2 Utah Natives Make ‘So You Think You Can Dance Top 20
By Linsy Hunsaker
Deseret News
“So You Think You Can Dance” is back again with another set of top-20 dancers. As with most seasons of the show, Utah dancers are also back to shine; however, this year, the show is doing things differently.
Season 12 is pitting 10 stage dancers — those formally trained in things like ballroom, ballet and contemporary dance — against ten street dancers — those experienced in things like hip-hop, krump and animation. Each team has been given a SYTYCD alum to coach them — contemporary dancer Travis Wall for the stage team, and hip hop dancer Stephen “tWitch” Boss for the street team — but only one dancer will win the title of “America’s favorite dancer.”
On Monday’s show, two Utah Jazz Dancers were picked for the stage team.
Hailee Payne, 20, of Roy, was selected on her third attempt at making the show’s top 20.
“(I) can’t believe that this is real life,” she wrote in response on Instagram.
“I think (Payne’s) going to be incredible all around,” Wall wrote at Entertainment Weekly. “At the same time, I think she has a very bright personality, and people are going to pick up on that.”
In her bio on Fox.com, Payne said her “dream dance partner” would be SYTYCD alum and Utah native Tanisha Belnap.
“It would be such a pleasure to share the SYTYCD stage with one of my best friends,” she said.
Alexia Meyer, 19, of Orem, will join Payne in the top 20 this season.
“(Meyer) is a little firecracker,” Wall wrote at Entertainment Weekly. “I’ve known (her) since she was 12 years old, and she’s always had that fire in her.”
Meyer said in her bio on Fox.com that she started dancing at three years old.
“I remember watching (Allison Holker) as a little girl at my studio, The Dance Club, and being so mesmerized by her passion,” she said. Holker — another Utah native — competed in season two of SYTYCD.
To find out how the Utah natives fare in the competition this year, check out “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox on Mondays at 7 p.m.
