So You Think You Can Dance 9 – Meet The Top 20 (Photos) (Bios)

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Top 20 finalists revealed on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will perform live for the first time on Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured bottom L-R: Dareian Kujawa, Amelia Lowe, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, George Lawrence II and Daniel Baker. Middle row L-R: Janaya French, Nick Bloxsom-Carter, Brandon Mitchell, Alexa Anderson, Amber Jackson, Witney Carson, Matthew Kazmierczak, Eliana Girard and Will Thomas. Top row L-R: Lindsay Arnold, Cole Horibe, Audrey Case, Cyrus Spencer, Janelle Issis and Tiffany Maher. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOX

Meet the So You Think You Can Dance 9Top 20 finalists!

Click to Watch Videos from the Meet The Top 20 special.

FOX press release explains how the eliminations will work. The first live show, couples will perform a routine in their specialty.  Viewers will vote. The following week, the couples will perform a routine  in the week’s assigned genre.  At the end of the show, the bottom 3 couples will be revealed, dance for their lives. The judges will choose which two dancers go home.

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“SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” REVEALS TOP 20 FINALISTS

FINALISTS COMPETE LIVE FOR FIRST TIME WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, ON FOX

Tonight, after thousands of auditions from some of the best dancers in the nation, the judges of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE announced the Top 20 finalists who will compete to be named America’s Favorite Male and Female Dancer. This season’s Top 20 finalists are: Girls – Alexa Anderson, Lindsay Arnold, Witney Carson, Audrey Case, Janaya French, Eliana Girard, Amber Jackson, Janelle Issis, Amelia Lowe and Tiffany Maher; and Boys – Daniel Baker, Nick Bloxsom-Carter, Cole Horibe, Matthew Kazmierczak, Dareian Kujawa, George Lawrence II, Brandon Mitchell, Cyrus Spencer, Will Thomas and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp.

In two weeks, on Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 20 finalists will dance for the judges and America on this season’s first two-hour live performance show. The Top 20 will be paired into 10 couples and work with world-renowned choreographers to compose a dance routine representing their assigned genre. After the performances, viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite dancers via phone, text and online. Please visit www.fox.com/dance for additional voting information.

Then, the following week on Wednesday, July 18 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), on the first performance and results show, the 10 couples will perform again, but in this week’s assigned genre. America’s votes from the previous week will also be revealed and at the end of the show, the six finalists comprising the bottom three guys and bottom three girls will be revealed and may be given a chance to perform solo routines. The judges will then decide which dancers stay and which two will be eliminated. If couples are split apart, the dancers who remain will form new couples.

The SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Top 10 female finalists are:

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: The Top 10 girls revealed on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will perform live for the first time on Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Amelia Lowe, Lindsay Arnold (above), Janaya French, Janelle Issis, Amber Jackson, Tiffany Maher, Witney Carson, Eliana Girard, Audrey Case and Alexa Anderson. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOX

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Top 20 finalist Alexa Anderson (19), is a Contemporary dancer from Chandler, AZ, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXAlexa Anderson

Hometown: Chandler, AZ

Age: 19

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with Alexa at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Alexa

www.facebook.com/Dance9Alexa

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Lindsay Arnold (18), is a Latin Ballroom dancer from Provo, UT, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. @2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXLindsay Arnold

Hometown: Provo, UT

Age: 18

Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom

Keep up with Lindsay at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Lindsay

www.facebook.com/Dance9Lindsay

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Witney Carson (18), is a Latin Ballroom dancer from American Fork, UT, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXWitney Carson

Hometown: American Fork, UT

Age: 18

Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom

Keep up with Witney at: www.facebook.com/Dance9Witney

www.twitter.com/Dance9Witney

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Audrey Case (18), is a Jazz dancer from Edmond, OK, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXAudrey Case

Hometown: Edmond, OK

Age: 18

Dance Specialty: Jazz

Keep up with Audrey at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Audrey

www.facebook.com/Dance9Audrey

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Janaya French (20), is a Lyrical Contemporary dancer from Aurora, CO, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXJanaya French

Hometown: Aurora, CO

Age: 20

Dance Specialty: Lyrical Contemporary

Keep up with Janaya at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Janaya

www.facebook.com/Dance9Janaya

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Eliana Girard (21), is a Contemporary Ballet dancer from West Palm Beach, FL, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. @2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXEliana Girard

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL

Age: 21

Dance Specialty: Contemporary Ballet

Keep up with Eliana at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Eliana

www.facebook.com/Dance9Eliana

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Amber Jackson (21), is a Contemporary dancer from Atlanta, GA, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. @2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXAmber Jackson

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Age: 21

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with Amber at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Amber

www.facebook.com/Dance9Amber

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Janelle Issis (24), is a Belly dancer from Birmingham, AL, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXJanelle Issis

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Age: 24

Dance Specialty: Belly Dancing

Keep up with Janelle at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Janelle

www.facebook.com/Dance9Janelle

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Amelia Lowe (18), is a Contemporary dancer from Butler, NJ, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. @2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXAmelia Lowe

Hometown: Butler, NJ

Age: 18

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with Amelia at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Amelia

www.facebook.com/Dance9Amelia

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Tiffany Maher (19), is a Jazz dancer from Plantation, FL, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXTiffany Maher

Hometown: Plantation, FL

Age: 19

Dance Specialty: Jazz

Keep up with Tiffany at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Tiffany

www.facebook.com/Dance9Tiffany

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The SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Top 10 male finalists are:

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: The Top 10 guys revealed on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will perform live for the first time on Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Nick Bloxsom-Carter, Dareian Kujawa, Brandon Mitchell, Cole Horibe, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, Cyrus Spencer, George Lawrence II, Matthew Kazmierczak, Daniel Baker and Will Thomas. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOX

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Daniel Baker (24), is a Ballet dancer from Newcastle, Australia, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXDaniel Baker

Hometown: Newcastle, Australia

Age: 24

Dance Specialty: Ballet

Keep up with Daniel at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Daniel

www.facebook.com/Dance9Daniel

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Nick Bloxsom-Carter (20), is a Ballroom dancer from Oak Park, CA, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXNick Bloxsom-Carter

Hometown: Oak Park, CA

Age: 20

Dance Specialty: Ballroom

Keep up with Nick at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Nick

www.facebook.com/Dance9Nick

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Cole Horibe (26), is a Martial Arts Fusion dancer from Honolulu, HI, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. @2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXCole Horibe

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Age: 26

Dance Specialty: Martial Arts Fusion

Keep up with Cole at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Cole

www.facebook.com/Dance9Cole

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Matthew Kazmierczak (21), is a Contemporary dancer from Peoria, AZ, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXMatthew Kazmierczak

Hometown: Peoria, AZ

Age: 21

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with Matthew at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Matthew

www.facebook.com/Dance9Matthew

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Dareian Kujawa (20), is a Contemporary dancer from St. Paul, MN, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXDareian Kujawa

Hometown: St. Paul, MN

Age: 20

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with Dareian at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Dareian

www.facebook.com/Dance9Dareian

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: George Lawrence II (19), is a Contemporary dancer from Decatur, GA, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXGeorge Lawrence II

Hometown: Decatur, GA

Age: 19

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with George at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9George

www.facebook.com/Dance9George

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Top 20 finalist Brandon Mitchell, 27, is a Stepping dancer from Kansas City, KS, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXBrandon Mitchell

Hometown: Kansas City, KS

Age: 27

Dance Specialty: Stepping

Keep up with Brandon at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Brandon

www.facebook.com/Dance9Brandon

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Cyrus Spencer (22), an Animation/Robotics dancer from Duluth, GA, is a Top 20 finalist on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXCyrus Spencer

Hometown: Duluth, GA

Age: 22

Dance Specialty: Animation/Robotics

Keep up with Cyrus at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Cyrus

www.facebook.com/Dance9Cyrus

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Will Thomas (19), is a Contemporary dancer from Troy, MI, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXWill Thomas

Hometown: Troy, MI

Age: 19

Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Keep up with Will at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Will

www.facebook.com/Dance9Will

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Chehon Wespi-Tschopp (23), is a Ballet dancer from Zurich, Switzerland, on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, July 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Mathieu Young/FOXChehon Wespi-Tschopp

Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland

Age: 23

Dance Specialty: Ballet

Keep up with Chehon at:

www.twitter.com/Dance9Chehon

www.facebook.com/Dance9Chehon

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and dick clark productions, inc. The series is executive-produced by Fuller, Lythgoe and Barry Adelman. “Like” SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/soyouthinkyoucandance. Follow the series on Twitter @DanceonFOX and join the discussion at #SYTYCD. Also, follow host Cat Deeley at @CatDeeley and follow judges Nigel Lythgoe @Dizzyfeet and Mary Murphy @hottamaletrain.

 
  • Anonymous

    The sytycd cast is always so attractive. I don’t know why idol can’t do a better job with sheer volume of auditions they have.

  • Anonymous

     Welcome to the real world. Yes looks are worth a whole damn lot.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    It looks like a good cast and Nigel did say they would be doing more ballroom dancing this year.  At this point, I am most interested in seeing Janelle Issis perform, but she was unable to per doctor’s request.  I also would like to see how Cole Horibe performs in coming weeks.  I am least impressed with Cyrus Spencer.

  • John Suki

    Real world, eh? Adele, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, Aretha Franklin, Fergie, Steven Tyler, Elton John, etc. are all pretty ugly but that obviously their looks didn’t matter as far as success.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    Oh John, I think both Adele and Fergie are very pretty women; however, I understand the point you are making.  Way back when, Roy Orbinson was not considered very nice looking; however he had one of the most beautiful voices in music.  This was the opinion of Elvis Presley as well.

    I think my problem will be trying to remember the names of the various blondes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=34307244 Shana Collier

    Typically, being attractive and having an athletic body go hand in hand.  I think the reason the sytycd cast is “more attractive” is because they have to keep their bodies in top condition in order to move the way they do.

    Of course there are SOME exceptions.  However, even the male contestant last night talking about being “jiggly,” didn’t seem overweight at ALL to me. 

  • guinness 416

    There always seems to be Utahns in the top 20 on this thing.  Such a small state.

    And yes, the hard bodies (and youth – so many teens!) help in the looks department. Some of these people wouldn’t be so arresting if they were an average weight, I guess.

  • Anonymous

     Because typically having a good body goes a lot towards improving one’s “attractiveness.” Where as looks have absolutely nothing to do with singing ability.  Not really that hard to figure out, IMO.

  • http://twitter.com/Lutrell4 Ira

    Sigh! Quick reality check. When Aretha debuted and during her greater successes, she was not just gorgeous, but pretty sexy too! I’m not sure who you consider attractive, but aint nothing wrong with Fergie.

  • http://twitter.com/Lutrell4 Ira

    It’s the diversity of the cast, that always impresses me as opposed to Idol’s …and I attribute that to Nygel’s more direct involvement.

  • http://twitter.com/desireechick Kesia Monteith

    What diversity? There are only 6 people of 20 that are not of the modern dance variety. And a lot of blondes. What if there is one flaw that annoys me on SYTYCD is the lack of variety in dancers from other genres, and the difficulty in finding great minority female dancers.

  • Anonymous

    “I think my problem will be trying to remember the names of the various blondes.”

    LOL.  This same comment came up repeatedly with respect to AI 11 – Bailey, Haley, Halley, Hollie, Elise, Erika – Did I miss a blonde?  Just curious – Why is it people can’t keep track of blondes but have no difficulty keeping track of brunettes, who outnumber blondes but some margin?

  • http://twitter.com/desireechick Kesia Monteith

    Aretha? Really? She never seemed that good looking to me….

    Looks matter more than ever now, because we live in the video age, but it seems like it is more attractive to appear “weird” than just good looking nowadays. Like, who can appear more shocking.

  • Anonymous

    Either Lindsay or Witney will win it.
    Let’s see if my prediction is correct.
    I predicted correctly last year’s champ even though I did not agree that she was any good.

  • Jezco

    Ballroom dancing is HUGE in Utah, which is definitely helpful in getting on the show. Most who are serious in ballroom have had other dance experience, whereas if you’ve never been trained in ballroom it is a lot harder to fly with it than vice versa.

    I’ll also point out that Chelsie Hightower was from Orem, Nick goes to UVU (in Orem), Witney is from American Fork and Lindsay is from Provo. In other words, they are all from the same county in Utah. The county which is also home to Brigham Young University and BYU’s world renowned Ballroom dance team. What can I say? We Mormons like to dance! ;)