Some this week’s contestants proved to be more than strictly ballroom as they showed off some of the best dancing we’ve seen so far as part of season 11.
This week, Christina Applegate returned for the second day of L.A. auditions, which were billed as the best day for ballroom ever on the road. Prima ballerina Misty Copeland and Tony winner Billy Porter joined Nigel and Mary to judge the first and second days of Philadelphia auditions, respectively.
L.A. standouts
Alla Kocherga and Serge Onik
It certainly looks like it’s going to be a steamy ballroom season, and Serge Onik and Alla Kocherga were the first dancers this week to show that to us. Their offstage relationship may be “complicated,” but their onscreen chemistry was flawless and very watchable. There’s no doubt the ballroom pairs are going to be bringing the heat for season 11.
Casey Askew
19-year-old Casey Askew may catch your eye with his mile-high Ryan Cabrera hair, but he’ll keep you watching with his beautiful dancing. His routine to Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down” was beautiful, incredible graceful, and heartfelt. When Nigel couldn’t take it anymore, he finally cut the music and made Casey come get his ticket.
Malene Ostergaard and Armen Way
Well, we finally got to meet Malene and Armen, and they were certainly well worth the wait. Armen is back after making it so close to the top 20 last year, but this time he has a new partner. Malene had been dancing with a different partner in Hong Kong, but she found she wasn’t able to be herself, and was pretty miserable, so she decided to move to the U.S., paired up with Armen, and the rest is history. They make each other better, and you can’t peel your eyes away from them when they’re dancing.
Philadelphia standouts
Bridget Whitman
Bridget Whitman comes to SYTYCD with a sad story. Growing up as daddy’s little girl, her dad was her biggest fan and stage dad, until he was killed in a car accident when Bridget was 12. But before his death, he told Bridget that if she pushed hard enough, and followed her dreams, she would be able to one day make it on So You Think You Can Dance. Well, the man knew what he was talking about, because Bridget’s beautiful, graceful, and emotional performance sent her straight through to the next round.
Amir Sanders
Amir Sanders may be a ballerina, but she certainly doesn’t have the straight-laced, strict persona we’ve come to expect from dancers from the strict discipline. With her fro and nose ring, she brings some of her own flavor to her dance, and auditioned with a style she called “funky point.” The oxymoronic style drew a laugh from prima ballerina Misty Copeland, before later drawing her admiration. Amir had a few things to work on, but she’s got a great attitude and a great style. She made it through choreography and into the next round.
Amir Sanders – Audition – SYTYCD Season 11 by IdolxMuzic
Landon Anderson
18-year-old Landon Anderson returned to the So You Think You Can Dance audition stage for the second time, but his first time as a contestant. Last year, he came to partner season 10 favorite Jenna Johnson, so it’s only fair that she return the favor for Landon this year, now that he’s old enough to compete. And while Nigel promised to try to tear his eyes away from Jenna to watch Landon’s audition, that didn’t prove too difficult a task, as Landon was an incredible dancer and partner. It was no surprise that the judges gave him a ticket to the next round, or that they invited Jenna to return this season as an all-star.
Dance Crews
Well, Justin Bieber is still terrible, but you know who isn’t? The dance crews he’s introducing! This week’s talented crews are Wanted A-Sheiks and Mix’d Elements. Wanted A-Shieks is a Bollywood/hip-hop crew, taking the best from both worlds and putting them together for their own unique style, unlike any other crew in the nation. Mix’d Elements is a hip-hop street style crew, and they certainly do mix all sorts of elements into their dancing: pop, hip-hop, and martial arts tricking. After forming in 2011, they are already the current U.S.A. hip-hop champions.
Next week, the So You Think You Can Dance auditions continue in Atlanta Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Fox.