Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance got underway tonight with a 2-hour premiere featuring auditions from Los Angeles. There seemed to be a higher percentage of Hip Hop dancers and Poppers at the auditions tonight. I’ll be interested to see if this is an LA phenomenon. A large proportion also seemed to have tried out before for SYTYCD before. For example, Erica G. made it to Vegas for the third time tonight.
As usual, there were also the usual share of wingnuts trying out. The best was Rijiy Ames as we like to call him Underwear Guy. Before performing Rijiy stripped down to his tighty-whiteys. Frankly that was just wrong. Even the judges weren’t sure what to say. Mary wasn’t even able to give him any comments at all. Hey Rijiy, here’s a clue, in most circumstances dropping trou is not a good way to get people to take you seriously. The Golden Inferno also made a return appearance this year. This masked man, performed an entertaining jump style routine. I thought it was an awesome performance. They should have sent him to Vegas. Then VFTW might have taken an interest in the show. I must say that I was impressed by the judges. Nigel, Mary, and Mia all took every performance very seriously and they tended to be very kind. Some of these people auditioning could have used a Simon Cowell style reality check.
The two SYTYCD hopefuls who stood out the most for me were the blind girl and the popper who closed out the show. Nigel and Mia were very gracious to the blind girl they acknowledged her passion and that she has potential but, she didn’t have the talent yet to compete in the competition. Nigel said that if they put her through it would be patronizing to her. Well done Nigel. As for the final popper, it was like his body was made of rubber. I’m not sure if I was entertained or disturbed by his performance. In either case it was like watching a train wreck, I just couldn’t look away. Nigel said that he was his favorite dancer of 2008. Mia wasn’t even sure if he was human.
Los Angeles provided us with the first 30 contestants headed through to Vegas. Next week we’ll get a peek at the auditions in Salt Lake City and Texas. Don’t forget to tune in.
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Posted on: Thursday, May 22, 2008
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 am
Thank you Walt, for appreciating my sister’s courage. I am Laura Garcia’s older sister, and I just wanted to give you some additional information that may influence your support of Nigel’s reaction.
Nigel also said that he didn’t think she would be able to grasp the choreography quickly enough if they put her through to that round. This statement is in direct contradiction to what was aired tonight where he makes it very clear that her visual impairment has nothing to do with their rejection of her. If that was true, why not give her a chance to prove him wrong? Sure, she didn’t do as well as I know she is capable of, and she accepts that, so when you see her crying, it’s only because her idol, Mia Michaels, was so supportive of her. She expected to be critiqued, but Nigel’s un-aired comments truly devastated her.
No matter, though. She plans to return next year much better prepared, and you won’t recognize her!
May 26th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Hello!
I seen your sister on the show…and I was impressed that she wanted to pursue her passion for dance. I live in Chicago and me and my husband seen her. We think with some assistance, she can have her dream as a dancer. I am a former dancer, I haven’t danced since 2000. But enjoy dance, I love it…and besides singing, I think that the two art forms are the most wonderful forms of natural expression through the body that a person can be blessed to have.
I once said that I wanted to perform a piece where ANYONE can understand the message behind the dance. Even if they spoke a different language or if they were deaf…heck, even if they were blind, they can FEEL the spirit and emotion of the piece. I wanted (and still do) to perform dances where it’s more than just the moving of hips and thighs….where it’s more than just the slinky dresses and such. I am a believer of the passion of the thing! I think your sister has great potential and wonderful promise. I would love to work with her and help achieve her goal.
If you want, you can contact me via email “ritaandcrew7905@yahoo.com”
I am not promising her sister money or the world for I have either, I just enjoy seeing others happy and reaching that feeling like they have achieved their goals and dreams. I’d love to help her prove all the “nay say’ers” wrong!
God bless you and your sister….
Rita
May 27th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
BlindGirlsSis,
can you please contact me at behind12strings@gmail.com?
thank you,
Eddie~
June 1st, 2008 at 2:03 am
Hello; My husband is totally blind from birth from RP and is an engineer for our local electric company. His blindness is not a problem for him or his employer, and he is also the worship leader at our church, playing the piano, guitar, and singing like an angel.
I pray that God will continue to bless your family and that you will continue to realize that blindness is not an illness to be cured, but simply another way of viewing the world.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I never saw her dance. Is the video available?
June 5th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
There used to be a couple posted on YouTube, but someone reported them, and they’ve since been removed. I have a copy of the file if you’d like me to send it to you…