So You Think You Can Dance, an American television dance competition, returned for its 9th season on the 24'th of May, 2012 on FOX. Fox and series creator Nigel Lythgoe have each independently confirmed that the weekly results show, a staple of the series in seasons two to eight, has been cut from the show format and that only one episode will air each week for show's 9'th season. This season will have two winners (one male and one female), as opposed to the single champion of previous seasons.
Last week, 4 dancers were sent home. Only 16 are left to determine to prove America's vote.
The show started with a Charlie Chaplin themed dance number performed by the 16 remaining dancers.
Song: The Here and After - Jun Miyake
Download MP3 HERE or check song on Youtube
Host Kat Daley announced 2 Bad news, firstly SYTYCD will be taking a 2 week break and second, 2 more dancers will be leaving at the end of the show based on the votes they got from last week's performance. This week, Christina Applegate is the guest judge.
Below are the details of each duo's performances.
Tiffany and George
Song: Out Of My Mind - B.o.B. ft. Nicki Minaj
Download MP3 HERE or check song on Youtube
Choreographer: Nappy Tabs
Dance Style: Hip Hop
Amber and Brandon
Song: Dr. Feelgood (Love Is Serious Business) - Aretha Franklin
Download MP3 HERE or check song on Youtube
Choreographer: Ray Leeper
Dance Style: Jazz
Janelle and Dareian
Song: Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
Download song HERE or check on Youtube
Choreographer: Pasha Kovalev
Dance Style: Cha-Cha
Lindsay and Cole
Song: Wild Horses - Charlotte Martin
Download MP3 HERE or check on Youtube
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Dance Style: Contemporary
Amelia and Will
Song: You!- The Creatures
Download MP3 HERE or check on Youtube
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Dance Style: Jazz
Audrey and Matthew
Song: Cinco Salsa - Sverre Indris Joner/HSC/KORK
Download MP3 HERE or check on Youtube
Choreographer: Liz Lira
Dance Style: Salsa
Witney and Chehon
Song: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Download MP3 HERE or check on Youtube
Nick Bloxsom-Carter and Daniel Baker were sent home last July 18, 2012. Now only 8 Guys will be going through and compete for America's Vote!
Let's get to know the 8 remaining Guys of SYTYCD Season 9.
Brandon Mitchell currently lives in North Hollywood, CA, but grew up in Kansas City, KS. Mitchell graduated from Sumner Academy in 2003 and from Florida A&M University in 2009. He has been dancing since he was in 6th grade and his dance specialty is Stepping. He has been Stepping for 5 years.
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp was born in Chicago, IL and raised in Sydney, Australia and Zurich, Switzerland where his family lives now. He began Ballet at age 13 and when he was 14 he was offered a spot to train at The Royal Ballet School, London. After graduating from the RBS, Chehon joined the Los Angeles Ballet in 2009 where he performed for two seasons. Chehon was lucky to have been seen and offered a contract with the touring company of Twyla Tharp's Broadway Show 'Come Fly Away', which enabled him to remain living and working in the US. His dance specialty is Classical Ballet.
Cole Horibe currently lives in Honolulu, HI, where he was born and raised. He graduated from the University of Hawaii with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies. After dancing for three years in high school, he quit dancing, believing he had relatively little talent in dance (as opposed to martial arts) and continued to train in various martial arts and studied acting--his career aspiration. Cole began dancing again 4 1/2 years ago. Having studied martial arts for most of his life, Cole incorporates a martial arts flavor into his choreography--a dance style which he calls "Martial Arts Fusion."
Cyrus "Glitch" Spencer currently lives in Duluth, GA, and grew up on the Southside of Atlanta. Spencer was born in Dallas, TX and graduated from Creekside High School in 2008. He started dancing at 8 then stopped to play sports and picked it back up at 15. His style of dancing is Animation, Popping, and Robotics. He got signed to Xcel Talent Agency in December of 2011 and he is part of a dance movement to Dubstep music.
Dareian Kujawa currently lives in Boulder City, NV but grew up in St. Paul, MN. Dareian graduated from the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in 2010. He has been dancing since the age of 3 at Larkin Dance Studio and his dance specialty is Contemporary. At the age of 18 he moved out on his own to Las Vegas to try and pursue a career in dance.
