One forgets so often that there is more to the creative community in L.A. than frazzled yet doe-eyed wait staff on the cusp of becoming bitter (a.k.a. actors). Each year, we are pleasantly reminded how thriving the dance tradition is in the City of Angels, City of Dreams and this was certainly no exception. On hand to help us become reacquainted is Modern Family‘s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who proved to be not only a thoughtful judge but an hilarious boon to the proceedings in a guest judge stint on the show last season. He brings the same spirit and vivacity this year, making for a more entertaining two hours than the season premiere.
In particular, we get our first true arresting performance on the season in the audition of one Eliana Girard. The Joffrey Ballet-trained cutie with the gorgeous mop of curly hair was further training with Alvin Ailey when she passed an audition with Cirque du Soleil, where she developed and compassion in aerial performance. Not just in silks, the aerial dancing with curtains that has become so popular, but particularly in aerial pole dancing. While pole dancing evokes a certain puritanical response, she insists that it gave her not just strength but a confidence and sensuality that makes her dancing that much better. Her audition proves it and her beautiful long legs absolutely captivate in a stunning and thoroughly complete performance. What’s more is she has a beaming smile and the kind of personality that draws an audience in, introducing us to our first star on the season.
The evening also introduces us to the first true forces of nature of the year in the astoundingly captivating Ninja Twins, Nick and James Aragon. (So named from their, erm, names: NIck ‘N JAmes.) To be honest, I found the twin brothers’ dancing a bit ho-hum for the competition, though the judges seemed to be more impressed with it at times in person. In the end, though, this was much more about shining light on personality than on their performances. No matter what would’ve come of their time on SYTYCD — sadly, at 32, they are older than the age cut-off of 30 years for contestants — I have little doubt that they won’t find some sort of success (a show on Bravo, perhaps?) in entertainment. Their rhythms, their timing, their bravado were all just so loud, in your face, and mesmerizing — again, not talking about the dancing — that it’s hard to believe they aren’t plastered all over the place already.
While the evening was filled with other stand-outs, like little “firecracker” Megan Branch, who gave a quick and powerful routine to a Björk song; ballet dancer Steven Jacobsen, who nearly lost out on a shot to Vegas with a horribly self-choreographed number before getting another chance to completely wow the judges with the breadth of his 17 years of study; and dancer and martial artist Cole Horibe, whose strong combination of fluid dance movement and well-disciplined fighting techniques made a lasting impression (and, for me, recalled both the late Brandon Lee and a personal friend named Glenn who was an aikido instructor and dance nut), it was the final story of the evening that really capped off the night. Two dancers, brother Marshea Kidd and sister Jasmine Mason, both competing to make it onto the show, were involved in a car accident but 6 weeks prior to the auditions. Marshea was driving, swerved to miss one car that pulled out in front of them and right into the path of another car, and adjusted their car enough so that the impact would mostly be on his side. That act saved his sister’s life and prevented any significant injury to her. Unfortunately, it also caused him to die.
Declared D.O.A. at the scene by paramedics, he was revived and taken the hospital, where he was in a coma afterward. After waking from his coma, both Marshea and his sister set out to keep their opportunity to audition for the show and both performed on the night. Jasmine impressed with a sexy contemporary jazz routine that everyone noted had a mature far beyond her 18 years of age. It was a no-brainer to send her through to Vegas. Marshea then closed out the night and, to be honest, was solid if a bit unremarkable. Mary Murphy stopped the routine not too long into it because a stark truth was made clear. This man, who had been dead 6 weeks before, spent time in a coma, and had to deal with torn tendons in his neck, lacerations, and who knows what extent of damage to his brain and other organs, was up on the stage giving his all. He might not have been in peak condition to offer the best performance his talent and hard work prepared him for, but to have survived what he did and to offer as much movement as he did during his audition was inspiring. That’s all Mary had to see to send him right through to Vegas.
Other highlights of the evening:
* David Matz’s compelling performance with a Cyr wheel; might not have shown off much of his dancing ability — and he ended up folding during the choreo session at the end of the day — but it was a very beautiful and engaging display
* Caley Carr, the free-spirit surfer with the Handsome Dan mustache, who tapped with a slow confident style that spoke volumes about his own outlook on life
* Sam Lenarz, who was kicked out of the house by her mother but found her way with a friend’s family, did a nice ballet audition and made her way to Vegas through the choreo session
* Jontel “Jonny Waacks” Gibson, the wacker who inspired some of the best judges’ banter on the night and had one of the best attitudes around. (It should be noted that I’m not a fan of wacking. Didn’t care for it when it was introduced last season and was not thrilled to see it shown again this year.)
Now, it’s on to HOTlanta…
