Neil Haskell
Encyclopedia
Neil David Haskell is an American
contemporary dance
r. He is best known as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance
where he finished third in the final four. On April 22, 2008, he began performing in the Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz
as Luke. Neil most recently joined The West Side Story National Tour as Snowboy. He returned as an All-Star in Season 7
of SYTYCD.
and first started dancing at age five at the David DeMarie Dance Studio in Clarence
, New York
, and American Academy of Ballet in Williamsville, NY. He also appeared in small roles in movies. At age 15, he began intensive training in ballet
at the Chautauqua Institution
for three summers. He attended Point Park University
for a year, majoring in dance. Haskell has described his dance style as jazz
/ballet. He earned the title of "Male Dancer of the Year" at the American Dance Awards in 2005. He got his Equity
card the summer before auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance
.
He has performed in the Twyla Tharp Broadway show The Times They Are A-Changin'
, with music by Bob Dylan
, and in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's performances Grease
, 42nd Street
, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
, and Beauty and the Beast
. Neil also landed a supporting role in MTV
's movie musical, The American Mall which was broadcast and DVD released in summer 2008. In Spring 2008, Haskell, along with former SYTYCD contestants Sabra Johnson
and Danny Tidwell
is featured in movmnt
magazine's cover story to promote 'Keep it Real' the publication's awareness nonprofit organization. In April 2008 he began playing the role of "Luke" in the Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz
. He continued playing the role of "Luke" until March 2009, and left to begin working on the new Dolly Parton musical "9 to 5". Neil was also cast to play the leading role of Jake in the new musical "F#@king Up Everything" in the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF 2009) which performs at various times from Oct 6 through October 17. All performances sold out. He has recently returned to So You Think You Can Dance
Seasons 7 and 8 to dance as an All Star. He was also in the First National Tour Cast of West Side Story
playing the role of Snowboy.
/hip hop
dancer, Lauren Gottlieb. The couple danced together until Week 6, when the couples were assigned new partners. Haskell was then partnered with Sara Von Gillern, and debuted their disco
routine.
Haskell noted that he wants to use his experience on the show as a "springboard for the rest of [his] career".
After making it to the top 10 finalists, Haskell joined his fellow contestants in So You Think You Can Dance
s 2007 dance tour that concluded on November 30, 2007.
On the August 7, 2008 Season 4
finale, Haskell, along with other finalists from seasons 1-3, joined Season 4's top 20 in a dance number. He also returned as an All-Star in Season 7
of SYTYCD, and again in Season 8.
. He plays a night janitor at the mall who is also a member of a rock band, where he played guitar & keyboards.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
contemporary dance
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
r. He is best known as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox network. Season three premiered May 24, 2007....
where he finished third in the final four. On April 22, 2008, he began performing in the Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker and book by Kevin Del Aguila . Centering on a fictitious Christian boy band from Ohio, the show satirizes, among other things, the phenomenon of boy bands and the popularity of Christian-themed music in...
as Luke. Neil most recently joined The West Side Story National Tour as Snowboy. He returned as an All-Star in Season 7
So You Think You Can Dance (season 7)
So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season seven premiered on May 27, 2010...
of SYTYCD.
Biography
Haskell was born in Clarence Center, New YorkClarence Center, New York
Clarence Center is a hamlet located in the Town of Clarence in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,747 at the 2000 census...
and first started dancing at age five at the David DeMarie Dance Studio in Clarence
Clarence, New York
Clarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 30,673 according to the 2010 census. This represents an increase of 17.42% from the 2000 census figure . Clarence is also the name of a postal district in the south part of the town...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and American Academy of Ballet in Williamsville, NY. He also appeared in small roles in movies. At age 15, he began intensive training in ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
at the Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua Institution
The Chautauqua Institution is a non-profit adult education center and summer resort located on 750 acres in Chautauqua, New York, 17 miles northwest of Jamestown in the western part of New York State...
for three summers. He attended Point Park University
Point Park University
Point Park University is a liberal arts university located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Point Park College, the school name was revised in 2004 to reflect the number of graduate programs being offered....
for a year, majoring in dance. Haskell has described his dance style as jazz
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
/ballet. He earned the title of "Male Dancer of the Year" at the American Dance Awards in 2005. He got his Equity
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
card the summer before auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox network. Season three premiered May 24, 2007....
