Episode 1 covered the 2 days of the SYTYCD Sydney auditions – or as Jason put it, “the biggest dance forum in the country”. By the end of the show, 40 excited dancers had booked their places in the Top 100 – and millions were left gagging for Monday night’s Episode 2.
Chanelle’s back
After a warm welcome from Nat, Ep 1 kicked off with a familiar face. Chanelle the gorgeous blonde with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) was back to try again. Jason said returning dancers had to be much better than they were last year to have any chance. Fortunately, Chanelle was. And we had our first dancer in the Top 100!
Matt Lee’s Double Show
Then Matt Lee walked into the room. The only problem was Matt Lee was already in the room. B-boy Red is a dead ringer for one of our favourite judges and apparently it helps at nightclubs. But, while Red got a call back for Kelley Abbey’s chorey, he couldn’t master her magical moves, and his Dance dream was over for 09.
Damien & Jessica – the 3-week combo
Ballroom partners normally spend years trying to perfect their combination. But dark Damien and blonde Jessica went in to audition for SYTYCD after working together for just 3 weeks. Matt thought they were hot and they made it to chorey, but Damien found the moves “impossible”. He must be a perfectionist. He and Jessica are both through to the Top 100.
What does it all mean?
One contestant’s routine prompted Jason to ask, “What the hell does it all mean?”. Her response – “It’s all about overcoming … things” – didn’t convince the judges. Maybe next year she’ll have a better answer. And routine.
The dance that went on 'Forever'
Award for the longest audition went to a contestant who calls herself, appropriately, Forever. The judges were glowing in their praise – “Phenomenal!” - and tears flowed down Forever’s painted face. She romped in the Top 100. But will she go any further?
Accountant who shouldn’t give up his day job
Amongst all the hip groovsters at the Sydney auditions, one guy stood out: Michael. Wearing dorky glasses and long sleeved white shirt, Michael looked like an accountant. Maybe because he is. Fortunately, his moves were a little more exciting, and, by the end of the routine, that white shirt was a white singlet. But Bonnie said don’t give up your day job. All is not lost. She’s thinking of getting him to do her tax.
Rosa in the yellow cossie
Self-taught Hip Hop artist, Rosa, stood out for a different reason. She is 27 – which is, like, ancient. But that was exactly what the judges liked. She had a “maturity” that allowed her to dance “like a woman”. She’s through to the Top 100.
Stephen the totally cool ex-Cat
One of the night’s most interesting characters was Stephen, who’s performed in the musical, Cats. He gave a highly original audition that he described as “freaky deaky animal planet inspiration” – which totally nailed it. Jason said he had a “threatening male” presence but Bonnie was worried whether he could do everything. We’re going to find out. Stephen is in the Top 100.
Don takes a shower
Breakdancer Don was back and Matt said it was “refreshing” to see him again. He impressed the judges by “not just freestyling”. His top 100 ticket brought tears of joy and he said it felt “like a brand new shower”. (Let’s hope he doesn’t get a towelling).
Bonnie gets a lap dance
Three boys from Newcastle, who call themselves ‘Robotek’, gave a highly physical audition – but it was about to get a whole lot more physical. Matt discovered that one of them used to be a stripper, so he and Jason suggested Bonnie deserved a lap dance. The contestant willingly obliged and Bonnie turned bright red while vowing revenge. It must have helped. The boys made it to chorey – but no further. Next year Bonnie can expect the full monty.
A b-girl offends Jason big time
The biggest confrontation came when a brother and sister from Season 1 – Sisqo (the guy) and Max (the girl) – tried for a second time to fulfil their dance dreams. Sisqo impressed the judges, but, wow, did the day go badly for Max.
After she auditioned her Hip Hop routine, even the super nice Matt said, “that sucked big time”. Ouch! “You’re trying to be something you’re not”, said Jason. But, Bonnie convinced them to invite her back for chorey. Max was going to wish she hadn’t.
When asked by Kelley Abbey how she thought she went, Max said, “No offence, Matt, but I loved Kelley’s choreography much more than yours last year”. No offence? Jason was highly offended. He said it was “totally unnecessary” and “just rude”.
Max was MORTIFIED! She burst into tears and said she “wasn’t a rude person”. But Jason wasn’t going to be mollified. And Max didn’t get to join her brother in the Top 100.
Did her gaffe make a difference? Was it a gaffe? Or was Jason out of line? Whichever - Max’s Dance Dream is over for another year.
A Christian makes Jason a believer
The most outstanding performer of Ep 1 was a 21 year old Contemporary Dancer called Christian. Having grown up in the family that owns Brent St, and having worked on Cirque du Soleil in Montreal with Mia Michaels when he was just 16, the expectations were high – and Christian didn’t disappoint.
