So You Think You Can Dance returned for its 15th season on Monday night, and the premiere had everything you might expect from the Fox reality competition: Contestants’ emotional backstories! Mary Murphy’s elated shrieks! Nigel Lythgoe’s creepy ogling of the female dancers! Ah, there’s nothing like tradition.
The Season 15 premiere also featured a string of impressive auditions, including a dancer or two that could very well be standing in the finale at the end of the summer. Let’s break down the Los Angeles tryouts that earned a trip to The Academy, from least to most impressive: