So You Think You Can Dance Begins With 2 Hour Premiere July 20th  6/29/05

GET OUT YOUR DANCING SHOES! “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” BOOGIES TO FOX WITH A TWO-HOUR SERIES PREMIERE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

Top Choreographers Will Put Finalists Through Their Paces on FOX

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is the hot new series that will have America moving to a different beat, as dancers skilled in everything from ballroom and ballet to salsa, jive, hip-hop and krumping, all compete to be named the best. Dancers must impress the judges with their moves and rigorous routines in order to survive the auditions and be invited to Hollywood. Producers traveled to Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in search of dancers who represent the soul and rhythm of America. Some dancers wow the judges, while others leave them speechless. See who struts into the producers’ hearts and who trips up on the series premiere of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Wednesday, July 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

A fortunate 50 dancers who survive the auditions will go to Hollywood to work with five of the top choreographers in the business: Alex Da Silva, Brian Friedman, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels and Mary Murphy. During the “Hollywood Week,” the semifinalists will dance their hearts out, as they learn challenging routines and hope to impress the choreographers.

Hollywood Choreographers

Alex Da Silva is skilled in Mambo, Salsa, Argentine Tango and Swing dancing. Da Silva is the 2002 and 2005 World Salsa Champion and has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Puff Daddy and Enrique Iglesias. He has choreographed commercials for Burger King and Coca-Cola.

Brian Friedman has choreographed some of the top performers of our time, including Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Pink, Beyonce and Mya. Friedman has also had the opportunity to work with ‘N SYNC, Prince and Usher.

Dan Karaty, after making his Broadway debut in “Footloose,” began dancing with Britney Spears and has appeared on the “MTV Awards” and THE BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS. Karaty has also choreographed videos and tours for Jessica Simpson, Kylie Minogue, ’N SYNC and Spears.

Mia Michaels is the choreographer for Celine Dion’s “A New Day” show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and has created routines for a cast of 50 dancers, as well as for Celine Dion. Michaels has worked with artists such as Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Prince. She is the founder, artistic director and choreographer for the critically acclaimed New York-based dance company RAW and has held faculty positions at the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and the International Dance Festival of Italy.

Mary Murphy serves as a national dance judge, technical dance teacher, competitive dancer and founder of the Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, CA. Murphy and her partner were the Austrian National Champions in 1990 and ‘91 and performed together in the World Cup Final. She has coached Mary Steenburgen, Donnie Wahlberg, Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid, Lorenzo Lamas and Ted Danson for various roles. She continues to train champion dancers in her studio and co-organizes two national dance competitions: the San Diego Dancesport Championships and the Holiday Dance Classic in Las Vegas.

Tune in to the series premiere of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Wednesday, July 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 TV Ltd. and dick clark productions. It is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Allen Shapiro.

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