Yes! "Dance" is back and this time we didn't even have to wait for the summer! Why they haven't done more than one season in a year before is beyond me, but I'm glad the producers finally got with the program.

Auditions kicked off in L.A. this season. Regular judges Nigel Lythgoe (oh, that crazy lion-like mane of hair ...) and Mary Murphy (who I've come to love, but generally put on mute) were joined by Hollywood/Broadway dance-man and director Adam Shankman to round out the panel.

I'm only going to recap a handful of my favorite moments, since we won't see many of these dancers ever again. Here goes!

-Cole Clemens started the show by doing a routine I can only describe as slam poetry spastic yoga. He was one of those people who thinks they can dance, but actually can't. The result was just bizarre. The judges quickly dismissed him and moved on to more promising talents.

-Ryan Kasprzak (brother of S5 finalist Evan Kasprzak) is back with vengeance this season! As is fellow tapper Bianca Revels (more on her in a second). Ryan was up first. He started off his a cappella routine with snaps, then broke into an intricate tap section. "I hear music!!!" he shouted, then broke into more tapping. It was like watching a moving art exhibit. Creative, original, entertaining, and technically brilliant. The judges commented on how much he's grown (which he has) and send him straight to Vegas.

-Bianca was up next. I was disappointed when she got cut during Vegas week last year, and was even more disappointed with her sour attitude. Luckily, she got over it and came back to audition for a third (fourth?) time. Before she started, Nigel asked her if she'd dual with Ryan. And she did! It was a mother-fucking tap battle, ya'll! SQUEE! I almost wet myself. They traded off solos back and forth for a while, at one point even chasing each other around the stage, before finally ending with a move my tap teacher always called "shave and a haircut." It was just spectacular to watch. She got a ticket to Vegas too. Could my dream of one, even two honest-to-God hoofers in the Top 20 finally come true?!

-Mollee Gray - a bubbly, cutesy former ‘"High School Musical'" starlet gave a fairly lengthy contemporary routine to "Take a Look at Me Now." She had great technique and did some lovely pirouettes, but it wasn't anything extraordinary. The judges were floored by the performance and while it was certainly a very solid routine, I wasn't quite as impressed as they were. Nonetheless she still got a ticket to Vegas.

-Christopher Agula auditioned because he wants to make a movie ... riiiight. That totally makes sense. He started off his Broadway routine to "All That Jazz" from "Chicago" with a backflip, which he landed on his face. He tried to jazz-hands his way out of it, but it was just a train wreck. Between his complete lack of any technique and his constant manic smile, it was terrifying to watch. Poor Bob Fosse is turning in his grave.

-Christina Santana and her partner, Peppe (who was not auditioning), did a very quick salsa routine that incorporated some somewhat out-of-place-feeling popping & locking. They quickly redeemed themselves with an incredible pot stir and some great death drops. My only problem was her somewhat manic, terrifying smile. At least she was smiling though, and she probably will be all the way to Vegas.

-Phillip Attmore, yet another tapper, closed the show with another great routine. It was like an homage to every great hoofer of the olden days - moves similar to those of Jimmy Slide, Sammy Davis, Jr., Gregory Hines, and even Gene Kelly all made an appearance in the number. Add in the fact that he's totally adorable and has a smile toothpaste companies would kill for and it's a winning combination. Like his fellow tappers, he too made it to Vegas week. Could there be three tappers in the Top 20 this year?! I just might shit myself.

I usually hate having to sit through all these audition specials, but this week was great. If all the auditions were like tonight, I'll faithfully sit through all of them. Although there needs to be some serious hip-hop next week. (there was nary a popper or locker in tonight's episode, sadly). � � � �