Breaking News!: Mary Murphy Returning to So You Think You Can Dance

After a season on the bench, Mary Murphy is returning to Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance as a resident judge.

The opinionated dancer and choreographer is returning to the show after the series suffered a rather dramatic ratings dip last summer.

“I am delighted to have Mary back on the show,” says producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe, who will sit alongside Murphy during critiques. “Her expertise in dance, coupled with her warmth, compassion and humor, make her an excellent judge and fun to work with.”

No worder on who Mary may be "replacing"? Will Mia Michaels and Adam Shankman also be resident judges? Will So You Think You Can Dance have four resident judges? We'll have to wait and see what transpires. All in all, we're glad to have Mary back on the "Hot Tamale Train".

Ouch! So You Think You Can Dance‘s ‘Greatest Dancer’ Bows Out After Injury

Fans hoping to hear good news on Thursday night regarding So You Think You Can Dance favorite Alex Wong‘s injury, were sorely disappointed when judge Nigel Lythgoe said the ballet dancer, who thrilled audiences mostly recently with his historic hip-hop routine, would need surgery as soon as possible, followed by at least three months rest in order to make a full recovery.

“I’ve had an amazing time and I can’t get that anywhere else,” Wong said after an emotional farewell met by a standing ovation from the audience and judges. “Not ever from day one did I ever think I was going for the gold.”

All three judges and fellow dancers gave Wong long, teary embraces after his goodbye on stage.

“My heart hurts a lot but I’m very, very grateful that you guys have given me this opportunity,” Wong said after Ashley Galvan and Billy Bell, who were also in the bottom three, performed solos. (Wong did not perform, but was automatically in the bottom three due to his injury.)

“Alex is such a gift,” judge Mia Michaels stated. “He is one of the greatest dancers, if not the greatest dancer that has ever come through our stage.”

Judge Adam Shankman said Wong had become the person to beat this season. “Whoever wins this year, people will always say, ‘Would they have won if Alex Wong was still in this competition?’ ” Shankman said.

With strong performances from Galvan and Bell, the other dancers now have to step it up, Michaels said. The Emmy-nominated choreographer also apologized Thursday to Adechike Torbert after calling his performance Wednesday “empty.”

“I saw in his energy that it broke him a little bit,” Michaels said. “My frustration is because he has not yet stepped into his greatness and he has a lot of potential.”

With Wong out of the competition, many are wondering who the new front-runner will be. Shankman believes Kent Boyd will shine because he’s a fan favorite. Lythgoe agrees, and adds Lauren to his list of ones to watch.

“Everyone who has ever won this show has had the personality and not been the best technician,” Lythgoe said.

As for Wong, he will have surgery on his Achilles tendon Tuesday in Los Angeles and plans to take it easy for a full recovery. He says he would love to come back for a future season of SYTYCD.

“It’s a lot to give up but I would love to be back,” Wong said. “I haven’t finished my journey. I have so much more to learn.”

Eliminated Dancer: ‘Anything Can Happen’ on So You Think You Can Dance

Another female contestant said goodbye on So You Think You Can Dance Thursday, and this week the curtain closed for salsa dancer Cristina Santana. With only three girls left and all six boys standing, season 7 is starting to look like a boys club, and the judges couldn’t be more excited for what the competition has to bring.

“I love male dancers unless the girls are just as strong,” Mia Michaels said after the elimination. “We have some strong girls and I want them to step it up.”

Nigel Lythgoe isn’t surprised at all by the show’s current two-to-one ratio. “How many girls have we had win? Two girls out of seven seasons,” he said. “If it’s great dancing, I don’t care. It’s always going to be a boys club unless we have an outstanding girl.”

Joining Santana in the bottom three for a second week in a row was tap dancer Melinda Sullivan and contemporary dancer Robert Roldan.

While last week’s decision to let Alexie Agdeppa go was unanimous, the judges were divided on which of the girls to let go this week, with Lythgoe pulling for Santana to stay and Michaels and Adam Shankman choosing to give Melinda another chance to find a sense of vulnerability and connect with the audience.

“We feel like Melinda grew the most last night because she did something completely out of her genre,” Michaels said of her panel-pleasing performance on Wednesday. “And she was pretty awesome. Other than that dress.” When it came down to making their final decision the judges took everything from the opening number to the individual solos into consideration and both Shankman and Michaels agreed that Santana wasn’t as strong as Sullivan in comparison.

Lythgoe, however, couldn’t have disagreed more. After giving Santana high praise for her paso doble and calling it his favorite performance of the night, he wanted to see more from her throughout the competition. “I think she’s grown across the season,” he said. “And I thought she was fabulous last night.”

While Santana couldn’t deny that Lythgoe’s compliments were flattering, she wasn’t completely surprised she was in the bottom for a second consecutive week. “Anything can happen on this show,” she stated in a recent interview. “I wasn’t expecting not to be in the bottom three. I’m actually pretty happy with what I’ve done, but it’s sad to go home.”

All About So You Think You Can Dance‘s Top 11!

Out of thousands who auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance, only 11 were picked to perform for America’s vote. That’s because this season each new dancer will be paired with a returning favorite.

Last night they hit the stage for a special introduction to America, and I must say that they all did incredibly well. This is definitely a season packed with incredibly talented dancers.

People Magazine recently spoke with the contestants to get a sense of who they are, how they move and what motivates them as dancers. Here's what they said:

JOSE ‘FULLDECK’ RUIZ
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Experience: With no professional training, the 21-year-old breaker can hang his hopes on natural talent. “The first time I saw b-boy dancing on a video, so I would observe it and basically try and mimic the moves,” he says. The video? Dirty Vegas‘s “Days Go By.” “They had a b-boy and he was on cardboard and he was doing a bunch of footwork and freezes and ever since then I’ve been like ‘Wow,’” Ruiz says.
Why He Moves: “Dancing gave me confidence,” he says. “I was just a shy guy, but dancing changed that about me. It was almost like the one thing that was missing in my life that made me complete.”

