After Stint on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ Courtney Galiano Returns to Give a Boost to This Season

By Cristina Kinon
NY Daily News

New York native Courtney Galiano is excited to return to the stage of “So You Think You Can Dance,” not only to show off some new moves but to help new contestants show off some steps of their own.

“Sometimes you just need somebody to rub you on the back, bring you back down to reality and remind you that you were chosen out of thousands of dancers,” Galiano, of Commack, L.I., told The News. “There’s a reason you are here.”

The seventh season of “So You Think You Can Dance” premieres Thursday at 8 on Fox. Galiano, who finished fourth in the fourth season, is back, along with nine other all-stars, including Neil Haskell, Stephen (tWitch) Boss, Pasha Kovalev and Allison Holker.

Former ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ contestant Courtney Galiano (r.) returns to the show this season with Neil Haskell and Cat Deeley.

The returning dancers will partner with this year’s top 10 and dance with the contestants in their own styles. Galiano is a contemporary dancer, but has been working hard on her turnout.

“I’ve been training like crazy, taking private ballet lesson pretty much every day,” said the former Knicks City Dancer. “I’m really excited to go on the show again and show what I got.”

Other changes this year include choreographer Mia Michaels joining the judging panel, alongside Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman. Mary Murphy has stepped down and will participate in the show as a guest judge and choreographer.

Since her season ended, Galiano, 21, hasn’t stopped working. She’s a recurring member of Vocal Adrenaline on Fox’s hit show “Glee” and will be featured as a dancing pregnant teenager in an upcoming number.

She dances in Disney’s upcoming movie, “Camp Rock 2,” with Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. She’s also performed in several music videos and danced with J.Lo in Times Square last New Year’s Eve.

She owes all of it, she says, to “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“The show totally made it happen for me,” said Galiano.

Looking ahead, Galiano would love to go on tour with a performing artist and maybe, one day, return to New York on the Great White Way.

“It’s just not enough to be good at one thing anymore. You have to be a triple threat, and I love acting and singing,” Galiano said. “So as I get older, I hope I can come back to New York and pursue a career on Broadway.”

“I have a whole list of things in my room that I want to do,” she added. “I made it when I was a Knicks dancer and felt like I needed to do more. I’ve crossed some things off it.”

Galiano helped out during the audition rounds this season and has already had a glimpse of some top contenders, whom she calls “killer.” Combined with the level of returning talent, she says, this season will be a series best.

“I feel so honored and blessed to be given this opportunity again,” she said. “I just want to come back and be better.”