Fox’s favorite dance competition show has announced its season 12 premiere date, as well as the fan favorites that will be serving as the new stage and street dance mentors.
The countdown has begun until So You Think You Can Dance season 12! Fox has announced that the new season will premiere on Monday, June 1. This marks a big change for the show, as it will be moving from Thursday nights to Monday nights. But what better way to start your week, honestly?
As we’ve already learned, this season will be missing one of our favorite familiar SYTYCD faces (and voices!), judge Mary Murphy. They’re brought in Jason DeRulo (yay!) and Paula Abdul (ugh) as this season’s regular judges, alongside long-time judge and producer Nigel Lythgoe.
However, we’ll see the return of some familiar faces this season, who will be stepping into a much larger role. This season’s new Stage versus Street dance format will split the dancers up by their level and type of experience, into a Stage Dance category, and a Street Dance category. After the auditions, each of these teams will be given a mentor through the later rounds, until they will all compete together in the top 20.
So You Think You Can Dance has chosen two of our favorite alumni to take on these mentor positions: Travis Wall and tWitch. Appearing in seasons 2 and 4, respectively, both dancers have returned to the show many times as both all-star dancers and choreographers. Both men have appeared in some of the show’s most memorable routines.
Travis and tWitch both incredibly talented, with great personalities, and the fans love to see them. It will be great to see them molding these new dancers to prepare them for the show. Hopefully we’ll get some new little Travises and tWitches in the competition this year.
But what qualifies these two men to serve as our season 12 mentors? Let’s take a look:
Travis Wall
Travis appeared as a contemporary dancer back in season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. He finished in second place behind Benji Schwimmer, but his dance career didn’t stop there. He returned in season 5 as a choreographer, debuting an unforgettable routine for season 5 winner Jeanine Mason and Jason Glover. His work earned him high praise, and he has been one of the show’s standout choreographers ever since.
In season 10, SYTYCD took advantage of its supply of incredibly talented all-star dancer/choreographers, and had the the alumni choreograph routines that they would also be appearing in. Travis was very nervous, since he hadn’t danced on the show in awhile, but his resulting routine with season 10’s female winner Amy Yakima was absolutely beautiful.
Travis has also formed his own successful dance company, Shaping Sound, which was the basis of the Oxygen reality show All the Right Moves, and continues to choreograph for SYTYCD. He has been named by the show’s judges as one of the most technically gifted dancers in the show’s history, and his experience as both a dancer and choreographer will allow him to provide season 12’s “Stage” dancers with a great deal of helpful advice.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss
tWitch first auditioned for season 3 of SYTYCD, barely missing out on the top 20. But he came back for season 4 and finished in second place, behind Joshua Allen. He was a very entertaining performer, and it was no surprise when he was asked back, in season 7, to serve as an all-star. Since then, he has been a familiar face to SYTYCD viewers, serving as everything from an all-star dancer, to a choreographer, to a judge.
tWitch’s greatest strength as a performer is that he is so entertaining. He is a funny guy, and he can play any character. He pulls funny faces, acts, and reacts to everything his partner does, making it seem more like you’re watching a play than a dance routine. Since street dancers often rely on their personalities and showmanship far more than technical training (in which they are usually lacking), tWitch will be the perfect mentor for them, encouraging them to catch the audience’s attention and win over the judges with personality.
Aside from his continued involvement in So You Think You Can Dance, tWitch has appeared in the Step Up movies, he is currently the DJ for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and he will be featured in Magic Mike XXL.
Check out tWitch at his finest, dancing with season 10 male winner (and tWitch mini-me) Fik-Shun, the two of them putting on a show, and with tWitch earning some very kind words from guest judge, choreographer, and director Adam Shankman.
Tune in for the premiere of So You Think You Can Dance season 12 on Monday, June 1 on Fox.