So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2) finalists

List of the top twenty finalists from the second season of So You Think You Can Dance. 116 dancers were invited to Las Vegas for a week's training. That 116 was eventually whittled down to 41, and finally to 20.

Dmitry Chaplin

* Birth date: July 14, 1982
* Birth place: Rostov-on-Don, Russia
* Occupation: Ballroom Dancer Dmitry Chaplin is an International Latin dancer, best known for being a Top 10 finalist on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2). He is arguably the most popular contestant on the show due to his on-stage personality and his fantastically muscular body. Chaplin was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on July 14th, 1982. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from School #8 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and attended Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York for one semester. Outside of the TV show, Chaplin is currently partnered with Heidi Groskreutzand was a national finalist in US National Amateur Dancesport Championships in Provo, Utah that occurred on March 11, 2006. Results. His dancing coach since 2004 has been Louis van Amstel, who was partnered with actress Lisa Rinna on the U.S. show Dancing with the Stars. Chaplin's dance style proved extremely popular with the audience, and other contestants sought his assistance in how to "dance masculine". Something that made him different from the other dancers was the fact that he went through three dance partners. According to one audience member's poster, "Dmitry's hips don't lie". The judges generally rated his dancing positively, but call-in votes still repeatedly placed him in the bottom three couples each week. Three of his first partners, Joy Spears Aleksandra Wojdaand Ashlee Nino were eliminated, so he was labeled as being cursed. Chaplin was partnered with Donyelle Jonesduring the show on July 19 when all the contestants switched partners. On the results show of July 20, it was revealed that Donyelle had "beaten the curse", but Chaplin was unable to beat it himself. He was eliminated along with Martha Nichols

Musa Cooper

Cooper is a dancer and fitness model who has had several television appearances, including appearing on both seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance." He was born February 26, 1978, and raised in Camden, New Jersey. He attended Lenape High School, where he was a track star in the 1990s. A dancer from a young age, Cooper specialized in hip-hop and b-boying styles, then studying more rhythmic dances when he reached his early teens.Cooper was raised in Camden, New Jersey. He attended Lenape High School, where he was a track star in the 1990s, and also known for exuberant gymnastic dancing moves, such as doing back-flips at pep rallies. He was a member of the school's first State relay championship team in 1997, and had experience as a hurdler, sprinter, and high jumper. [1] A dancer from a young age, Cooper specialized in hip-hop and b-boying styles, then studying more rhythmic dances when he reached his early teens. Cooper was a performer for Beyonce Knowlesat the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and has made cameo appearances on other television programs, such as Sex in the City. [2] [3] In 2005, he appeared in the short film, It's Fun to Help Poor People, Franny Canada. [4] (video) Also in 2005, he was one of the first people to audition for the first season of So You Think You Can Dance. He was prominently featured in the first few episodes, and though he impressed the judges with his unique dance style, he did not make the final cut. In 2006, he tried again at the New York auditions, and had improved so much, and had sufficient quantity of unique moves, that he was passed through to the Las Vegas auditions and eventually into the finals. He proceeded to the top 12, but was eliminated on July 13, 2006. His assigned dance partner had been Natalie Fotopoulos who went on to become one of the top 6 finalists before herself being eliminated. Cooper is married, and lives in Camden, New Jersey, where he works as a professional window cleaner, rappelling down skyscrapers.Before entering the So You Think You Can Dance 2 competition, she was getting dance training in her home state of Tennessee. Erin Ellis is a 19 year old jazz and lyrical specialist. She is currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee . She attends Middle Tennessee State University and is an incoming sophomore. Aside from this, she is a dance teacher at DC Dance Factory and has been working there for 2 years. Erin became a top 20 finalist on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. She claims that among all her dance experiences, this is the most memorable of them all. Unfortunately, she was the first female contestant who got eliminated. She was eliminated with partner Stanislav Savich.