George "Geo" Lawrence II was born in San Diego, CA and raised in Atlanta, GA. George acquired his love for dance at the age of 11 and was adamant about perfecting his attraction to the art. That same year, he enrolled at Price Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in College Park, GA where he studied Lyrical, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Hip-Hop and Acrobatics. In 2010, George decided to further his technique at Dancemakers of Atlanta, and in the summer of 2010 he was selected to attend the coveted Juilliard School. In 2011, George graduated from the esteemed Dekalb School of the Arts in Atlanta, GA, with honors.
Matthew Austin Kazmierczak was born and raised in Peoria, AZ, where he currently still resides. Matthew went to Sunrise Mountain High School, and it was during those years where he found his interest for dance. Now five years later his love for it has continued to grow and he has trained in multiple styles specializing in Contemporary.
Will Thomas currently lives in Studio City, CA but grew up in Troy, MI. Thomas was born in Rochester, MI and graduated from Avondale High School in 2011. He has been dancing since he was in the 6th grade and his specialty is Contemporary.
After the elimination of Alexa Anderson and Janaya French last July 18, 2012, only 8 Girls will continue to compete next week.
Let's get to know them:
Amber Jackson was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, where she started dancing at the age of 14 at the esteemed Ballethnic Academy of Dance and simultaneously at DeKalb School of the Arts. Later, Amber enhanced her dance technique at the prestigious Dancemakers of Atlanta studying Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Pointe, Hip Hop, and Jazz. Amber continues to pursue her craft as an artist and hopes to one day share her love for dance with the world.
Amelia Lowe currently lives with her parents in Butler, NJ where she grew up. She is currently a senior in high school at the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts in Denville, NJ. Amelia has been dancing since the age of 3, and had her first performance when she was 5.
Audrey Case currently lives in Edmond, OK, her hometown. Audrey attended Edmond North High School and graduated this past Spring. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and her specialty is Jazz.
Eliana Girard currently lives in New York and grew up in West Palm Beach, FL. Girard started dancing when she was 3 1/2 yrs old. She left Dreyfoos High School of the Arts to dance at Joffrey Ballet School, and went the following year to Alvin Ailey School. She started her career with Cirque Du Soleil in July 2009. Her dance specialty is Contemporary Ballet.
Janelle Issis has been dancing and performing since the age of 4. She is extensively trained in belly dancing, jazz, and tap and continued to study a multitude of dance styles including hip hop, jazz and modern at the University of Alabama under the direction of Professor Cornelius Carter of Alvin Ailey. For several years she has been preparing herself to step into the commercial industry by attending summer classes and events in New York and Los Angeles. She is currently living in Los Angeles, CA pursing a career in dance.
Lindsay Arnold currently lives in her hometown of Provo, Utah where she was born and raised. Lindsay just recently graduated from Timpview High School and plans to attend Utah Valley University. She has been dancing since she was 4 years old and her specialty is Latin Ballroom.
Tiffany Paige Maher currently resides in Plantation, FL, a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale. She attends school at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. She has been dancing since the age of 3, but was brought up in the dance studio since she was a baby watching her older sister, Brittany. Tiffany's dance specialty is Jazz. Dance is her passion and she loves to perform.
Witney Carson was born and raised in American Fork, UT. Witney has been dancing since the age of 3; training, performing, and competing has been her life. Her specialty dance is Ballroom. She recently graduated from American Fork High School, and is ready to start her new adult life!
From 20 dancers, 2 guys and 2 girls will be leaving at the end of the show. Only 16 will remain to compete against each other.
The show started with an Opening number from the Top 20.
Music: The Beautiful People (District 78 Remix) - MARILYN MANSON
Check Music on Youtube: THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Download Music HERE
Here's the Top 20 Opening Dance:
Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy was joined by Adam Shankman in the judges' seat.
Before the performances of each pair, Nigel announced that the post office are issuing 4 stamps of legendary choreographers:
These four influencial choreographers: Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Katherine Dunham, and Bob Fosse changed the art of dance.
Last week the dancers competed for the first time and America voted for their favorite dancer. Based on those votes, 3 bottom guys and 3 bottom girls will be in danger and the judges are gonna be saving only one guy and one girl. At the end of all the performances, 4 dancers will be going home.
First to perform is the pair of Cole and Lindsay.
