TVSquad

(S04E02) To comment on Kristin's thoughts on So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy, I think she brings a much needed level of fun and energy to the show. Promoting her to full time judge was one of the smartest moves the show could have made as she has a level of technical know-how when it comes to the classical styles of dance that the other judges just can't speak to.

And as silly as her screaming can get at times, she's still a fair critic. I guess I'll say she's grown on me as I didn't care for her before she went full-time. Maybe she's just one of those personalities you learn to appreciate more over time. For the Utah auditions, long-time show choreographer Mandy Moore joined the judging panel for the first time. The "table routine" from last season that she choreographed was one of last year's highlights, so her pedigree comes well appreciated. Hairspray choreographer Adam Shankman was the third judge for the Dallas round.

There were a lot of dancers in these two cities so we're not going to necessarily touch on all of them or we might be here all day. If I miss someone then you can assume that means they didn't impress me enough one way or the other. But feel free to chime in with your comments on them or anything else about the new season unfolding before our anxious little eyes. Little Sabra is going down, so to speak. Will we see the new champion tonight?

Highlights & Lowlights of Salt Lake City

Chelsie Hightower opened the show and came packed with a "sob story" about her family's financial struggles, and the sacrifices they've made to help her realize her dreams of dance. She couldn't even afford a dance partner of her own. But when the music started, she was all seduction on the stage, exuding sensuality just walking across the stage. Her moves were sharp and she hit every movement. Her legwork was stunning, as were her legs themselves.

Ice skater/break-dancer Gev Manoukian didn't make the show two years ago and spent the intervening time diversifying his abilities with jazz, ballet and contemporary training. What he created then was a strange hybrid of all four styles, with perfect body control throughout. In one routine Gev showed the judges that he is fully capable of virtually anything they could show him; I don't think anyone has done that yet. He was mesmerizing to watch and one of my early favorites, though the judges needed to see him in choreography before he could go to Vegas.

Others who were good enough to earn their tickets to Vegas:

• Kelli Baker is the daughter of one of the High School Musical choreographers, so expectations were high. She had absolutely beautiful line work in her body; a perfect mix of grace and strength and owned every inch of the stage as she flowed across it.
  
• Ryann Race was tall and lean, and performed in a style somewhat similar to Cedric Gardner from last season. This strip club DJ was using his dance to work out his feelings for his girlfriend. There was a lot of potential in his movement, but it was more messy in execution than I would have liked. He made it through to the choreography round and then to Vegas.

And the not-so-best of the rest:

• Native American Michael Moore had a background video spotlighting the heritage that his family honors, but he himself rejects. In fact, he went more for street dancing, which he apparently performed entirely flat on his back. He had some legwork but it was sloppy and didn't work at all. I love his sense of humor and how he made fun of those terrible dancers who say they teach dance.
• Queen of Charisma, Naomie Christensen thought it would be kind of interesting to be on the show. And she was on the show, just not for the reasons she may have thought. I'll dub her "dancing" style, jogging ... with style. We spent way too much time on her.
  
• Utah's streets must be too cold and snow-covered for their street dancers to get enough practice in. Richard Castaneda had a slow seizure on the stage, Robert Taylo face planted on the stage, Nicole Downer looked and danced like a mother of four letting off steam in a club, and we saw a whole slew of other horrible dancers, more than we got last night. I appreciated the opportunity to see more dances, but would have liked more of the good ones as well.

Inspiring Story of the Night
Down's Syndrome was the spotlight handicap of the night. I'm not trying to make light of the condition, but rather the fact that it's become almost trite for SYTYCD to give air time to varying disabilities to show that you can do anything no matter what cards life has dealt you. I don't even know if I can criticize them for doing this as it is inspirational to see these performers, but at the same time is it necessary to give us a blind dancer last week and Down's Syndrome this week? Especially since none of these dancers are good enough to move on. Or maybe I'm just a cold-hearted bastard.

Highlights & Lowlights of Dallas

The music dictated the movements of Brian Davidson. There's no room for choreography or fear in his world, so he fearlessly made an ass of himself not only on the Dallas stage but in front of all of America. He had way too much attitude and way too much camera time.

Popper Joshua Allen had some of the hardest hits I've ever seen on the SYTYCD stage. And his movements were so fast. When he went down and started doing some of his hand and aerial tricks he had me won over. This guy is in complete and total control of his body, owned his music and was amazing to watch. I was pleased to see him survive choreography and go to Vegas.

John Dix and Arielle Coker performed together and John did a good job of making Arielle look good. In fact, she was so beautiful in her partnering that other than being where she needed him to be, he all but disappeared from the stage. When they separated I saw him and wanted him to disappear again as he was awkward and stilted in his movements, but Arielle was magical. Arielle went to Vegas while John went to choreography and then back home, where he seemed perfectly happy.

In Dallas we got a montage of the amazing dancers, and there were some amazing moves on display. But why did we only get a few seconds of who Nigel considered the "best female hip-hop dancer we've ever seen on the show." I could have taken a lot less of Steven Arner to make more room for her and a lot of these amazing dancers.

Others who were good enough to go home and stay there:

• Booty-shaking isn't dancing. Cassidy Corder thinks it is. It isn't. But it's okay because neither was anything else she did. But she wasn't alone. Brianna Gardner sat on the stage for awhile, Kayleigh Darling almost jumped off of it and if I had to sit and watch some of these auditions, I think I'd have to throw ballet shoes at them. Or maybe tap shoes; contact there would get them to stop.
• Steven Arner did a stupid hip-hop dance with a chair and his hair styled like Mickey Mouse. The judges explained to him how terrible he was and he got belligerent. But it wasn't all it was hyped up to be.
  

Snuggle Fabric Softeners had to bring us the "happy dances" of the thirty-eight Dallas contestants who made it through because American Idol is already completely sold out so it's time to move onto So You Think You Can Dance? Really? Can't they just dance without somebody getting paid? Did they hire Ryann Race to DJ that bit? Tomorrow we go to Washington, DC and Charleston, SC.