This summer, the search for America’s favorite dancer continues on the Fox television show So You Think You Can Dance. For the past few weeks, Fox has been airing the auditions that took place in various cities across the country. Last Wednesday, the 20 dancers (10 boys and 10 girls) who will compete on the show were finally revealed. Among this elite group are two Asian dancers–Cole Horibe and Dareian Kujawa.
Courtesy of So You Think You Can Dance
Cole Horibe
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Cole Horibe brings his own unique dance style which he calls Martial Arts Fusion. “I used to resist the idea that my dancing looked like martial arts but finally I just thought, ‘You know what? That’s what makes me unique,’” Horibe says in his SYTYCD audition interview. He first tried out in Los Angeles and earned a ticket straight to Vegas for the final round of auditions. His consistent performance in diverse dance styles during Vegas Week proved enough to land him a coveted spot in the Top 20. For the shows 200th episode, Horibe performed a baseball inspired hip-hop routine, choreographed by Christopher Scott, with fellow contestants Brandon Mitchell and Cyrus Spencer.
Courtesy of So You Think You Can Dance
Dareian Kujawa
While Dareian Kujawa’s family is also originally from Hawaii, he was raised in Boulder City, Nevada. He received high praise from the judges during his contemporary dance audition in Salt Lake City. Judge Adam Shankman commended him as being “what this show is all about.” Kujawa made it through Vegas Week with the main criticism being his lousy feet which he calls “bricks.” Last Wednesday, Kujawa joined contestants Amelia Lowe, Matthew Kazmierczak, and Janaya French for a beautiful contemporary Stacy Tucci routine.
So You Think You Can Dance will return to primetime television on Wednesday, July 11 at 8/7c when the dancers take the stage to compete for the first time. Good luck to Cole and Dareian!
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Dare Kujawa’s grandmother (my mom) was born and raised in Hawaii, and is a descendant of the Date Masamune, depicted by a character in the PS2 game Samurai Warrior. Thanks for the article and we welcome all the support we can get!