"So You Think You Can Dance" narrowed down its Top 20 dancers after weeks of intense auditions, but not without a little drama to kick off season 12.
The Fox series had picked its Top 20, but a last-minute scratch gave one dancer a chance to return and fight for the championship. Alain "Hurrikane" Lauture, 29, unfortunately had to drop out of the competition due to an injury, allowing Asaf Goren, 23, to come back.
Goren caused controversy during the audition process when his comments appeared to show disrespect to the judges and he was cut from the show, despite judge Paula Abdul championing his talent.
"I'm the drama this season," Goren tells Headlines & Global News, laughing. "With a second chance I feel I have so much responsibility on my shoulders. I have to work harder as there are so many people counting on me. I'm ready to work hard and put everything into it."
Goren and his fellow 19 finalists left it all on the floor last week, but tonight they will nervously await their fates as this season's eliminations begin.
HNGN caught up with the Top 20 to get to know them a little better before the votes come in and we have to say goodbye. Read below to see what each of the street and stage dancers bring to the competition and what they will do to become America's Favorite Dancer.
TOP 10 STREET DANCERS
1. Ariana Crowder - Age 22
Hometown: Somerset, N.J.
Occupation: Dance Teacher
Specialty: Hip Hop
After dancing at a very young age, Ariana was sidelined last year by two months of physical therapy following a torn ligament in her left ankle. Her left side was too weak and prevented her from performing any tricks or turns. "It's pretty much back to normal now," she said.
Secret Weapon: "I sing in the shower, not sure if that will help me here."
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "Going in with an open mind about the different styles and absorbing information."
2. Burim "B1" Jusuif - Age 29
Hometown: Basel, Switzerland
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Breaking
Burim started breakdancing at age 12 in Switzerland where he performed in tandem with his brother for many years in a group called Ruff N X. Before he moved to Los Angeles three years ago, Barim's career was sidelined for six months following a knee surgery. "Thankfully I had modeling and acting to fall back on. It really helped financially," he admits.
Secret Weapon: "My brother, he's my inspiration."
Kryptonite: "Nothing. I will try anything."
What Makes You the Champ: "I never give half - I'm a perfectionist."
3. Eddie "Neptune" Eskridge - Age 25
Hometown: Dallas
Occupation: Warehouse Inventory Specialist
Specialty: Freestyle
Eddie was inspired to start dancing after seeing the movie "Breakin'" as a kid. He studied the movie intensely, copying the moves until he enrolled in dances classes to hone his skills.
He almost gave up dancing a year ago due to his 9-to-5 commitments, but a dance-teaching job with kids reinvigorated him. "It's surreal I am living the movie that inspired me," he said.
Secret Weapon: "My girlfriend is classically trained, so she's been training me."
Kryptonite: Jazz
What Makes You the Champ: "I'm already a winner. I made Top 20!"
4. Yorelis Apolinari - Age 19
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
Occupation: Student
Specialty: Freestyle
Yorelis started dancing at age 8 and realized her potential at 16. She auditioned previously and was cut. She then considered giving up dance to care for her mother who has multiple sclerosis. At her mother's insistence, she didn't stop dancing.
"Making the show is like a dream come true for my mother. She's so excited," Yorelis said.
Secret Weapon: "I've trained in a lot of different styles."
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "If I don't know a style, I'll make sure you think I do."
5. Virgil Gadson - Age 27
Hometown: Philadelphia
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Hip Hop
Virgil began dancing at the early age of 3 and by age 12 was training in jazz, ballet and tap. A back spasm while performing on Broadway almost derailed his career, but intense physiotherapy helped him with his recovery.
"I just thought I can't be out of this show. There's no way," he said.
Secret Weapon: "My training in various genres."
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "Coming from Broadway, I'm going to mix up some styles."
6. Jessica Rabone - Age 30
Hometown: Kawasaki, Japan
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Freestyle
Jessica began hip-hop dancing at 17 which is also when she started to learn English. She moved to the U.S. at age 21 and took 120 dance classes a month. She failed to move beyond the audition round in season three of "SYTYCD" and struggles constantly with a past back injury that could take her out at any time.