.
He has performed in the Twyla Tharp Broadway show The Times They Are A-Changin'
The Times They Are A-Changin' (musical)
The Times They Are A-Changin' is a musical, conceived, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp.Mixing the theatre, dance and the musical stylings of Bob Dylan, Twyla Tharp tells a coming-of-age story that takes place inside a low-rent traveling circus found within a dark and humorous dream...
, with music by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, and in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's performances Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
, 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (musical)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a musical with a book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, music by Gene de Paul, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn...
, and Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
. Neil also landed a supporting role in MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's movie musical, The American Mall which was broadcast and DVD released in summer 2008. In Spring 2008, Haskell, along with former SYTYCD contestants Sabra Johnson
Sabra Johnson
Sabra Elise Johnson is a dancer from Roy, Utah and the Season 3 Champion of the Fox reality television show So You Think You Can Dance.She was born in the Netherlands, lived nine years in Germany, and after that, nine years in Utah...
and Danny Tidwell
Danny Tidwell
Daniel Arnold Tidwell is best known for being the runner-up on Fox's third season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2007....
is featured in movmnt
Movmnt
movmnt magazine is an urban-leaning lifestyle magazine which was co-founded in 2006 by David Benaym and Danny Tidwell. The magazine has featured columns by Mario Spinetti, Mia Michaels, Robert Battle, Debbie Allen, Alisan Porter, Rasta Thomas, and Frank Conway...
magazine's cover story to promote 'Keep it Real' the publication's awareness nonprofit organization. In April 2008 he began playing the role of "Luke" in the Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker and book by Kevin Del Aguila . Centering on a fictitious Christian boy band from Ohio, the show satirizes, among other things, the phenomenon of boy bands and the popularity of Christian-themed music in...
. He continued playing the role of "Luke" until March 2009, and left to begin working on the new Dolly Parton musical "9 to 5". Neil was also cast to play the leading role of Jake in the new musical "F#@king Up Everything" in the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF 2009) which performs at various times from Oct 6 through October 17. All performances sold out. He has recently returned to So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions...
Seasons 7 and 8 to dance as an All Star. He was also in the First National Tour Cast of West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
playing the role of Snowboy.
So You Think You Can Dance
Haskell was paired up with contemporaryContemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
/hip hop
Hip hop dance
Hip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and...
dancer, Lauren Gottlieb. The couple danced together until Week 6, when the couples were assigned new partners. Haskell was then partnered with Sara Von Gillern, and debuted their disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
routine.
Haskell noted that he wants to use his experience on the show as a "springboard for the rest of [his] career".
After making it to the top 10 finalists, Haskell joined his fellow contestants in So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox network. Season three premiered May 24, 2007....
s 2007 dance tour that concluded on November 30, 2007.
On the August 7, 2008 Season 4
So You Think You Can Dance (Season 4)
So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season four premiered on May 22, 2008, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host...
finale, Haskell, along with other finalists from seasons 1-3, joined Season 4's top 20 in a dance number. He also returned as an All-Star in Season 7
So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox network. Season three premiered May 24, 2007....
of SYTYCD, and again in Season 8.
