Photo Courtesy of BWR Public Relations
From Dallas to Las Vegas to Los Angeles, “So You Think You Can Danceâ€Â winner Joshua Allen is just starting to realize his dream, that is, of traveling.
The 19-year-old Fort Worth, Texas native has danced his way through the U.S. and into Americans’ hearts, winning the coveted title of America’s Favorite Dancer in season four of the Fox reality television show. His next stop is Fresno’s Save Mart Center on Saturday with his fellow top 10 dancers as a part of the “So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2008.â€Â
“I’ve never been to any of these places,â€Â Allen said after already stopping in Portland, San Jose, San Diego, Oakland, Los Angeles and Reno.
However, after the tour̢۪s end in November, Allen hopes his travels won̢۪t stop there.
“I wanna live in L.A., I’ve always wanted to. And go to New York and see what it’s like there,â€Â Allen said. “I want to travel because I’ve never been to a lot of places.â€Â
While Allen is looking forward to his future, it was just a month and a half ago that Allen̢۪s name was announced as America̢۪s Favorite Dancer, beating out thousands of other dancers.
Photos Courtesy of BWR Public Relations
Allen set himself apart from the group with not only his great dancing ability, but also his brilliant personality. These characteristics also helped him overcome the stress of the competition, especially on the final week.
“The last week was hard, it was just a lot,â€Â he said of the six different numbers he had to learn for the finale. “I was so drained, you literally didn’t know if you were coming or going.â€Â
Allen, however, was the only contestant not to go. He was awarded $250,000, a role in the upcoming movie “Step Up 3-Dâ€Â and the fame of winning a reality television show.
“It’s different because people know you by name and it’s like, how do you know me?â€Â he said.
“Hopefully it’s a springboard to a lot of good things.â€Â
One of those good things is being reunited with his fellow dancers for the tour.
“It feels good to be with the dancers again and perform, but not with the excess stress of the show,â€Â Allen said. “We’ve been having pretty good crowds. It really helps us out and pumps us up.â€Â
Headlining such a tour was not what Allen thought would have happened following his Dallas audition at the beginning of the year. In fact, Allen didn̢۪t think he̢۪d even make it on the show.
“I just went on a whim,â€Â he said.
It wasn̢۪t even until after his Dallas audition that he started taking formal dance classes. Allen began dancing at 9 years old and took summer classes when he was younger, but it was that five-month break between the Dallas and Las Vegas auditions when he enrolled in formal dance classes.
“I was just like, ‘I have to be hard on myself and go, go, go’,â€Â he said.
It was that type of an attitude and determination that earned him the title of America̢۪s Favorite Dancer at the finale just months later.
“I’m very thankful this has all happened,â€Â Allen said reflecting on the past year. “I hope this is not the last America sees of me.”