World of Dance season 2 Qualifiers auditions continue tonight. Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough and NE-YO are back on the judges panel, while Jenna Dewan serves as host.
In the end, there will be only one million dollar winner. That’s right–the last act standing wins $1 million dollars.
A total of 72 acts compete this season in the four age-based categories: Junior (17 years old and under, 1-4 dancers), Junior Team (17 years old and under, 5-15 dancers), Upper (18 years old and older, 1-4 dancers), and Upper Team (18 years old and older, 5-15 dancers).
The acts need 80 or above scores from the judges to advance to the Duels.
DNA – Upper – Ballroom – They are a married couple who have been married two years, dancing for 11. They crapped out during last season’s Duels (male dancer slipped and fell). It’s a paso doble and a very dramatic one at that. AH REDEMPTION. They pulled it off this time. Jlo calls the routine clean and smooth. Ne-Yo notes that the male dancer has been bulking up. Jennifer adds that unlike last time, the doesn’t struggle during the lifts. Derek admires them for taking notes and improving year to year. Derek suggests they expand on their Latin dancing. – Ne-Yo – 85 – Jlo – 89 – Derek – 80 – 87.7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBSW-_eUtEo
Brotherhood – Upper Team – Hip Hop – This group is from….CANADA! Vancouver, to be exact. They like to “play up the storytelling.” They’ve been dancing together over 7 years. The routine is sports themed. The hockey sticks come out! Derek calls them clean and intricate. He likes the way they used the prop. “Keep pushing yourself,” he says. Ne-Yo wanted more from the prop. He didn’t like the faces they pulled, either. For Jlo, she wanted more “grit.” Ne-yo compared them to cheerleaders. That’s valid–they were a bit too smiley. But on the other hand–Canadians! Ne-Yo – 81 – Jlo – 75 – Derek – 85 – 80.3. Oh. Jlo really did not like that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_RKeHaPq6o
Vivian Ruiz – Junior – Contemporary – Sixteen year old says the routine she’s performing, based on a hard break up, is “her story.” He broke up via text, and then a pic taken with another girl showed up on Instagram. TEEN ANGST. Derek asks about the routine and she talks about moving on. He admits to being romantic at the same age and calls the performance “beautiful and elegant” while calling out one tiny error. Jlo loved the softness and delicacy. She could feel her pain. Ne-Yo felt the pain and sorrow from the beginning. Jlo predicts the dude will come crawling back after she becomes TV famous. – Ne-Yo – 83 – Jlo – 84 – Derek – 82 – 83.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACxfTpHhbPk
The Untouchables – Junior Team – Ballroom – DeAngelo from season 1 is back with a group after dancing with a partner in season 1. His dad is the creator of the group. OH THIS GUY. He’s had groups compete on AGT as well. Ne-Yo recognizes DeAngelo from last year. Jlo loves the outfits and the Latino energy. “If you make it through, push yourselves.” Ne-Yo thought it was a little too busy. Derek saw a bunch of different Latin styles. “Amazing,” he says. Ne-Yo – 87 – Jlo – 89 – Derek – 90 – 89
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx-efib0zvw
ST Kingz – Upper – Urban Dance – This trio is from Tokyo Japan. Apparently they are big at home with a style that is kind of hip hop meets Broadway, with humor. They have a ton of personality, real crowd pleasers. Derek calls it hip hop vaudeville, but felt it took too long to get to the dancing. Too MUCH character. Ne-Yo agrees somewhat, but felt they did a good job. Jlo was expecting more. “Lose the hats and really dig in,” she says. Ne-Yo – 79 – Jlo – 78 – Derek – 80 – 79. Less cute, more hard hitting dancing is what the judges were looking for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBpPorSykag
Ashley & Zack – Upper – Contemporary – The duo work as pros in Los Angeles. They’ve worked behind a bunch of stars–Prince, Nicki Minaj, Gwen Stefani and more. Oh. They both danced on Julianne and Derek’s “Move” live tour. “Derek was always pushing us,” says Ashley. She compares him to an energizer bunny. They perform a super sexy number that the crowd seems to love. They explain–not an actual couple. Ne-Yo liked that it was sensual without being raunchy. Jlo calls them beautiful dancers, “Amazing athleticism, strength, precision…not one bobble or wobble.” However, she didn’t like the song choice “Versace on the Floor.” Derek acknowledges that he knows them. “Great job,” he says. Ne-Yo – 84 – Jlo – 84 – Derek – 87 – 85. Man JLO REALLY HATED THAT SONG but doesn’t really explain why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlPoELS9FU
The Rock Company – Junior Team – Contemporary – This team of young dancers are from Las Vegas Nevada. The youngest are 10 and 11. They are performing in honor of the people who lost their lives at the Mandalay Bay shooting last fall. One of the dancer’s dads was working the event. He survived, but it still shook her up. After a very emotional routine–they’re mostly crying. Jlo runs up on stage to congratulate them. She calls the performance “powerful” and “true artistry.” She believes they dance beyond their years. Derek calls the routine “magical.” He compliments their “foundation of dancing” that allowed the emotion to come through even stronger. Ne-Yo calls the emotion “elegant and powerful.” – Ne-Yo – 97 – Jlo – 97 – Derek – 96 – 96.7 Jenna tells them they are the highest scoring act in the Junior Team division.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Aa49m2X_Rw
Next week: More Qualifiers. After week 8 the Duels begin.
