Tonight wrapped the Audition rounds for So You Think You Can Dance season 18! The competition has been fierce so far as the judges--Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Comfort Fedoke, and Allison Holker--determine who is industry ready, has enough potential to make it through the rigors of the season, or needs more time perfecting their craft.
With Day 3 of auditions, the Top 35 was decided. We'll be seeing these dancers compete in the Choreography round on Monday, March 25. That's when the contestants will be narrowed down to 10. Here's who from tonight's episode made it to compete in the next round!
Ali Deucher
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Age: 23
Song: "Ashes" by Céline Dion
Ali's routine was about finding beauty in the ashes. She's fresh from a gig dancing for Katy Perry's Las Vegas residency. Where she is in dance now isn't where she was at 16 when her father's financial decisions and involvement in a ponzi scheme led to him being imprisoned for 7 years. Ali had to deal with the judgement from his choices on top of their family losing their house and car as well as their bank accounts being frozen. It was her mother who kept her and her sisters dance dreams alive. She sewed all the costumes at the studio in exchange for the girls to continue attending classes.
Allison applauded Ali's performance. She felt it was beautiful. Comfort referred to her routine as a testimony. Maksim thought that Ali is exactly what choreographers are looking for, so she got three yeses and is moving on to the next round.
Jaylin Sanders
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 20
Song: "Here" by Alessia Cara
Jaylin was taught by Miss Prissy, the Queen of Krump. The judges loved all of Jaylin's energy before he started his performance. Once he started dancing they could see the skill in his technique with isolations and storytelling but, as Maksim pointed out, there's so much space he can fill in his artistry, so they all want to see more from him. He's off to the Choreography round.
Mariyah Hawkins
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Age: 21
Song: "Dywm" by Nao
Mariyah auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation at 13 years old, but she didn't make the cut. It's an experience that stuck with her, and she shared with the judges that she would be honoring the young dancer in herself who wanted this journey so bad. Her mom had told her that it may not have been her time back then but it is now. As her package showed, Mariyah is associated with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.
The performance got all three judges dancing as they felt the music Mariyah was dancing to, however, they diverged in their opinions on the routine. While Allison and Comfort felt that her personality shone through her choreography, Maksim disagreed. To him, she got right down to business and he missed the fun energy she had when she was speaking to them before she began dancing. However, that didn't mean it wasn't a yes for him so they all agreed that Mariyah should move on to the next stage of the competition.
Anthony Curley
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Age: 18
Song: "Higher" - Tems
It was a standing ovation for Anthony. His solo gave Maksim goosebumps. Allison found the height of Anthony's jumps to be stunning while Comfort was captivated by his performance. It was a clear yes for Maksim who called him the LeBron James of dance. With three yeses, he earned a spot in the Choreography round.
Lihi Catriel
Hometown: Tel Aviv, Israel
Age: 20
Dance style: Jazz funk
Song: "Feedback" by Janet Jackson
Lihi has found power in dance and it's been a source of joy for her particularly after Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel. She described the massacre as the worst day of her life, and she learned of the atrocity while she was touring in Europe. Lihi and her immediate family moved from Tel Aviv when she was a child, but the rest of her family is in Israel. She shared that she's been in constant contact with them since the start of the war but, of course, it's weighing heavy on her that this is an ongoing conflict.
The judges did see the joy she exudes when she dances, however, Maksim wanted to know what else she could do. Lihi noted that she has been trained in all styles of dance but jazz funk is where she's most comfortable and feels the most like herself. Like Maksim, it was an easy yes for Comfort. But it wasn't for Allison. She did agree with her fellow judges that Lihi should go through but she needs to remember to find her moment and leave her mark so that she sets herself apart. Allison wants to see more from her.
Julian Carmolinga
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Age: 27
Dance style: Contemporary hip-hop
Song: "Against Me" by H.E.R.
Julian grew up in a rough area of Chicago. He was raised by his mother, and his dad wasn't around because he was in a gang. Julian's outlet was dance. He didn't want to be like his father so he used dancing as a means of healing from what he dealt with growing up. His work also extends to instructing young dancers so they, too, can find their path forward through dance.
While the judges truly enjoyed Julian's routine, Comfort felt that there wasn't enough hip-hop incorporated into the performance which was meant to be a blend of that dance style with contemporary. It was harder for her to get to a yes than Maksim and Allison, but she did. Allison found Julian's dancing portrayed the pain he's gone through in life but it shifts into joy. That's exactly what he's been working to convey in his performance, so he was touched she saw that in his routine.
Dariel "Juicy Love Dion" Rodriguez
Hometown: Miami, FL
Age: 22
Song: "Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)" by Britney Spears
Juicy's dream has always been to audition for So You Think You Can Dance, but she never imagined that she'd be doing it in a drag persona. Growing up, Juicy's father didn't let her embrace her femininity because that's not how he chose to raise his son. She shared with the judges that it followed her all through high school, but then she found drag. It's through drag that she's been able to embrace herself fully and travel the world.
From the moment that she entered the room, Juicy caught the judges' attention. Her vibrant personality and then killer dance moves won their hearts. They were amazed by her routine which included a handstand into a split. Maksim told her that she must have gone through so much to become the person she is and he's so happy that she's happy. When Juicy said that she had to work to get to this place of happiness and that she had to water herself enough to water others, Comfort acknowledged that she could see it because it spills out of Juicy.
It was a resounding yes from the judges though Maksim noted that he thinks Juicy is amazing but Dariel--the man she is outside of drag--has a lot to show the world. She did say that he's been waiting to go out. With all three yeses, Juicy couldn't wait to go tell her mom.
Victor Ramos
Hometown: Pensacola, FL
Age: 30
Song: "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team
This was Victor's last shot at getting on So You Think You Can Dance since 30 is the maximum age that contestants can be. He's been dancing for 23 years and is a professional in his field. Victor's latest gig has been working on the Beatles Love show by Cirque Du Soleil, but he wants to do this dance competition because he's looking to find his happiness again. During the pandemic he had let go of a job he'd loved along with a relationship that meant the world to him. And, now, Victor feels that if he hadn't have done that he wouldn't be standing before the judges today.
They were incredibly impressed by Victor's routine. He'd shared an emotional story but his performance was all joy and showcased his talent. They all said yes but Maksim did ask if at 30 he was still open to learning. Victor said he was so we'll be seeing him vie for a spot in the Top 10.