Season seven of So You Think You Can Dance is officially underway, albeit undermanned and with visions of krumper Russell still, er, dancing in our heads.
Not that we aren’t psyched to share this summer’s top 10, revealed Wednesday, all of whom are stunning movers, quirky artists and otherwise awesome in their own ways.
But is it just us, or is 10 new dancers just not enough, even with the promise of 10 all-stars from seasons past returning to partner them every week?
Turns out, it’s not just us.
With the competition stiffer than ever thanks to the format switcheroo, SYTYCD added a familiar-looking 11th dancer to the mix.
After a Vegas week that was just as impressive as last year’s, contemporary dancer Billy Bell was informed of the producers’ largesse, just when it seemed as if fellow contemporary stylist Robert Roldan was going to get the last spot on the show.
“You are awful!” an ecstatic Billy shrieked to judge Adam Shankman, who delivered the news.
Billy and Robert join:
• Christina Santana, a salsa specialist who, when she danced contemporary, Shankman noted: “It coulda been a mess, instead it is a yes.”
• Lauren Froderman, contemporary, who shocked when she auditioned to “Let’s Get It On” and awed when she performed her final solo to “At Last.”
• Ashley Galvan, lyrical, one of those under-the-radar types so far.
• Melinda Sullivan, a tapper who powered past an audition that Nigel Lythgoe found odd and wowed everyone along the way.
• Alexie Agdeppa, jazz, who made it all the way to judgment day last year but fell short of her dream.
• Alex Wong, the Miami ballet dancer who the show wanted last year but who wasn’t allowed out of his contract.
• Adéchiké Torbert, contemporary, who almost lost his mojo early on but danced for his life like there was no tomorrow.
• Kent Boyd, the adorable small-town contemporary boy whom Nigel seemingly drove all over Ohio to deliver the good news to.
Time will tell whether this new format does an awesome show good or not.
So far, we didn’t dig the condensed audition rounds and we didn’t think we would like the judges dispersing around the country to deliver the results in person—but that part kinda grew on us, especially when Nigel got lost on the way to Kent’s house.
We also think that Ryan Gosling look-alike Adrian Lee, Mia Michaels protegée Ryan Ramirez and injured-but-brilliant Anthony Burrell got robbed thanks to the 10 11-person cut-off.
Thanks for the info!
I find it hard to believe Anthony Burrell didn’t make it! He had the best body of any of the dancers and I thought he was amazing. I wonder if his pulled hamstring is the real reason………. Sad.
My prediction for the finale will be…
Lauren and Billy…..and Lauren for the win…
Alex and Kent are right up there ….either of these top 4 for me could win and I would be excted!!
I’m finally caught up, and I’m still upset over the fact that THEY CUT GISELLE AND MARGE SIMPSON!!!!
I think they cut Ryan for 2 reasons:
1) Being Mia’s protegee, wouldn’t that make Mia unable to judge/choreograph as Debbie Allen was unable to participate when Will was on the show.
2) So she can come back for season 8. I’m sure they purposely cut people for that reason to boost ratings for the following season.
I’m still WTFing over Anthony Burell being cut, but I’m not surprised. At 29 he is far too much of a man to really get the votes. The older contestants aren’t usually the popular ones. I’ll miss him and his onesie. UGH. And really, Mia, telling him to come back when he’s most likely ineligible?
Some other random thoughts… I can’t help wonder if Kent would have made it had he not been a young small town farm boy from the middle of nowhere.