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My dish through the audition process is run a little differently compared to the dish you'll get when the TOP 20 start competing. Tonight it's a brief recap of every round because with 200 dancers being packed into 2 hours, we don't see complete dances and it's a bit broken up with what we see on TV. I like to give the recap though because there are a lot of you that follow particular dancers so I want to share part of their journey. It's also nice as the competition goes on- to have a place to come back to for recaps of the dancers previous rounds. In the beginning as we get to know the dancers, it's easy to forget who's who so I try to leave reminders along the way; starting with their very 1st audition. Let's get started.

DAY 1- HIP HOP
Choreographers: Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo

Robert Muraine struggled with the choreography- has never been taught before. Nigel brought Robert on stage after he heard he wanted to quite. It was sweet, Nigel told him there are so many people out in the world that are waiting to tell him he's not good enough, why would he say that to himself and already be defeated. He told Robert to do his solo so the judges could decide if they wanted to fight for him staying in the competition. RESULTS- it was even better than his Los Angeles audition. BUT- he bowed out He was too overwhelmed by stepping into new territory with the choreography.

Ryan Race, Ricky Sun, and Claire Calloway are a couple of the 60 dancers that got cut in the Hip Hop Round.
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DAY 2- BROADWAY
Choreographer: Tyce Diorie

Twin Anthony Hart made it through this round while his brother got cut. I was impressed because at Charleston auditions, Antwain was the stronger of the two. But if you don't remember the choreography in Vegas, there's no sympathy or second chances.

Erika Gee, Antwain Hart, & Philip Courter are just a few of the showcased dancers that got cut in the Broadway Round.

94 dancers survived the Broadway Round.
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DAY 2- BALLROOM
Choreographers: Unsure

All 94 remaining dancers danced the Fox Trot in this round.

Joshua Allen and his friend Comfort from Dallas both impressed the judges with being able to go from Hip Hop to Ballroom and pull off being so graceful.

Paige Jones gets a second chance at her Fox Trot because the judges didn't think it was fair to her that her partner Will wasn't strong enough. He'll be dancing again too. Okay, so Paige danced again. The judges said she wasn't elegant enough. I 100% disagree! She danced beautifully and should not have been cut!

I don't understand. Paige and others get sent home after getting a second chance at the Fox Trot but some who didn't impress in the Fox Trot get another shot and get to dance in the style they are comfortable with in the "Dancing for Their Lives" round. Jeremiah Hughes wins the judges over. But that's not a shocker. He danced the dance that got him to Vegas; of course they are going to like it. No disrespect to Jeremiah though, he's great and just playing by their crazy rules. I'm just bitter that Paige didn't get the same opportunity to dance for her life. She would've nailed it!

Ballroom dancers Aliona Vetrenko & Chelsie Hightower sail through to the next round.
Best friends from Utah, Kortney Pearson & Michelle Stringham, Nashville's William Wingfield, Montgomery's Stephen "Twitch" Boss, Leo Rothingberg (sp? hard to tell sometimes with Kat's accent also advance...along with many others.
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DAY 2- SURPRISE GROUP ROUTINES
Choreographers: The dancers.

Keep in mind that it's late and they already went through two rounds on this day. The dancers are split into groups, have to pick a random song, and have a dance choreographed by morning. I'm tired just thinking of it.
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DAY 3- GROUP ROUTINES
Choreographers: The dancers.

There was so much going on and they didn't show full routines so it's hard to say much about it. Only 4 went home after this round, including Michelle Stringham's best friend, Kortney Pearson. I was bummed to see her go.
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DAY 3- CONTEMPORARY ROUND
Choreographer- Mia Michaels

Only 68 remain.

Lizz Plott should not have been cut for talking too much. She did an amazing job with the choreography. She's a tap dancer and rocked it- she should've stayed. It was an unfair lesson to teach her by cutting her when it didn't have anything to do with her dancing. Grrr. So many frustrations in Vegas

The routine beat Jeremiah Hughes down. He got lost and walked off the stage with a bit of anger. The judges were disappointed with his behavior and was sent home. But at the end of the day, he humbled himself with an apology. Now that we can respect.

I was really rooting for Sheila Kaiser to be in the TOP 20 but they cut her when she "danced for her life." Her dad better still tell her he's proud of her. If not, Sheila, know that we all are! Best of luck and keep dancing!!!

In all, 22 dancers were cut from the Contemporary Round. It's been a true test of what it takes to stay in the competition.
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TOP 20 ARE ANNOUNCED!

TOP 10 WOMEN                                TOP 10 MEN

COURTNEY GALIANO                        JOSHUA ALLEN                        
CHELSIE HIGHTOWER                       TWITCH BOSS
SUSIE GARCIA                                    GEV MANOUKIAN    
CHELSEA TRAILLE                              MATT DORAME
KOURTNI LIND                                   THAYNE JASPERSON
KHERINGTON PAYNE                         MARQUIS CUNNINGHAM
COMFORT FEDOKE                             MARK KANEMURA
JESSICA KING                                    JAMIE BAYARD
KATEE SHEAN                                     CHRIS JAROSZ
RAYVEN ARMIJO                                WILLIAM WINGFIELD
                                                             

They didn't make it to the TOP 20, but big CONGRATS for getting as far as they did: Kelli Baker, Anthony Hart, Aliona Vetrenko, Bianca Revels, Markus Shields, Derrick Spears sp?, Brandon Bryant, Natalie Reid, and all the rest that didn't get their names called on TV but made it just shy of the TOP 20.

We have an amazing TOP 20 to watch this season! I am excited for the intense competition to start! Now that the TOP 20 have been named, who stands out to you? Anyone want to be brave and name who they think will make it all the way to the finals? I know- it's so far away, but it will be fun to get props at Dance Dish if you're right

Til next week!



Tami