Boldly going where no kids have gone before
So, you think these kids can dance?
The little dance competition that could is littler than ever this summer.
Nothing turns me into a grandma faster than a montage that pretends Twitter is the new playground gossip.
Credit: Adam Rose/FOX
(We all know thats Snapchat.)
No one needs to talk down to them.
But some of the etiquette has to change, right?
I dont think that works anymore.
Nigel, we get it.
He lowered all of the judges expectations and then exceeded them.
What a hustler.Merrick gets a ticket to the Academy.
Avery, 11, Ballet:Averys been dancing since she was 3, and it shows.
Her pointe routine is gorgeous (that developpe!)
and loaded with pre-teen angst.
Georgeof this Jingle Bell Rock.Avery gets a ticket to the Academy.
Kida, 13, Hip-Hop:Merrick can go home now; weve found our animator.
Kida is REALLY GOOD.
None of the judges were expecting him to be so good.
Speaking of family, Kida has a big one: two brothers and four sisters.
Their dad died of the flu in 2014, and Kidas audition falls on his dads birthday.
Is this the new Clear eyes, full hearts?
I cant get over the fact that a 13-year-old kid is being asked to relive this on camera.
His family is beautiful, though.Kida gets a ticket to the Academy.
Hes joined by his dance partner, Sophia, whos too young to audition.
(Do those words even have meaning here?!?!)
Someday theyll fall in love slowly on a procedural about spies who solve crime using dance.
Hes definitely having fun.
The judges give him aticket to the Academyto rub in the faces of all of his terrible classmates.
Aim higher, Ivan.
Im a confident woman, she shrugs.
I can do it by myself.
She also gets a ticket.
The highlight of Avas audition is her rapport with Paula.
Anyones tall compared to me, Paula quips.
Jordan wants to be a superstar.
Sophia has 1.4 million followers on Instagram.
(What, like its hard?)
Sage is a mini Travis Wall in the making.
Ava Brooks, 11, Tap:It took 12 seasons forSo You Thinkto find itsfirst tap winner.
Could Ava make it two in a row?
Hers is my favorite audition of the night.
Its jazzy and fun and sophisticated, and her dad is the good kind of embarrassing stage dad.
Nigel actually winces when its done.
Impressed by Geramys effort and Stellas bravery, the judges grant her wish for one more try.
Their second routine has more of a paso flair, and its a little better.
It still isnt great.
But this is not a democracy its a danceocracy.
And that does it for our first round ofThe Next Generation.
How are you feeling about the change?
Which dance parent spoke to you?
Until next week, America.
DERULO-ISM OF THE NIGHT:I dont even know if you know what Im talking about right now.