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Concept: the setting is at the dentist's office, Cole is the nerdy kid who's going to have his dental check up and Lindsay is not your average dentist.
Song: Teeth by Lady Gaga
Check music on youtube: TEETH
Download music HERE
Here's Cole and Lindsay's Performance:
Judges Comments:
Nigel : I thought it was a fun routine to start off the show, good charcterization from Cole and Lindsay, it felt a little immature to me... I think you just gotta be careful that when you're playing a character like this, you really do need to be the vamp...
Mary: Lindsay, part of the show is acting and you gotta have to bring those acting skills to the table even more... I know you're a very strong dancer. Cole, you are a dancing machine and you are the nerd of all nerds tonight. It's good to see anothe character in you...
Adam: Lindsay, you have to attack it, just take a deeper investment in that character...
Will and Amelia are two souls carrying the weight of the world in their shoulders, searching for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: 3326 by OLAFUR ARNALDS
Check music in Youtube: 3326
Download music HERE
Here's Will and Amelia's Performance:
Judges comments:
Mary: Wow!!! Will and Amelia, you rocked that routine to life...
Adam: Amelia, you are so brilliant, not only were your lines so perfect but you're completely lost in the piece and you took me on that journey with you... Will, you are a million percent... totally stepped it up...
Nigel: The pair of you are both very lucky... that you are both contemporary dancers... that you've got each other... that you had a wonderful choreography tonight... that you are both absolutely brilliant dancers...
Nick and Amber
Tango
Song: Tanguera - Sexteto Mayor
Check music on Youtube: TANGUERA
Download music HERE
Here's Nick and Amber's performance:
Judges comments:
Adam: That was hot, that was so hot... Amber that was spectacular...
Nigel: Nick, very very strong...
Mary: ...you made it look easy...
Matthew and Audrey
Jazz - Robotic power struggle between a man and a woman.
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: Hear Me Now (Dri, Lind and Lukka Mix) - STEED LORD
Check music on Youtube: HEAR ME NOW
Download music HERE
Here's Matthew and Audrey's performance:
Judges' Comments:
Nigel: one of America's favorite couples I should have thought...
Mary: you seem to be a dynamic duo... you maximize everything...
Adam: Audrey, you are unbelievable... Matthew, you are fantastic...
Dareian and Janelle's Hip Hop routine choreographed by Chris Scott didn't quite impress the judges.
Song: My Girl - THE TEMPTATIONS
Check music on Youtube: MY GIRL
Download music HERE
Here's Dareian and Janelle's Performance:
Judges' comments:
Adam: I thought that Dareian, you are more successful than Janelle in investing yourself in the character...
Nigel: it's gonna be tough on America in judging them with what they did here...
Mary: I thought you did it ok...
Brandon and Janaya's broadway routine was choreographed by Sean Cheesman.
Song: Bring on the Men (from Jekyll and Hyde: The Gothic Musical Thriller) - LINDA EDNER
Check music on Youtube: BRING ON THE MEN
Download music HERE
Here's Brandon and Janaya's performance:
Judges' comments:
Adam: this is one of those character pieces but it is very successful...
Nigel: really brilliant broadway. Lot of fun lot of characterization behind it...
Mary: It was one of the most entertaining numbers of the night...
Cyrus and Eliana performed jive choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin.
Song: I'm Shakin' - Jack White
Check music on Youtube: I'M SHAKIN
Download music HERE
Judges' comments:
Mary: Cyrus, what I love about you is that you're relly partnering her... there were a lot of tricky moves and you were there every step of the way...
Adam: Eliana, you are like the hardest working woman in show business tonight...
Nigel: Cyrus, I think America's on your side... Eliana, you have to compensate for his (Cyrus') lack of knowledge...
Daniel and Alexa's piece is all about emotional connection.
Song: So Long My Friend - Yanni
Check music on Youtube: SO LONG MY FRIEND
Download music HERE
Here's Alexa and Daniel's performance:
Judges' comments:
Adam: It was really beautiful but a little chilly to me...
Mary: This could be a new dance genre...
Nigel: ...emotion is missing and you cannot just dip your toe in the water, tou gotta dive in and you gotta be fully immersed in that music and that emotion.
George and Tiffany
Foxtrot
Choreographer: Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Song: I Want To Be Loved By You - Sinead O'Connor
Check music on Youtube: I WANT TO BE LOVED BY YOU
Download music HERE
Here's George and Tiffany's performance:
Judges' comments:
Mary: Tiffany... everything was perfect for you...
Adam: ...that was absolutely gorgeous...
Nigel: You have just given a lesson to every couple in this show on how to connect...
Chehon and Witney
Bollywood - This routine has no story line, it's all about the stamina, speed and getting the hands right.
Song: Tanday Music - AATISH KAPADIA
Check music on Youtube: TANDAY MUSIC
Download music HERE
Here's Chehon and Witney's Bollywood performance:
Judges' comments:
Adam: Everytime we have Bollywood on the show, it is pure delight...
Mary: Chehon, so much better than last week... you are on fire tonight...
Nigel: I was ready delighted to see the pair of you do this...
After Chehon and Witney's performance, all contestants were called to the stage for the announcement of the 3 bottom guys and 3 bottom girls. One by one Janaya, Alexa, Witney, Nick, Daniel and Chehon were called and was told that they were the ones who got the lowest votes. At the end of the show Nigel Lythgoe revealed that they will be saving Witney and Chehon.
To vote for your favorite dancer you may log on to FOX.COM/DANCE or click HERE
Thirty-five dancers have made it to Vegas week, but who's going to be the Top 20?
Top 20 Announcement:
1. Alexa Anderson - Top 20
2. George Lawrence II - Top 20
3. Will Thomas - Top 20
4. Megan Branch - Not in the top 20
5. Colin Fuller - Not in the top 20
6. Amber Jackson - Top 20
7. Nick - Top 20
8. Witney - Top 20
9. Lindsay - Top 20
10. Eliana - Top 20
11. Daniel - Top 20
12. Chehon - Top 20
13. Tiffany - Top 20
14. Audrey - Top 20
15. Abigail - Not in the top 20
16. Katelyn - Not in the top 20
17. Katy - Not in the top 20
18. Rebecca - Not in the top 20
19. Janelle - Top 20
20. Joshua - Not in the top 20
21. Blake - Not in the top 20
22. Jasmine - Not in the top 20 23. Daniel C. - Not in the top 20 24. Matthew - Top 20 25. Dareian - Top 20 26. Janaya - Top 20 27. Amelia - Top 20 28. Jill - Not in the top 20
29. Cole - Top 20 30. Aaron - Not in the top 20 31. Zach - Not in the top 20 32. Brandon - Top 20 33. Devon - Not in the top 20 34. Cyrus - Top 20 35. Feliciano - Not in the top 20
The open auditions are over. 181 dancers have earned tickets to the next stage. Over the next 4 days, they are going to face 8 ruling rounds:
1. Solos
2. Hip Hop
3. Broadway
4. Jazz
5. Groups
6. Ballroom
7. Contemporary
8. Final Solos
Not everyone will be able to take the pressure. Only 20 dancers will make it to the end of the week and it's not going to be easy.
Judges include:
- Lil'C
- Debbie Allen
- Adam Shankman
- Tyce Diorio
- Mary Murphy
- Nigel Lythgoe
First up is Hampton Williams from Richardson, Texas and he needs to impress the Vegas panel:
Waiting on the wings is 23 year old Jannelle Issis who's excited to rock the stage:
At the end of the solos, 51 dancers were cut.
It's time for Hip Hop and choreographers Comfort and Twitch are not gonna be easy on them. At the end of the 1st day in Vegas, 97 dancers have made it to the Hip Hop round.
The next challenge is the Broadway round. Ballroom dancers are making it but contemporary dancers are having a hard time. The choreography looks like everybody's pushed to their limits.
Here's team ballroom with the Broadway choreography round:
Over half of the contestants were cut by the end of the Broadway round. Next is the jazz round, then the Groups round wherein they'd get to pick their own group.
Each group are going to pick their CD in random then start to rehearse.
Here's the best group choreography performance:
The remaining 61 contestants went on to the Ballroom round, 9 were cut and 52 dancers are moving on to the Contemporary round. After everyone has danced the contemporary choreography, some dancers were not able to make it.
All that's left is the final solos. Here are some of the final solos:
35 dancers were able to make it to the Vegas week!
