Dancers from all over the country relished in the beautiful Dallas blue skies and sunshine as they lined up to audition for Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” reality show.
Hip hop dancers, ballerinas, ballroom dancers and more began lining up the steps of SMU’s McFarlin Memorial Auditorium at 6 a.m. to get one step closer to becoming America’s new favorite dancer.
“It’s been such a beautiful day here at SMU. It’s 75 degrees, everyone is happy, the sun is shining, and it’s the perfect place to hold auditions because SMU has the beautiful open space and it’s super easy for us,” said SYTYCD host Cat Deeley.
The show is about celebrating talent and that’s what SYTYCD was here to do. While waiting, dancers outside the McFarlin Auditorium kept their nerves out of mind by freestyling with one another and practicing their routines.
Lauren Calloway from Saginaw, Texas came to audition for the first time.
“I’ve been watching the show since the first season and I’ve wanted to audition since I started dancing at 14. I just turned 18 so I’m finally eligible to participate and represent the contemporary genre,” said Calloway.
Hundreds of dancers ran ecstatically up the McFarlin Auditorium steps once Deeley cued it was time to get the auditions started.
The kind, down-to-earth, cheeky British host connected with contestants by getting to know as many as she could through interviews and side conversations. Deeley said she tries to keep up with all the dancers in the show, even in past seasons because she feels like one of the luckiest people ever.
“I get to meet some of the most amazing dancers in the world, I would do this job for nothing,” said Deeley.
The Fox hit show is unlike any other reality show on television. Going into its 12th season, SYTYCD is geared toward inspiring viewers to chase their dreams.
“The American dream is alive and kicking and you can be anything you want to be. It doesn’t matter where you come from- race, religion, color of your skin, it doesn’t make any difference,” said Deeley.
SYTYCD is for the dancers who want to make their dream become a reality.
“If you’re really passionate about dance and you have the natural ability, you seize it, train really hard, and then you can be anything you want to be,” said Deeley.
The brilliant aspect about the show is how it celebrates talent on a network as popular as Fox.
“Surprise, delight and entertain are the three aims of our show, and to showcase people’s talent,” said Deeley.
This is the third time “So You Think You Can Dance” has held auditions at the SMU campus in hopes of finding America’s favorite dancer.
Dancers are required to showcase their talent beyond their own style if selected to go to the next round of auditions. The show searches for the dancer that can master every genre of dance and move audiences beyond words.
“When the right dancer, hair, makeup, music, lighting, choreographer all come together- they do something and it makes the hair on your arms stand on end. I walk out onto the stage and the audience looks up, blinks and tears run down their faces. It’s one of those moments where you realize this is an amazing piece of art,” said Deeley.
The dancers from Dallas who came to the auditions are hoping to be the next contestant to do just that.
