'So You Think You Can Dance' season 16 recap: From robotics animation to a mildly autistic tapper, here's all about the Golden Ticket performances
'So You Think You Can Dance' aired its fourth episode on Monday night and it was all about the Golden Ticket.
This week on 'So You Think You Can Dance' season 16, we witnessed a slew of contestants who auditioned for the series hoping to make it to the next round. Most of them were successful in making it to the next round, and some were even luckier as they received a Golden Ticket which gives them the advantage of skipping the next round and heading straight to the academy.
Judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Laurieann Gibson and Dominic“D-Trix” Sandoval made sure only the best contestants got the Golden Tickets and went through to the academy under their watchful eyes.
On Monday night the search for America's favorite dancer continued and there were performances that we didn't want to end, and a few that made us want to grab a tissue. Over the past three weeks there were very few Golden Tickets given out to the contestants, but this week, the judges seemed generous as there were quite a number of contestants who gained their appreciation.
The first performance that earned the judges' attention was Bryan “Clocks” Volozanin.
Volozanin a hip-hop dancer whose field was robotics animation is no new face to the SYTYCD community. He auditioned a few seasons ago and was eliminated after the Green Mile. But this season Volozanin came back more determined than ever and performed flawlessly leaving the judges stunned. After appreciating his subtilities of animation, the judges also gave Volozanin a Golden Ticket.
The next contestant who blew the judges away with her performance was Sydney Burtis. Burtis is a tap dancer who had mild autism. Wanting to help her get verbal, her parents enrolled her in a dance class, which resulted in Burtis falling in love with tap dancing. Though the music started off slow and made no connection with the dance, the judges looked past it and only at her dance which was flawless and energetic. Burtis did not miss a step or beat and stuck to it. Her family in the crowd was left emotional looking at her perform.
The judges were impressed with Burtis's performance and handed her a Golden Ticket as well. Up next was Jarrod Tyler Paulson, a contemporary dancer, who during his audition proved that he can do just about anything. Though Jarrod had come with his girlfriend Madison, the couple auditioned separately. After Jarrod was done with his performance, Nigel told him, “I was not expecting what I saw. It was fabulous. Lauriann said, “You’re unique.” Dom said, “It was one of my favorite contemporary pieces.” Mary said, “You’re fabulous.”
After his performance, his girlfriend Madison was up. She is a contemporary dancer but she has been diagnosed with alopecia. But that does not mean she was any less of a talent. Her performance made the judges fall in love with her right from the start. They were so taken up with the couple, that they made the duo perform together.
After Madison was done with her performance, Nigel said, “I loved the control. I want to audition your kids.” Lauriann said, I love you, and I’m moved.” Mary said, “You are memorable. I loved the softness and strength.”
Undoubtedly Jarrod and Madison made it all the way with four yeses and a Golden Ticket each. They both made it through to the academy.
'So You Think You Can Dance' season 16 airs every Monday night on Fox. Check your local listings for more information.