Why Week 2 Is Always The Hardest Week of 'So You Think You Can Dance'

Photo credit: FOX/Patrick Wymore

Last night was the dreaded first elimination of So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation. It’s always hard to go first, but I think it’s even harder when you are a kid.

Daniela Avanzini did not do the press line last night, but I hope she takes a look back on what the other contestants had to say about her in the interviews. They are working together as a team and the kids were feeling her loss already even though the elimination happened only minutes before.

The elimination wasn’t a surprise to me, not because I thought Daniela deserved to go home, but because there is always what I call the #BallroomMassacre early on. It doesn’t matter if other dance styles have two or three competitors on the show, I always feel like one ballroom dancer gets cut early. It seems that the voting viewers don’t make room for them the way they do for hip hop or contemporary competitors.

Photo credit: FOX/Patrick Wymore

Here are a few things that happened behind the scenes:

1. Fatigue: I was told by an insider that the kids were tired this week. I think it showed in a few numbers, but they had two duets, an All-Star bumper and a Bollywood routine to learn. That’s a lot of material in a short amount of time.

Kathryn McCormick’s explanation of the kids bopping around to the music, even if they forgot the steps in rehearsal is pretty hilarious. You can see it here.

2. Group Numbers: Group numbers are being filmed on Sundays to accommodate child labor laws. Normally, Monday mornings are reserved for the group number shoots, but the All Stars are taking that slot.

Photo credit: FOX/Patrick Wymore

3. Maddie Ziegler: I didn’t post this last night on Twitter because the girl deserves some privacy, but I stayed at The Grove late to have a drink with a friend. As I was exiting the area, I saw Maddie dancing with ice cream just past the fountains.

I always see her in work mode, so it was wonderful to see her so free, with her friends and not surrounded by cameras and fans. And yes, she was leaping. It was awesome.

4. Joshua Allen: We were asked by FOX publicists to refrain from talking about Joshua Allen. This was not on my agenda because it is a serious legal issue beyond the scope of the show.

I do know that he was arraigned last Friday and is being held on $100,000 bail. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, he is due back in court on Aug. 17 and faces up to 10 years in prison. He was charged with one felony count of willfully injuring a girlfriend and one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple battery and vandalism.

5. All Stars: In my Dance Network interview with Jonathan Platero, he mentioned that he would be back every week. So I am sure we will see him in the All-Star group dances and supporting the other contestants when needed. I am happy to see that they are using the All Stars for the full season versus a week-to-week commitment.

Finally, while I posted this picture on Twitter already, I love to see kids being kids… PokemonGo and J.T. Church… fantastic!

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