Boston TV: We Think They Can Dance

Fox's hit show So You Think You Can Dance (think American Idol minus the caterwauling and plus epic foot injuries) held its first Boston auditions this spring. The visit was a success for local dancers, with two of the show's twenty finalists hailing from the Bay State. Bostonist is totally addicted to SYTYCD, a reality show that doesn't rely on manufactured drama and instead focuses on talented contestants performing amazing feats of athleticism and skill. Many of the dancers have trained since they were toddlers, and it shows in the intricate routines they somehow master each week. Dancers are eliminated weekly, first by a panel of judges, then, when the show is down to its top 10, by whomever receives the fewest votes from the show's viewers. Bostonist is here to catch you up on the story so far for both Massachusetts dancers so that our readers can tune in and vote for them. (Bostonist has no shame about being a total homer.)

Russell Ferguson of Roxbury is the first finalist in SYTYCD's five-year history to specialize in krump, a hard-hitting form of hip hop dance. He revealed in an interview that he didn't feel like he had a chance of making the show, but his mother convinced him to audition. Bostonist imagines Mrs. Ferguson will be getting a really nice Christmas present from Russell this year. So You Think You Can Dance loves a good underdog-overcomes-obstacles story, and Russell currently seems to be falling into the "Street dancer succeeds in more formal styles" trope. He wowed the judges with his mastery of a zippy ballroom routine during the audition rounds and says he's really looking forward to performing a disco routine in competition. He's a dynamic and engaging dancer with an outgoing and confident personality, which should take him far in a contest that's decided not only on technical skill but also on the voting public's affection for a dancer.

Contemporary dancer Channing Cooke of Haverhill was introduced before her first audition with a classic Massachusetts story: her summer job is scooping ice cream. She impressed the judges with her power and confidence, but was warned that, as such a strong individual dancer, she needs to learn to dance successfully with a partner. This may be a key obstacle for her, since all of the dancing on the show is done with partners. Channing hasn't received as much air time as Russell, but seems so far to have an impressive amount of poise and focus for an 18-year-old.

So You Think You Can Dance airs tonight at eight on Fox.