MELINDA SULLIVAN
Hometown: Culver City, California
Experience: Though she trained in various dance forms for 18 years, tap was the one that spoke to her the loudest. “I got to make a lot of noise,” the 22-year-old says of the time in tap class as a kid. “I liked that I was able to make my own music. When you’re little that’s always fun.”
An Inspiration: “I had watched White Nights, a movie with Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and I saw how they could just connect through that screen with their art form” she says. “I liked how [Hines] was still true to his art form and brought it into popular culture. After meeting him I realized I wanted to do that.”

KENT BOYD
Hometown: Wapakoneta, Ohio
Experience: The recent high school graduate has spent the last 10 years learning and perfecting his moves — sometimes in a cornfield. “All I wanted to do was dance,” he says. “When I was doing sports or [school] activities I thought I was wasting my time.”
Living the Dream: For this 18-year-old farm boy, the SYTYCD stage once seemed unattainable. “It’s always good to dream, obviously, but it’s so surreal that I’m actually on [the show]” says the competition’s youngest contestant. “I might not have the legs or the turn, but I have that passion. Everyone has that passion, but I have it on a different level. My passion is in a corn field.”

LAUREN FRODERMAN
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Experience: The recent high school graduate has been dancing for 16 years and deferred her acceptance to Loyola Marymount University’s education program to compete this season. “I love teaching, it’s my second passion,” Froderman, 18, says. “One day I will be a teacher.”
New Challenges: While the contemporary jazz dancer is excited to learn different styles with SYTYCD‘s choreographers, she’s really looking forward to working with a partner for the first time. “I’m generally a one person show,” she says. “I like to rely only on myself … but with a partner it will be fun.”

ROBERT ROLDAN
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California
Experience: After his mom saw him dancing in church, she suggested he take dance class. But “I was more of a sports guy,” Roldan, 19, says. “I was 11 — there was no way.” A year later he found himself in every dance class available — from hip-hop to ballet — because he “was in love with it.”
Why He Moves: Dance has helped Roldan through hardships like his parents’ divorce and his mother being diagnosed with breast cancer. “When I found that passion, it really let me release everything I was going through,” he says. “I got into a dance studio and I felt like everything was gone because I got to release it all into something I love.”

ASHLEY GALVAN
Hometown: Visalia, California
Experience: When her dad suffered a heart attack, Galvan, 19, had a realization: “Life is short and you need to chase your dreams,” she says. After graduating high school, Galvan did just that, moving to Los Angeles to be a principle dancer in the remake of Fame — and she hasn’t looked back.
New Challenges: A lyrical dancer, Galvan is looking forward to taking on ballroom, her boyfriend’s area of expertise. “With ballroom you have to have that chemistry and you’re drawn to the partnership,” she says. Another challenge: hip-hop. “I’m not the best at it,” she says. “But I love it.”

ADECHIKE TORBERT
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Experience: The 23-year-old New Yorker comes from a history of performers and studied at the legendary Fame school, La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts. “I would run into people I would see on videos,” he says. “Everything seemed attainable. I was a dreamer but it seemed like anything could be reached.”
Why He Moves: Torbert considers dancing his safe haven because it’s gotten him through personal battles including growing up with an abusive father. “[The studio] was my fairy land. I could dance out every emotion I was feeling,” he says. “I’m so grateful I had that. I would probably be a walking lunatic if I didn’t.”

CRISTINA SANTANA
Hometown: Mexicali, Mexico (now residing in Los Angeles, California)
Experience: She began dancing at seven but didn’t find her true passion until she moved to San Diego to study nutrition at Mesa College, where she found herself on the school’s salsa team. “When I came to U.S. it was hard. I was alone. Another culture. Totally other language,” Santana, 24, says. “I was trying to fix that — to blend in.”
Going It Alone: She auditioned for SYTYCD with her long-time salsa partner from her school’s team, but he wasn’t selected by the judges to be a finalist. “He’s sad, he’s like, ‘Don’t go!’ ” she says. “But we’re very good friends and he’s very supportive.”

BILLY BELL
Hometown: Palm Beach, Florida
Experience: Originally a hip-hop dancer, Bell, 20, faced a harsh reality at a young age. “My arts high school was like, ‘You’re really bad. You only got in because you’re a boy,’” he says of his freshman year. “I needed the training.” So, he took ballet class and continued his dance education at The Julliard School. New Challenges: Though the prestigious academy has trained him well, Bell isn’t without insecurities — like pulling off a quick step. “It’s the kiss of death,” he says of the ballroom challenge. “Everyone who got quick step got eliminated. If I get it, I’m just going to work night and day to perfect it.”

ALEXIE AGDEPPA
Hometown: Rowland Heights, California
Experience: A dancer since she was four, Agdeppa, 26, has done a bit of everything but feels that jazz defines her. “That’s what my personality is,” she says. “I’m a little spunky, a little sharper than contemporary. I’m still very passionate and full and big and turns and jumps.”
Living the Dream: After graduating from UCLA, Agdeppa found herself working at a real estate office and realized then how much she loved dancing. “I couldn’t be behind a desk,” she says. “I knew I had to be performing.”

ALEX WONG
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia (now residing in Miami, Florida)
Experience: As the only dancer from a strict discipline — ballet — Wong, 23, knows he’s at a disadvantage in the competition. “I’m out of my genre in every single genre they do,” he says. “But that’s why I’m here.”
Taking a Chance: Wong left his place as a principle soloist with the Miami City Ballet, a stable salary and job security to pursue his dream. “It’s a big risk, but I put my faith in this,” he says. “I auditioned on a whim but I realized I missed the diversity.”

The real competition starts next Wednesday at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX when the Top 11 will perform live on stage with the all-stars.

Mia Michaels & Adam Shankman Named 'So You Think You Can Dance' Judges

We all know that the guest judges on 'So You Think You Can Dance' can tango with the best of them, but occasionally, even the most accomplished choreographers want to trade the toe-tapping for a more verbal form of the rumba.

