So You Think You Can Dance (season 5) finalists

This is a list of finalists from the the fifth season of So You Think You Can Dance. Listed in alphabetical order.

Ade Obayomi

Born on December 6, 1988, Ade is a contemporary dancer from Orange County, California. Ade Obayomi has been dancing since he was 6 years old. Ade Obayomi is a graduate of Corona Del Sol High School and currently attends Chapman University. A dance highlight for Ade Obayomi was performing at Radio City Music Hall. He was paired with ballerina Melissa up until the top ten. Ade also auditioned for Season 4, but was cut after the ballroom round. He currently attends Chapman University, where Season 4's Katee Shean (3rd place) and Stephen "Twitch" Boss (2nd place) also studied. He was eliminated on semi-final week along with former partner Melissa Sandvig. One week prior to his elimination, he danced a breast cancer themed contemporary piece with partner Melissa. The piece, choreographed by Tyce Diorio, brought the judges to tears.

Ashley Valerio

Ashley is a contemporary dancer from Los Angeles, but she was raised in Arizona. She had previously auditioned for seasons two, three, and four. She was partnered with contemporary dancer Kūpono Aweau until she was eliminated in week two.

Asuka Kondoh

Born on January 26, 1984, Asuka is a Latin ballroom dancer from San Francisco, CA. At the time of her first audition, she lived in Irvine, CA. Asuka loves swimming, golf, and tennis, and she has played piano for 13 years. Asuka is a graduate of University of California, Irvine, and has worked as a Latin Ballroom instructor for the last two years. She auditioned with Ricky Sun, a ballroom dancer who was eliminated at the end of Vegas Week. She was partnered up with Vitolio but was eliminated in the third week. Asuka also auditioned during Season 4 but was cut during Top 20 selection at the very end of Vegas Week.

Brandon Bryant

Born on July 26, 1989, Brandon is a contemporary dancer from Miami, FL. He began dancing ballet at age 10. Brandon is a graduate of Coral Reef Senior High School and now attends Miami Dade College. Brandon Bryant's most memorable dance experience was performing for Madonna at her daughter's birthday party. After his audition, he impressed Mary Murphy so much that she cried during Vegas Week. By contrast, he didn't get that same reaction from Lil' C or Mia Michaels (although Lil' C changed his opinion of him when he appeared as a judge in week 2 as did Mia in week 4). He was partnered with salsa dancer Janette Manrara. Brandon made it all the way to the finale, but finished the competition as the runner-up to winner Jeanine Mason.

Caitlin Kinney

Born on August 30, 1987, Caitlin is a Contemporary dancer from Annapolis, Maryland. Caitlin graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts in 2005. Caitlin danced at the North Carolina Dance Theatre as an apprentice for two years and is an experienced gymnast. She auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance with her sister Megan, and they both advanced to Vegas. Megan was cut, although Caitlin made it into the top 20, when the judges were forced to pick between the pair. She was originally paired with contemporary dancer Jason Glover. Caitlin was eliminated in week five, not making it to the top 10. However, Caitlin is going on tour with the top 10, along with fellow contestant Phillip who was also eliminated in week 5. Caitlin pulled a calf muscle during the end of her stint on SYTYCD.

Evan Kasprzak

Born on June 15, 1987, Kasprzak is a Broadway dancer from West Bloomfield, Michigan and currently attends Illinois Wesleyan University. He is the only Broadway dancer on the show to date. Kasprzak was the only dancer in Season 5 to never land in the Bottom Three or Bottom Two. He ended up in third place overall.

Janette Manrara

Born on November 16, 1983, Janette is a salsa dancer from Miami, Florida. She has never studied salsa formally. She picked it up from her family, who are Cuban. Janette Manrara began performing in musical theater at age 12, and started her formal dance training at 19, studying Ballroom, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Hip Hop. Janette currently attends Florida International University. She was originally paired with contemporary dancer Brandon. Like Brandon, Janette made it through Las Vegas week during Season 4, only to be cut during the Top 20 selection. Mia said during Week 7's performance show that Janette was her favorite dancer. She was eliminated week 7 along with Jason Glover. She made it to the top four female dancers. Nigel also praised her by saying that she was his favorite dancer and that they all wanted to see Janette win the competition. She even received the first standing ovation of the season for her tango with Brandon Bryant . Nigel Lythgoe claimed Janette was his favorite to win the season on the 100th episode on the night of her elimination. The night they got eliminated together Manrara and fellow contestant Jason Glover stated they ,"went to Disney World together ." and have been in a relationship ever since .

Jason Glover

Born on March 16, 1988, Jason is a contemporary dancer from Fresno, California. Jason Glover began dancing at age 12, studying Tap and Hip Hop. Jason Glover is a graduate of Bullard High School, and his favorite dancer is Michael Jackson. He was partnered with contemporary ballet dancer Caitlin. He was then paired with Jeanine Mason for the top 10 where they danced a Travis Wall contemporary piece which received standing ovations. Jason was featured prominently in the Las Vegas week episode during Season 4, successfully dancing for his life after the group round before being cut following Mia Michaels's contemporary routine. Jason was eliminated in the top 8 week of season 5 with fellow contestant Janette Manrara.

Jeanine Mason

Jeanine was the overall winner of season 5.

Jonathan Platero

Jonathan is a salsa dancer from New York City. Born in 1987, Platero was a gymnast before he began dancing at age 16. He is a graduate of Seminole High School, was a World Salsa finalist in 2006-2007 and performed as a dancer and acrobat in “High School Musical.” He was paired up with Contemporary jazz dancer Karla Garcia but was eliminated in the third week.

