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[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Finally, the auditions and the Las Vegas callbacks are finished for this year’s season of So You Think You Can Dance. I think the bar has been raised even higher than ever as far as talent goes and the final 20 dancers have proven themselves to truly be the cream of the crop.
I’m thrilled that Twitch made it through this year. He seems like one of the coolest guys ever and it was hard to see him get to the final open spot with Hok and one of them have to go home last year. I can’t wait to see what he brings to the competition.
I also really like Comfort, the amazing hip-hop dancer that made it to the finals. I was surprised that some of the dancers I expected to make it did not, but there are only 20 spots. Just imagine how it would be if there were 30 spots! *sigh* So much talent, so few finalit spots…
Anyway, without further ado, here are the 20 finalists for the season:
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Gev Manoukian
Gev Manoukian (21) is a Hip Hop/Break dancer originally from Kazakhstan and now living in Centerville, UT. Manoukian was a featured dancer in “High School Musical 2.”
(Click on “Read More” for the rest of the finalists!)
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Chelsea Traille
Chelsea Traille (23) is a Jazz Funk and Contemporary dancer born in Houston, TX, currently living in Flower Mound, TX. Traille graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Texas , Dallas . She was a dancer with the NBA Mavericks during the 2006-2007 season.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Matt Dorame
Matt Dorame (22) is a Contemporary dancer from Glendale, AZ. He studied for two years at Odyssey Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Kourtni Lind
Kourtni Lind (18) is a Jazz/Contemporary dancer from Forest Lake, MN, currently living in Sherman Oaks, CA. Lind began training in her mother’s dance studio at 3 years old and graduated high school at age 16 so she could begin her career.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
William Wingfield
Will Wingfield (21) is a Contemporary dancer from Nashville, TN. Wingfield started dancing at age 9 at DC Dance Factory in Nashville , and later moved to Los Angeles to train under Debbie Allen at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Katee Shean
Katee Shean (20) is a Contemporary dancer from San Jose, CA . Shean is a graduate of Pioneer High School and currently attends Chapman University in Orange, CA. She is pursuing a double major in leadership and dance and is active in many volunteer organizations. Shean trained at the Team Dance Company and Atlas School of Dance.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Thayne Jasperson
Thayne Jasperson (27) is a Contemporary dancer who grew up in Springville, UT. Jasperson was a featured dancer in “High School Musical,” and “High School Musical 2.” He danced five years with Odyssey Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City , but has only been dancing six years.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Susie Garcia
Susie Garcia (25) is a Latin/Salsa dancer born in Miami, FL. Garcia graduated with a B.F.A. from New World School of the Arts. She is a high school teacher who previously was a dancer with the Miami Heat for six years. Garcia has performed at the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Latin Grammy Awards, and danced on Shakira’s “Oral Fixation World Tour.”
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Marquis Cunningham
Marquis Cunningham (18) is a Lyrical/Contemporary dancer born in Cumberland, NC , and raised in Cape Coral, FL. Cunningham began dancing at 14 and trained at the Robin Dawn Academy . He is a graduate of Florida ’s North Fort Myers High School and currently resides in New York City
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Rayven Armijo
Rayven Armijo (28) is a Contemporary/Ballet dancer from La Puente, CA. Armijo is a mentor to children and assists them with their educational goals and in dance. Armijo is proud that many have gone on to attend LA County High School for the Performing Arts.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Joshua Allen
Joshua Allen (19) is a Hip Hop/Popping dancer from Fort Worth, TX . Allen hopes to be a professional dancer and recording artist.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Kherington Payne
Kherington Payne (18) is a Contemporary/Jazz dancer from Placentia, CA. Payne will graduate from El Dorado High School this summer. She is an avid soccer fan who has played for many years.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Mark Kanemura
Mark Kanemura (24) is a Contemporary dancer born and raised in Honolulu, HI . Kanemura trained with 24-7 Dance Force in Honolulu and danced at Tokyo Disney. He also directed and choreographed performances on Norwegian Cruise Lines.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Jessica King
Jessica King (23) is a Contemporary dancer from Myrtle Beach, SC , where she was born and raised. She is currently attending Coastal Carolina University studying Fine Arts with a minor in Art History. King also teaches dance and performs in local theater.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Chris Jarosz
Chris Jarosz (21) is a Lyrical/Contemporary dancer from Gaithersburg, MD , currently living in Dallas, TX . Jarosz grew up training at the Dawn Crafton Dance Center in Gaithersburg and then moved to Dallas in his sophomore year to train at Top Hat Dance Center. Jarosz is now a dance major at Southern Methodist University.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Comfort Fedoke
Comfort Fedoke (20) is a Hip-Hop dancer raised in Lagos , Nigeria , now living in Dallas, TX . She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington Performing Arts High School. Fedoke was a featured performer for the past few years on “Dallas Dance Club 21,” the local Dallas dance television show.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Jamie Bayard
Jamie Bayard (22) is a West Coast Swing dancer from Palm Springs, CA , currently living in Norwalk, CA. Bayard graduated from the Orange County High School of the Arts. He was the U.S. Swing Dance champion in 2000 and 2002 and is a professor of Swing and Salsa at Loyola Marymount University.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Courtney Galiano
Courtney Galiano (19) is a Contemporary dancer from Commack, NY . Though she specializes in Contemporary, Galiano also loves to dance Hip-Hop. She appeared in the music video for Kat De Luna’s “Whine Up” and is a dancer for the New York Knicks.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Twitch Boss
Twitch Boss (25) is a Freestyle dancer from Montgomery, AL . A career highlight for Boss was performing “Thriller” with Wade Robson on “The Wade Robson Project” in 2003.
[Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX]
Chelsie Hightower
Chelsie Hightower (18) is a Latin dancer born in Las Vegas, NV , and raised in Orem, UT. Hightower has worked with many world-renowned choreographers. She was a U.S. Worlds finalist in 2005 and competed on Team USA.
Reality TV, TV, Television, so you think you can dance, SYTYCD
GO RAYVEN We are proud of you!
Rayven is my sister. Our entire family is very proud & excited for her. She has worked very hard and deserves this chance! Rayven you rock!
I thought Chris J.’s performance was the hottest of them all–that young man has talent with a capital “T”. I hope it’s clear to America too!!! HOT! HOT! HOT!!!!
[...] upset because my favorite contestant, brandon bryant, didn’t even make the top 20 of the show. he was incredible. look at the you tube video. he’s young. he’s 18. he can [...]
[...] upset because my favorite contestant, brandon bryant, didn’t even make the top 20 of the show. he was incredible. look at the you tube video. * he’s young. he’s 18. he [...]
I really enjoy the show, but just could not understand why Brandon Bryant wasn’t selected. Mary commented that “he was the likes that they had never seen before” and another judge,I believe it was Ty who said ” I don’t know anyone that could do that routine” & yet he was not chosen. What happened here?
Just an F.Y.I . . . mainly because most other bios had this information, and Chelsea Traille’s didn’t, so I thought I would fill in the blank.
She grew up training at Top Hat Dance Centre, Inc. in Lewisville, Texas – the same studio as Chris Jarosz.
[...] 6, 2008 by lissa My favorite contestant, Brandon Bryant, didn’t make the top 20 of the show. In the last few minutes of the show, the judges chose Gev Manoukian over Bryant for [...]