20 Finalists Revealed As The Competition Heats Up On SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
America Begins Voting For Favorite Contestants After The Performance Show, Wednesday, June 14 - First Two Finalists to be Eliminated on the Results Show Thursday, June 15, on FOX
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE reached a new level of excitement last week when the Top 20 finalists were revealed. Tonight, the dancers will be partnered into 10 couples. Each week the couples will perform dances ranging from Hip-Hop and Krump to Paso Doble and Salsa. After the Wednesday performance shows, the phone lines will open and America will vote for their favorite couples in the competition, beginning tonight, Wednesday, June 14 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Fans can use the branded toll-free telephone numbers (1-888-TEMPO-01, -02, etc.) for at least two hours, subject to time zone limitations.
On the live results shows beginning Thursday, June 15 (9:00-10:00 PM live ET/tape-delayed PT), America′s vote will be revealed and the three couples with the lowest number of votes will be announced. Each dancer from those three couples will have one last chance to impress the judges with a solo performance of his or her choosing. After all six dancers have performed, America will find out which guy and girl go home. Adding to the excitement, Thursdays will also feature live performances by some of today′s hottest music stars.
The second hit season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is dominating the competition. Compared to its average last summer, the first four episodes of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE show impressive gains, increasing +28% among Adults 18-49, +27% among Adults 18-34, +29% among Teens and +25% in Total Viewers.
Meet the 20 finalists:
Dancers scheduled to perform tonight, Wednesday, June 14 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT):
Girls:
Erin Ellis, 19, jazz/lyrical specialist from Nashville, TN; she is currently training in Tennessee and preparing to further her dance career.
Jessica Fernandez, 18, ballet/multiple dance specialist, from Pembroke Pines, FL; she was a finalist in the New York international ballet competition.
Natalie Fotopoulos, 22, lyrical/jazz specialist from Tampa, FL; in addition to teaching dance, she is pursuing a career as an actress.
Heidi Groskreutz, 24, Latin/ballroom/swing specialist from Cliffside Park, NJ; she was a national Latin dance finalist and a six-time U.S. Open swing dance champion.
Allison Holker, 18, modern lyrical specialist from Orem, UT; she recently graduated from high school.
Martha Nichols, 18, contemporary/hip-hop specialist from Raleigh, NC.
Ashlee Nino, 21, popping specialist from Dallas, TX; using the stage name Lady Shiva, she is currently training in Los Angeles to pursue a dance career.
Donyelle Jones, 26, jazz and hip-hop specialist from Studio City, CA; she is currently a teacher and choreographer.
Joy Spears, 18, jazz/lyrical/hip-hop specialist from Killen, AL; she recently graduated high school and plans to move to Los Angeles to pursue a dance career.
Aleksandra Wojda, 22, contemporary/lyrical/jazz specialist from Willow Springs, IL; has taught for the past two years at the Inspire School of Dance in Plainfield, IL. Wojda recently graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, with a double major.
Guys:
Dmitry Chaplin, 23, ballroom and Latin specialist from Brooklyn, NY. He has trained with some of the top dancers in England for the last four years. Originally from Russia, Chaplin is a national finalist in ballroom dancing.
Musa Cooper, 28, hip-hop/street funk specialist from Camden, NJ; he is also a fitness model and actor.
Ivan Koumaev, 18, hip-hop specialist from Aliso Viejo, CA; Koumaev recently graduated from high school.
Ryan Rankine, 20, contemporary specialist,from Brooklyn, NY; Rankine graduated from LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Art (also known as the "Fame" school).
Stanislav Savich, 21, ballroom dancer from Brooklyn, NY.
Benji Schwimmer, 22, West Coast swing specialist from Redlands, CA. He started a charitable non-profit organization, Dancers Everywhere Making a Noticeable Difference, for orphans in southern Mexico. He hopes to pursue a professional dance career.
Ben Susak, 18, contemporary specialist from Phoenix, AZ; has trained in ballet, tap, lyrical and hip-hop. Susak recently graduated from high school.
Jaymz Tuaileva, 20, jazz/hop-hop/ballroom specialist from Orem, UT; has trained at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio since he was 11 years old.
Travis Wall, 18, lyrical/jazz specialist from Virginia Beach, VA; he designs many of his own costumes and clothing.
Jason Williams, 19, lyrical/hip-hop/jazz funk specialist from Wilmington, NC; currently living in North Hollywood, CA.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 Entertainment Ltd. and dick clark productions. It is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Allen Shapiro.
