Troy

Avondale High School grad competes on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Troy native Will Thomas will dance for viewer votes on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Troy native Will Thomas will dance for viewer votes on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Will Thomas, 19, always dreamed of competing on the Fox TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

He studied dance at Adagio Dance Company in Rochester Hills throughout his high school years, and after he graduated from Avondale High School in 2011, his parents, Lori and George, helped him find an apartment and get settled in Los Angeles, so he could pursue his dream of acting and dancing.

Thomas took acting and dance classes in Los Angeles, and auditioned, “not expecting anything.”

He landed a couple of gigs, one dancing with Rhianna on the TV show “X Factor” and one on the You Tube series “Frathouse Musical.”

The he auditioned and was selected as one of the 20 finalists for season nine of “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“It’s surreal,” he said. “It still hasn’t hit me.”

On the show that aired July 11, Thomas expected to perform two dance numbers. That night, the 20 finalists were to be paired into couples to work with noted choreographers to compose a dance routine in their assigned genre. Viewers then vote for their favorites.

Thomas’ assigned style is contemporary, which he said is not his favorite style and makes him the most nervous, although he likes all genres.

Jennifer Wilson, of Rogers & Cowan, the publicity firm for the show, explained that on the July 18 show, the first performance and results show, the 10 couples will perform again, and the votes from the previous week will be revealed. At the end of that show, four couples will be cleared to move on. The six remaining contestants — three male and three female dancers — with the lowest number of votes will be revealed and possibly given a chance to perform solo routines. Judges then decide who stays and who leaves. If couples are split, the dancers who remain form new couples.

The show broadcasts once a week, not twice a week as it has been in the past.

“It’s a brand-new show (from last season),” Thomas said. “Everything is a bit different.”

His parents plan to be in the audience for all of his appearances.

His brother Bo and sister Meghan plan to watch in their Troy home with family and friends.

Thomas hopes the show will lead to touring with a company, show or performing artist resulting in a show in the Detroit area.

“Keep your dreams alive,” he advises. “They do come true.”

For information about the show, visit www.fox.com.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1054.