| Week | Partner | Dance | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lauren Gottlieb | Salsa | "Friday Night Rhythm" | Safe |
| 2 | Hip-hop Hip hop dance Hip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and... |
"The Way I Are The Way I Are "The Way I Are" is a song by Timbaland, released as the second single from his second album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value. The song is known in part for its incorrect grammar. The song samples "Push it", a 1987 hit by group Salt-n-Pepa, and features R&B singer Keri Hilson and uncredited vocals... " by Timbaland Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.... (featuring Keri Hilson Keri Hilson Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch... and D.O.E.) |
Safe | |
| 3 | Tango Tango (ballroom) Ballroom Tango is a ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance.... |
"Tanguera" by Sexteto Mayor | Bottom 3 Couples | |
| 4 | Jazz Jazz dance Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance... |
"Night of the Dancing Flame" by Roisin Murphy Róisín Murphy Róisín Marie Murphy is an Irish singer-songwriter and record producer, known for her electronic style.Murphy first came to note as part of the electronic music duo Moloko. Her partner in the band was then-boyfriend Mark Brydon. After the two ended their romantic relationship, Murphy released her... |
Safe | |
| 5 | Contemporary Contemporary dance Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement... |
"Let the Drummer Kick" by Citizen Cope Citizen Cope Clarence Greenwood is an American songwriter and producer. His eclectic mix of blues, laid-back rock, soul, and folk has a large and profoundly dedicated following, built over the past decade of touring due to solid word of mouth.... |
Bottom 3 Couples | |
| 6 | Sara Von Gillern | Disco Disco Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and... |
"Knock on Wood Knock on Wood (song) "Knock on Wood" is a hit 1966 song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at number twenty-eight on the Hot 100, and spent one week at number one on the soul singles.... " by Rachel Stevens Rachel Stevens Rachel Lauren Stevens is an English singer-songwriter, actress, presenter, dancer, television personality and model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005... |
Safe |
| 7 | Lacey Schwimmer Lacey Schwimmer Lacey-Mae Schwimmer is an American competitive ballroom dancer, singer, and the winner of multiple youth championships. She is best known as the fourth place finalist of the third season of So You Think You Can Dance... |
Latin jazz Latin jazz Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova... |
"Acid" by Ray Barretto Ray Barretto Ray Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician.-Early years:Barretto was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent... |
Bottom 4 |
| Contemporary Contemporary dance Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement... |
"Time" by Billy Porter | |||
| 8 | Sabra Johnson Sabra Johnson Sabra Elise Johnson is a dancer from Roy, Utah and the Season 3 Champion of the Fox reality television show So You Think You Can Dance.She was born in the Netherlands, lived nine years in Germany, and after that, nine years in Utah... |
Jazz | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) -Personnel:*Annie Lennox – vocals, keyboards, synthesisers, flute*David A. Stewart – guitar, keyboards, synthesisers, programming, backing vocals-Additional personnel:*Robert Crash - Guitar/ E-Drums/ Synth/ Robotic vocals... " by Eurythmics Eurythmics Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A... |
Safe |
| Paso Doble | "España Cañí España Cañí España Cañí is a famous instrumental Spanish piece of pasodoble music by Pascual Marquina Narro . The song was written around 1925... " by Juan & Gennaro |
|||
| 9 | Sabra Johnson Sabra Johnson Sabra Elise Johnson is a dancer from Roy, Utah and the Season 3 Champion of the Fox reality television show So You Think You Can Dance.She was born in the Netherlands, lived nine years in Germany, and after that, nine years in Utah... |
Hip hop | "Whine Up"—Kat DeLuna Kat DeLuna Kathleen Emperatriz "Kat" DeLuna is an American pop singer of Dominican heritage. DeLuna has a soprano vocal range. Her debut single, "Whine Up", reached the top ten in Belgium and France, peaked inside the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her... |
3rd Place |
| Danny Tidwell Danny Tidwell Daniel Arnold Tidwell is best known for being the runner-up on Fox's third season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2007.... |
Contemporary Contemporary dance Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement... |
"Are You the One?"—The Presets The Presets The Presets are an Australian electronic duo formed in 2003, consisting of Julian Hamilton on vocals and keyboards, and Kim Moyes on drums and keyboards. They released their debut album Beams in 2005 to positive critical response. Their 2008 release Apocalypso debuted at number-one on the ARIA... |
||
| Lacey Schwimmer Lacey Schwimmer Lacey-Mae Schwimmer is an American competitive ballroom dancer, singer, and the winner of multiple youth championships. She is best known as the fourth place finalist of the third season of So You Think You Can Dance... |
Lindy Hop Lindy Hop The Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based... |
"Bill's Bounce"—Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra |
The American Mall
Haskell also has a role in The American MallThe American Mall
The American Mall is an 2008 MTV musical film that debuted on August 11, 2008. The movie was received with very low ratings, averaging 436,000 viewers.-Overview:...
. He plays a night janitor at the mall who is also a member of a rock band, where he played guitar & keyboards.