Jessica Fernandez

Born September 18, 1987, in Margate, Florida. A ballet dancer often complimented by Nigel, Jessica bore a great deal of resemblance to actress Sarah Jessica Parker. Despite her and her partner Jaymz Tuaileva's consistent performances, they were constantly chastised for not connecting to the audience and getting more votes to stay out of the bottom three couples. They were eliminated from the competition on July 6, 2006. Ballet/multiple dance specialist Jessica Fernandez is from Pembroke Pines, FL. Jessica, 18, was a finalist in the New York International Ballet Competition. This classically trained ballerina and dancer started at a young age of 18 months old, Jessica's mom said that as soon as she was out of diapers she joined her sisters in dance.

Natalie Fotopoulos

Natalie Fotopoulos (b. December 16, 1983) is an American dance teacher who made the top 6 of the second season of the FOX reality show, "So You Think You Can Dance". She was eliminated on August 3, 2006 along with Ivan Koumaev. Natalie Fotopoulos is is a lyrical/jazz specialist who hails from Tampa, FL. She teaches dance and she is also pursuing an acting career. Natalie Fotopoulos was 22 when she was chosen for So You Think You Can Dance, Season 2. Natalie was born in Tampa, Florida, and began dancing at age 2, as both her mother and her aunt were dancers and instructors. She taught in her mother's dance school after her family moved to Tennessee, and in 2005, returned to Florida to work with her aunt in her dance studio. In the summer of 2006, Natalie was chosen as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance on FOX.Fotopoulos, a Greek American, [ [http://www.megatv.com/dance/default.asp?catid=13735&tag=9632 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - Νάταλι Φωτόπουλος - συντελεστές , νάταλι φωτόπουλος ] ] was born in Tampa to a dancing family, as both her mother, Annette Wilson, and aunt were also dancers, and her grandmother, Rosemary Bramuchi, also ran a dance school. Her father, Andy Fotopoulos, owns a chain of pizza restaurants in Tampa Bay.Fotopoulos's family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when she was 8, though she returned to Tampa in 2005. While in Memphis, she taught at her mother's dance studio "Dance" "Dynamics", for 12 years, . She started to dance at age 2, moving on to studying acrobatics and ballet. Her specialty is in lyrical and jazz, and dancers who have influenced her include Ann Reinking and Gregory Hines.

As of 2007, Fotopoulos has moved to Greece, where she works as a regular choreographer for the Greek version of So You Think You Can Dance (whose second season ended in June 2008).

Heidi Groskreutz

In light fantastic toes she has tripped her way to the final rounds of the Fox Television reality show “So You Think You Can Dance,” and now all that stands between Heidi Groskreutz of Newport Beach, California and Cliffside Park, New Jersey and stardom and a pot full of prizes and cash is one more stunning performance and a couple of million votes.

But fame and fortune are not what Heidi says she was chasing when she auditioned for the show. It’s the learning experience — the challenge — that counts.

“I won’t be satisfied until I am the dancer I know I can be,” she says. True, the prize money could be an answer to a prayer for a way to pay for coaching help she needs, and to cover travel, costumes and entrance fees for important international competitions.

Groskreutz, born September 3, 1981, is from Cliffside Park, New Jersey, and raised in Newport Beach, California. She has been dancing since she was five and early on learned to set goals in the Young Women program at her home ward, the Newport Beach II Ward. Her mother, Victoria Groskreutz, says prayer has guided Heidi’s every decision, especially the one that prompted her to withdraw from college and move to New Jersey, where she could be nearer to the kind of professional training she needed as well as a Russian dancing partner she wanted to work with.

It wouldn’t be an easy decision for any 24-year-old like Heidi to make, let alone the youngest, the baby of four children (two boys and two girls), from a close-knit, devout Latter-day Saint family.

When the opportunity emerged to audition for the dance show, Heidi tackled it enthusiastically as a way to grow professionally by subjecting herself to the demanding, unforgiving venue of network television.

Before she moved from the left to the right coast, Heidi was a communications major at Orange Coast College, then Cal State San Bernardino, then the University of Redlands. Of course her parents hoped she would earn a degree, but they recognized, like parents of professional athletes often do, that occasionally it’s necessary to delay school in order to seriously chase dreams and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that demand the athletic abilities and physical stamina found only in young performers.

Although Heidi was rehearsing for the show recently, she made time to talk to Meridian. She admitted that, “Most of us are nursing injuries as a result of the intense (8 hours) rehearsal schedule and demanding choreography. At the same time these demands also help us to become stronger and better dancers." According to Heidi, the differences between the reality show and most international competitions are:First, in the DanceSport competitions, candidates have months or years to prepare their numbers. On the show, dancers have two days to learn the routine.

Second, most competition dancers specialize and compete in one dance style throughout their career. On “So You Think You Can Dance,” they must excel in contemporary, jazz, hip hop and Broadway styles.

Third, competitive dancers in the partnered styles dance with the same partner for many years. On this show, they “draw” their partner from a hat.Although the eight rotating judges on the show critique the dancers, they have no say on who wins the competition. It is America’s votes that determine the winner. Last week, more than 12 million people voted. As of 2006, she is a six-time U.S.A. Open Swing Dance champion. Her dancing specialties are Latin, ballroom, and swing dancing. In the second season of "So You Think You Can Dance", she proceeded to the final four with her cousin and eventual winner Benji Schwimmer. Her original partner, Ryan Rankine (contemporary dancer) made it to the top 8 as well. Her other cousin, Benji's younger sister Lacey, was on the third season of "So You Think You Can Dance," as a top 4 finalist as well. Heidi appeared during season 3 in the audience frequently to support Lacey. She also was an assistant to Benji and Dmitry of season 2 when they each choreographed dances for season 3.

Allison Holker

Allison Holker is a contemporary jazz dancer from Orem, Utah. She was a top eight finalist, but eliminated on July 27, 2006. She was born February 6, 1988 in Minnesota, and grew up in Orem, Utah. She has been dancing since she was three years old and also danced in Disney's High School Musical. Allison Holker is a recent high school graduate from Orem, Utah. She is a modern lyrical specialist. Allison Holker is 18 years old. Allison Holker was born on February 6, 1988 in Minnesota and was raised in Orem, Utah. She started dancing at the age of three. Previously, she starred in High School Musical as one of the cheerleaders. At present, she works as a contemporary jazz dancer. Allison was a top 8 finalist on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. She was originally partnered with Ivan Koumaevuntil Week 5, but was eliminated on Week 7 with Ryan Rankine because of her youth. She danced with Ivan Koumaev. She danced with Ryan when it was time to split up. They soon were back together on Top 8 performance before leaving the competition.

Donyelle Jones

Donyelle Jones (b. July 3, 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is a jazz and hiphop dancer, choreographer and teacher, who currently resides in Studio City, California. She finished third during Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance.Donyelle has been dancing since she was 18. She began training in ballet, and also studied jazz, modern and hip hop dance styles, as well as taking voice training and acting. She teaches dance, and in the summer of 2006, was chosen as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance on FOX. Donyelle Jones was born on July 3, 1979 in Los Angeles, California. Previously, she was a dancer for Black Eyed Peas and Missy Elliot videos. She also appeared in the movie "Be Cool" and had an interview on The Tyra BanksShow. In addition, she won at the television show Dance 360. At present, she works as a jazz and hip hop dancer, choreographer and teacher. Donyelle was a top 4 finalist on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance, despite being the oldest contestant and not fitting the stereotypical dancer's "body image". Despite her weight and a broken toe during the competition, she received high marks from the judges and finished as 2nd runner-up to partner Benji Schwimmer.

http://www.biggeststars.com/d/donyelle-jones-biography.html

Ivan Koumaev

Ivan Koumaev was born in the Far East of Russia. He has one younger sister. He moved to the United States when he was 7, and grew up in Seattle, Washington. During a September 2006 interview on the U.S. program "Ellen", Koumaev stated that he had become interested in dancing at the age of 11, when he watched the movie "Breakin'", after which he went to a studio and sought training in hip-hop style.

He attended Aliso Niguel High School though he left in his senior year to pursue a career in dancing. While at the school, he was a member of the school's selective dance-related club, "Dance Appreciation". He has also been a member of "Cruz Control," is the captain of the "Team Boogiezone Breed Company," and has appeared in a Hannah Montana music video, along with local Seattle programs such as "Battle of Seattle" and "Sign of the Times."

After proceeding through the various auditions of "So You Think You Can Dance" to the finals, Koumaev was initially paired with partner Allison Holker, a favorite to win the overall competition. Their initial salsa dance caused the judges to praise Holker, but criticize Koumaev for being too stiff. The nationwide voting placed them in the bottom three couples, but they both escaped elimination to proceed through the next few rounds, with Koumaev steadily improving. One notable performance was a contemporary routine choreographed to the music "Why" by Annie Lennox, and was so well-received that it was regarded as one of the best routines ever in the history of the series. One of the judges, Mary Murphy, was crying too hard to be able to speak. She gave Koumaev the nickname of "Seabiscuit" after a racing horse who was considered unfit to win, but went on to impress everyone.

On July 27, 2006, Koumaev's initial partner Allison Holker was herself eliminated, leaving Koumaev as one of the top six finalists, though he too was eliminated in the following week.

Koumaev presently lives in New York City, with his friend and former So You Think You Can Dance contestant Travis Wall.

Ashlee Nino

Nino was born on January 11, 1985 in Fort Worth, Texas, and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. She started dance as a toddler, and by the age of 15 she was dancing professionally. She has trained in Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, Breakdancing, Clogging, Tap, Irish step, Ballet and Jazz. Ashlee Nino uses the stage name Lady Shiva. She is a popping specialist. Nino had formal training at Missi's Dance Station for 5 years for clogging, Kendyl's Dance Academy for 3 years of jazz and Irish step, Dancin' Feet for 11 years of ballet and Power House for 2 years of hip hop. Ashlee became a top 20 finalist on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. She was partnered with Ben Susak for the first two weeks, then Dmitry Chaplin On Week 3, she was eliminated along with Musa Cooper. She moved to Los Angeles at the age of 19 and was signed to a top dance agency. She auditioned for Season 2 of So You Think You can Dance and made the top 20. She was eliminated from the competition on July 13, 2006. Since her amazing journey on the show she has danced with artist such as Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Gwen Stefani, Sean Kingston, Mýa, The Roots, Kat DeLuna, Will Smith, Omarion, and more. She had traveled to Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, London and Tahiti teaching and performing. [http://www.fox.com/dance/bios/18_anino.htm] In 2007 Ashlee toured with Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana "Best of Both Worlds Concert. During the concert, Ashlee was a double for Hannah Montana during the song "We got the Party."

Ryan Rankine

His hometown is Deer Park, NY, and he started to dance at age 8, later training with Dance Theatre of Harlem, San Francisco Ballet, and Miami City Ballet, as well as attending LaGuardia High School and Purchase College. He also danced a small part in the opening montage film "Step Up". Ryan Rankine is a contemporary dance specialist from Brooklyn, NY. Ryan, 20, is a graduate of the LaGuardia High School in New York City (known as the Fame school). Ryan was born in Brooklyn, and began dancing when he was eight years old. He received training at La Guardia High School, the Dance Ttheatre of Harlem, the San Francisco Ballet, and with the Miami City Ballet. He was attending school in 2006 and was about to graduate when he was chosen as a contestant for season two of FOX's So You Think You Can Dance. He left school without graduating in order to be on the show. He was eliminated from the competition on July 27, 2006, and currently resides in New York City.

tanislav Savich

Stanislav (b. July 19, 1984 Is a ballroom dancer from Brooklyn, NY. Stanislav Savich was 21-years-old when he was selected as a So You Think You Can Dance 2 finalist. This trained ballroom dancer who has worked with some of the top dancers and trainers had started to dance at the age of nine. He is currently teaching as a dance instructer at Phillips Dance Studio for the past 5 years. Stanislav Savich was born on July 19, 1984 in Moscow, Russia. This ballroom dance teacher currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. He started dancing at the age of 9 and got trained by top teachers and dancers in the industry. Apart from dancing, he is also an expert in ping pong. Ultimately, Stanislav became part of the television dance show So You Think You Can Dance, Season 2 as one of the contestants. He was eliminated on Week 1 along with partner Erin Ellis."'

Benji Schwimmer

Benji Schwimmer was born on January 18, 1984 in Newport Beach, California. He trained formally for 19 years and characterized his style as West Coast Swing. He came from a family who deeply enjoys dancing. Aside from his parents, Fred Astaire is one of his favorite dancers of all time. Schwimmer was born January 18, 1984 in Newport Beach, California, and grew up in a Mormon household in Moreno Valley, California. He is the son of "King of Swing" Buddy Schwimmer, who is of great fame in the West Coast Swing world. His mother and sister, Laurie and Lacey Schwimmer, are also West Coast Swing dancers. He started competing when he was 5-years-old. He attended high school in Moreno Valley and Redlands, but then transferred to independent study because of his parents' travel schedule. He finished his studies early, and then taught dance for one semester at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa.

Benji Schwimmer and his older cousin, Heidi Groskreutz(herself a top-4 finalist on the same season of "So You Think You Can Dance"), are also U.S.A Open Showcase Swing champions in West Coast style. Schwimmer left the dancing scene at the top of his game to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He has subsequently founded the non-profit charity organization "Dancers Everywhere Making a Needed Difference" (D.E.M.A.N.D.) for helping orphans in southern Mexico, and is a co-owner of 5678 Dance Studio in Redlands, California. After returning to the United States from Mexico, Schwimmer learned that his fiancee had broken up with him (he stated on the show that he learned this by seeing her wedding invitation, and noting that his picture wasn't on it). To combat the resulting depression, Schwimmer returned to dancing.

He was shown a video of the performance of the 2005 winner of "So You Think You Can Dance," Nick Lazzarini, and decided that he would himself audition for the 2006 season of the show, along with his cousin and childhood dance partner Heidi Groskreutz and her former dance partner, Dmitry Chaplin All three of them made it to the top 20 finalists and then to the top 10. Schwimmer and his first assigned dance partner, Donyelle Jones successfully competed through the entire first part of the season without either of them being in the bottom three couples, with both making it to the top 4. Schwimmer was named the overall winner on August 16, 2006 in an emotional finale. This was a different kind of title from his earlier swing dance awards, as the televised competition required versatility in several different dance styles, and the final voting was done not by a panel of judges, but by American phone-in voters. According to the show, the finale brought in 16 million votes, with a total of 70 million over the course of the season. During the course of the show, the judges routinely said that while Schwimmer was not necessarily the best technical dancer in styles other than his own, that he was clearly outstanding in terms of performance and entertainment and had an amazing personality.

The prizes for winning the competition included a car, a one-year contract to perform in Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, and $100,000 USD. However, in an interview for Seattle Times, Schwimmer indicated that he had turned down the Dion contract, saying that though it was an honor, it wasn't really his genre of dance, and he did not wish to be tied to Las Vegas for a full year. Schwimmer and the rest of the top-10 finalists performed in a North American tour starting in September 2006 (see So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2) for details). Most of the dates sold out within hours (Seattle sold out within 30 minutes, and New York within 11 minutes. In August 2006, in an interview for Entertainment Weekly, Schwimmer revealed that he may be being cast as Fred Astaire in an upcoming motion picture. [4] . However, during an interview with Regis Philbin Schwimmer backpedaled a bit and referred to the part as a possibility. In a mySpace blog which is believed to be maintained by Schwimmer, it was stated that the Astaire movie fell through and will not happen after all. According to a September 2006 Redlands article, Schwimmer was asked by Regis Philbinto be an alternate host on his program. According to the Seattle Times, Schwimmer is writing and co-producing a movie about dancing, in which both he and his cousin Heidi Groskreutzwill appear. He is also working on a TV show on the lives of dancers. He has signed on to do a TV movie called "For the Love of Dance. Benji and Heidi danced on Fox's New Years Eve show and talked about their instructional dance DVD.

Benji auditioned for Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance with his cousin Heidi Groskreutz , and both of them made it to the final four. Up until week 5, he was paired with Donyelle Jones , to whom he had great chemistry with. The pair was praised by the judges as "the couple to beat". Both Benji and Donyelle made it to the top 4, where Benji was declared winner of So You Think You Can Dance.

Joy Spears

Joy Spears lives in Killen, Alabama and was born on 8/19/87. Joy tours and assists Co. Dance at ConQuest, including choreographers Brian Friedman and Tyce Diorio. She is pursuing her dance career in LA. She is a Jazz Dancer. 18-year-old Joy Spears is jazz/lyrical/hip-hop specialist. Joy is from Killen, AL and plans to move to LA to start her dancing career. She recently graduated from high school. The eighteen year old recently graduated from Brooks High School Graduate as of May 26, 2006. This talented young dancer started dancing at the tender age of three, and she has had formal dance training in ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. If you ask her what style of dance she would categorize herself in, she would say she is most familiar with lyrical/jazz.