"I studied what caused it and work around it," she explained.
Secret Weapon: "I've studied jazz, ballet and ballroom."
Kryptonite: Ballet point shoes
What Makes You the Champ: "I learn fast and absorb everything."
7. Megz Alfonso - Age 28
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
Occupation: Dance Teacher
Specialty: Hip-hop
Megz started dancing at age 8 after watching her brothers and sisters. By 13, she was assisting at her sister's dance studio mentoring kids. "I've never not wanted to dance. Even when it gets stressful, I've learned how to be Zen," she laughs.
Secret Weapon: "I'm a big contemporary dancer and was OK at tap."
Kryptonite: Ballet
What Makes You the Champ: "I like to mix all the hip-hop styles into something fresh."
8. Liliana Frias - Age 23
Hometown: Durango, Mexico
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Waacking
An active child, Lilliana enrolled in dance classes at age 5 in Mexico. She moved to Los Angeles at age 12 and started to train with a dance troupe that specialized in "waacking," and they won the 2013 Waacking Battle.
"I was the first Mexican to win," she said. Her participation in dance kept her on the straight and narrow growing up.
Secret Weapon: "I am adept in all forms of hip hop and studied ballet."
Kryptonite: "Ballroom will be a challenge, but it's amazing."
What Makes You the Champ: "My passion, hard work and being me."
9. Jana "Jaja" Vankova - Age 23
Hometown: Ceska Kamenice, Czech Republic
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Krump
Jana was inspired to start dancing after watching Madonna videos at age 5 in her native Czech Republic. She then joined a dance crew at age 11. She broke a vertebra nine years ago, and another injury last year kept her out of action for another four months.
"I started looking for something else to do," she admitted. She continues to deal with the ailment, but treatments are helping.
Secret Weapon: "I've been teaching for eight years and I love ballroom."
Kryptonite: Jazz
What Makes You the Champ: "I am the only Krumper! It sets me apart."
10. Asaf Goren - Age 23
Hometown: Tel Aviv, Israel
Specialty: Breaking
Asaf grew up in a military family, but his mother was a choreographer. He began singing at age 12 and then combined that talent with dance to work as a motivational speaker. He has undergone four leg surgeries and has four screws in his right ankle.
The injury, partly due to dance, kept him on crutches for a year and a half, which led to depression. "I know what it's like to be at the bottom. That's why I want to inspire people," he said.
Secret Weapon: "I took some classes before auditioning."
Kryptonite: All of the other styles.
What Makes You the Champ: "I don't care about winning. I just want my mom to be proud of me. That's a win."
TOP 10 STAGE DANCERS:
1. Moises Parra - Age 18
Hometown: Garden Grove, Calif.
Occupation: Dance Teacher
Specialty: Contemporary
Moises saw friends of his dancing when he was just age 4, and at that moment knew he wanted to dance. However, doctors had diagnosed him at 18 months with Nephrotic syndrome, a condition that spills too much protein into the system and attacks the kidneys. Dance actually helped to relieve the condition.
"Now I can't not dance," he said. "It's something that never goes away, and I still have to take medicine for it."
Secret weapon: I'm adept in jazz, ballet and hip hop.
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "I feel dance heals and speaks and I can tell a story really well with my body."
2. Darion Flores - Age 19
Hometown: Hartford, Conn.
Occupation: Student
Specialty: Ballet
Darion was already dancing ballet and tap by age 3. He did stop dancing at age 8 to play sports, but four years later he was back on the floor until an ankle operation in high school sidelined him. "I started rethinking things. But once I recovered and had physiotherapy, I went straight back to dance," he said.
Secret weapon: "I'm a really good bowler."
Kryptonite: "No dance scares me."
What Makes You the Champ: "Hopefully my technique and foundation will speak for itself and set me apart."
3. Jim Nowakowski - Age 26
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Occupation: Ballet Dancer
Specialty: Ballet
Jim's parents enrolled their son in ballet dancing at 2 years old. He decided it would be his career at age 10 and started work with a formal ballet school. By 18, he was a pro, but his dreams were derailed following a 10-month layoff in February 2014 for an anklebone spur.