Following the news that former judge Mary Murphy will be ditching the judging table full-time to provide more choreography in season 7 (Murphy will still serve as a guest judge), The Wrap is now reporting that previous guest judge Mia Michaels will be stepping up to fill her spot alongside returning experts Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman.

Michaels first joined the talent contest in 2005 as a contributing choreographer, and has gone on to win two Emmy Awards for her choreography on Celine Dion's 'Calling You' and 'Mercy' TV shows.

"I am extremely happy that Mia and Adam have returned and agreed to be resident judges," show-creator Lythgoe said in a statement. "Mia's outspoken approach combined with Adam's passion will definitely add a fresh new chemistry to the panel."

Michaels' appointment is one of several new shake-ups designed to reinvigorate the franchise. Other adjustments include 10 finalists in competition and only one elimination per week. Competitors are also set to switch partners every week, dancing with one of several 'SYTYCD' all-star dancers, all recognizable former finalists who are skilled in numerous styles of dance. In addition, all performances will now be live.

The all-stars include Stephen "Twitch" Boss, Comfort Fedoke, Courtney Galiano, Anya Garnis, Lauren Gottlieb, Neil Haskell, Allison Holker, Mark Kanemura, Pasha Kovalev, Kathryn McCormick, Ade Obayomi and Dominic "D-trix" Sandoval.

British presenter Cat Deely is returning to host the series, which premieres May 27 on FOX.

So You Think You Can Dance's Nigel Lythgoe: Bringing Back All-Stars for Dance Partners

After previously revealing that Season 7 of "So You Think You Can Dance" will change things up with weekly partner switching, no choosing genres and no Top 20, Nigel Lythgoe finally revealed what ties all these changes together.

"There's going to be a Top 10 that will come out of Vegas. Each week they will only be leaving one at a time, so you should get to know them," Nigel tells us on the conference call. The Top 10 will still be split evenly between male and female dancers.

"We obviously don't have to push them and their partners anymore, so like most shows of this nature you're going to get their back stories and understand who they are."

"They are changing partners every week. We are going to put together a pool of ex-"So You Think You Can Dance" all-stars, some of our favorite dancers form across all six seasons and they will act as a pool of dancers," continues Lythgoe.

"The competitors instead of drawing the genre of dance out of the hat, will draw a photograph of one of the all-stars and that will dictate the genre of dance that they're going to be dancing."

There is going to be a pool of all-stars because they won't know if there are men or women going home each week, so there will be more than 10 all-stars returning. Lythgoe says that in choosing the all-stars, "They had to be dominant in their genre of dance because they are the ones that are going to dictate what the competitors are going to dance ... It's going to nd make the show more exciting."

Some of the returning all-stars include: season 3's Pasha (standard & latin ballroom), season 6's Kathryn (jazz, contemporary, broadway & cultural), aseason 4's Twitch (krump, popping & locking).

For the finale of the show, Nigel says they aren't sure if they are going to have 2 or 3 in the finale. "It depends on if I can do something very, very special, which I can't talk about at this moment in time, on where the finale is placed on FOX's schedule," teases Nigel."This is going to be another huge press release if I get my way on something."

Lythgoe also reveals that Mary Murphy will be both sitting on the panel and will be choreographing this year. Mia Michaels will also be back as well.

You can look for the all-stars to be revealed over the next few weeks on Nigel's Twitter account. This should be an exciting season for SYTYCD!

Shane Sparks Charged with Child Molestation

Emmy nominated reality TV star Shane Sparks has been arrested and charged with nine counts of child molestation.

Sparks, best known as a judge on Randy Jackson's hit MTV show America's Best Dance Crew and as a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance, was taken into police custody in Los Angeles on Friday on a felony warrant.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Sparks allegedly committed lewd acts upon a child in multiple incidents beginning in 1994.

The acts include oral copulation and other acts "with the intent of arousing, appealing to, and gratifying the lust, passions, and sexual desires of the defendant, who was at least 10 years older than (the victim)."

The 35 year old, who received an Emmy nod in 2005 for his choreography on TV competition So You Think You Can Dance, is being held on $590,000 bail.

So You Think You Can Dance Winner Hurt?

Russell Ferguson, So You Think You Can Dance’s 20-year-old krump phenomenon from Boston, utilized his raw talent and a fiery spirit to walk — er, limp — away with the title of America’s Favorite Dancer Wednesday night in the thrilling season 6 conclusion of FOX’s dance competition.

The following day, the dancer, nursing a sprained ankle, spoke to the press about the injury he sustained in the finale, his plans for the future and how, although he’s had some dance training, he “really did just come from the streets.”

Take us through Wednesday night’s injury. What happened? You seemed better at the end.
At the end I was pretty much running off of adrenaline. After I jumped off the stage into krump, when Kevin [Hunte] and [Jonathan] “Legacy” [Perez] pulled me back up, I had come down on my leg wrong and something shifted over my ankle and it caused it to swell up. And it was real tight, so I wasn’t cleared to be able to dance for the rest of the night. But I could walk.

Last night was stressful enough, how did your mood change with the injury?
It was very stressful after that because I wasn’t able to do the final performance, which is to me one of the most important things of the season. But I got to dance that dance that I injured myself on and my dad came backstage and was talking to me and calmed me down and said, “Everything is going to be okay.” … [He told me to] walk outside with my head up. That just calmed me down and that’s exactly what I did.

You’ve often been referred to as a “street dance” diamond in the ruff but you’ve had some dance education, right?
I’ve been doing hip-hop all my life. So, I figured if I was going to take on any big dance projects later in life, I would have to learn other things to be well-rounded in the dance field. I did four years at Boston Arts and I did a good year at The University of the Arts, so I got a good amount of training in.

