Meet SYTYCD Top 20 dancers, FOX show begins Tuesday, Oct. 27

By April MacIntyre Oct 22, 2009, 16:33 GMT

Nigel Lythgoe - After thousands of auditions and callbacks, the judges of So You Think You Can Dance announced Season Six’s Top 20 finalists. © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

After thousands of auditions and callbacks, the judges of So You Think You Can Dance announced Season Six’s Top 20 finalists.

For the first time ever, the Top 20 dancers will make their debut performances on the hit dance reality show airing Monday, Oct. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

This special episode will showcase each of the dancers in their own style and genre and will feature group numbers choreographed by some of America’s favorite choreographers.

Additionally, viewers will get a chance to learn more about the dancers.

Then at the end of the hour, judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman will match the Top 20 with partners for the first performance show airing the following evening.

The competition begins Tuesday, as the finalists will work as partners with a world-renowned choreographer on a dance routine chosen at random from a number of dance genres.

At the end of the episode, the judges will deliberate and then eliminate the first two dancers from the competition. The following week, on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 18 will perform and the judges will send another two dancers home.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 16 will take the stage in another two-hour performance show.

Beginning this week, after each Tuesday 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.

Tune in the following  night, Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) when two finalists are sent home on the first live results show.

The Top 20 finalists are:

Girls

Channing Cooke

Age: 18 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Haverhill, MA -Currently Resides: Haverhill, MA

Channing Cooke grew up competing in local dance competitions around her hometown. She loves animals, especially cats, and likes to watch auto racing and football with her dad. Cooke once won a national lawn mower obstacle course competition.

Ariana Debose

Age: 18 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Newbern, NC -Currently Resides: Wake Forest, NC

Ariana Debose has been dancing since she was 3 years old and loves to express her creativity through dance. She also enjoys scrapbooking and playing the clarinet. Her goal is to attend college and study musical theatre.

Ashleigh Di Lello

Age: 26 - Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom

Hometown: Orem, UT - Currently Resides: Orem, UT

Ashleigh Di Lello graduated from Brigham Young University in Utah with a degree in political science and served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. She and her husband, Ryan Di Lello, used to compete against each other in local ballroom dance competitions and became dance partners a week before they were married.

Mollee Gray

Age: 18 - Dance Specialty: Jazz

Hometown: Orem, UT - Currently Resides: Upland, CA

Mollee Gray has been dancing for 15 years and has appeared in all three “High School Musical” films. She has a hearing impairment in one ear, but doesn’t let that stand in the way of her love for dancing. Gray’s interests include singing, acting and gymnastics.

Karen Hauer

Age: 27 - Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom

Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela - Currently Resides: Queens, NY

Karen Hauer was born in Venezuela and came to the U.S. with her parents when she was 8 years old. She has been dancing for 19 years, and currently works as a professional dancer and personal trainer.

Noelle Marsh

Age: 18- Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Sanford, NC - Currently Resides: Sanford, NC

Noelle Marsh is a small-town girl who grew up on a farm. She recently graduated from high school in Sanford, NC, where she now teaches contemporary dance.

Pauline Mata

Age: 19 - Dance Specialty: Jazz

Hometown: West Covina, CA - Currently Resides: West Covina, CA

Pauline Mata teaches dance at Dellos Dance Studio in Walnut, CA. Aside from dancing, her interests include singing karaoke and eating.

Kathryn McCormick

Age: 19 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Augusta, GA - Currently Resides: Burbank, CA

Kathryn McCormick has been dancing for 15 years, and competed in dance team competitions during middle school and high school. With her parents’ support, she recently moved to California to pursue a career in dance. McCormick admits that before she performs she gets extremely nervous, but can’t stop dancing once the music starts.

Bianca Revels

Age: 20 - Dance Specialty: Tap

Hometown: Detroit, MI - Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA

Bianca Revels appeared on “Showtime at the Apollo” and considers it to be one of her most memorable moments. In addition to dancing, she competes in beauty pageants, paints, swims, sings and plays the piano.

Ellenore Scott

Age: 19 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary/Jazz

Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA - Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY

Both of Ellenore Scott’s parents are dancers and serve as her inspiration. She describes her personal dance style as “lockerina,” or a ballerina who locks. She speaks Japanese, loves to paint and cook and one day hopes to own a family restaurant.

Guys

Phillip Attmore

Age: 25 - Dance Specialty: Tap

Hometown: Pasadena, CA - Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA

Phillip Attmore has performed on stage in “White Christmas,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Fosse” with Ben Vereen and “Stormy Weather” with Leslie Uggams. In addition to dancing, he enjoys singing, acting and writing poetry.

Billy Bell

Age: 19 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL - Currently Resides: New York, NY

Billy Bell currently studies dance at The Juilliard School. He considers working with Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey on “Back to Back to Broadway” one of his greatest accomplishments. He is trained in everything from hip hop to classical ballet, and enjoys skiing and grocery-shopping.

Ryan Di Lello

Age: 28 - Dance Specialty: Ballroom

Hometown: Springville, UT - Currently Resides: Orem, UT

Ryan Di Lello was first introduced to dancing by his mother, who is a dancer and dance-studio owner. When he is not dancing with his wife, Ashleigh Di Lello, he enjoys snowboarding, skiing and wakeboarding, and would love to be an action-film star.

Russell Ferguson

Age: 20 - Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/Krump

Hometown: Boston, MA - Currently Resides: Boston, MA

Russell Ferguson started dancing when he was 3 years old and began dancing professionally at age 6. He trained at the Boston Art Academy and has worked with Boston City Lights. His interests include acting, singing, drawing, rapping and making music.

Kevin Hunte

Age: 23 - Dance Specialty: Hip Hop

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY - Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY

Kevin Hunte has been dancing for nine years and cites Michael Jackson as his inspiration. He has performed with Lil Mama and Beyoncé. Hunte also models and has appeared in fashion shows.

Jakob Karr

Age: 19 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Windermere, FL - Currently Resides: New York, NY

Jakob Karr is a sophomore at Fordham University in New York. In 2008, he was named New York City Dance Alliance’s National Senior Outstanding Dancer. In addition to dancing, he also enjoys scuba diving.

Legacy Perez

Age: 28 - Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/B-Boy

Hometown: Miami, FL - Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA

Although Legacy Perez has no formal dance training, he has appeared in the film “Stomp The Yard” and has performed on tour with Gwen Stefani. His interests include writing poetry, making music, video editing and playing soccer.

Peter Sabasino

Age: 22 - Dance Specialty: Tap

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA - Currently Resides: Philadelphia, PA

Peter Sabasino has been dancing for 16 years and is trained in various dance styles. He has been teaching dance in Philadelphia since 2001 and was a featured dancer in the city’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His other interests include playing the drums and doing impressions.

Victor Smalley

Age: 21 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Miami, FL- Currently Resides: Miami, FL

Victor Smalley has been dancing for five years. Although his first passion was art, he was inspired by his mother to start dancing. He loves to eat and considers himself a fast-food junkie.

Nathan Trasoras

Age: 18 - Dance Specialty: Contemporary

Hometown: Downey, CA-Currently Resides: Downey, CA

Nathan Trasoras began dancing at age 10 and trained at the West Coast School of the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA. His other interests include playing the trumpet and table tennis.