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SYTYCD Season 9 Salt Lake City Auditions Thoughts

SALT LAKE CITY AUDITIONS
Witney Carson
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She has this sweet little girl quality to her, and when she dances it’s like she transforms into a grown woman. We haven’t seen all that many ballroom dancers thus far in the city auditions so it was a breath of fresh air to finally see that the dancers haven’t entirely disappeared.

Deanna “Dee” Tomasetta
Apprentice of Motiv8
– Student of Elite Academy of Dance
She made it to the end of Vegas Callbacks in Season 8 before being cut just prior to the Top 20 that was on the show.

Gene Lonardo
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Glad it isn’t just me that felt that this guy just screams “Sonya Tayeh” all over him. He does have very strong technique and he comes across to me as more of an artist than dancer. Much like Ryan Kasprzak was a season or two ago… someone that dances you can toss them choreography and they will work with it, but an artist embodies dance in such a way that they use it to create a story, a painting, etc. This is Gene, however odd his intent was.

Lindsay Arnold
There was nothing that really drew me to her, not like with Witney and I shouldn’t be comparing dancers. Lindsay is a pretty face and has good talent, but for some reason I can’t see myself wanting to see more of her. Perhaps in another year or two, sure… but not at the moment.

Mariah Spears
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This is probably one of the major surprises of the season, a sweet little girl from the mean streets of Arizona… dancing KRUMP! The only other dancer that was notated as Krumper was Russell Ferguson of Season 6 and he couldn’t have been more different from Mariah. She danced Krump and did it really really well. I was very happy to see her get through the choreography round because I really would love to see how she fares in Vegas

Dareian Kujawa
For the longest time I didn’t think that a really good dancer could exist that would have bad feet. I mean I’ve come across mediocre dancers and choreographers that have lousy feet, but that’s probably why they aren’t in major dance companies and are just barely making ends meet. So it’s not a good thing to have come across a dancer that is incredible, great lines, passionate, etc but then you look at their feet and it’s just “ugh”. I really like Dareian, he’s really good, but dammit he needs to figure out a way to clean up his feet otherwise they are going to prevent him from reaching his full potential. Finishing off the feet helps to clean up the lines and the overall image of the dancer as they dance.

Amber Williams & Chase Thomas
Both of these dancers went straight to the Vegas Callbacks in Season 8 and were sent straight to Vegas Callbacks once again for Season 9. If you have forgotten, Amber was a rather quirky personality and dancer that wore all green that was at the San Francisco auditions. Chase Thomas was at the Salt Lake City auditions wearing almost nothing with the back story of his girlfriend cheating on him and eventually married an art history major. Both were phenomenal dancers and no doubt are even stronger this go around.

Adrian Lee
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YES! He’s BACK! Well kind of, I’m not fond of his routine, but I do love his technique. I remember him from Season 7 when he was in Vegas Callbacks and he was paired with Lauren Froderman for the Broadway number and I remembered just how much fun it was to watch. If you have forgotten, the Broadway number had several measures that gave the couples a chance to show what they can do on their own before heading into the choreographed section… Adrian and Lauren totally shined. I really hope he makes it past Vegas and onto the show this go around.

Rachel Applehan
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– Part of Damsels Dance Company in Denver
Jazz/Burlesque… I wanted to see more dance in it, and what little there was I was ok with. It is possible to have a lot more dance into the audition and still have it be sexy/sassy and burlesque-related. Not seeing the choreography as the judges had I am going to have to trust their comments and believe that she was really good in some spots and sloppy in others.

June 20, 2012 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

SYTYCD Season 9 Music: Salt Lake City Auditions

SALT LAKE CITY AUDITIONS DAY ONE
Intro to auditions music: M83 – Outro Outro - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.