Karla Garcia

Born on June 30, 1985, Karla is a Filipino-American contemporary jazz dancer from Brooklyn, New York. Karla is a graduate of New York University. Karla's early dance experience included learning traditional Filipino folk dancing. She performed on Broadway in "Hot Feet," danced in the ensemble of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" and went on tour with "Wicked." She was originally partnered with Jonathan, but following his elimination in week three her new partner was Vitolio. She and Vitolio were both eliminated in week 4.

Karla is also an experienced hip-hop dancer and is a member of the Boogie Bots, who came in fourth place of the second season of America's Best Dance Crew. However, she did not compete with them during the show.

Kayla Radomski

Born on January 19, 1991, Kayla is a Contemporary/Jazz dancer from Aurora, Colorado. She was partnered with latin/ballroom dancer Max Kapitannikov before he was eliminated in week 2. She then partnered with contemporary dancer Kūpono. Kayla is the only contestant who has been on one of the main judge's, Mary Murphy's, "Hot Tamale" train since her first performance. Despite constant praise from the judges, she ended up at the bottom three times. Mia Michaels has even claimed she is "the perfect girl", and was also given 'White Lightning' as her AKA on the show by Debbie Allen. Kayla has been compared by Adam Shankman to dancers such as Will Wingfield, Travis Wall and Danny Tidwell from previous seasons. Kayla is possibly best remembered for her dancing in a contemporary piece with partner Kūpono. The piece was choreographed by Mia Michaels (a world renowned choreographer) and the theme of the piece centered around addiction. The piece was performed again at the live finale after a request from Nigel Lythgoe (executive producer and judge). She made it all the way to the finale, finishing in fourth place. She started dancing when she was 2.

Kūponohi'ipoi Aweau

Born on March 23, 1986, is a contemporary dancer from Kailua, Hawaii. Kuponohi'ipoi (nicknamed "Kupono") Aweau graduated from the Kamehameha Schools and has been dancing since he was 16 years old. Kupono Aweau loves his home state of Hawaii and is an avid collector of home furnishings. He was originally partnered with Ashley, but following her elimination in week two his new partner became contemporary dancer Kayla. He is often compared to Season 4 finalist Mark Kanemura. Kūpono made it to the top ten but was eliminated in week 6 of the competition along with Randi Evans.

Max Kapitannikov

Born on April 4, 1983, Max is a ballroom dancer from Brooklyn, New York but was raised in Moscow, Russia. Max Kapitannikov has been dancing for as long as he can remember. Max Kapitannikov comes from a dancing family, and his mother is a ballet teacher. Max Kapitannikov also enjoys sculpting and playing the guitar. Max Kapitannikov attended the Manhattan Comprehensive High School. He was partnered up with Jazz/contemporary dancer Kayla before his elimination in week 2. His elimination was widely condemned. The judges praised Max for being the hardest working dancer of the season.

Melissa Sandvig

Born on April 30, 1980, Melissa is a ballerina from Los Alamitos, California. Melissa Sandvig has been dancing for most of her life. Melissa Sandvig has danced with the Milwaukee Ballet Company, LA Opera, Long Beach Ballet and Helios Dance Theater. A highlight for Melissa Sandvig was performing "Le Coeur Illumine" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. She is the oldest finalist at the age of twenty-nine. Her partner is contemporary dancer Ade. She has gained the nicknames the "Naughty Ballerina" and the "Buff Ballerina". She is the first ballerina to make the Top 10 and to go as far as the Top 6. She currently teaches pilates, as stated in one of her videos on the show. She was sadly eliminated on July 30 along with her former partner Ade Obayomi. One week prior to her elimination she danced a contemporary piece with partner Ade. The piece was choreographed Tyce Diorio and its theme was breast cancer. The piece moved the judges to tears. Possibly her most memorable piece on the show, it was repeated by judges' request during the finale. Later, in a special episode presented by Nigel Lythgoe, this routine was named Lythgoe's favorite routine ever danced on So You Think You Can Dance.

Paris Torres

Born on January 30, 1990, Paris is a contemporary dancer from Issaquah, Washington. She was involved in a car crash that left her left leg numb, but still dances despite the injury. Paris is a graduate of Skyline High School. She began dancing when she was 6 years old and now teaches at a studio near her home. Paris was also a Miss Washington Teen pageant winner, and was a Seattle Storm and Seattle Sonic Jr. dancer from 2000-2003. She was eliminated in week one along with her partner Tony.

Tony Bellissimo

Born on April 17, 1989, Tony is a hip-hop dancer from Buffalo, New York. Tony has been dancing for most of his life. He is a graduate of Frontier High School, playing on the school's soccer, football and lacrosse teams. Tony likes to write short stories and poems, and his favorite professional dancer is Barry Lather. His comedic solo in Vegas earned him a following, but the judges put him through into the top 20. During the Top 20 competition, he and his partner Paris were eliminated following a hip-hop routine. The judges agreed that in the performance Tony's personality wasn't aggressive, a quality they said was needed for the dance.

Vitolio Jeune

Born on November 1, 1982, Vitolio is a contemporary dancer from Miami, Florida. Vitolio began dancing at age 18 and is a graduate of Florida's New World School of the Arts. Vitolio loves motorcycles, and his favorite dancer is Desmond Richardson. Vitolio grew up in poverty with his grandmother in Haiti after his mother died following the birth of his sister. His grandmother eventually had to put him in an orphanage. This story was so moving that choreographer Louis van Amstel decided to choreograph a waltz based on his story. His partner was originally Latin ballroom dancer Asuka, but after her elimination in week three, his new partner was contemporary dancer Karla. He was eliminated in week 4. Vitolio reached the top 14, despite the judges' declaration that he didn't always deliver in his solos.

References

• www.fox.com/dance

no:So You Think You Can Dance (sesong 5) finalister