So You Think You Can Dance Winner 2008: Joshua Allen

An Non-Dancer's Viewpoint

I love the show "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox Television. I don't know the first thing about dancing. Never have. And I have several left feet. But being one who can't does not mean I will be one that teaches dance, either. In this case, that cliche breaks down completely.

But I do know talent when I see it (even though I am not a judge and look nothing like Simon Cowell, David Hasselhoff, or Mary Murphy). And whereas "American Idol" is dotted with the occasional not-so-talented (Sanjaya, anyone?), "So You Think You Can Dance" is always loaded. From watching several episodes and becoming enthralled by the crazy legs versatilty of Benji Schwimmer in Season Two, I have watched countless dancers come and go on the show and have been constantly amazed, thrilled, entertained, mesmerized, and moved.

And I don't know anything about dancing.

Watching Season 4 "So You Think You Can Dance" was simply amazing. Although they were missing the choreograpy talent of Shane Sparks in Season 4, it did not stop other great choreographers, like Mia Michaels and Jean-Marc Genereux, from putting together some unforgettable dance numbers. And the dancers were phenomenal, rising to the challenge of difficult routines like professionals.

This year had its surprises, like each year always does. When Kherrington Payne and Will Wingfield were voted off the show early on, I was shocked. That Joshua Allen and Stephen "Twitch" Boss, both Hip-Hop style dancers, made it to the Final Four was also amazing. Not that I did not think they deserved to win (because I had actually hoped Hokuto "Hok" Konishi, whose style was Hip-Hop, would win in Season 3), but that I simply did not expect them to win. Placing in the Final Four with Katee Shean (whose dancing was so beautifully rendered every performance that I thought she should win by default) and Courtney Galiano, who was just fun to watch (she was so vibrant), the two guys were up against two trained performers.