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Dance, Lythgoe Advance Same-sex Couple


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There was a time when So You Think You Can Dance judge and producer Nigel Lythgoe thought a same-sex ballroom couple would probably “alienate a lot of our audience.” But Lythgoe seems to have changed his position.

In last night’s episode of Dance, Lythgoe was blown away by a same-sex couple who auditioned for the show, saying, “Thank you for showing me that same-sex ballroom dancing can be very strong, and very good."

The pair moved guest judge Mia Michaels to tears.

In fact, Willem de Vries and Jacob Jason wowed all three judges and were advanced to the choreography round. Tonight, audiences will see if the pair advances to the Vegas semifinals.

Lythgoe’s comments in the last season of Dance -- further fueled by a Twitter update in which he said he wasn’t a fan of Brokeback ballroom -- prompted a call to action from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Lythgoe apologized.

De Vries and Jason run the Baliamos dance studio in West Hollywood, catering to same-sex ballroom dance partners. They told Entertainment Weekly they wanted to audition despite what happened last season because there is “a world of same-sex dancers.”

Yesterday, producers for the show announced that openly gay choreographer and director Adam Shankman had joined the cast as a permanent judge.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Jack Chomey
    Date posted: 9/21/2009 7:53:13 AM
    Hometown: Pompano Beach Fl.33069

    Comment:

    What a beautiful and class act that was, I am 62 and have seen many changes in my journey as a gay man. Bravo to: "so you think you can dance", it is time to stop the name calling and bashing. Gays are here and everywhere, we are not all the crazy stereo- types portrade in the medea. We are responsible members of sociey and deserve to be seen as we are. Good job guys.

  • Name: Kris
    Date posted: 9/17/2009 5:40:49 PM
    Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

    Comment:

    WOW!!! what a shocker. After what Nigel said about the last same-sex couple dancing on stage in last years auditions, I basically wrote him off. I'm glad that GLAAD called him on it, and he apologized. I thought he was a giant ass, after he told the couple who auditioned for him last year that he didn't want to see boys dancing with boys and girls dancing with girls. It's about time, we make ourselves visible on television and on reality shows. I hope that the couple will go far in this competition, and wouldn't it be wonderful if one of them wins. Bravo Willem de Vries and Jacob Jason!! Give it all you've got.



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