The judges portrayal of you as this unpolished stone. Was that accurate?
They know I had some form of training. But the thing is, a lot of people that do train, like that is what they do, that is their dance style, that’s their lifestyle. And me, I really did just come from the streets.

What were you thinking heading into the finale? Did you think you had a shot at winning?
We all definitely had shots of winning. It was all in the air at that point in our eyes. I felt like everybody that was there deserved to be there.

What were you hoping to accomplish going into the show?
I just was hoping that America would change their views on krump and what it was about, so they could be more familiar with it. And I knew I was going to be able to get that message across. But winning, this is a big bonus!

Do you think you are an inspiration to other krumpers out there?
Definitely. I know looking on TV, seeing something that you love, is always inspiring. I know that the kids out there that are watching that get inspired. They have hope now hopefully that they could do the same thing or even better.

Do you have any interest in being a choreographer someday?
I would love to come back [to the show] and choreograph a krump routine or hip-hop routine. It would be an honor.

What’s next, other than the SYTYCD tour?
I’m just going to invest my money and try to get into a lot of movie projects and try to get into dance movies.

Do you have any closing remarks?
I just love America!

Jennifer Lopez Gets a Do-Over on "So You Think You Can Dance"

Jennifer Lopez is doing it again...

After a spill at the American Music Awards, the “Louboutins” singer is teaming up again with So You Think You Can Dance choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo (known as Nappytabs) to do a holiday-themed number for the season finale of the show.

Although Lopez redeemed herself with a performance on Ellen, Tabitha says they’re not taking any chances this time.

“We’re steering clear of some big jumps,” Tabitha says. “I feel like we don’t have to be dangerous anymore … Though I appreciated seeing guys with their shirts off personally — [there will be] no sweaty backs, no shirtless guys. We’re going to have some classy looking guys.”

At the AMAs, Lopez fell — but quickly recovered — after climbing on the bare backs of her male dancers.

Napoleon says the finale performance of the song will be different from the boxing-theme she did previously. “The idea is kind of a cross between a Marilyn Monroe, ‘Santa Baby’ and a ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,’ but using shoes. Shoes are a girl’s best friend nowadays instead of diamonds.”

Adds Tabitha: “What would a girl want for Christmas? Of course it would be a shiny pair of Louboutin shoes … It’s for the holiday season [and] we’re putting a holiday twist to ‘Louboutins.’”

Part of the twist, they say, will be to feature some familiar faces in the routine.

“We’re going to incorporate some girls in the performance that were in [SYTYCD] seasons past. I don’t think any other artists that have performed on this show have actually incorporated contestants from the show,” Tabitha explains. “It’s not just a performance … it’s a connection to the show.”

The finale will be “a good holiday treat,” according to Napoleon, “and a mixture of the kids on the show getting to interact with a pop sensation.”

The So You Think You Can Dance season finale airs Wednesday at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX and will also feature performances by Adam Lambert, Mary J. Blige and Leona Lewis.

So You Think You Can Dance's Mollee Gray: I'd Love to Do Broadway

Labeled immature early in the competition, 18-year-old Mollee Gray, a lyrical jazz dancer from Upland, California, made her dream come true just by making the top 10 on So You Think You Can Dance. But after giving what the judges called her best performance of the season, she was unexpectedly cut just before the show’s first fall finale, along with Legacy Perez.

Meanwhile, Ashleigh Di Lello, who was unable to perform this week due to a shoulder injury, moved on. Mollee spoke with reporters about losing a spot in the finale to someone who didn’t dance, how the immaturity comments affected her and what’s next for this triple threat.

Was it difficult to be eliminated before someone who didn’t even dance?
Of course I was bummed. Anybody would be because this is a huge, most amazing experience I’ve ever been through. But people voted on Ashleigh based on what she’s done throughout the season — and honestly, I am so proud of her … and I’m very proud of Ellenore, and all three of those girls deserve to be in there. It was a tough one. Any of the top 8 could have been in the top 6, so I’m very proud to even be where I am right now.

Do you think producers handled Ashleigh and Noelle’s injuries the right way?
They handled it perfectly. With Noelle being able to advance to the next round, it wouldn’t be fair if Ashleigh had to be cut immediately … Even though she didn’t get to dance, America got to vote on what she’s done the previous episodes … Regardless of the finale, she got voted for all the way up the final episode, so she obviously deserves to be there and America loves her.

There was a lot of talk about your maturity. When do you feel you made a jump forward?
I felt like I’ve always had a sense of maturity in my dance. I felt that my packages may have shown a little more immaturity of me because I was always bubbly and the little girl type. But when we got in the top 10 and split our partnerships and when I was able to do more mature movement with the lyrical jazz, doing the jive and having more mature partners such as Russell, I felt like I leaped forward a ton in the competition.

How hard was it having your maturity questioned every week?
I’ve learned to accept who I am because I am a very happy person and I love to be outgoing and to be remembered, so it was kind of difficult to hear that they thought I was immature … I was just more outgoing. I felt they thought I was immature because of my age. But it showed my growth even more when I got in the top 10, so that was a bonus for me.

Are you sorry you didn’t get Jakob or Russell earlier on in the competition?
Actually, I am very grateful that I got Nathan at the beginning because I felt like it brought a lot of the younger people to like the show because Nathan and I did have that younger feel to us.

What was the most valuable thing you learned?
I realized it in Vegas, actually, that it’s not only a dance competition. Technique will get you far but it won’t get you to that top spot. It also depends on your personality and what America thinks of you. Because I was perceived as the immature one, I had to figure out a new way to get people to like me and not think that I was a little girl.

What’s next for you?
Honestly, I don’t you know what’s in my future but I hope that it involves acting, singing and dancing because I have been acting for seven years. I’ve been singing for about five. I feel like I have the title of a triple threat because I’ve been training in dance, singing and acting, so I hope that my future involves anything in the entertainment industry. I would love to do Broadway. I would love to do anything that involves me performing.

SoFLa Local: Adam Lambert Hosting Y100’s Jingle Ball with Leighton Meester

American Idol vet Adam Lambert and Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester are set to co-host the Y100 Jingle Ball concert this Saturday, December 12th at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Lambert and Leighton will be introducing the hotly anticipated performing artists: Shakira, Timbaland, Jordin Sparks, The Fray, Flo Rida, LMFAO, 3OH!3, Colbie Caillat, Jason Derulo and iYaz.

Tickets are available at http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

In anoter note, Adam will also perform on the So You Think You Can Dance finale scheduled for Wednesday, December 16th on FOX.

So You Think You Can Dance:Nathan Calls Judges’ Criticism ‘Tough Love’

After fielding criticism week after week on what the judges called his “immaturity,” Nathan Trasoras, the 18-year-old contemporary wiz from Downey, California, gave it his all right up until the end.

An early favorite, who sadly was unable to mend his relationship with America after comments he made on stage, became the first male dancer to be cut from So You Think You Can Dance’s illustrious top 10.

Trasoras spoke to reporters the day after his elimination and answered questions about all that negative feedback from the judges, what he took away from his So You Think You Can Dance experience and why he’d love to be Broadway bound.

Were you surprised to find yourself in the bottom two last week?
No. I wasn’t the smoothest through the competition and I thought that I deserved to be in the bottom. And I thought that first week where I got saved, I should have been in the bottom in the first place also. I expected it because I could have done better.

Nigel was very tough on you this season. Do you wish he would have lightened up or do you understand where he was coming from?
I understood where he was coming from. I pick up corrections really well, so if he does have criticism, I’ll fix it right away … Things could be handled better but you never know, and it was wrong on my part to say some of the stuff I said. He’s basically making me grow up and it’s tough love. I’m 18, so I finally have to experience this.

Do you have any advice for your former partner Mollee Gray, who has also been criticized for being immature?
She should take the corrections, but at the same time, don’t let it bring her down because I felt like during this competition I was kind of brought down a little. But of course you’re going to feel that way. You just got to keep your chin up and keep on working hard.

Since you’re so young and given how many times the judges criticized your immaturity, do you ever wish you had waited a couple years to compete?
I don’t wish that I went later because this show actually sped up my process of learning. Now that I know that I had done some stuff wrong, I can finally take advantage of the fact that I was corrected for it and apply it when I audition.

What are some things you did learn while on the show?
I really learned that I have a love for ballroom now, when it comes down to it. It’s a big world out there for ballroom and I didn’t know that. I was always more into the competition for contemporary and jazz, and I didn’t know there was another world of ballroom. Now I want to start pursuing that.

You did great with Broadway.
I love having my doors open. If there is a job where I get to do Broadway, I would love to do that because Broadway is very pleasant to do and it’s always nice not to be so serious and just like have a good time. It’s always nice to entertain people and that’s part of being a performer. So if I get offered a Broadway job, I’ll take it!

What else is next for you?
I’m going to stay in L.A. I love L.A. It’s nice weather first of all, and a lot of friends are from L.A. and I know a lot of choreographers, so I think it would be the best lifestyle to live in.

Do you have any final thoughts on your experience?
If people have criticism, don’t take it too hard and also just keep working hard no matter what. I am young and it’s always good to grow. You always make mistakes and you have to always be willing to change it.

Two Dancers Leave So You Think You Can Dance

After a strong show of performances Tuesday, it was up to America (with the judges merely assisting now) to determine which of So You Think You Can Dance’s talented top 10 would be the first two to go.

After the votes were counted, Noelle Marsh, 18, the contemporary darling from Sandford, N.C., and Nathan Trasoras, also 18, of Downey, Calif., received their walking papers.

“America got it right this week,” a satisfied Nigel Lythgoe said backstage after the show. “I think they’ve looked at the whole of the time that these kids have been on the program [and] not just the routines that they did [this week].”

Nathan, an early favorite, might have stuck around longer had he had a personality coach, according to Lythgoe.

“The sad thing is that Nathan’s solo tonight was probably the best he’s ever done,” the judge said, adding that smug comments post criticism may have contributed to his elimination.

Meanwhile, he complimented Noelle for her winning attitude even though she really never had a chance to grow on the show. “Noelle I thought was absolutely mature beyond her years when she said, ‘I’ve never looked on this as the ultimate prize … I’ve looked on it as the process and that journey.’”

Joining Noelle and Nathan in the bottom four were ballroom dancer Ryan Di Lello, who has had a tough time with solos, and Kathryn McCormick, whose spot there clearly shocked the judges (while Mollee Gray managed to separate herself from the stigma of her former partner Nathan).

So You Think You Can Dance: All About the Top 10

Recognition, a spot on tour and a paycheck are all a part of what it means to be in the So You Think You Can Dance top 10.

Last week, Karen Hauer, an American Rhythm dancer from Fort Lee, N.J., and Victor Smalley, a contemporary wonder from Miami, barely missed the mark as the judges had their final say in who stays and who goes. This week, season 6’s top 10 got new partners, and the fans now handle the cuts from here on out until a new winner is crowned America’s Favorite Dancer.

Here’s a rundown the top 10 dancers who performed last night:

Ashleigh Di Lello
Age: 26
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Style: ballroom
This ballroom beauty is one half of the first married couple ever to make the SYTYCD top 20. Ashleigh says she loves to watch her husband Ryan Di Lello dance — even if it’s with another partner! “We’ve been there before and it actually adds spice,” she says of going up against him. “It’s like, I love you but you’re going down.”

Mollee Gray
Age: 18
Hometown: Upland, Calif.
Style: jazz
A self-proclaimed Britney Spears fanatic, Gray managed to survive Vegas and make the top 20 despite a foot injury. Visibly growing each week on the show, this former background dancer is ready to move to the front of the stage — but wouldn’t mind supporting the pop superstar on tour.

