So You Think You Can Dance: Auditions 1

The hunt is on again for Britain’s Favourite Dancer, as Season Two of SYTYCD gets under way – the intro clips are amazing, how tough will this be? The competitors are after £50k in cash and the chance to dance in Hollywood. More importantly, they’re after hearing the phrase “Come get your Golden Ticket” from the panel – the Not-so-nasty Nigel; Able Arlene; Lovely Louise and the Sardonic-yet-sanguine Sisco.

And first up is fantastic Matt the tapper – tapping to R’n’B – liking this already ... hat work, rhythm, style, cheekiness, athletic, creative ... liking him A Lot! Oh. Yeah. Baby. Diggin’ the sliiiiide. Arlene calls him a feast – Golden Ticket numero uno, come get it while it’s hot!

He’s followed to choreography by Samba sizzler Stephanie “hot to trot” says Louise; Contemporary Bruce; Street Daniel. Another contemporary tapper, Lee, is On Fire, according to Arlene! Lyrical and stylised Katie also straight through “a real delicacy with strength and power” says Arlene, along with the seriously musical hip hopper Rithy.

Club dancer (as in club singer, but dancer – get my drift?) Shanelle and mum Cordelle, the carnival mother and daughter – it was never going to happen, no finesse, uncontrolled and I can’t see either making it through. I’m surprised Shanelle gets the Call Back - she won’t nail a routine in the time they have - she doesn’t, mum’s not having it but they’re shown the door. Self taught Tomasz wants Cat’s job, he’s got the personality but while having the judges dancing in their seats, isn’t called back. Neither is Paulo, even with a poem for Arlene. Hannah and Andres, salsa – how fast are their feet? But not enough movement elsewhere. Hannah out; Andres called back but doesn’t make it through to choreography.

A plethora of hip hop, with Golden Tickets following the call backs for Spinning Charlotte, she’ll need to bring more though; partially deaf Kirsty, she of the fantastic energy but very traditional, club dancing – a challenge in more ways than one to make the top 20; contemporary dancer Paige, agile, emotive, a little unsteady at times but enormous potential!

My faves from this lot: Matt; Rithy; Lee. Welcome back, SYTYCD!

So You Think You Can Dance Series 2

The second series of So You Think You Can Dance will begin on Saturday 16th April.

Returning are Cat Deeley presenting, with head judge Nigel Lythgoe once again accompanied by pop singer turned presenter Louise Redknapp, the ever-youthful Arlene Phillips and choreographer/dancer Sisco Gomez.

Nigel hasn't changed the format of the British series like he did with the American one and there will once again be 10 boys and 10 girls, with two voted off each week. The public vote decides who goes through; the judges confer and decide who goes home. No deadlock nonsense or controversial-for-the-sake-of-it decisions in this show!

If you'd like to be in the audience you can apply for tickets online at the BBC website from now until March 17th.