SYTYCD Top 12: Who’s who in So You Think You Can Dance

Mark Kanemura (24) is a Contemporary/Modern dancer born and raised in Honolulu, HI. His ethnicity includes: Samoan, Japanese, Irish, English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Scottish, English, & Portuguese. He has been dancing since he was 13. Mark Kanemura trained with 24-7 Dance Force in Honolulu and danced at Tokyo Disney. He also directed and choreographed Miss Hawaii pageants and performances on Norwegian Cruise Lines. Mark’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=390406607



Chelsie Hightower (18) is a Latin dancer born in Las Vegas, NV, currently leaving in Pleasant Grove Orem, UT. Chelsie H. started studying ballroom dancing when she was 9 years old. She has worked with many world-renowned choreographers. Chelsie Hightower was a U.S. Worlds finalist in 2005 and competed on Team USA. She graduated from Timpanogos High School, and then attended Utah Valley University for a fall semester. She has also performed in musical theater across the nation. She declares herself to also be a singer “by hobby.” Chelsie’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=107676635


Katee Shean (20) is a Contemporary dancer from San Jose, CA. Shean is a graduate of Pioneer High School and currently attends Chapman University in Orange, CA. She is pursuing a double major in leadership and dance and is active in many volunteer organizations. Katee Shean trained at the Team Dance Company and Atlas School of Dance. She started dancing when she was 4 years old. Katee’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=38186020

Will Wingfield (21) is a Contemporary dancer from Nashville, TN. Wingfield started dancing at age 9 at DC Dance Factory in Nashville, and later moved to Los Angeles to train under Debbie Allen at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.


Joshua Allen (19) AKA as Batman, is a Hip Hop/Popping dancer from Fort Worth, TX. Joshua started dancing when he was 8 years old. Allen hopes to be a professional dancer and recording artist.


Thayne Jasperson (27) is a Contemporary dancer who grew up in Springville, UT. Jasperson was a featured dancer in “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2.” Joshua says that he started dancing when he was 21 years old. He danced five years with Odyssey Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City. Direct link to Thayne’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=24241561


Gev Manoukian (21) is a Hip Hop/Break dancer originally from Kazakhstan, was living in Salt Lake City, UT; is now living in Beverly Hills, CA. He started training “seriously” when he was 16. Manoukian was a featured dancer in “High School Musical 2.” Before SYTYCD, Gev was attending University of Utah. Direct link to Gev’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=389243815


Kherington Payne (18) AKA: KK. She is a Contemporary/Jazz dancer from Placentia, CA. Payne will graduate from El Dorado High School this summer. She started dancing when she was 2 ½ years old. Kherington is also an avid soccer fan who has played for many years. In dance, she has formally trained in ballet, Pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, as well as gymnastics. Direct link to Kherington’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=389469947


Stephen Laurel “Twitch” Boss (25) is a Freestyle dancer from Montgomery, AL currently living in Santa Ana, CA. Twitch started dancing at age 16. A career highlight for Boss was performing “Thriller” with Wade Robson on “The Wade Robson Project” in 2003.


Courtney Galiano (20) is a Contemporary dancer from Commack, NY. Though she specializes in Contemporary, Galiano also loves to dance Hip-Hop. Courtney started dancing when she was 3 years old. Recently, she appeared in the music video for Kat De Luna’s “Whine Up” and has been dancing with the New York Knicks. Direct link to Courntey’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=387302797


Comfort Fedoke (20) is a Hip-Hop dancer raised in Lagos, Nigeria, now living in Dallas, TX. Comfort started dancing when she was 8 years old. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington Performing Arts High School. Comfort was a featured performer for the past few years on “Dallas Dance Club 21,” the local Dallas dance television show. Link to Comfort’s MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=36478005

Jessica King (23) is a Contemporary dancer from Myrtle Beach, SC, where she was born and raised. Jessica started dancing when she was 3 years old. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and contemporary. She is currently attending Coastal Carolina University studying Fine Arts with a minor in Art History. King also teaches dance and performs in local theaters.