Opening of the Utah auditions: Outasight – Now or Never Now or Never - Now or Never - Single

Witney Carson Interview Music: Goldfrapp – Strict Machine Strict Machine - Black Cherry

Witney Carson Audition Music: Bond – Libertango Libertango - Shine

Lynn Gravvatt Interview / End of Audition Music: Carpenters – Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day) [1989 Remix] Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day) [1989 Remix] - Carpenters Gold (35th Anniversary Edition)

Dancer’s dad auditions & she judges him: The Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow Boom Boom Pow - The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)

Deanna “Dee” Tomasseta Interview Music: LMFAO – Get Crazy Get Crazy - Party Rock

Deanna “Dee” Tomasetta Audition Music: Blaire Reinhard – I Can’t Make You Love Me I Can't Make You Love Me - I Can't Make You Love Me - Single

Montage of “unique” dancers: Madness – One Step Beyond One Step Beyond - One Step Beyond...

Gene Lonardo Audition Music: Jahcoozi – Fish Fish - Pure Breed Mongrel

Lindsay Arnold Audition Music: Deadmau5 – Ghosts N Stuff Ghosts N Stuff - Ghosts N Stuff - Single

Montage of Ballroom Auditions: Sweet – Ballroom Blitz The Ballroom Blitz - The Best of Sweet

Mariah Spears Audition Music: Kardinal Offishall feat. The Clipse – Set It Off Set It Off (feat. The Clipse) - Not 4 Sale

Murphy Yang Audition Music: District 78 – I Won’t Dance (Official Step Up 3D Mix) can be downloaded via District 78’s America’s Best Mixtape

Choregraphy Round: Jennifer Lopez – Papi Papi - LOVE? (Deluxe Edition)

Montage of people going to Vegas after Choreography Round: Martin Solveig & Dragonette – Hello Hello - Hello - Single

SALT LAKE CITY AUDITIONS DAY TWO
Lead In Music to Day Two Salt Lake City Auditions: Jack White – Sixteen Saltiness Sixteen Saltines - Blunderbuss

Dareian Kujawa Interview Music: Cindy Alexander – Turning Into You Turning Into You - Every Rise & Fall

Dareian Kujawa Audition Music: Michael Grimm feat Jack Mack and the Heart Attack – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long I've Been Loving You Too Long - I've Got Dreams

Johnny Ahn Interview Music: Dan the Automator feat Hieroglyphics – Don’t Hate the Player Don't Hate the Player (feat. Hieroglyphics) - Don't Hate the Player - EP

Johnny Ahn & Whitney Hallam Audition Music: Rodolfo Guerra Y Su Sincopata Latina – Mueve El Cuerpo Mueve el Cuerpo - Demasiado Corazòn

Adrian Lee Audition Music: Otis Redding – Try a Little Tenderness Try a Little Tenderness - The Very Best of Otis Redding

Montage of dancers going to Vegas: Afrojack & Shermanology – Can’t Stop Me (Club Mix) Can't Stop Me (Club Mix) - Can't Stop Me - EP

Rachel Applehan Interview Music: Marilyn Manson – Slo-Mo-Tion Slo-Mo-Tion - Born Villain

Rachel Applehan Audition Music: Jessie J – Mamma Knows Best Mamma Knows Best - Who You Are (Platinum Edition)

Montage of bad auditions from day 2: Nicki Minaj – Starships Starships - Starships - Single

Leroy Martinez Audition Music: Chris Brown – Yeah 3X Yeah 3X - Yeah 3X - Single

Montage of people going to Vegas after Choreography Round Day 2: The Wanted – Chasing the Sun Chasing the Sun - The Wanted

June 13, 2012 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

Season 9 Premiere of So You Think You Can Dance

Here we are! The Season 9 Premiere of So You Think You Can Dance. After a few seasons of the evolution of the show:
– Season 5: moving the So You Think You Can Dance stage to the Kodak Theatre
– Season 6: first (and only) Fall season of So You Think You Can Dance at the Kodak Theatre
– Season 7: reduction of the Top 20 to an Top 11 and introduction of the All-Stars
– Season 8: bringing back of the Top 20 and bringing in the All-Stars for the Top 10
As for Season 9 there is the elimination of the “Results Show” and the re-arranging of the “Performance Show” to include an elimination.

