Tonight on FOX, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE continues with a new episode. On tonight’s episode the contestants go to Pasadena, Cal., for callbacks to compete for a spot in the Top 20. The guest judges are Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Irina Dvorovenko, Tara Lipinski and Adam Shankman.
On the last episode of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Charles “Lil Buck” Riley Guest-Judged. The search continued last episode for America’s Favorite Dancer as SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE headed to Atlanta! One of the most memorable dancers last week was 18 year old Angelina Granitz. Nigel said Angelina was two completely different people; one when she is talking and one when she is dancing, he said an inner spirit comes out during dancing. Angeline made it through to the next round. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it, we recapped it all right here for you.
On tonight’s show the search continues tonight for America’s Favorite Dancer as SYTYCD heads to Pasadena for callbacks. See what happens when the best dancers from all five audition cities compete in the grueling callbacks for a coveted spot in the Top 20. See who leaps into the judges’ hearts and who falls flat
A new episode of So You Think You Can Dance Season 11 airs tonight at 8PM and you don’t want to miss it. Celeb Dirty Laundry will be live blogging the show each week, so don’t forget to come back to this spot at 8PM EST for our live recap!
RECAP:
Tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance kicks off the Los Angeles call-backs, where 157 dancers from try-outs will compete again and try to earn a spot in the SYTYCD Top 20. The call-back judges will include Twitch, Tara Lipinski, Adam Shankman, Irina Dvorovenko, Mary, and Nigel.
The first contestant to take the SYTYCD stage at call-backs is 20-year-old Tanisha Belnap. The judges won’t be giving any feedback at this time. After Tanisha’s performance, the following 156 dancers perform for the judges. Steven Kador takes the stage and gives it all he has got; his girlfriend is across the country and in labor, but he has decided to stay in LA and perform.
Once the dancers complete all 157 of their solos, the judges cut 36 of the dancers and send them home. By the end of the day only 123 dancers are remaining and still have a chance to make the Top 20. Now, it’s time for their first choreography challenge, and they have an hour to learn a hip-hop routine.
The next day it is time for the remaining 123 dancers to perform their hip-hop routines for the judges. Fan favorite Marie Poppins makes it through to the next round, despite the fact that Nigel is not impressed with her hip-hop routine. Another popular dancer, Marquette, woos the dancers with his hip-hop routine, despite the fact that he is a ballroom dancer. Steven Kador made a wise choice staying at SYTYCD callbacks, and he made it through to the next round. The judges give Jessica Richens one last chance to “dance for her life” before cutting her. The judges are blown away by her second performance and let her stay.
After the hip-hop round, the remaining dancers have one hour to learn a jazz routine before they have to perform it for the judges. One dancer, Ella hurt her knee while she was learning the routine, it affected her performance and the judges said it was “painful to watch” and sent her home. Her partner Zach however was dubbed the “star of the group” and made it through to the next round. Steven Kador’s girlfriend gave birth to a healthy baby boy at home, and will be joining him very soon because after the jazz routine he is heading home. Marie Poppins was also sent home after her jazz round.
After the jazz round hip-hop dancer JaJa is given another opportunity from the judges to “dance for her life.” After she dances for her life and receives a standing ovation from her fellow dancers, the judges agree to put her through to the next round.
Now, the remaining dancers have an hour to learn a ballroom dance team, to perform for the judges. One couple has a little trouble practicing the routine, and a tooth is knocked out on the dance floor. The dancers stay up until 1:00 AM rehearsing their new ballroom dance routine.
The next day, the dancers head to the stage to perform their ballroom dance routines for the judges. Of course the ballroom dancers killed it, but even the tap dancers pulled it off and got through to the next round. Hip-hop dancers JaJa and Emilio surprise and blow the judges away with their ballroom dance and are put through to the next round.
Now the remaining dancers have to learn the choreography for a contemporary dance to perform in front of the judges. Philadelphia’s Bridgette Whitman is still in the running and takes the stage to perform her contemporary routine for the judges. The judges aren’t impressed with her contemporary routine, so they ask her to “dance for her life.” The judges decide to put her through to the next round after her solo.
After the contemporary round there are fifty dancers remaining. The judges reveal that tonight is group night, which means they are put in groups of five and are assigned a random song and must choreograph their own dance. The stay up all night practicing their group dances, and the exhausted dancers begin bickering with each other over their dances.
The first group of dancers takes the stage the next day and refers to themselves as “One Love.” The judges aren’t impressed and Tara Lipinski even referred to it as “a mess.” Nigel tells them to come back later and they can decide which one of them is going to go home. The rest of the dancers following “One Love” were just as horrible, and the judges begin cutting dancers left and right.
After the rest of the groups performed “One Love” returned to the stage, they reveal to the judges that they can’t vote one of their own out because it is unfair. Nigel is impressed with their sportsmanship and decides to put them all through to the next round.
Once group dances are complete, there is only 44 dancers remaining. They each have to perform one last solo for the judges to determine whether they will go home or are in the Top 20. The first dancer to perform his solo is 18 year old Ricky Ubeda. The judges are blown away by his performance and he has set the bar high for the rest of the dancers to follow him.
It’s time for the judges to reveal who has made it in the Top 20. Fan favorites Jessica Mitchens and Ricky Ubeda have both made it in the Top 20. Hip-hop dancer Emilio made it in the Top 20 last year, however was injured and had to drop out of the show. The judges have decided to give Emilio another chance, and have put him through to the Top 20 again. Unfortunately, his dance partner JaJa didn’t make the cut and is heading home.
Fan favorite Johnny Wax was also sent home and won’t be making it to the Top 20. Bridgette Whitman heads out on stage to learn her fate, and is thrilled to learn she is going through to the Top 20. Tap dancers Valerie and Steven both made it through to the Top 20, as did contemporary dance Emily James. Landon was a front-runner since SYTYCD began however he bombed the group dance and final solo, the judges reveal to him that he is going home and will not be in the Top 20.
Best friends Nick and Rudy auditioned together in Chicago and have cruised all the way through call-backs. Now, the BFFs must learn whether they will be separated or they will both be put through to the Top 20. The judges break the news to Nick that they already have a ton of ballroom dancers; however he is one of them and they are putting him through to the Top 20. Now, it is Rudy’s turn to learn his fate. He is ecstatic when he learns he will be joining his friend Nick in the Top 20.