Ben Susak

Benjamin Susak (born November 2, 1987 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States) is an American contemporary dancer. He was voted off the show by the judges on 06-29-06. He was hired to assist Mia Michaels on Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance. Ben Susak, is a contemporary specialist. He is from Phoenix, Arizona. Ben has training in ballet, tap, lyrical and hip-hop. Ben Susak was born on November 2, 1987 in Phoenix, Arizona. He trained in ballet, tap, lyrical and hip hop dance and is now working as a contemporary specialist. This 18 year old recently graduated from high school. He greatly admires professional dancers like Justin Giles. Ben was a top 20 finalist on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. Originally paired with Ashlee Nino Ben was eliminated during Week 3 with Aleksandra Wojda.

Jaymz Tuaileva

Tuaileva, an American jazz dancer, was born February 25, 1986 in Orem, Utah. He also danced as an extra in the 2003 Reese Witherspoon film "". [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1808767187 James Tuaileva Filmography - Yahoo! Movies ] ] He was eliminated from the competition on July 6, 2006. He can also be seen in High School Musical 2. He trained from Center Stage Performing Arts in Orem, Utah. Jazz/hop-hop/ballroom specialist Jaymz Tuaileva, 20, is from Orem, UT. He trains at the Center Stage Performing Arts Studio. Jaymz has trained at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio since he was 11 years old. He trained at Center Stage Performing Arts studio in Orem, Utah since he was about 11. Then quit for awhile to play sports in Jr. High and then got back into it when he was a sophomore in High School.

Jason Williams

Lyrical/hip-hop/jazz funk specialist Jason Williams is from Wilmington, NC. Jason, 19, is currently living in North Hollywood, CA. Born on May 5, 1986 in Willington, North Carolina, Jason Williams started dancing at the age of 4. He trained in the field of hip hop, tap, lyrical dance, jazz and ballet. Aside from dancing, he is also fond of singing. In the future, he aspires to be a professional choreographer, singer, dancer and model. Jason was a top 20 finalist on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. He was partnered with Aleksandra Wojdauntil he was eliminated on Week 2 alongside Joy Spears.

Aleksandra Wojda

Aleksandra Wojda (b. October 8, 1983 in Pretoria, South Africa) Aleksandra Wojda is a contemporary/lyrical/jazz specialist from Willow Springs, IL. She is a dance teacher at the Inspire School of Dance in Plainfield, IL. Wojda, 22, is a recent Northwestern University grad. Born on October 8, 1983 in Pretoria, South Africa, Aleksandra Wojda is a contemporary jazz and lyrical specialist. She started to dance at the age of five and graduated from Northwestern University with a double degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and International studies. Moreover, she taught at the School of Dance in Plainfield for two years. Aleksandra became part of the dance show So You Think You Can Dance, Season 2 as one of the contestants. For the first two weeks, she was paired with Jason Williams but he was eliminated on week two, and Dmitry Chaplinbecame her partner. On Week 3, Aleksandra was elminated, along with Ben Susak.

Travis Wall

Travis Wall is an American dance teacher who proceeded through the competition to the final four contestants in the second season of So You Think You Can Dance. Wall was praised by the judges as the most technically talented dancer in the competition. HIs adopted brother, Danny Tidwell, placed second in the 3rd season of So You Think You Can Dance. Wall began dancing at the age of three, training at his mother's studio, Denise Wall's Dance Energy, and at conventions. He specializes in contemporary. He performed for two years in The Music Man on Broadway as the understudy for the main children's character Winthrop. At the age of nine, he appeared in a popular Dr. Pepper commercial (video). Wall performs regularly with American Dance Artists, in Delmarva, as well as for Evolution, a Los Angeles-based company. Wall also designs many of his own costumes and clothes. Starting on September 12, 2006, Wall will tour across the United States with the top 10 dancers of the "So You Think You Can Dance" competition. He will also be touring with New York Ciy Dance Alliance, for which he won a title.