Will Wingfield talks about his 'So You Think You Can Dance' journey

Will Wingfield and Twitch Boss were both considered So You Think You Can Dance fourth-season front runners, which meant it was surprising when they found themselves in the bottom two during last Thursday night's results show.


"Of course when you learn something like that on national television it's a lot to take in.  You look at all the hard work you put in and realize that it's all about to kind of slow down and stop for a second," Wingfield told reporters during a Friday conference call.

The 21-year-old contemporary dancer from Nashville, TN saw his So You Think You Can Dance experience stop altogether, as he was eliminated from the show's fourth season based on home viewer votes cast immediately following Wednesday night's performance episode.

"I'm so happy for Twitch; I'm so, so happy for Twitch that he's able to stay another week and really show America what he's got and I'm happy for the other kids as well," Wingfield told reporters.  "We've become such a tight unit and such an awesome family that no matter what happens at this point, yes, you'll be bummed out, but you have so much love for your other family members that you only want to see them continue on and do well."

Wingfield burst onto the So You Think You Can Dance scene this summer by wowing the judges with his technique, which he honed at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.  Since Allen regularly appeared as a So You Think You Can Dance guest judge, Wingfield's participation in the fourth season met she had to revert to simply being a fan to make sure the competition was fair.


"I have not spoken with Miss Allen.  She was at one of the shows, the Top 10 show, I believe and we all saw her in passing," said Wingfield.  "I can just see it in her eyes, she just wants me to do my best and do my thing.  That's all she could ever ask."

During the early stages of the competition, Wingfield was paired with Jessica King.  He was constantly complimented for carrying the duo while King was frequently criticized for lacking technique.

"That's hard for anybody," said Wingfield on the criticism King received. 

"It was in the beginning and we all didn't know each other as well, but when you have a partner in the beginning you spend so much time with them that every day you learn them better and better and better.  And I know how hard she worked and I know how much work she put in and I developed a very strong, a very strong love for Jessica.  To hear that is difficult.  We're both putting in work; we're both working our butts off and you want to be able to accept the positive praise, but you can't truly because your partner is getting slammed. "

However Wingfield added he thinks the harsh criticism was simply to help King "reach her truest potential" -- which he feels she was doing before she had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury.


"Sometimes you have to push people a little bit harder than you push others," said Wingfield.  "I think she ended up doing that before she left.  She was really starting to come out of her shell and really starting to show America what she had and the injury was just so unfortunate."

Wingfield said it was tough to articulate what participating in So You Think You Can Dance taught him.

"Your work ethic, you learn an extremely strict work ethic," he said.  "You learn how to maintain stress; you learn how to overcome any obstacles that are thrown your way.  You learn so many different things that I feel are so vital to human behavior."

As for what's next, Wingfield said the possibilities are limitless and he wants to keep his options open.

"This national exposure and this, just exciting opportunities, all so much to take in.  Who knows what God has in store for me?" he said. 


"I just want to keep working my behind off and make sure that I'm ready for whatever it is that comes my way.  As a dancer there's no off-season.  You don't have time to just sit around and chill; you've got to be ready whenever that audition comes your way, ready any time that whatever comes your way.  I want to be ready no matter what comes and I want to explore it all.  We are so much more than dancers; I feel like we're artists and so acting, producing, directing, writing; it all has its part in the artistry, in the world.  And I want to tap into all of that."






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio