Shane Sparks Defends Molestation Allegations

America’s Best Dance Crew judge and former So You Think You Can dance choreographer Shane Sparks is defending himself against child molestation charges filed against him last week. Sparks, who was arrested on Friday and charged with 8 counts of felony child molestation, which allegedly occurred in 1994 with one of his former dance students.

Sparks was released on bail last night and is now working on proving that the charges leveled against him are false, and merely an attempt at extortion. E! News spoke with Mr. Sparks’ attorney, Steve Meister, who released this statement:

“Shane Sparks is innocent, he knows it and soon the world will know it. We are going to fight this tooth and nail. It’s a bogus accusation that reeks of opportunism and exploitation. The timing is beyond suspicious, and this whole thing stinks to high heaven. We are going to fight to clear his name, and we are going to succeed.”

Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Lopez Perform on the Season Finale of So You Think You Can Dance

Music icons Jennifer Lopez and Mary J. Blige will join some of this year’s hottest performers as they take the stage during the So You Think You Can Dance two-hour season finale Wednesday, Dec. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. In their first-ever appearances on the series, Lopez will perform her latest single, “Louboutins,” and Blige will sing her hit “I Am.”

On the final performance show, airing Tuesday, Dec. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 6 finalists (Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan Di Lello, Russell Ferguson, Jakob Karr, Kathryn McCormick and Ellenore Scott) will compete in the ultimate showdown to impress the judges and capture America’s vote. Immediately following the performance show, the phone lines will open and viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite remaining finalists. Then, tune in the following night for one of the most-anticipated television events of the fall.

Wednesday’s two-hour LIVE grand finale will also feature special performances by this season’s Top 20, Adam Lambert, Leona Lewis and the Groovaloos. At the end of the celebration, host Cat Deeley will reveal America’s vote and America’s Favorite Dancer will be crowned live before millions of television viewers. The winner will dance off with a cash prize of $250,000 and will be featured on the cover of the March 2010 issue of Dance Spirit magazine.

- Courtesy of FOX

Illness Causes Billy Bell to Leave “So You Think You Can Dance”

Top 20 dancer Billy Bell has left SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE due to illness and will be replaced by Brandon Dumlao, 21, a Hip Hop dancer from Concord, CA. Dumlao will join the Top 20 this week as they compete on the first two-hour performance show Tuesday, Oct. 27 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

“We are disappointed that Billy cannot continue dancing in the competition on the advice of his doctor and wish him a speedy recovery,” said executive producer/judge Nigel Lythgoe. “However, we are fortunate that Brandon Dumlao has agreed to return.”

Dumlao joins previously announced finalists Phillip Attmore, Channing Cooke, Ariana Debose, Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan Di Lello, Russell Ferguson, Mollee Gray, Karen Hauer, Kevin Hunte, Jakob Karr, Noelle Marsh, Pauline Mata, Kathryn McCormick, Legacy Perez, Bianca Revels, Peter Sabasino, Ellenore Scott, Victor Smalley and Nathan Trasoras as they compete to become Americas Favorite Dancer.

(courtesy Fox)

Adam Shankman Joins “So You Think You Can Dance”

Acclaimed producer, director and choreographer Adam Shankman has joined SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE as a third judge. Shankman, who has been a guest judge and choreographer on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE since 2007, will sit alongside Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe and draw upon his expertise to critique the dancers throughout the competition.

The all-new fall season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airs Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Shankman, who serves as a guest judge on this season’s audition episodes, will join the judges’ panel beginning with the Top 20 performance show Tuesday, Oct. 27 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

“SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is one of the most important things to happen in the last decade for the art form,” said Shankman. “Choreography is how I found my way into this business, and I’m proud to be a part of the show. As a filmmaker, it’s an honor to be able to recognize choreographers and dancers, and to be able to bring all of this amazing work into America’s homes. These kids challenge themselves every week, and it’s great for people to see how terrific these dancers are.”

“I am extremely happy that Adam has agreed to be a resident judge,” said Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer/Co-Creator, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. “We love bantering and bickering, and yet he still finds a way of capturing the sensitivity of every story told on stage. He is a consummate professional with a passion for dance and a discerning eye, which makes him perfect for us. Plus, it must be remembered, it takes a slightly crazy person to work with me and Mary.”

Adam Shankman is a master of comedy and one of the most loved and commercially successful filmmakers of his generation. His recent credits include “Bedtime Stories” starring Adam Sandler and Keri Russell, “17 Again” starring Zac Efron and “Hairspray,” the feature film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Shankman also directed the hit viral video “Prop 8: The Musical” for FunnyorDie.com, which was honored by GLAAD and has been viewed over 4 million times.

Shankman’s directorial debut was “The Wedding Planner” starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. He followed that project with “A Walk to Remember” starring Mandy Moore and Shane West and “Bringing Down the House” with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. His other credits include “The Pacifier” starring Vin Diesel, “Step Up,” “Step Up 2″ and “Premonition” with Sandra Bullock. Shankman’s upcoming films include “Step Up 3-D,” “Going The Distance” starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long and “The Last Song” starring Miley Cyrus.

