SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Top 20 Season 6 Photos October 21, 2009 So You Think You Can Dance [Press Release – Released by Fox] After thousands of auditions across the country and the Las Vegas callbacks, the judges of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE announced Season Six’s Top 20 finalists. 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. For the first time ever, the Top 20 dancers will make their debut performances on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: MEET THE TOP 20 airing Monday, Oct. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). This special episode will showcase each of the dancers in their own style and genre and will feature group numbers choreographed by some of America’s favorite choreographers. Additionally, viewers will get a chance to learn more about the dancers. Then at the end of the hour, judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman will match the Top 20 with partners for the first performance show airing the following evening. The competition begins Tuesday, Oct. 27 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) when the Top 20 dance for the judges and America on the season’s first two-hour performance show. The finalists will work as partners with a world-renowned choreographer on a dance routine chosen at random from a number of dance genres. At the end of the episode, the judges will deliberate and then eliminate the first two dancers from the competition. The following week, on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 18 will perform and the judges will send another two dancers home. On Tuesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 16 will take the stage in another two-hour performance show. Beginning this week, after each Tuesday performance show, the phone lines will open and the fate of the finalists – one of whom will be named America’s Favorite Dancer – will be left up to the voting fans. Tune in the following night, Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) when two finalists are sent home on the first live results show. The Top 20 finalists are: Top 10 Girls Channing Cooke Dance Specialty: Contemporary Hometown: Haverhill, MA Currently Resides: Haverhill, MA Age: 18 Channing Cooke 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 Debose 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: Orem, UT Currently Resides: Orem, UT Age: 26 Ashleigh Di Lello 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 Gray 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 Hauer 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: Sanford, NC Currently Resides: Sanford, NC Age: 18 Noelle Marsh 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: West Covina, CA Currently Resides: West Covina, CA Age: 19 Pauline Mata 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 McCormick 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 Revels 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 Scott’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. ____________________________________________________________________________ Top 10 Guys Phillip Attmore Dance Specialty: Tap Hometown: Pasadena, CA Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA Age: 25 Phillip Attmore 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. ____________________________________________________________________________ Update: Not in competition anymore, due to illness Replaced by Brandon Dumlao. Billy Bell Dance Specialty: Contemporary Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL Currently Resides: New York, NY Age: 19 Billy Bell 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 Di Lello 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: Boston, MA Currently Resides: Boston, MA Age: 20 Russell Ferguson 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: Brooklyn, NY Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY Age: 23 Kevin Hunte 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 Karr 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 Perez 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: Philadelphia, PA Currently Resides: Philadelphia, PA Age: 22 Peter Sabasino 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 Smalley 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: Downey, CA Currently Resides: Downey, CA Age: 18 Nathan Trasoras 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. ____________________________________________________________________________ Brandon Dumlao Dance Specialty: Hip Hop Hometown: Concord, CA Currently Resides: Concord, CA Age: 21 Note: Brandon Dumlao replaced original contestant Billy Bell. ____________________________________________________________________________ Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
