SYTYCD Season 4 Announces the Top 20 6/05/08

Tonight's SYTYCD showdown was full of surprises right from the start. The dancers who were invited to Las Vegas were in for the toughest week of their dancing lives. Over three hundred kids started the Las Vegas auditions to compete for twenty spots by completing five rounds of choreography. Talk about grueling.

The choreography was broken into categories, and dancers were cut after each session. First Hip Hop, then the Fox Trot, followed by a 5 person group performance (choreographed by the group), a Mia Michaels Contemporary routine, and for the few that were left, a solo in their own style. I was tired just typing all of that!

The shockers started right off with Popper Robert Murraine of YouTube.com fame pulling out of the competition before it really started. I did not expect Robert to make it to the Top 20, most Hip Hop and Poppers don't, but I did expect him to try. Nigel Lythgoe called Robert to the stage when he heard the buzz about him wanting to quit and asked if he would like to solo for the judges. Mr. Murraine gladly obliged and wowed us again, Mia Michaels told him, "You've been given a gift, don't ---- on it!" Robert chose to leave the tryouts, not wanting to hold a partner back.

Several Hip Hop and Poppers did make the final cut, including two of my favorites Joshua Allen and his friend from Dallas, TX, Comfort. Both were worried beyond words prior to the Fox Trot choreography, they should not have been. Graceful to the core, they looked like they were born to ballroom dance.

Stephen "Twitch" Boss was a favorite to go straight through to the SYTYCD Top 20 from the start. On SYTYCD Season 3, Twitch made it to the final two guys before losing to Hawk (so he came in 21st ). He took the year and got some professional training, boy did it pay off, he did go straight to the Top 20.

Debbie Allen sat in on tonight's SYTYCD judging, but will not be asked to continue. What? Debbie Allen got cut? Well, sort of. Her protégé, William Wingfield a hugely talented Contemporary dancer, was accepted into the Top 20. Nigel Lythgoe explained that to assuage any thoughts by the public about Ms. Allen being involved and knowing a contestant personally, she would step aside and let him dance. "Now you are representing Tennessee and Debbie Allen", Nigel told William.

In the same sort of position was Kelli Baker. Her mother is famed choreographer Bonnie Story, of High School Musical. Kelli was in the movie in a supporting role. Many of the remaining contestants voiced that though Kelli was every bit strong enough on her own dancing merits, her mother's fame may have been her downfall. Kelli Baker was not chosen for the Top 20 with really no explanation from the judges. She will still be a professional dancer, obviously.

Brandon Bryant was the other big shocker of the evening for me. I still can not believe they picked Hip Hop dancer Gev over Brandon's Contemporary brilliance. Brandon took the news like a man, stating he would definitely be back next year. I guess thinking about it may have been his build that was his downfall. While absolutely gorgeous and all muscle, sometimes the bulk is hard for a partner to cope with. I can't wait to see what Brandon Bryant brings to the SYTYCD stage next year.

The biggest lesson for these dancers and young ones watching: When under stress, keep your mouth shut. More than one contestant got cut from the finals due to attitude, be it quitting or excuses. If you are tired and you still want to play, say nothing!

The So You Think You Can Dance judges are:
Nigel Lythgoe
Mary Murphy

Choreographers:
Mia Michaels
Dan Karaty
Tabitha & Napoleon
Jean Marc Genereaux
Tyce Diorio
Mandy Moore

And the So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4 Top 20 are:
Gev M.
Kourtni L.
Joshua A.
Raven A.
Matt D.
Courntey G.
William W.
Katee S.
Twitch B.
Kherington P.
Jamie B.
Chelsie H.
Chris J.
Jessica K.
Mark H.
Susie G.
Marquis C.
Chelsea T.
Thayne J.
Comfort F.

Live shows start next Wednesday, see you there!