So You Think You Can Dance 9 - Recap - Atlanta Auditions

If this is to be So You Think You Can Dance?s last season, I am so glad that the producers are taking the approach they are to Season 9. After last weeks wonderful L.A. auditions, we are treated to another fantastic two hours of talent to recap with the Atlanta auditions. In the past, I have only watched SYTYCDs audition shows sparingly. I have never cared for the Idol treatment the producers have given the auditions shows before, where they use poor auditions for entertainment purposes. I would rather have a packed two hours of Vegas-bound dancers and people who are real contenders to make the Top 20, versus pointless and mediocre auditions. Luckily, the television gods have answered my prayers; so let’s dive right in!

Joining Nigel and Mary this week in Atlanta was the lovely Debbie Allen. Debbie is my all-time favorite recurring judge on the show, and it kills me that she has not been a part of the live shows in years. The way Debbie critiques is just so honest and heartfelt, all topped off with a real poetic and dramatic flair. Basically, she perfect, and that is all you all need to know. Also, she is part of my favorite critique the show has ever done. That clip is golden.

Speaking of golden, let’s start off with the dancers I am sure our everybody’s favorites after tonight: the Dragon House boys. I thought both Boris Penton and Andre Rucker were very good dancers with some exceptional isolations and contortions. I especially loved Boris’ choice of music, and thought it added another layer to his routine. The one area where I think they were lacking, however, was in the performance aspect. Both Boris and Andre kept the same facial expression throughout their routines, and should really take notes from their third roommate Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer.

Glitch had it all in my opinion. Intricate and interesting movements coupled with great personality. You can teach somebody how to dance, but not how to perform. He was clearly the judge's favorite too, as his performance went on for some time. Of all three, I am betting on Glitch to make the Top 20, because his ability to perform will carry him through other forms of dance where he will not be so technically proficient. Either way, the whole group should be interesting to watch in Vegas.

Another fantastic dancer, and my favorite of the night, was George Lawrence II. I loved everything about George, and feel like there will be a good portion of the audience who identifies with his background story. And really, it is such a shame his father is not totally supportive of his son dancing, because he was so born to dance as Debbie said. His extensions were absolutely gorgeous, and I especially loved the way he effortlessly switched tempos during the routine. It takes somebody who can really feel and instinctively know what they are doing to accomplish those kinds of transitions so easily. I was absolutely mesmerized, and wished the routine would have just kept going.

Asher Walker also had me mesmerized, but in another way. I will gladly admit it now, the cute country boys do things to me. Especially, cute country boys that can actually dance and sell a performance. Like Nigel said, Asher was definitely not the best dancer, but he made up for it through his performance. I liked his old brand of breaking, and loved the fun he had with. I also loved Mary and Debbie getting into the performance and music too. There are two more people who love them some cute country boys!

Tim Conkel also brought the cute to the stage. Tim totally reminded me of Dominic “D-Trix” Sandoval from Season 3. He was all charm and cheekiness, and definitely knew how to play to the camera. I do wish he danced more, but nobody can deny the power and pure athleticism behind his stunts. Truly, though, his ballet performance is what made me really like him. Not because it was technically great or anything, but because he sold the hell out of it. Clearly, those movements were out of his comfort zone, but that did not stop him for going for it. I think that is what Nigel wanted to see; how committed could he be to something he was not used to, and it paid off in the end for Tim. Also, he inspired Debbie to give the line of the night. I do not know exactly know the appropriate context for saying “you have a wolf-man quality about you,” but that will not stop me from trying to use it always.

I also thought that Joshua Alexander was another solid dancer. While his technique and flow were impressive, I felt like his routine was a little too busy. He really just seemed to throw everything he had at the judges, hoping that they would see something they liked. I think he would his performance would have fared better if he cut out some tricks, and slowed down the tempo to better fit his music.

Honestly, it was the girls who did not overly impress me tonight. While they all gave nice performances, none of the ladies did anything special tonight as far as I am concerned. Sure Danielle Dominguez was unique, but I do not think she has the presence to really pull of some of the movements she tried. If you are going to be different and quirky, you really have to own the stage and be striking, otherwise your movements look purposeless. Furthermore, did we really need a bacon fetish moment on television? Really?

As for Audrey Case, Courtney Kirby and Brittany Ortner, were they truly that memorable? Here is a little pop quiz: one of these girls can make her neck squeak, one lives in a town infested with chickens, and one road her grandmother’s presence sitting at the judge’s table to Vegas. Without looking, match up the girls and their descriptions. Hell, I am recapping the show and I needed my notes to help me out! As for their dancing, it all just felt fairly typically and standard: a spin here, a leg lift there, writhe on the ground a little and do not forget to smile at Nigel.

I will give Janelle Issis credit, however, for bringing something totally different to the table. I am in no way an expert on belly dancing, but it seems like Janelle gave one heck of a performance. I will leave it up for some people to hopefully sound off in the comments on whether or not she really had nice technique to go along with her charisma.

The final dancers of the night were Damon Bellmon and Deon Lewis, a duo steeped in a little bit of controversy. Last season, Damon and Deon appropriated (read: stole) a routine from the duo Les Twins, and auditioned with it in front of the judges. Now, the boys did give credit in some unaired footage from last season to Les Twins, but also stated they were putting their own interpretation on the dance. I do not know about y’all, but I did not see a lot of interpretation, just blatant copying. Regardless, the boys apologized and danced their own stuff this time around. After choreo, only Damon made it through, but he honestly seems like nothing more than cannon fodder. A lot like Jackson Alvarez, whose audition seemed to be shown only so we could watch Debbie and Nigel grind up on each other. Not that I am complaining, mind you. Like I said, love me some Debbie Allen.

And there we have it. Another city down, with us heading to Salt Lake City next week. Until then, may you have a wolf-man like quality about you!