Dallas dancer Cyrus Spencer makes So You Think You Can Dance Top 20

by Sarah Blaskovich

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He has been the lovable underdog for several weeks of auditions.

An audience favorite in the So You Think You Can Dance auditions, Cyrus "Glitch" Spencer was the last man named to the reality show's Top 20 dancers. Spencer was born in Dallas, though he lives in Atlanta now. His style of animating and popping is unlike the judges had ever seen before, but they worried he didn't have enough training.

Spencer tried out for the show with his roommates Andre Rucker and Boris Penton, both dancers in a group called Dragon House who didn't quite make the cut. Spencer barely made it through the remaining auditions in Las Vegas, where he had to learn contemporary, hip hop, and ballroom routines for the first time and perform them with a partner in a matter of hours. Dancers in Spencer's style notoriously have a tough time picking up choreography, and Spencer was no different. He was asked to "dance for his life" during Vegas auditions -- meaning he would do a solo in his style of dance to try to convince the judges he was worthy to stay. Again, they praised him and put him through to the next round.

On Wednesday night's episode of SYTYCD, judges narrowed 35 dancers down to the Top 20. Spencer had gotten plenty of screen time already, his winning personality and gauged ears standing as a signature for his unique style. All but one of the dancers were named, and Spencer was left to wait with another dancer -- a man who skated through Vegas without trouble but didn't seem to carry the passion that Spencer did. Spencer was given the coveted spot.

Like other b-boys and hip hop dancers in SYTYCD history, Spencer will likely struggle to pick up choreography in the first few weeks of the reality show. If anything will keep him going, it'll be audience members who vote to keep the happy-go-lucky dancer around one more week, if only to see him do a robotic solo in his signature style again.

Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has told the contestants on several occasions that the show is looking for America's favorite dancer, not necessarily the best dancer. By that logic, Spencer was a good choice for the Top 20.

On Wednesday, July 11, the Top 20 will first perform live as couples.

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