So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Top 20 Guide, Plus Schedule and Spoilers!

By On 10/23/2009 · 12 Comments · In So You Think You Can Dance

So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 is finally ready to begin!

Next week kicks off with an hour-long introduction to the Top 20 on Monday. Each of the dancers will have the opportunity to perform in their own style of dance, choreographed by one of the SYTYCD choreographers. Wade Robson will choreograph the opening group number.

  • At the end of the Intro show, the Top 20 pairings will be announced, but if you wanna know the scoop now, check out some sweet spoilers, right HERE.

On Tuesday, the Top 20 will perform, but there’s a twist. The World Series will pre-empt the Top 20 and Top 18 results shows. That means it’s up to the judges to eliminate two dancers at the end of each performance show.

Viewer voting will not begin until the Top 16. Yeah, I know. It sucks. If SYTYCD can’t be scheduled properly in the fall, it should be moved back to summer. *grumble*

  • Monday October 26 – “Meet the Top 20″ – 8/7c pm
  • Tuesday October 27 – Top 20 Performance, Judges eliminate 2 dancers – 8/7c pm
  • Tuesday November 3 – Top 18 Performance, Judges eliminate 2 dancers – 8/7c pm
  • Tuesday November 10 – Top 16 Performance – 8/7c pm
  • Wednesday November 11 – Top 16 Results – Two dancers go home – 9/8c pm

After the jump, check out my guide to the Top 20, featuring photos, bios, and links to videos.

Spoilers and videos via SYTYCDism

The Girls

Channing Cooke –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Pre-SYTYCD Solo – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Pre-SYTYCD Solo – Fox Interview
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 –   Vegas Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Pre-SYTYCD Solo – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Vegas Solo – Fox Interview
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.

The Guys

Phillip Attmore –   Audition – Fox Interview
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.

Billy Bell –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 Beyonc. Hunte also models and has appeared in fashion shows.

Jakob Karr –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Pre-SYTYCD Solo – Fox Interview
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 –   Audition – Fox Interview
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 –   Vegas Solo – Fox Interview
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.

 
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  • jmom376

    Thank you for doing this!!! This is awesome. I can’t wait for the season to begin.

  • Lux

    Great post mj! I ´m not familiar with most of the girls but the boys are amazing, I like Rusell, Jakob, Nathan and Ryan the most, that girl Kathryn was really anoying with all the crying and high pitch voice on the top 20.

  • Mark

    “Cooke once won a national lawn mower obstacle course competition.”

    So…completely…random…

  • Jayd

    How cute is Nathan? He seems so wide-eyed, just takin’ it all in with his new hairstyle and “clothing” such a cutie. He and Karen would be a striking couple if they were matched up to dance on the show.

  • Tristessa

    Did anyone see CSI NY? Was that Legacy dancing in the background? It really looked like him.

    I like most of the guys, fewer of the girls.

  • wand3rful

    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.

    I really like Russ, he’s one of my faves….however, i wish the judges would quite fawning over his dancing skills as if he never had professional training. Boston Art Academy since age 6????? He should be able to dance other styles than hip hop/krump. I would be more impressed with Kevin or Legacyif they are able to pull of ballroom or contemporary. Russ? not so much.

  • Dr. Tracey

    Russell Ferguson started dancing when he was 3 years old and began dancing professionally at age 6.

    Weird how he says he has no formal training.
    I can’t wait for the performance shows to start, I am loving the guys this season, the girls not so much.

    Legacy looks really familiar to me, I wonder how much of a role he had in Stomp The Yard, I love that movie. I can’t decide if i’ve seen him on tv maybe in that movie or if he just reminds me of a guy I used to know.

  • motherofautumn

    D

    id anyone see CSI NY? Was that Legacy dancing in the background? It really looked like him.

    That was him.

  • lly

    People need to cut Phillip Attmore some slack. Unbeknown to the judges, Phillip’s father was diagnosed with only weeks to live during Vegas week, and he died just after the “Green Mile” episode was filmed. Can you imagine the ordeal this kid is going through!! It was such a blessing that he got to tell his dad the good news before his passing. Let’s not let an emotional week ruin the chances of an amazing dancer.

  • smartcookie

    Russell Ferguson started dancing when he was 3 years old and began dancing professionally at age 6.

    Weird how he says he has no formal training.

    But Mary asked him after his audition if he had training in other styles, and he said yes, that he had trained in jazz and African and tap… And then Nigel made the crack about tap + krump = crap.

  • Grammie Kari

    Thank you, MJ. This is a good start. I thought I saw Mollee somewhere. She seems to have a Kate Hudson vibe going for her.

    I hope Bianca Revels will prove to be versatile. Pailine is another dancer I hope outperforms.

    There are several guys I like. I prefer humble to one with a cocky attitude. Seems to me that Legacy has already accomplished most of the goals a dancer seeks. This should be a good season.

  • SexyEvey

    I’m really very excited about this season~! I was watching some of my dvr’ed episodes just yesterday (from last season and this season) and saw on craigslist the SYTYCD was in Tampa! I went to the show last night last minute (when they announced this stuff during the season it seemed like eternity away lol) and it was amazing…def worth the money! They put on a show!! Some of the routines I was very happy and surprised to see (battlefield dance). I cant wait to go next year! oh and my fav this year (so far) is Billy Bell =)