'So You Think You Can Dance?' auditions back in Salt Lake

The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center was inundated Friday with hopefuls who think they can dance.

Fox TV's popular dance reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" is returning for its sixth season this fall and hopes Salt Lake may have the talent to fit the bill.

After all, past seasons of the show have featured dancers with Utah connections. Season four had top 20 finalists Chelsie Hightower from Orem, Thayne Jasperson from Springville and Gev Manoukian from Centerville. Season three winner Sabra Johnson was from Roy.

"With the state of Utah turning out those talented dancers in the past, why not come back?" producer Jeff Thacker said. Auditions also were held in Salt Lake City for season four.

The six-city audition process is open call. Anyone thinking they can dance has a shot to show producers what they've got.

"We never turn anyone away," Thacker said.

The audition is mainly a filtering process in the beginning. Groups of about 10 perform in front of producers, and if the producers see potential, some will make it to call-backs. Only after this process, and other cuts in between, will dancers be able to perform for the show's judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and a guest judge, who in Salt Lake is choreographer Mia Michaels.

Although the show has only been a summer program in its first five seasons, Thacker said Fox wanted to see if the show could hold its own in the fall.

"Fox is big on the 18-34 demographic," Thacker said. "There is not another show that hits that demographic. We top them."

Auditions began at 1 p.m. with thousands of dancers coming out to try their chances.

Contemporary dancer Chance Benson, 18, came from Charlotte, N.C., for an opportunity to try out for the new season. This was Benson's second season trying out, after making it through to Las Vegas last season.

"You can't really prepare," Benson said. "You have to be on your game and be comfortable with who you are."

Ogden native Mykklyn Stanzione, 19, is on her fifth time trying out. But this year is different for her, she says.

"I know what I wanted to do and how I wanted to look. I feel more comfortable with who I am," Stanzione said.

Friends and family members were on-site supporting their dance hopefuls.

Hip-hop and contemporary dancer Omar Poole, from West Jordan, had his mom and cousin there to support him. Poole was in a car accident in high school and was told by doctors he would never dance again.

"I'm here because people always told me I couldn't, and it was hard to learn to walk and stand up again," Poole said.

After recovering from a broken femur, hip and clavicle, Poole has been able to get back on his feet.

"It's good that I can still believe in myself, and nothing is going to hold me back," Poole said.