“SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” TOP 11 FINALISTS REVEALED
“MEET THE TOP 11” SPECIAL TO SHOWCASE FINALISTS THURSDAY, JUNE 10, ON FOX
FINALISTS COMPETE LIVE FOR FIRST TIME WITH ALL-STAR PARTNERS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16
Special Performances by R&B Superstar Usher and Dancers Karine Plantadit & Keith Roberts on Live Results Show Thursday, June 17
After thousands of auditions featuring some of the best dancers ever to try out, the judges of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE announced tonight that Season Seven will have 11 finalists instead of 10. The Top 11 finalists are Alexie Agdeppa, Billy Bell, Kent Boyd, Lauren Froderman, Ashley Galvan, Robert Roldan, Jose Ruiz, Cristina Santana, Melinda Sullivan, Adéchiké Torbert and Alex Wong.
Get to know the new finalists and their dance styles when each of the Top 11 perform on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: MEET THE TOP 11 airing Thursday, June 10 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The special will showcase the finalists and the All-Stars dancing together in their own styles and genres, as well as in eye-popping group numbers choreographed by Wade Robson, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo, Sonya Tayeh, Travis Wall and Jason Gilkison.
The competition begins Wednesday, June 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) when the Top 11 dance for the judges and America on the season’s first two-hour performance show. The finalists will work with their randomly selected All-Star partner and a world-renowned choreographer on a dance routine in the specialty genre of their partner. After each Wednesday 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.
On the live results shows beginning Thursday, June 17 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live PT/tape-delayed), the three dancers with the lowest number of votes will be announced. The finalists in the bottom three will perform solo routines with the hope of convincing the judges to keep them in the competition. The judges then decide which dancers remain and which one is eliminated.
Additionally, the live results shows will feature live performances by today’s hottest music stars and dance acts. On Thursday, June 17 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), R&B superstar Usher will sing his latest hit, “OMG,” and acclaimed dance duo Karine Plantadit and Keith Roberts will sizzle as they take the stage.
The Top 11 finalists are:
| Alexie Agdeppa
Age: 26 Dance Specialty: Jazz Hometown: Rowland Heights, CA Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA |
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Alexie Agdeppa is a UCLA graduate and former Los Angeles Laker Girl. She has performed in music videos for Prince, The Pussycat Dolls and Nelly Furtado. Agdeppa loves to cook, act and travel, and has been to the Philippines, Mexico, Europe, Brazil, Japan and Cuba.
| Billy Bell
Age: 20 Dance Specialty: Contemporary Hometown: Palm Beach, FL Currently Resides: New York, NY |
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After making it to the Top 20 in Season Six of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and having to leave due to illness, Billy Bell joins this season’s Top 11 finalists. A graduate of The Juilliard School, he is trained in everything from Hip Hop to Classical Ballet. Bell owns the dance company Lunge Dance Creative, and considers working with Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey on “Back to Back to Broadway” one of his greatest accomplishments.
| Kent Boyd
Age: 18 Dance Specialty: Contemporary Jazz Hometown: Botkins, OH Currently Resides: Wapakoneta, OH |
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A recent high school graduate, Kent Boyd has been dancing since he was 8 years old. Boyd appeared in several high school musical productions, including “Oklahoma!” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
| Lauren Froderman
Age: 18 Dance Specialty: Contemporary Jazz Hometown: Phoenix, AZ Currently Resides: Phoenix, AZ |
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Lauren Froderman has been dancing since she was 3 years old. At age 10, she performed with the Phoenix Rockettes. Her life’s ambition is to perform on Broadway and become a school teacher.
| Ashley Galvan
Age: 19 Dance Specialty: Contemporary Hometown: Visalia, CA Currently Resides: Burbank, CA |
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Ashley Galvan began dancing at age 3. She appeared in 2009’s “Fame” and toured with the Broadway show “Wonderland.” In addition to dancing, Galvan loves swimming, shopping, movies and fast food.
| Robert Roldan
Age: 19 Dance Specialty: Contemporary Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA Currently Resides: North Hollywood, CA |
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Robert Roldan took his first Hip Hop class at age 11. After graduating from high school, he performed with the “Bad Boys of Dance” for a year and a half. In addition to dance, he enjoys singing, acting and fashion.
| Jose Ruiz
Age: 21 Dance Specialty: B-Boy Hometown: Miami, FL Currently Resides: Pembroke Pines, FL |
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Jose Ruiz is a self-taught B-Boy who has never had professional dance training. He describes his dance style as “smooth, flowing and explosive.” Ruiz has competed in international dance competitions and performed on cruise ships. He also enjoys yoga and plays several musical instruments.
| Cristina Santana
Age: 24 Dance Specialty: Salsa Hometown: San Diego, CA Currently Resides: San Diego, CA |
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Born in Mexicali, Mexico, Cristina Santana started dancing at age 7 when a friend invited her to ballet class. Santana took up Salsa dancing six years ago after moving to the U.S. Santana enjoys singing, eating and listening to music, and counts Mikhail Baryshnikov as one of her favorite dancers.
| Melinda Sullivan
Age: 22 Dance Specialty: Tap Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA |
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A native of Long Island, NY, Melinda Sullivan is this season’s sole tap dancer. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old, and has appeared in “Cats,” “High School Musical,” “High School Musical 2” and “Wonderland.” Sullivan is passionate about music and dance education, and is a fan of tap-dance legend Gregory Hines.
| Adéchiké Torbert
Age: 23 Dance Style: Contemporary Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Currently Resides: Queens, NY |
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Adéchiké Torbert was inspired to begin dancing at age 6 by his older brother, who is also a dancer. Torbert describes his style as “contemporary…with a hint of flavor.” In addition to dancing, he enjoys cooking and fashion.
| Alex Wong
Age: 23 Dance Style: Ballet Hometown: Vancouver, Canada Currently Resides: Miami, FL |
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Alex Wong is a former principal soloist with the Miami City Ballet. He was awarded his position with the ballet at age 17 after winning the prestigious “Prix de Lausanne” competition. Wong also sings and plays the piano.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the finalists, view and share the embeddable SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Top 11 photocast at http://bit.ly/1wuYIb.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 Entertainment Ltd. and dick clark productions. The series is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Barry Adelman. Become a fan of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/soyouthinkyoucandance and follow the series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danceonfox.
About 19 Entertainment (A CKX Company)
19 Entertainment Ltd. is recognized as a lead creator, provider and promoter of globally successful entertainment and music brands of today. The company has attracted a unique team of exceptionally creative executives, who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, sports, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording and artist management. 19 Founder Simon Fuller has developed and managed some of the biggest entertainment properties of our time, with credits that include the creation of TV phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and the HBO series “Little Britain USA.” 19’s unique talent includes legendary musical icon Annie Lennox; country music sensation Carrie Underwood; the pop group sensation Spice Girls; IDOL alumni Chris Daughtry, David Cook, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta; soccer icon David Beckham; and world tennis No. 2 Andy Murray.
About dick clark productions, inc.
Founded in 1957, dick clark productions, inc. (dcp) is a leading independent producer of television programming. dcp produces perennial hits such as the “American Music Awards,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Academy of Country Music Awards,” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” dcp also produces popular weekly television programming, including SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and owns and maintains one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of “American Bandstand” footage. For additional information, please visit www.dickclarkproductions.com.