After a year and a half break, So You Think You Can Dance is finally back with a new season on FOX, and it’s been a bumpy ride getting here.
Only a few months after Season 17 ended, it was reported in December 2022 that judge Stephen Boss, best known as SYTYCD alum tWitch, took his own life. This tragedy put Season 18 on hold in 2023, and things only got heavier for the show.
When Season 18 was finally set to premiere this year, it was announced the panel would include Maks Chmerkovskiy of Dancing With The Stars, tWitch’s wife and dancer Allison Holker, and OG SYTYCD judge Nigel Lythgoe. But amid accusations made by former American Idol and SYTYCD judge Paula Abdul, Lythgoe exited the show before it even began and was replaced with Season 17 judge JoJo Siwa.
And that’s what you missed on SYTYCD. Without further ado, let’s begin the first night of auditions!
SYTYCD alum Comfort Fedoke joins Allison and Maks tonight for the first round of auditions.
Roman – 26 – New York/Ukraine
Roman is a Latin ballroom dancer and his legs and hips are insane! His audition routine is a bit repetitive though.
Maks and Allison both critique that it was too solo for ballroom. Makes gets up and dances with Roman to show how he partners.
Maks runs out of the room and finds a random ballroom auditioner to pair with Roman, reminding him she’s 50 precent of ballroom.
Roman then auditions again with his nameless female partner.
Maks says he has an opportunity to represent Ukraine and says yes. Comfort says yes. Allison says yes.
Easton Magliarditi – 19 – Nevada
Easton is a Contemporary dancer. This boy owns the floor like a snake and then flies across it with jumps and flips. So fluid and haunting.
Maks gives him a standing O and the other judges follow. Allison says he’s everything she was hoping to see. Comfort compliments his picturesque one handed stall freeze.
All 3 say yes.
Justice Little – 25 – Kentucky
Justice has a cool fluid robot style.
Comfort says it was internalized. Maks said he didn’t use enough space in the room.
Maks says no.
Olivia – 22 – New Jersey
Olivia is a Contemporary dancer. Graceful and serious, Olivia has beautiful lines and fluid motions.
Allison calls her whimsical. Comfort simply says she enjoyed it. Maks at first says she hopes she doesn’t dance like she’s filming a TikTok after she tells them she makes content, then admits he was so wrong and it was amazing.
All 3 say yes.
Maximus Osorio Simenko – 18 – Illinois
Maximus is such a a fast but precise dancer. He makes you wonder how someone can move like that.
Maks says this routine didn’t present him at his best. Comfort says he needs his own voice in dance.
Maks says no. Allison says no.
Oshae “King Wavy” Young – 28 – California
King Wavy is a breakdancer and he KNOWS IT! Very simple and repetitive though.
Allison says he’s fun to watch and he commands the room. Maks questions what his motion would be like in Contemporary. Comfort says she thinks he could show them more.
Allison says yes. Maks says no. Comfort says yes.
Kyler Durrence – 21 – Alabama
Kyler is a Contemporary dancer. I can only tell by his first move that he’s a beautiful dancer. So balanced. So fluid. I envy it.
Allison says the movement is there but the emotion isn’t. Maks says he’s incredible.
Allison says no. Maks says yes. Comfort says no. (they whack)
Kenzie Robertson – 18 – South Carolina
Kenzie performs Contemporary.
Allison says she needs to learn to connect and slow down.
Allison says no.
Dakayla Wilson – 18 – Florida
This is like a funky Contemporary. She has great hips amid her fluid Contemporary.
Allison says they’re looking for someone who could step into any set and she sees her as an industry dancer. Maks says she has limitless abilities. Comfort says it was a breath of fresh air.
All 3 say yes.
Jin Lee – 24 – New York
Jin does bone breaking, Chinese folk and waving. Jin brings a uniqueness to every one of her steps and movements.
Allison is in tears by the time she’s done. Comfort says she felt the energy building up but it still had grace. Allison says she only wants to see more of her.
Jin tells Allison, as someone who lost her father, she’s inspired by the way she holds tWitch’s legacy. Allison remembers her Kate husband as an icon and a legend.
All 3 say yes.
The episode ends with a tribute to tWitch.