So You Think You Can Dance Star Charged With Rape

Choreographer Alex DaSilva accused of sexual assault

Alex DaSilva, one of the stars of the hit dance competition show, So You Think You Can Dance, was arrested on August 18 and charged with four counts of sexual assault.

DaSilva, who is a choreographer and dance instructor, is accused of four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with attempt to commit rape, and two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object. The alleged incidents took place between 2002 and 2009.

So You Think You Can Dance, Where Are They Now?

With this season of So You Think You Can Dance heating up I thought would be a good idea to take a look back at last seasons winner, Joshua Allen. Check out the video below to find out what he’s been doing since his victory last year.

So You Think You Can Dance holding auditions in NYC

While Season Four winner Joshua Allen and the other Top 11 dancers are traveling the nation on their celebrated live tour, the hit summer competition series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE begins its search for America’s Favorite Dancer Thursday, Nov. 13 in New York City. Producers will also travel to Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami and Seattle in search of dancers who best represent the rhythm of the nation.

Audition information for New York City is as follows:

WHEN: Registration begins at 8:00 AM on Thursday, Nov. 13

WHERE: Mark Morris Dance Center

3 Lafayette Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11217

Additional dates and venues for Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami and Seattle will be announced shortly.

Registration will begin at 8:00 AM at each venue. Auditioners traveling to cities for the open calls should make arrangements to stay for at least two days following their initial audition in the event of a callback.

For the latest information, auditioners should log on to fox.com/dance.

Contestants must be: (a) U.S. citizens, (b) legal permanent residents of the U.S., (c) possess a valid Employment Authorization Card enabling them to seek employment freely (i.e., without restrictions as to employer) within the U.S., OR (d) be in the process of obtaining an Employment Authorization Card that will enable the person to accept unrestricted employment in the U.S. on or before the first day of Las Vegas callbacks, which are currently scheduled to begin on or about April 1, 2009.

Joshua Wins So You Think You Can Dance

After two hours of performances, an overabundance of kudos, and much ado about everything, Cat Deeley announced that Joshua is America’s Favorite Dancer and $1 million richer. After the show received 60 million votes, Joshua has become the first street-dancer to win. His mother was shouting (and I mean that in the Baptist sense) in the audience. Joshua tells the world to never let anybody tell you that you can’t do anything and that with God you can do everything.

The show’s producers have also added a twist where there is a top girl and a top guy. Katee wins the top girl slot and $50,000 to boot. She was exceedingly happy. So that’s all folks, the end until next year.

Some of the night’s highlights include performances of the judges’ favorite routines from the season. These included:

Courtney and Gev’s Rumba routine

Katee and Joshua’s Bollywood and Lyrical Hip Hop routines

Will and Katee’s Pas Des Deux routine

Twitch and Kherington’s Vienese Waltz

Twitch and Katee’s Contemporary routine

Then the judges decided to jump in on the action, Mary Murphy, who is not as chunky as she appears sitting behind the judges table, performed with Dmitry from Season 2 and Nigel performs a tap dance routine with dancers from the Debbie Allen School of Dance. He actually kept up with those little kids.

They also had the world’s first live-televised popping battle between Phillip Cheeb, who came down with pneumonia during auditions and couldn’t continue, and Robert Murraine, who got scared and quit. They battle to “Closer” by Kanye West. Phillip was smooth and musical, but Robert is a freak of nature who managed to make fun of Phillip’s style even while doing his own. He won hands down.

So, that’s all folks, the end, until next year.

The Final 4 Are Picked On So You Think You Can Dance

(Press Release)

THE FINAL 4 DANCERS ARE REVEALED AND TWO CONTESTANTS ARE ELIMINATED LIVE ON “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” THURSDAY, JULY 31, ON FOX

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE continues its search for America’s favorite dancer tonight when two finalists are voted off. Watch some of the country’s best dancers, skilled in everything from jive and hip-hop to contemporary and jazz, test their luck with the judges and find out who will keep dancing and who will go home in the “2 of 6 Voted Off” episode of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Thursday, July 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 Results

My heart aches. This results episode was pretty emotional. Will, the most talented dancer this season is no longer on So You Think You Can Dance. On the girl side, Comfort has left.

When Kat told Will he was in the bottom two, you could see his heart crash to the floor. The crowd literally gasped. Twitch and Courtney were also in the bottom four. When Twitch found out he was in the bottom, he bent down to the floor. Cat bent down with him and comforted him until he gathered himself. Everyone had to dance their solos before finding out their fate. Comfort did her usual, Twitch was interesting and creative, Courtney was passionate, and Will danced with no energy whatsoever. I guess the most ironic thing was that he performed to the song “Closer” by Goapole. The song is all about getting closer to your dreams, and here he was, possibly further away. In any case, I’ve never seen Will, who throughout this season has been perpetually upbeat, look so deflated. I suppose, when you really consider his rankings, his popularity levels have never been particularly high. He has consistently been in the bottom throughout the season—the only thing keeping him in for the most part was the judges’ respect for his technique. He didn’t have the mojo to get America voting, however.

On second thought, his song choice wasn’t so ironic. I wouldn’t be surprised if an abundance of dance companies weren’t calling him right now trying to get him to sign a contract for when the SYTYCD tour is over.

Next Page »