In the opening audition episode of “So You Think You Can Dance,” they saved the strangest — and possibly best — for last.

Contemporary dancer Ryan Bailey, age 23, danced his own choreography, which is a combination of expressive gestures and high-flying jumps, unusual bent knee turns and a fair amount of standing still. And he did all of it to, yes, the “Dirty Dancing” finale song “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.”

Ryan Bailey competes on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Credit: FOX

Really? Yes, really. It was like a German surrealist painter dancing to American pop music.

“My own dance style is kind of weird. I do like a lot of shaking and sometimes it confuses people,” said Ryan.

Well, we were confused. And so were the judges. But they let him pass on and enter the Academy. Which is a great lesson: Your dance may be strange, but if it’s new and you believe in it, you have to go with it.

You can watch Ryan’s routine and full episodes with more dancers audition for the “So You Think” Academy here.