"That was a really rough time, but it felt so fulfilling to get the all clear to dance again," he said.
Secret weapon: "I'm a blank canvas."
Kryptonite: Hip-hop and ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "My experience in the professional ballet world."
4. Hailee Payne - Age 20
Hometown: Roy, Utah
Occupation: Pharmacy Tech
Specialty: Jazz
Hailee only needed to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes at age 4 to know what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. While she played softball and danced growing up, she ultimately chose to focus on dance at age 12.
The Utah native has auditioned for "SYTYCD" three previous times and almost didn't come out for a fourth time. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to put myself through the stress again," she said.
Secret weapon: "I can touch my tongue to my nose. I'm like Miley Cyrus' twin."
Kryptonite: Bollywood
What Makes You the Champ: "I'm a very strong dancer."
5. Edson Juarez - Age 24
Hometown: Mission, Texas
Occupation: Dance Director
Specialty: Contemporary
Edson started as a cheerleader and went on to coach cheer. He started competitive dancing at age 18, and his athleticism in tumbling proved useful. He opened his own dance school at age 20 but soon realized, "I wanted to do this myself. So I started training again as I'm not getting any younger."
Secret weapon: "I performed in an all-star hip-hop team and have done some Bollywood. My joints also dislocate."
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "I'm a sponge and you will see a difference in me every week."
6. Derek Piquette - Age 18
Hometown: Chicopee, Mass.
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Contemporary
Derek started dancing shortly after the first season of "SYTYCD" aired. He was 9. By age 16, he had left school and was training 10 hours a day until he injured his ankle. He spent three months in a boot and has recovered but admits that the injury still plagues him.
"My ankle is now forever swollen, but the whole experience made me thankful of what I can do," he said.
Secret weapon: "I've done a little bit of ballroom dance and hip hop."
Kryptonite: Bollywood
What Makes You the Champ: "I'm different with my personality and dance. Hopefully America likes it."
7. Kate Harpootlian - Age 27
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Occupation: Dancer
Specialty: Contemporary
Kate started dancing at age 4, but she struggled at first due to an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, which would leave her very weak. She worked as a "Backline Betty" until age 14 when her condition was discovered and she began treatment.
"I do carry a lot of self-doubt because after nine years of not knowing what was wrong with me, It does affect you," she said.
Secret weapon: "I'm a triple threat of sorts, and I danced as a sexy kangaroo once."
Kryptonite: Hip-hop
What Makes You the Champ: "Saying yes to everything along with my witty sense of humor and sarcasm."
8. Gaby Diaz - Age 19
Hometown: Miami
Occupation: Student
Specialty: Tap
Gaby attended a performing arts high school and realized dance could really take her somewhere. However, she suffered a few injuries from dancing and decided to pursue a career in physical therapy, but she's not giving up on her dancing dreams.
"I've had issues with tendinitis and heard snaps, which are terrifying. I'll push through an injury, but I know my limits," she said.
Secret weapon: "There's no other tapper in the competition."
Kryptonite: Specific hip-hop styles.
What Makes You the Champ: "Being a sponge."
9. Marissa Milele - Age 20
Hometown: Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Occupation: Dancer and Choreographer
Specialty: Jazz
Marissa wanted to do everything when she started dancing at age 4. She was an avid gymnast and at age 10 trained for the Olympics in power tumbling, but she eventually chose to pursue dance full-time.
"I wasn't able to do both. I've never not danced. It's something I've always wanted to do," she said.
Secret weapon: "My hair, I use my hair for sure."
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "I never do anything halfway and I'm a fighter."
10. Alexia Meyer - Age 20
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Occupation: Student
Specialty: Jazz
Alexia competed in dance since age 3 and by age 10 knew that "dance was my jam." She's currently dealing with a past hip problem that flared up just before the show started.
"It hasn't bothered me in two years, so perfect timing, but I'm dealing with it,' she said.
Secret weapon: "I love all styles of dance."
Kryptonite: Ballroom
What Makes You the Champ: "My personality and character."
You can catch "So You Think You Can Dance" on Mondays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
