ADAMS TWP — It would be a safe bet that in her career, dance legend Ginger Rogers never received an ovation as loud and prolonged as the one two Mars hoofers got Thursday night.

The chatter of giddy anticipation among the 30 to 40 people watching the Fox television show "So You Think You Can Dance" in the small theater inside The Pointe at Adams Ridge clubhouse erupted into a sustained, deafening shriek when the two women appeared in the pre-commercial teaser during the show.

Katie Watts, 25, dance teacher and co-owner of Studio19 Dance Complex in Cranberry Township, and her roommate and student, Ashley Keegan, 18, watched and waited in the theater with friends, family members and awe-struck young dance students to see if they would appear on the dance version of "American Idol" or wind up on the cutting room floor.

Watts and Keegan traveled to New York City in March to audition for the show as did prospective dancers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta. About 1,500 auditioned in New York alone.

More than 100 finalists, including Watts and Keegan, were chosen by three judges to move up to the second round of auditions in Las Vegas. Only 20 dancers will be chosen to participate in the summerlong show, and one will be eliminated each week until a champion emerges.

The crowd in the theater watched patiently if somewhat noisily as the less-than-stellar contestants performed for judges.

"We don't even know if we're going to be on or not," said Watts. "They're showing all the bad people that didn't make it."

For nearly 45 minutes, judges Nigel Lythgoe, a British choreographer and entertainment executive; Dan Karaty, a dancer and choreographer for Brittany Spears and Jessica Simpson; and ballroom dance champion and choreographer Mary Murphy watched with bemusement or downright horror as the wannabe dancers embarrassed themselves on national TV.

Watts gave a running commentary from her seat beside Keegan in the theater's front row, sharing anecdotes, correcting the narrator's commentary, and commenting on the contestants she remembered.

"That girl begged for a ticket (to Las Vegas,)" or "That was not day one, that was day two!" or "She thinks she's good, and that's half the battle!" were some of Watts narration points.

Then the show cut to a quick snippet of dancers coming up in the next segment, and both girls faces appeared on the screen. It quickly became clear that not only were the girls' dance routines going to be featured on the nationwide Fox network show, but so were interviews with the roommates.

Watts bounced from guest to guest, hugging them and shouting with them before the commercial ended and a chorus of shushing arose.

While Watts appeared first, Keegan's dance routine was shown first. The producers played up the fact that Watts has been teaching Keegan for years and took her in as a roommate when her parents moved from Treesdale to Michigan.

Keenan did a dance in a black leotard top and hip-hugger shorts accented by a white fur shoulder wrap. After her routine, Lythgoe was clearly impressed.

"You have all the qualities you need to be a great dancer," said Lythgoe.

"You have great extension," said Murphy.

Watts performed her routine next in a greenish short denim jacket, her bright smile gleaming the entire time. When the routine ended, Lythgoe, who said she has "brilliant technique," asked her about teaching Keegan to dance.

"She's been inspiring me for six years," replied Watts.

"It's such an overwhelming feeling," Keegan said after the segment ended and she caught her breath in the hallway. "For me to inspire her? That's so special."

Watts said at the next commercial break that "So You Think You Can Dance" will visit Mars to follow the duo around for another day, and everyone must return in three weeks to see if one or both women made it into the final 20 dancers.

Patrick McDonald, whose daughter Brittany dances at Studio 19, said Watts and Keegan are like daughters to him.

"They were superstars before they ever went," said McDonald. "I could spot those two in a riot, I've been watching them dance so long. This is so exciting."

Keegan's mother Sharon traveled from Michigan to attend the viewing.

"I'm speechless," said the older Keegan of the lengthy segment producers gave the girls. "It's so sweet of Katie to give Ashley credit when she has done such a great job."

If chosen as finalists, the two women will be invited to Los Angeles on June 5, where they will remain in the show until they win or are eliminated.

Still on cloud nine, Watts said she was "extremely excited" producers chose to air her and her protégé. But having her supporters around her meant the most.

"I'm just so happy everyone's here," she said.