What is also “new” this season is the inclusion that as opposed to having just one winner of the season, there will be two winners: one male dancer and one female dancer. The reason I say “new” in quotes is simply because the producers of So You Think You Can Dance have given a cash award to not only the top male dancer in a season, but also to the top female dancer back in Season 4 where Joshua Allen won the season, but Katee Shean was the top female dancer and was given a cash award as well.

But enough of that… tonight (Thursday) brings us to the first auditions from Dallas and New York for a two-hour event. Then starting next week, the show will move to the regular spot of Wednesday nights with auditions continuing in Los Angeles (Wednesday, May 30), Atlanta (Wednesday, June 6) and Salt Lake City (Wednesday, June 13) all two-hour episodes.

The dancers that caught the judges’ interest during the individual city auditions will be brought back for the Las Vegas callback which would air on Wednesday, June 20. For the celebration of the 200th episode of So You Think You Can Dance, Season 9 will introduce the Top 20 finalists who will perform in their own specialties so that America can get to know more about them and their individual talents.

After a one-week break (due to the July 4th holiday) America would get a chance to watch the Top 20 finalists for the first time as they are paired up to perform together. After America votes in their choices for their favorite dances and the most at-risk couples will be asked to perform solo routines the following week. If a couple is split apart, the individual dancers will form a new couple.

Then taking on the changes from Season 7 and 8, once the Top 20 has been wittled down to a Top 10, the finalists will be paired up with a So You Think You Can Dance All-Star dancer from a variety of styles: ballroom, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz.

For those of you that got lost in all the writing above… here is a quick breakdown of what is going to happen in the summer:
– Thursday, May 24 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Dallas and New York Auditions
– Wednesday, May 30 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Los Angeles Auditions
– Wednesday, June 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Atlanta Auditions
– Wednesday, June 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Salt Lake City Auditions
– Wednesday, June 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Las Vegas Callbacks
– Wednesday, June 27 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Top 20 Revealed/Meet the Top 20 Performances (200th Episode)
– Wednesday, July 4: Preemption
– Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): First Performance Show
– Wednesday, July 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Performance and First Results Show

May 24, 2012 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

Salt Lake City/NYC Audition Music – SYTYCD Season 8

Tonight’s auditions should be amazing as Salt Lake City and NYC have performed well in the past. Though, the commercial for tonight’s episode makes it look like NYC might disappoint. Let’s hope the trend of lots of GOOD dancers continues. I’ll be adding the music once the show starts and feel free to help me out – I need all I can get.

Levels Music Group (composers of many of your favorite songs from last week) have let us know that more of their music will be featured tonight and that the songs you’re looking for should soon be available. Updates later! Keep your ears out for your new favorite tunes.

Salt Lake City Auditions

The audition line: Britney Spears’s “Till the World Ends” – Till the World Ends - Femme Fatale (Deluxe Version)

Devon McCullough and Micah Clark (amaaaazing steppers): their own beat

Intro to Chyna Smith (superfan, reminds Nigel of Mollee): Animotion’s “Obession” – Obsession - Pure 80's

Chyna Smith (Robin called her “lightning in a bottle”) audition song: Santogold’s “You’ll Find a Way” – You'll Find a Way - Santigold (Amanda reminded me that Phillip Chbeeb danced a solo to this on tour).

Annie Gratton (danced with her father) audition: Eurythmics’s “Sweet Dreams” – Sweet Dreams (Hot Remix) - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) [Remastered]

Annie danced with her dad, Francois to: The Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” – Boom Boom Pow - The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)

Yes to girls montage: Pussycat Dolls’s “When I Grow Up” – When I Grow Up - Doll Domination

Tadd Gadduang (really cool B boy) audition: Tango Lorca’s “Payadora” – Payadora - Mujer Sola

Injury montage: Face to Face’s “Falling” – Falling - Face to Face

Samantha Hiller (amnesia, tearful mom in audience) audition: Justin Nozuka’s “After Tonight” – After Tonight - Holly

Will and Katee put ’em through choreography: Usher ft Pitbull’s “DJ Got Us Falling in Love Again” – DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love (feat. Pitbull) - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love (feat. Pitbull) - Single

Yes to Vegas montage: The Sounds’ “Dance with the Devil” – Dance With the Devil - Something to Die for

Chase Thomas (my mom calls him “Adonis”) intro: Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” – Physical - Physical
Chase Thomas’s audition: Samuel Bisson’s “Nuit Blanche” – Nuit Blanche - Soundtrack - Nuit Blanche - Soundtrack Our reader Avaryl pointed us in the right direction and check out this short film that accompanies this gorgeous piece of music.

Montage of good guys: Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” – The Boys Are Back In Town - Jailbreak

Brittney Starr (the delusional “daughter of Ringo Starr”): Britney Spears’s “Toy Soldier” – Toy Soldier - Blackout (Bonus Track Version), according to our reader Paula.

Yes montage: Blaire Reinhard Band’s “Now Is Your Time” – not available on iTunes at the moment

New York City Auditions

Welcome to New York: Kanye West’s “Power” – Power - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Audition line/judges intro: The Go! Team’s “Bustout Brigade” – Bust-Out Brigade - Rolling Blackouts (Bonus Track Version)

Samara “Princess Lockeroo” Cohen (wacking, superspy dancer) audition: sounds like a 70s version of Flight of the Bumblebee – I was right! It’s Walter Murphy’s “Flight 76 (Flight of the Bumble Bee)” – Flight 76 (Flight of the Bumble Bee) - A Fifth of Beethoven

Brandon Jones (big reaction from audience, humble guy) audition: Bruno Mars’s “Talking to the Moon” – Talking to the Moon - Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Deluxe Version)

Yes to Vegas: Natasha Bedingfield’s “Weightless” – Weightless - Strip Me (Deluxe Version)

Audition line: contestants singing a funny little song is actually Luke and Jock’s “So You Think You Can Dance Song” – The So You Think You Can Dance Song - The So You Think You Can Dance Song - Single

Brian “Hollow Dreams” Henry (krumper who’s “taking it back”) audition: JC Flow ft. Mr. E’s “Get Some” – Get Some (feat. Mr. E) - Single - JC Flow

Montage: Latin tune ?

Mary Kate Sheehan (Irish step dancer) intro and audition: ?

Ashley Han/bad dancer montage: Ivan Drever’s “Take My Heart” – not available on iTunes, not 100% about this one and Tom Salter’s “Rush” – Rush - Position Music - Orchestral Series Vol. 1 not 100% about this one as well

Virgil “Lil O” Gadson (dub stepper, last of day 1) audition: Santogold’s “Creator” – Creator - Santigold

2nd Day of NYC intro: Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Think I Need It” – Think I Need It Too - The Fountain

Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” – Theme from New York, New York - Nothing But the Best - The Frank Sinatra Collection (Remastered)

Jess LeProtto intro: George Benson’s “On Broadway” – On Broadway - The George Benson Collection

Jess LeProtto (amazing jazz dancer, kinda cocky) audition: Kevin Spacey’s “Mack the Knife” Mack the Knife - Beyond the Sea (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)

Kristen Dobson + noncompetiting partner Travis (Susan): Zucchero’s “Bacco Perbacco” – Bacco Perbacco - Fly, according to our reader Chia.

Good ballroom dancers montage: Definitely Tchaikovsky, I think it’s the “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” – Sleeping Beauty - Waltz - Classical For The New Age Our reader Sara says that it is ‘The Waltz of the Flowers” Waltz of the Flowers - Classical For The New Age, which I considered, so I’ll keep both.

Good dancers montage: The Fratelli’s “Flathead” – Flathead - Flathead - EP

Robert “the woo-man” Taylor, Jr. (30 year old dancer, last year eligible): Kid Sister’s “Pro Nails Rusko Remix” Pro Nails (Rusko Remix) - Scion Sampler, Vol. 22: Fool's Gold Remixed (Thanks to our readers, Lindsay and Aurielle).
Nigel sang “It’s Now or Never” to him.

Yes to Vegas montage: ?

2nd Yes to Vegas montage song: LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” – Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) - Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) - Single

June 1, 2011 I Written By