or


[06/09/06 - 12:00 AM]
20 Finalists Revealed as the Competition Heats Up on "So You Think You Can Dance"

[via press release from FOX]

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 night when the Top 20 finalists were revealed. Next week, 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 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 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.

About 19 Entertainment

19 Entertainment, which was recently acquired by CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful, music-based entertainment, or "Entertainment Brands." 19 has attracted a unique collection of expertise in people who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, music, film, merchandising, music publishing, recording, artist/writer and producer management, sponsorship and promotion. To date, 19 has been involved in the creation of 106 No. 1 singles and 83 No. 1 albums, with an impressive tally of 281 Top 40 albums and 430 Top 40 singles.

About dick clark productions

Founded in 1957, dick clark productions has grown to become a leading independent producer of a wide range of TV programming for broadcast/cable networks, distributors and advertisers. The Company has produced thousands of shows and specials in all genres and for all day parts, including such perennial hits as "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," "The American Music Awards," the "Golden Globe Awards," the "Bloopers" specials and series, the "Daytime Emmy Awards" and the "Academy of Country Music Awards," among others. The Company also is a leading creator of award-winning communications experiences from live events and meetings to integrated marketing programs for major corporations.

Photos can be found at www.Foxflash.com

Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews can be found at www.fox.com/dance .





  [june 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (FOX)





[05/09/25 - 01:18 PM]
ABC News Announces Primetime Special on the Historic Election of the First-Ever American Pope
The one-hour special, "The American Pope: Leo XIV - A Special Edition of 20/20," airs tonight, Friday, May 9 on ABC.

[05/09/25 - 12:30 PM]
FOX Greenlights "The Faithful," A Powerful Three-Week Biblical Event Series, for Broadcast Spring of 2026
This landmark drama is based on The Old Testament's Book of Genesis and told through the eyes of the courageous and passionate, yet flawed women whose descendants would shape three of the world's great faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

[05/09/25 - 12:01 PM]
ID Announces May 19 Premiere Date for "Trapped: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams?"
The hour-long special presented by "Extra" will premiere Monday, May 19 at 8:00/7:00c on ID and will be available to stream on Max.

[05/09/25 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Greenlights "Best Medicine," An Irreverent Medical Series Based on the Critically Acclaimed Global Hit "Doc Martin"
Wholly owned by FOX Entertainment, the series comes from executive producers Ben Silverman, Rodney Ferrell, Liz Tuccillo, Mark Crowdy and Philippa Braithwaite, and is set to debut in the 2025-2026 season.

[05/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock Announces a Compelling, Heartwarming and Villainous Slate of New Unscripted Series
New series greenlights include "Tiffany Haddish Goes Off" and "Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together;" a third season of "House of Villains," along with true crime documentaries "Gilgo Beach Killer: The House of Secrets" and "The Idaho Student Murders" as well as "Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks" docuseries.

[05/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: BET+ Original Movie - "Onyx"
Three friends try and escape the daily grind and support their friend recovering from a bad breakup by going on a rural Arizona adventure camp when they inadvertently get caught in an alien invasion.

[05/09/25 - 09:04 AM]
Season Two of the Max Original Series "Peacemaker," From DC Studios, Debuts August 21
John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick return for season two.

[05/09/25 - 08:51 AM]
Peacock Announces Series Pickup of Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" Animated Spin-Off
MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Barth will all reprise their roles from the film franchise.

[05/09/25 - 08:19 AM]
Now Filming: Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
The drama returns with an extended season of 12 episodes - and even more wit, desire, and dramatic twists.

[05/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
"A Man on the Inside" Season 2 - Now in Production!
Created by Mike Schur, season two will see Charles (Ted Danson) going undercover at a college.

[05/09/25 - 06:02 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights New Original Movie, "Pretty Hurts," Starring Haylie Duff, Sarah Borne, and Kaci Barker Premiering June 28 Brought to You by GSK
The film includes a storyline that highlights meningococcal disease, known as meningitis, to help educate parents of teens and young adults about the uncommon, but potentially life-threatening illness for which 16- to 23-year-olds are at increased risk.

[05/09/25 - 05:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Its First-Ever Nordic Medical Drama Starring Sara Khorami in the Lead Role
At the emergency ward, it doesn't matter who you are - rich or poor, influencer, carpenter, or minister.

[05/08/25 - 05:01 PM]
SO JI-SUB Returns with Cold and Intense Noir Action Series "Mercy for None", Premiering June 6
Joining him are Huh Joon-ho, Gong Myoung, Choo Young Woo, An Kil-kang, Tiger Lee, Cho Han-cheul, along with special appearances by Cha Seung Won and Lee Jun-hyuk.

[05/08/25 - 01:01 PM]
Video: "The Survivors" - Official Trailer - Netflix
15 years ago, the loss of three young people tore this sleepy seaside town apart. Now, the mysterious death of a young woman dredges up the past.

[05/08/25 - 12:59 PM]
Lifetime Announces New Original Movie "Dateless to Dangerous: My Son's Secret Life" Starring Jodie Sweetin, Alexander Elliot and Nikki Roumel Premiering June 21
The gripping drama deals with teens as they navigate identity, acceptance, social alienation and explores the rising subculture of incels - usually involuntarily celibate men.