Noelle Marsh
Age: 18
Hometown: Sanford, N.C.
Style: contemporary
Audiences and judges have started to notice this shooting star. And although currently single, she considers dance to be one of the few things she can count on 100 percent of the time. She admits that if ever they were to separate, “I’m pretty sure I would be lost.”

Kathryn McCormick
Age: 19
Hometown: Augusta, Ga.
Style: contemporary/lyrical
Clearly a dark horse this season, this Georgia peach has slowly become one of the judges’ favorites. Aside from dance, she loves to sing and would sing all the time if she were only better at it, she says.

Ellenore Scott
Age: 19
Hometown: New York City
Style: contemporary
Scott has wowed the judges each week with her sharp wit and impeccable style. Along with dance, this future Mia Michaels has a love for cooking and can speak conversational Japanese. “Before I leave this earth,” she vows, “I will speak Japanese. I promise!”

Ryan Di Lello
Age: 28
Hometown: Springville, Utah
Style: ballroom
This Hugh Jackman lookalike has no trouble competing against his wife as they met doing just that on the ballroom circuit. But if dancing doesn’t work out for Ryan, who has had trouble keeping his shirt on so far this season, his buff chest is perfect action star material. “That was always my dream as a kid,” he admits.

Russell Ferguson
Age: 20
Hometown: Boston
Style: hip-hop/krump
Like season four’s Joshua and tWitch before him, Ferguson has proven with his raw talent that he can hit the choreography as hard as he hits krump. If things don’t work out in front of the camera, he has a backup plan. “I love behind-the-scenes [camera work] and getting different angles,” he says. “I love to watch things form.”

Jakob Karr
Age: 19
Hometown: Orlando
Style: contemporary
A friend of season 5 winner Jeanine Mason, he says the best thing about the current champ is her unrelenting humility. “She’s still the most level-headed person I’ve ever met in my life,” he says. But Ashton Kutcher is the guy he would love to see come on the show and dance: “I think that would be a really interesting thing to see!”

Jonathan ‘Legacy’ Perez
Age: 28
Hometown: Los Angeles
Style: hip-hop
Scientists are still trying to explain some of the moves he’s pulled off this season. His secret, he reveals, is the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. “B-boy anthems come from James Brown,” he says. “We break to his music.” This Colombian street dancer, who received a soccer scholarship out of high school, ended up switching gears after breaking his arm. He’s also a massage therapist.

Nathan Trasoras
Age: 18
Hometown: Downey, Calif.
Style: contemporary
He was too young for season 5 so the judges gave him a ticket to 6 after his amazing audition. When it comes to expressing himself through dance, he isn’t shy about doing whatever comes to mind. “Dancing is [doing] stupid movement [and] making it look good,” he explains. A fun celebrity he’d like to see bust a move on the SYTYCD stage this season? Will Ferrell.

Watch So You Think You Can Dance tonight at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX to see who made it to the Top 8.

So You Think Jennifer Lopez Can Dance? She Can!

Jennifer Lopez fans have another reason to catch her comeback performance live at the 2009 American Music Awards tonight. That’s because when the “Fresh Out the Oven” singer takes the stage, she’ll be moving to choreography by So You Think You Can Dance’s Emmy-nominated husband and wife team Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo — or as they’re affectionately known in the dance community, Nappytabs.

“It is an exciting thing for us and one of the things we’ve always wanted to do,” Napoleon said of their chance to work with one of their longtime dance idols.

“You can expect to be entertained and you won’t be disappointed,” assures Tabitha, who has been teaching dance professionally with Napoleon for 15 years (11 of those as husband and wife).

The pair, who has worked with stars like Beyoncé and Missy Elliott, is known for an innovative lyrical hip-hop style that has garnered them quite a following since they joined the FOX show in 2008. And that following includes Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony.

“She told us she and her husband sit down and watch the show weekly,” says Tabitha, who describes Lopez as the ideal artists to work with. “She’s putting the time in and you don’t always get that with the artist. They have such crazy schedules and sometimes their priorities are a little bit different, but she’s really involved.”

Napoleon describes her big number as “her coming back to being in her own and saying, ‘Hey, this is me again — don’t forget about it!’”

For now, the team won’t reveal details of what they call a “big production” with “lots of people involved,” but “without giving it away,” teased Tabitha, she’ll be singing “a great song. It’s going to be on her new album and … I feel like it’s appropriate. It’s got a good tempo. It’s got a good vibe and it’s really exciting for us. When we heard it, we were like, ‘We’re going to have some fun with this one!’”

Aside from Nappytabs, Jennifer has an added support team in husband Marc and their 21-month-old twins Emme and Max who, according to Tabitha and Napoleon, have been regular fixtures at rehearsals.

“Marc’s really supportive,” explains Napoleon. “He’s great with the kids and then he still pays enough attention to her and goes, ‘Maybe you could do a move like this or that?’”

“It’s adorable to watch them together,” Tabitha says.

And it sounds like the little ones take after their parents when it comes to having all the moves. “The kids are always with us at rehearsal, running around and dancing in the mirrors,” Napoleon says. “As soon as the music starts playing, they are dancing around.”

Like any good comeback, Lopez’s live performance at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre on Sunday will show off her confidence. Says Napoleon: “You can expect her to come out fighting and she’s going to show that she’s got a knock-out punch!”

Mia Michaels:Why I Left So You Think You Can Dance

Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mia Michaels, 43, exudes art and creativity in dance from her freshly shaved head to her expert toes.

On October 14th, just moments after appearing on a Vegas-week episode of So You Think You Can Dance, she shocked fans across America, announcing (via Twitter) that she was leaving the show after five years. Speculation about her departure ranged from a strife with FOX to rumors of cancer (thanks to her new haircut). On Tuesday, Michaels spoke exclusively with People Magazine and revealed the factors that drove her decision to leave, as well as what is on the horizon for a woman whose name is synonymous with dance.

Why did you decide to move on from So You Think You Can Dance?
It’s been an amazing five-year journey and I am in a place where I have all these great opportunities that have been presented to me and I am ready to take on all these challenges. So when I was working on the show, I wasn’t able to really focus on anything else. Now I’m really focusing on these other projects that I can’t pass up. I think that’s pretty much the main reason why I left the show.

What went into the decision to make the announcement the way you did? And did anyone, like close pal and fellow SYTYCD choreographer Tyce Diorio, try to talk you out of it?
No, nobody tried to talk me out of it. I’m so about my instincts. Instincts never lead you wrong and they’ve never led me wrong. It was a hard decision, actually, because I love doing the show. I love being an artist that millions of people get to see my work. I knew in that moment and we had not even talked about contracts or anything for the new season yet, so I was just ready to move while I had all this other opportunities in front of me. Before I got into the season with the dancers — you know actually getting into a room and creating on them — I just thought it was best for me to step out before I did that.

After your announcement, you appeared on the final Vegas callbacks with your head shaved. Please address all the rumors, including the ones that you have cancer.
As far as me shaving my head, I just felt the need to get rid of it. I was kind of falling into a Hollywood image thing a little bit, and I just felt like it was a cool time to just start over. And that’s why I shaved it. And I had said on the show, “It’s been a difficult time,” and it’s like the last couple months in my life personally I’ve just been going through things … And then when I read those things I went “Oh no!” I do not have cancer. You can put that to rest.

Fans may be hoping this is just a break. Will you be back?
It wasn’t a break because I came to Canada and I choreographed the finale here in Canada, and I have right now scheduled to do the U.K., and Australian [versions of the show], as well as the new Canadian season three, so it’s not like I need a break because creatively I feel like I have a lot to say right now. It was just a decision that I made. It’s just something that I needed to do. I’ve been doing this for a long time and this is just another step in my journey to now take it to the next level.

Do you have any regrets in that you’re going to miss a chance to work with this cast?
It’s not like I can’t go and see the family and support the dancers. In order for me to move forward in my career, sometimes we have to let go before other things can take off. Am I sad? There’s moments, of course, but I’m also doing these other shows that I still get my fix on SYTYCD because I’m still choreographing, I’m still judging, I’m still seeing Nigel. So it’s all a very positive thing.

What new experiences are you talking about and what are about to start working on?
I am right now in talks of doing my own choreography show. I’m also doing a dance musical that will probably be documented as a doc-reality show. And then I’m working on a clothing line for dancers as well as just everyday lifestyle. And I’m working on a book deal as well.

Since leaving, what have you had a chance to enjoy now that you may not have been able to do while maintaining the show’s schedule?
You know sometimes when you’re working on a show, it was like you had to deliver a piece every single week. And you do, you start feeling like a machine. And then you start wondering, “Where is the inspiration for real? Is it inspiration or is that you’ve got to deliver, so you just have to turn it on and do it.” Now I find myself actually more inspired and more excited about creating. I feel like this time is so crucial for me to take that next step in my life.

So You Think You Dance: Top 20 Revealed

So You Think You Can Dance has announced its Season Six’s Top 20 finalists! The sixth season of SYTYCD starts Monday, October 26th at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.

The top girls include Channing Cooke, Ariana Debose, Ashleigh Di Lello, Mollee Gray, Karen Hauer, Noelle Marsh, Pauline Mata, Kathryn McCormick, Bianca Revels and Ellenore Scott; and the top guys are Phillip Attmore, Billy Bell, Ryan Di Lello, Russell Ferguson, Kevin Hunte, Jakob Karr, Legacy Perez, Peter Sabasino, Victor Smalley and Nathan Trasoras.

Below are the biographies for the 20 finalists:

~~~~~~ GIRLS ~~~~~~

Channing Cooke
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown & Currently Resides: Haverhill, MA
Age: 18
Channing grew up competing in local dance competitions around her hometown. She loves animals, especially cats, and likes to watch auto racing and football with her dad. Cooke once won a national lawn mower obstacle course competition.

Ariana Debose
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Newbern, NC - Currently Resides: Wake Forest, NC
Age: 18
Ariana has been dancing since she was 3 years old and loves to express her creativity through dance. She also enjoys scrapbooking and playing the clarinet. Her goal is to attend college and study musical theatre.

Ashleigh Di Lello
Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom
Hometown & Currently Resides: Orem, UT
Age: 26
Ashleigh graduated from Brigham Young University in Utah with a degree in political science and served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. She and her husband, Ryan Di Lello, used to compete against each other in local ballroom dance competitions and became dance partners a week before they were married.

Mollee Gray
Dance Specialty: Jazz
Hometown: Orem, UT - Currently Resides: Upland, CA
Age: 18
Mollee has been dancing for 15 years and has appeared in all three “High School Musical” films. She has a hearing impairment in one ear, but doesn’t let that stand in the way of her love for dancing. Gray’s interests include singing, acting and gymnastics.

Karen Hauer
Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom
Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela - Currently Resides: Queens, NY
Age: 27
Karen was born in Venezuela and came to the U.S. with her parents when she was 8 years old. She has been dancing for 19 years, and currently works as a professional dancer and personal trainer.

Noelle Marsh
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown & Currently Resides: Sanford, NC
Age: 18
Noelle is a small-town girl who grew up on a farm. She recently graduated from high school in Sanford, NC, where she now teaches contemporary dance.

Pauline Mata
Dance Specialty: Jazz
Hometown & Currently Resides: West Covina, CA
Age: 19
Pauline teaches dance at Dellos Dance Studio in Walnut, CA. Aside from dancing, her interests include singing karaoke and eating.

Kathryn McCormick
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Augusta, GA - Currently Resides: Burbank, CA
Age: 19
Kathryn has been dancing for 15 years, and competed in dance team competitions during middle school and high school. With her parents’ support, she recently moved to California to pursue a career in dance. McCormick admits that before she performs she gets extremely nervous, but can’t stop dancing once the music starts.

Bianca Revels
Dance Specialty: Tap
Hometown: Detroit, MI - Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 20
Bianca appeared on “Showtime at the Apollo” and considers it to be one of her most memorable moments. In addition to dancing, she competes in beauty pageants, paints, swims, sings and plays the piano.

Ellenore Scott
Dance Specialty: Contemporary/Jazz
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA - Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 19
Both of Ellenore’s parents are dancers and serve as her inspiration. She describes her personal dance style as “lockerina,” or a ballerina who locks. She speaks Japanese, loves to paint and cook and one day hopes to own a family restaurant.

