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” -Pitbull

Vegas montage: “It’s Official” -The Bathroom Murders

Second day opening: “The Saints” -New Wave Brass Band (no available downloads, according to their manager, so here’s the Fats Domino version)

Kimalee Piedad (“theater arts” dancer with all the lifts): “To Make You Feel My Love” -Kris Allen

Micah Mixon: “Louder” -Bijou and Dave Tweedie (yep, not on iTunes yet, but here’s a Bijou song called “Bang!” while we all wait for a download)

Lloyd Ballard (in the quick montage): “In Love with a Girl” -Gaven DeGraw

Tierney St. John: “To Build a Home” -Cinematic Orchestra

Casey Chrisosto: “What Them Girls Like” -Ludacris ft. Chris Brown & Sean Garrett

Adam Shankman danced “Mary’s Rules” to the song “Shake that Bubble” – Young and Divine

Jakob Karr (Adam loves his “everything,” phenomenal dancer near the end): “Elephant in the Room” -Richard Walters

Diana Drexler (her grandfather died) interview: “No Better” -Sherwood (not on iTunes, so here’s another Sherwood song “A Song in My Head”

UPDATE 1.5.10 – No Better is now available on iTunes.

Diana Drexler audition”Your Hands” -JJ Heller

Choreography: “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” -Pitbull

Day 2 Vegas montage: “Beatbox” -The Sounds

Look at all the SYTYCD music listed here.

How about those dancers in New Orleans? I’m expecting them to be not just the best of Season 6 so far, but of any season of So You Think You Can Dance ever. Okay, maybe I’m a little biased. But not by much. Lol A friend of mine recently said a friend of theirs is on the show tonight and is a phenomenal dancer. And we already know Adam Shankman was excited about one dancer in New Orleans.

Did they rise to my high expectations and yours?

Either way, there’s no way a second dose of SYTYCD this week is a bad thing.

[After the show...]

And they brought it! Several solid dancers from New Orleans that I suspect might have a chance at Top 20. Can’t wait for Vegas.

But first, I was lucky enough to watch the taping of Jakob Karr’s audition and he was the dancer that Adam Shankman Tweeted about, as I reported on my blog back in June. I hadn’t matched the name to the dancer, but I was hoping that it was him. Also heard a lot about Justin Kenney (the b-boy they took a “huge gamble” on by sending to Vegas) from other folks at the auditions and I’m watching for him now, too.

And I’ll be watching for Diana Drexler (whose grandfather died and she was able to perform) in Vegas as well.

Who will you be watching for?

Get a peep at the dancers from the New Orleans auditions. I went there to interview the judges and snapped these two pictures as the dancers were arriving back in the auditorium, following New Wave Brass Band in so that the show could film them arriving.

When I spoke with them, the judges were really excited about one dancer from New Orleans in particular. I’m very excited to see how my city represents tomorrow night. Hope y’all are too!

Was the music at the Atlanta auditions as ear-catching as the other cities? What songs stuck with you? Here’s a list to help you find your new favorite tunes. As always we can use your help to identify the songs we don’t have listed yet. If you know one of the songs from the SYTYCD Atlanta auditions, leave a comment and help everyone out. Also, if you’re looking for the music from previous episodes of SYTYCD, you can find all the SYTYCD music listed here.

So You Think You Can Dance Atlanta Auditions Music

Opening: “Get Down and With It” -Slade, not “Clap Your Hands” -They Might Be Giants like I thought at first.

Billy Bell (first audition, silver shorts): “To Build a Home” -The Cinematic Orchestra   thanks to our reader Indie for this one!

Amber Jackson: “Wasted Time”  -M’Shell Ngegeocello

Montage of inexpressive dancers: “Blank Expression” -The Specials

Travis Denison audition: “Scarred” by Unkle Luke

Montage of how Travis and Adam Shankman are alike: “Just the Two of Us” -Bill Withers

Jamal Jackson (good dancer, I’m excited about him): “Baiana” -Barbatuques

Victor Smalley (also good, all in black): “Gravity” -Dave Tweedie (not on iTunes yet)

Anthony & Antwain Hart (twins, auditioned before): “Boom Boom Pow” -Black Eyed Peas

Choreography: “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” -Pitbull

Thru to Vegas montage: “Never Have I Ever” -Hot Chelle Rae (not on iTunes yet)

Day 2 montage: “The Best In Me” -Sherwood

Matthew “Boogie Links” Pollard (flirting with everybody, jointortion) interview: “Mr. Loverman” -Shabba Ranks

Matthew “Boggie Links” Pollard audition: “Opening Up (Ce Soir)” -Chromeo

Jessica Jensen (self-called “one-handed lady,” great sense of humor): “Hide and Seek” -Imogen Heap

Jonathan “Extra” Bryant (cocky guy, did the bad Cat Deely impression): “Anyway (Paranoid)” -Kanye West ft. Mr. Hudson

Thomas Hamilton (life or death audition) interview: “Gravity” -John Mayer

Thomas Hamilton audition: “Alpha & Omega” -Israel & New Breed

Choreography: “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” -Pitbull

Going to Vegas montage: “I Gotta Feeling” -Black Eyed Peas

Hmmm…another Dave Tweedie song. More Hot Chelle Rae. Good to know.

Here’s a secret. Even though New Orleans is now my home, I grew up in Atlanta. I’m curious to see how the dancers from those two cities compare. Just a bit of personal interest there.

How did the dancers in Atlanta do? Any standouts? Any dancers that you hope to never see again. What about dancers that you want to know everything about. Let everyone know what you thought about the So You Think You Can Dance Atlanta auditions.

Personally, I really liked the guys in Atlanta – Jamal Jackson and Victor Smalley look promising, as well as Billy Bell and Travis Hamilton.

And don’t forget that tomorrow is another episode of SYTYCD. Yes, that’s 2 episodes of SYTYCD in one week. One hour was far too little.

Quick, catch that song! Missed it? Okay, I think I got it. Check it out:

Opening montage (outside in line): “Brass Knuckles” Living Things

Teddy Tedholm interview (whimsical bow-tie guy): “Smarty Pants” Phil Flowers & His United Family

Teddy Tedholm audition (and don’t forget the golf pants from his mom): “If It Kills Me” Jason Mraz

Jean Lloret: “Wrath of Kane” Big Daddy Kane - Can’t find this on iTunes, but try “Boom,”  another song of his.

Kimara Wood (dred-lock guy) and a bit of Jean Llorent outside: “Touched”  VAST

Channing Cook (ice cream scooper) interview: “Rockaway Beach” The Ramones (thanks Mada!)

Channing Cook (she’s 18 and a ”tomboy”) audition: “A Beautiful Mess” Jason Mraz

Ryan Casey (tall tapper): I thought it was ”The Hop” by either Kenzu or Radio Citizen (not on iTunes), but it’s “Stomp” by Quincy Jones.

Russell Ferguson: “Melt!” Flying Lotus

Fabrizio Jenkins: “Woman Friend”  Chromeo (thanks to Mada again – what a star!)

Choreography: “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” Pitbull

Montage: “Gravity” Nico Vega

Karen & Matthew Hauer (married couple): “She Wants to Move”  N.E.R.D.

Gene Bersten (goes on and on about how sexy he is and his moves mesmerize the ladies) interview: “Sexy Boy” Air

Gene Bernstein (opens the shirt, pulls faces) audition and also, later, Kevin “K-Bez” Hunte: “Boom Boom Boom” Black Eyed Peas

Paul Magliato (isn’t this guy too old for the show?) interview: “Relax” Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Paul Magliato (46-year old in tights, yuck) audition: “Vida la Vida” Coldplay

Montage: “Fire Burning” Sean Kingston

The Tyce Diorio Dr. Evil montage: “Dr. Evil: Doctor of Evil” Minus Five

Last song is called “Rise,” but I don’t know who the artist is.

Check out the most recent music from previous auditions here.

Any early thoughts about the folks representing Boston? Rants? Raves?

This season, we get to see if Ryan Kasprzak, brother of Season 6’s Evan Kasprzak, makes it to the Top 20.  It seems there have been a lot of connections between contestants in the past!   Here’s what I have so far — who else am I forgetting?  Comment below!

• Season 1’s Nick was roomates with Season 1’s Melody
• Season 1’s Ryan was in Sickstep Crew with Season 3’s Hok
• Season 2’s Benji is cousins with Season 2’s Heidi
• Season 3’s Lacey is sister to Benji and cousin to Heidi
• Season 2’s Travis is brothers with Season 3’s Danny
• Season 2’s Stanislav is brother to Season 3’s Faina

Missing Phillip Chbeeb’s “handi-work”?  Check out this dance to the theme music from Tetris, created and filmed in less than 24 hours:

SYTYCD for outstanding costumes, I also know who won the Emmy for outstanding choreography too. Well before I tell you who won there a few things you should know, who decides who wins. In this particular category there can be more than one winner. The panel is made up of peer choreographers who decide who wins and then has it confirmed. Yes I did a bit of research on the Emmy home page. As everyone know here the four dances for SYTYCD that were nominated. In addition to those there were two other nominees. DWTS Derek and Julianne Hough and Rob Ashford for the 81st Academy Awards that was hosted by Hugh Jackman. The only thing I don’t know is if they base it on the choreography alone or if the performance of the choreography plays apart.

On September 12, 2009 the creative arts Emmys were given out. This year there were two winners for outstanding choreography. The first winner was Rob Ashford for his “Musicals are Back”. The second winner was Tyce Diorio for “Silence” also known as Adam and Eve performed by Jessica and Will. Check out the video from the original airing…I left in the rehearsal process and the judges comments too.

I think Tyce is deserving of this award. All the nominees are deserving of this award, and don’t get upset if your favorite didn’t win, I’m sure they will be nominated again.