Ariana Debose unsure 'So You Think' viewers would have ousted her

Ariana Debose feels she might still be a So You Think You Can Dance sixth-season finalist had home viewers determined this week's results insted of the show's judging panel.


"I feel like if might have turned out differently had America had the option to vote. But you just never know," she told reporters during a Wednesday conference call.

So You Think You Can Dance judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman unanimously voted to eliminate the 18-year-old contemporary dancer from New Bern, NC who currently resides in Wake Forest, NC during Tuesday night's broadcast of the Fox reality series.

"I was very proud of what I did [Tuesday] night," Debose told reporters. "The outcome, it is what it is and now it's just time to move on."

While she was ousted, there is a chance Debose could continue in the competition due to a knee injury suffered by finalist Noelle Marsh. Should Marsh's injury prevent her from competing, Debose will reportedly return as her replacement.


As of Wednesday afternoon, Debose said she had not received any status updates on Marsh's injury.

"I hope that she's doing well and the her MRI came through without any kinks. Noelle and I came from the same studio, so honestly I would probably feel a little funny about taking her place," Debose told Reality TV World during the conference call.

"I mean who doesn't want a second chance? But honestly, I wouldn't want to be eliminated again. But I wish her the best of luck and I hope she goes very far in the competition."

Debose and her partner Peter Sabasino, a 22-year-old tap dancer from Philadelphia, PA, performed a hip-hop routine during Tuesday night's broadcast -- which she said was difficult considering the wide gap in their trained styles.

"I feel like out of all the couples, I feel like Peter and I were the two who were really out of our element," she told reporters. "I thought we did the best that we could possibly do. The more important part, we had a great time doing it. We're proud."


Despite receiving an unfamiliar style for their routine, Debose said she thought she and Sabasino could pull it off.

"I always have confidence in my dancing," she said. "I trust myself as a dancer and I did the best that I could do. The Top 20 is fantastic, so every week it's going to be hard to eliminate someone just because of how wonderful everyone is. Everyone's so different, and it's almost hard to compare us to each other."

Since she danced hip-hop on Tuesday night, Debose said she was happy she got the opportunity to showcase her style during Monday night's Meet the Top 20 sixth-season special.

"I loved the Top 20 special, simply because some contestants got more air time than others [during the audition episodes] and I was one of those contestants that you didn't get to know," she explained. "I was so excited that I really got to show what I could do and show America why I was in the Top 20."

With 18 finalists remaining, Debose described the competition as a "crap shoot."


"Everyone's fantastic," she said. "I don't think you can count anybody out -- it's going to be a week-by-week thing."

As for what's next, Debose said she plans on traveling to New York City to see what opportunities might await her there.

"I want to dance on Broadway. I also sing and act, and I was singing and acting and dancing -- all that stuff -- before I even auditioned for the show," she explained.

"So the show as just really another path for me. So I'm going to head to New York for a little bit and audition for some shows and commercials and movies and just see what happens."






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio