(Clayton Smith/SMU Media Relations)

Freezing Dallas temperatures didn’t hold dancers back from their crucial auditions on Friday. Ballerinas, break dancers and poppers started lining up on the steps of SMU’s McFarlin Memorial Auditorium at 5 a.m. for Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” competition and television program.

Dancers fought for a spot on the show’s ninth season with auditions beginning Friday lasting until Sunday. This is the third year that SMU has hosted the show’s regional audition.

SMU senior Leah Mitchell decided it was finally her year to strut her stuff.

The Meadows School of the Arts dance major hoped to make it to the show’s main stage in Los Angeles by using her charisma and technique.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s 30 degrees when my body is all fired up for the judges and especially the TV cameras,” Mitchell said.

Other dancers came out to SMU’s Boulevard to enjoy the experience and pick up some moves from other talented dancers.

Earl Manuel, dancer and model from Buffalo, N.Y., admitted he’s not as strong of a dancer as many of the contestants.

However, he is determined to try.

“My hopes aren’t high, but I’m doing this to show my ambition, and as a tribute to my family,” Manuel said.

A few of the “So You Think You Can Dance” All-Stars and producers were the only ones making cuts for Friday’s first day of the competition, according to audition dancer Kirsten Hamm.

The season eight All-Stars include dancers such as Pasha Kovalev and Melody Lacayanga.

These All-Stars have made it to the elite Top 20 in the “So You Think You Can Dance” competition in the past.

The main judges from “So You Think You Can Dance” make the final cuts on what talent deserves to head to Las Vegas.

This is the last destination and elimination round before the final Top 20 group competes live in Los Angeles.

SMU senior dance major Jamal White made a name for himself when he auditioned for season six.

He was one of the lucky dancers to be awarded a plane ticket to Las Vegas.

White auditioned in his hometown of Atlanta, and made it to Las Vegas after dancing his solo and creating some unique and enticing improv in front of the show’s famous judges, Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy.

“By the time I made it to Las Vegas, I had already danced for my life, but the judges wanted more,” White said.

White was impressed by the level of technique and quality that all of the competitors brought.

However, unlike SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts audition process, he felt that a large part of the “So You Think You Can Dance” elimination was based off your camera friendly personality.

“Producers and judges got picky about camera-ready people when the competition came down to the wire in Las Vegas. It was about 60 percent personality and 40 percent dance by this point. Of course the dancers who made it to the Top 20 were very talented, but I saw a lot of amazing dancers get cut as well,” White said.

Overall, White said he appreciated what “So You Think You Can Dance” offered him in regards to experience and exposure.

White will be traveling with a contemporary ballet company, Rock the Ballet, this spring.

He will dance under American choreographer and Artistic Director Rasta Thomas.

White will travel to India, Portugal and Russia while on tour.

Another SMU student made an impact on the ninth season’s auditions at Mcfarlin Memorial Auditorium.

Sophomore dance major Kirsten Hamm reached the final day of judging on Sunday to dance her contemporary solo.

“Dancers only get a few minutes to audition for the judges, which is difficult when you are waiting around all day,” Hamm said.

“There is a lot of waiting, but I have to stay focused and warm.”

Hamm plans on having a career in contemporary dance choreography.

She isn’t sure what “So You think You Can Dance” will bring to her career, but she’s thankful SMU hosted the auditions and opened doors of opportunity for her.

SMU dancers also had competition outside of University Park to worry about.

Amanda Densmore, 20, from Denton, Texas, came to SMU for another shot, after she was cut last season.

“I have been a huge fan of “So You Think You Can Dance” since I was 14,” Densmore said. “This is my second chance and I’m giving it all I got.”

Video shot and edited by Eric Sheffield [email protected]

A pool of contestants waiting to audition for “So You Think You Can Dance?” listen to past seasons’ finalists Robert Roldan and Courtney Galiano share their own experiences Friday morning in McFarlin Auditorium. (Spencer J Eggers/ The Daily Campus)