~~~~~~ GUYS ~~~~~~

Phillip Attmore
Dance Specialty: Tap
Hometown: Pasadena, CA - Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 25
Phillip has performed on stage in “White Christmas,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Fosse” with Ben Vereen and “Stormy Weather” with Leslie Uggams. In addition to dancing, he enjoys singing, acting and writing poetry.

Billy Bell
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL - Currently Resides: New York, NY
Age: 19
Billy currently studies dance at The Juilliard School. He considers working with Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey on “Back to Back to Broadway” one of his greatest accomplishments. He is trained in everything from hip hop to classical ballet, and enjoys skiing and grocery-shopping.

Ryan Di Lello
Dance Specialty: Ballroom
Hometown: Springville, UT - Currently Resides: Orem, UT
Age: 28
Ryan was first introduced to dancing by his mother, who is a dancer and dance-studio owner. When he is not dancing with his wife, Ashleigh Di Lello, he enjoys snowboarding, skiing and wakeboarding, and would love to be an action-film star.

Russell Ferguson
Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/Krump
Hometown & Currently Resides: Boston, MA
Age: 20
Russell started dancing when he was 3 years old and began dancing professionally at age 6. He trained at the Boston Art Academy and has worked with Boston City Lights. His interests include acting, singing, drawing, rapping and making music.

Kevin Hunte
Dance Specialty: Hip Hop
Hometown & Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 23
Kevin has been dancing for nine years and cites Michael Jackson as his inspiration. He has performed with Lil Mama and Beyoncé. Hunte also models and has appeared in fashion shows.

Jakob Karr
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Windermere, FL - Currently Resides: New York, NY
Age: 19
Jakob is a sophomore at Fordham University in New York. In 2008, he was named New York City Dance Alliance’s National Senior Outstanding Dancer. In addition to dancing, he also enjoys scuba diving.

Legacy Perez
Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/B-Boy
Hometown: Miami, FL - Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 28
Although Legacy has no formal dance training, he has appeared in the film “Stomp The Yard” and has performed on tour with Gwen Stefani. His interests include writing poetry, making music, video editing and playing soccer.

Peter Sabasino
Dance Specialty: Tap
Hometown & Currently Resides: Philadelphia, PA

Age: 22
Peter has been dancing for 16 years and is trained in various dance styles. He has been teaching dance in Philadelphia since 2001 and was a featured dancer in the city’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His other interests include playing the drums and doing impressions.

Victor Smalley
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Miami, FL - Currently Resides: Miami, FL
Age: 21
Victor has been dancing for five years. Although his first passion was art, he was inspired by his mother to start dancing. He loves to eat and considers himself a fast-food junkie.

Nathan Trasoras
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown & Currently Resides: Downey, CA
Age: 18
Nathan began dancing at age 10 and trained at the West Coast School of the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA. His other interests include playing the trumpet and table tennis.

Mia Michaels has Resigned from So You Think You Can Dance...But Why?

Emmy Award winning choreographer, Mia Michaels, announced her exit from So You Think You Can Dance on Twitter yesterday by posting the following comment: "I am officially an adoring fan of SYTYCD…Thank U for 5 wonderful yrs. To create moments and movement for the world to share with me was a gift…Thanks SYTYCD and look forward to what's ahead for me…lookout world!"

On Facebook, she added the following statement: "It's been an amazing five years on 'SYTYCD.' I thank them for all the great memories and movement I have been able to create for the world. Today was my official resignation of the U.S. show and look forward to what's ahead for me."

Here's one of Mia's best pieces of this season:


Oh no...I cannot believe Mia Michaels, my favorite choreographer of the show, is leaving. It will just never be the same without her.

We'll miss you Mia!

Idol Discovered Ellen DeGeneres on So You Think You Can Dance

Ellen DeGeneres has said she will be a “compassionate” judge when she joins the panel of American Idol on its upcoming season. But she’s also promising to be honest with Idol hopefuls — whether they sing well or not.

“I think it’s going to be hard, but as my career has grown, … I’ve learned how to be tougher and learned how to say no,” DeGeneres tells the AP. “I think I can do it and I think I can do it in a respectful way.”

In the interview, DeGeneres also reveals that American Idol reached out to her to fill the spot left empty by Paula Abdul after the talk show host and comedian was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

Idol creator Simon Fuller, who also works on SYTYCD, “started sniffing around and said, ‘Are you interested?’ and I said, ‘Yes, of course. … I love that show and I’d love to do it,’” DeGeneres said.

In keeping with that style, DeGeneres hesitated when asked to name her favorite Idol contestant from the past, instead diplomatically listing Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler.

But DeGeneres is already employing a “just say no” attitude. “That I can guarantee you will never happen,” she says of possibly recreating costar Kara DioGuardi’s famous sing-off in a bikini on the season finale of Idol in May. “I don’t ever, ever like to definitely answer anything with a yes or no, but that’s a no.”

‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Winner

After what should be the considered the best season of So You Think You Can Dance, the FOX dance competition came to a close on Wednesday night when Jeanine Mason was revealed as America's Favorite Dancer for season five.

Jeanine, the 18-year-old contemporary dancer from Pinecrest (Miami), Florida won $250,000 and the cover of Dance Spirit magazine.

The 2nd place winner was Brandon Bryant, also from South Florida, followed by Evan Kasprzak in 3rd place and Kayla Radomski in 4th.

So You Think You Can Dance will return this Fall for it's 6th season. Watch FOX on September 2nd, for the early return on this summer hit!