The Top 20

I have to hand it to the producer's for keeping Vegas week short and sweet and getting our top 20 to us in record time. As usual, there are several rounds of cuts after different styles of choreography. The judges during Vegas week were Nigel, Mary and Mia, but this time Tabitha and Napoleon and the very blunt Debbie Allen joined them. Round one cuts were after the contestants performed a hip/hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. Round two was a Broadway Jazz routine by Tyce DiOrio. Round three was a Jean Marque Foxtrot, and round four was a contemporary routine by Mia Michaels. The cuts took care of Claire of the Season 2 injury, the pageant girl, and both of the ballroom couples that we saw during auditions.
As is typical of SYTYCD, we ended up with some dancers in our top 20 that didn't receive too much airtime and so how they stack up is a complete mystery. From what I saw of the auditions, there is only one dancer that I am kind of grossed out that made it, but I am getting ahead of myself.
After the four rounds, the remaining dancers were randomly put into groups and had to stay up all night choreographing a routine to music pulled out of a hat. The dancers who survived that, roughly 47, ended up doing their solos and waiting in the holding room to learn their fate.
Here are the top 20 Girls:
COURTNEY GALLIANO-Courtney impressed at the auditions, and is a 20 year old fireball from Queens, New York with the big Italian family. This selection is no surprise to me at all and I think she will be fun to watch in this competition.
CHELSIE HIGHTOWER-Chelsie is an 18 year old ballroom dancer from Utah that had tons of free publicity during the audition process. She is darling, but not having seen much of her during Vegas week, she could be the next Faina, who knows?
SUSIE GARCIA-This 25 year old Flamenco dancer also is skilled at Salsa and Latin dancing. My favorite part of her in Vegas week was when Debbie Allen told her to go put some clothes on. I am not a fan, and was flabbergasted that she took Kelli Baker's place in the top 20.
CHELSEA TRAILLE-This 23 year old from Texas is a contemporary and jazz funk dancer. I have no memory of her audition, but loved what I saw of her solo during Vegas week.
KOURTNI LIND-Kourtni is an 18 year old from Minnesota whose dance to a spoken word piece during auditions was wonderful. She is a contemporary dancer with a unique look.
KHERINGTON PAYNE-I had a feeling this darling 18 year old from California would have that look that would make for great TV. I think she is darling, and from the little bit of performing that I saw, she dances with great joy. She was not a surprise for me.
JESSICA KING-We didn't really meet this 23 year old from South Carolina until the group number drama, with Derek of "I am too good for this choreography". It was pretty funny that this dancer who loves all styles of dance made it and Derek and his big mouth went packing. He was not the only one-Liz of tap blew her chances with her mouth as well.
RAYVEN ARMIJO-Rayven is a contemporary ballet girl who is the oldest of the girls. At 28, she is from California and the most we saw of her dancing was a snippet of her on point.
COMFORT FEDOKE-Is 20 year old hip-hop and popper from Texas who won me over with her foxtrot. I have never seen someone so clearly out of their element, try so hard.
KATEE SHEAN-Katee is a 20 year old California girl who almost blew her chance at the top 20 by insinuating that if she weren't picked over her best friend, she wouldn't try again. I think the judges were pretty harsh and I don't think Katee expressed herself well. I am glad she is getting a chance to prove she should be there, because I loved her contemporary audition.
Now for the top 20 Boys:
JOSHUA ALLEN-the 19 year old Texas native was Comfort's partner at the foxtrot. He did some amazing leaps, and Debbie Allen speculated aloud that he has had more training than a typical hip hop artist. If he can get the crybaby stuff under control, I think he will impress us.
TWITCH (A.K.A. STEPHEN BOSS)-Loved this 25 year old freestyler last season and I so excited to see him partnered up and attempting new styles.
THAYNE JASPERSON-At 27, Thayne is the oldest of the boys, and is a ballet/jazz guy from Utah. I have almost no knowledge of what he is about, so I can't wait for Wednesday to see!
MATTHEW DORAME-Matthew is 22, from Arizona, and wowed me with his lyrical dance at the auditions (despite the basketball shorts). I think he is darling with a ton of personality.
MARQUIS CUNNINGHAM-This New Jersey native is 18 and a lyrical contemporary dancer that also remains a little mysterious due to lack of on air time.
MARK KANEMURA-Mark did some contemporary modern funk when dancing for his life in Vegas that cracked me up. He is 24, from Hawaii, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with on the show.
CHRIS JAROSZ-This 21 year old Texan was worried about his chances given all the contemporary dancers picked this season. I was too, since I really had no idea who he was before he marched on stage and found out he had made it. His specialty is modern, but the judges said he had the personality of a tree on stage so he better bring it.
WILLIAM WINGFIELD-The 21 year old from Tennessee stole the spot from Brandon Bryant, of this I am certain. His contemporary audition to a spoken word piece was really solid, and from the clips of his time in Vegas, we will be in for some amazing leaps and tricks.
JAMIE BAYARD-All we know about this ballroom dancer is that he is 22 and is from California.
GEV MANOUKIAN-The 21 year old Russian Ice breaker now lives in Utah. I guess since Robert Muraine opted to leave the competition without attempting choreography, and obviously Philip Chbeeb didn't fare well either, we were left needing a breaker. I thought Gev's audition very interesting, and I am hoping he does well.

There you have it folks, your top 20. I don't know about you, but I am now officially pumped to get the party started. There is always a break out piece of choreography in the first show, so I am excited and anxious to see what happens in two days. Tune in as the competition begins....