“I’ve been waiting for a dancer to just come in here and blow me away … and you just did it!” Matt agreed: “You’re so much more than all the dancers we’ve seen”. And Bonnie too: “There was nothing I could fault. It’s just sensational to get someone like you”.
But Jason warned that SYTYCD was “more than about being the best dancer. It’s about growth”. Can Christian continue to improve and emerge as the ultimate winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 2?
Hilton’s bro tries to go one better
Day 2 kicked off with an almost familiar face. Remember Hilton from our Top 20 last year? This year, brother David was trying out. But Jason was disappointed - he “expected much more”. Matt thought he was “too internal”. But Bonnie was more sympathetic. She thought he was “an untamed cub” and invited him back for chorey. And that little lion cub roared. David is in our Top 100.
Another kind of Kat
Way way up there in the “g-g-gorgeous” category – to quote Bonnie – was 18 year old Hip Hop artist Katrina. A total knockout, she broke down when asked her about her Mum who is her “best friend”. Bonnie liked what she saw but thought there was “so much more there”. She wanted to invite Katrina back for chorey but Jason disagreed. He wanted to put her straight through to the Top 100. Jason got his way. Making Kat – and her ever lovin’ Mum – very happy.
Jason (hessian) bags Sari
Another of the night’s most confrontational – and emotional - moments – came when Sari, a talented Contemporary dancer gave what looked like a fairly impressive routine to the Kooks’ evocative “Seaside”. But then Jason said he was saying “No, on the basis that you’ve come dressed in a hessian bag”.
It wasn’t actually a hessian bag – just a very baggy sweat top. And, as usual, Bonnie delved deeper: “You’ve got a beautiful body. Why did you do that?” Sari’s response? “Because I don’t think that I do”. At that, the emotion just flowed out of her. “There are so many beautiful girls out there. I just didn’t want to compete with them”.
Bonnie made a deal with her. If she came back wearing something slightly more flattering – which wasn’t going to be hard – she could come to chorey. Sari agreed, Nat put a comforting arm around her shoulder, Kelley showed her the moves, and Sari – the girl that Jason (hessian) bagged - is through. She’s in our Top 100.
A tale of three Hip Hoppers
Three Hip Hop artists caught the eye. Jason found Stacy “very aggressive, very masculine” but said he’d remember her. Pania, from the same all-girl crew, went to another level when her cap fell off half-way through. “Because I got to see your beautiful eyes”, said Matt. And, Emmanuel from Orange impressed not just with his routine – but the six pack he was carrying under that blue hoodie. Pania and Emmanuel went straight through to the Top 100 – but Stacy didn’t make it past chorey.
Charlie Dubbo – a breath of fresh country air
One of the night’s biggest characters was Charlie – a 19 year old Hip Hop artist from Dubbo who admitted to learning most of his moves on YouTube. When Bonnie asked him how he got into dance, Charlie said, “My tape player, Michael Jackson, and my booty – it’s got a mind of its own”. He made it to chorey. And looked right at home with Kelley Abbey’s steps. Charlie, the boy from Dubbo, is in our Top 100! And let’s hope he sticks around. He’s right out of the box this one.
Forgot to tell Dad
The moment in Ep 1 that really had the box of Kleenex in high demand involved Lindy Hop brother and sister act, Jasmine and Shaun. It could all have gone tragically wrong – but ended up being the show’s heart-wrenching finale.
Bonnie found their lively routine “a breath of fresh air”. But she also knew their little secret. They hadn’t told their parents they were auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. And this could be a bit of a problem – given that SYTYCD is a national TV show and all.
They hadn’t told their parents because they didn’t think they would approve. While their Mum and Dad were “100% loving, 100% support”, they thought success could only come through education and study. Shaun and Jasmine clearly love their parents very much – but what can you do when you have this inner calling? “I want to always be truthful”, said Jasmine, “But I want them to understand me”.
Bonnie put them both through to chorey – not because of their heart-rending story, but because she believed they were great dancers. But the drama was far from over.
After chorey, Jason said he supported both of them. But he only had one ticket. And it was Jasmine who got it. Brother Shaun, her rock, missed out. “I can’t dance by myself”, said Jasmine. But she had a bigger problem – as Bonnie asked, “What do you think your Mum and Dad are going to say?”
It’s one thing not to tell your parents you’re going to audition for a show that has an audience of 2 million. It’s quite another if you pass the audition – because there’s a good chance one or two of those 2 million might mention it to your parents. Would Jasmine have to give up her chance to pursue her dream?
She called her Dad on her mobile. What would he say? Well, what he said was … “Congratulations!”.
So You Think You Can Dance had been in touch with Jasmine and Shaun’s father – and he was right outside the building. What’s more, the father who they felt could only support their academic pursuits was just as supportive of their artistic endeavours.
“So you think you can dance?”, he asked his beautiful daughter. “Yes, you can!”.
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