Sabra Johnson
Encyclopedia
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. She now lives in New York while pursuing her dancing career.
as one of the skater dancers in the "Stick To The Status Quo" scene.
routine during week one, a contemporary
routine during week two, a rumba
during week three, a hip hop
during week four, and a jive
during week five. The couple landed themselves in the bottom three couples only once which was during the first week. After week five, there were only ten dancers remaining in the competition.
After Johnson made it into the top ten, she was separated from Dominic Sandoval
because of the rules for the top 10 competition. In week 6, Johnson was randomly paired with contemporary
/hip hop
dancer Kameron Bink for the next dance where they performed a contemporary routine. Bink was eliminated on the following results show. In week 7, Johnson was randomly paired with ballroom
dancer, Pasha Kovalev
, for the next performance where they performed a Broadway
routine and a quickstep
. In week 8, Johnson was randomly paired with contemporary dancer Neil Haskell
for the next dances where they performed a jazz
routine and a paso doble routine. During the following results show, Johnson was announced as a top 4 finalist of the season. Throughout the season Johnson was praised for her passion, enthusiasm, prodigious talent, personality, strong dancing and versatility in the different routines. In the end, Johnson garnered more votes than her fellow finalists and was subsequently crowned America's favorite dancer, beating out Danny Tidwell
, Neil Haskell
, and Lacey Schwimmer
.
Note: Results highlighted in red indicate that contestants placed in the bottom dancers or couples, but may not have necessarily been eliminated.
Since winning SYTYCD, Johnson has concentrated on teaching rather than dancing since, but has expressed a desire to pursue a professional dancing career, possibly even on Broadway
. Johnson has made appearances as a performer and teacher at numerous events and workshops, appearing at charity events. As part of those activities, she has travelled abroad to locations such as Iceland (with SYTYCD choreographers Dan Karaty
and Shane Sparks
and Season 3 runner-up Danny Tidwell
), Australia (alongside fellow Season 3 contestant Kameron Bink) and South Africa.
In 2008, Johnson was a pro dancer at the Dance Times Square Showcase benefit held on October 25. She was partnered with SYTYCD finalist Neil Haskell
.
In 2009, Johnson began the year as the Special Guest Artist at the Merrimack Hall Second Annual Evening of Dance in Huntsville
, Alabama
. (SYTYCD Season 4 winner Joshua Allen
taught a master hip-hop class there a few days later.) She later appeared at the St. Louis Auto Show and was a member of the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
company in New York City
for a time.
Johnson taught dance master classes for the East Coast Movement on August 25, 2010, along with Kameron Bink.,
Roy, Utah
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 36,884 people, 10,689 households, and 8,604 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,853 people per square mile . There were 11,053 housing units at an average density of 1,455.3 per square mile...
and the Season 3 Champion of the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
reality television show 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....
.
She was born in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, lived nine years in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and after that, nine years in Utah. She now lives in New York while pursuing her dancing career.
Early career
Johnson started formal dance training at the age of 16 at Dance Impressions in Bountiful, Utah, under the direction of mother-daughter team Kandee Allen and Vivian Colobella. She then moved down to Las Vegas, NV and trained at The Dance Zone, under the direction of other Colobella daughter Kaydee Francis and partner Jami Artiga. Before training in dance, Johnson had a previous background in gymnastics. Her dance training consists of jazz, ballet, contemporary, and gymnastics, with some experience in hip hop, modern, tap, and theater. Johnson's favorite style of dancing is contemporary. Before auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance, Johnson was going on to her fourth year of being a dancer. Johnson had a backup role on the hit film High School MusicalHigh School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
as one of the skater dancers in the "Stick To The Status Quo" scene.
Contestant on So You Think You Can Dance
On the first episode of the show, Johnson was paired up with b-boy Dominic Sandoval, and they remained partners for five weeks. Each week, Johnson and her partners were required to reach into the hat with paper slips containing a variety of dance styles. The pair performed a discoDisco
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 during week one, a contemporary
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
routine during week two, a rumba
Rumba
Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no...
during week three, a hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
during week four, and a jive
Jive (dance)
In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance...
during week five. The couple landed themselves in the bottom three couples only once which was during the first week. After week five, there were only ten dancers remaining in the competition.
After Johnson made it into the top ten, she was separated from Dominic Sandoval
Sandoval
Sandoval is a habitational surname of Spanish origin.Sandoval may also refer to:-People:*Andrew Sandoval, American songwriter, musician, producer and author*Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez , Filipino jurist...
because of the rules for the top 10 competition. In week 6, Johnson was randomly paired with contemporary
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
/hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
dancer Kameron Bink for the next dance where they performed a contemporary routine. Bink was eliminated on the following results show. In week 7, Johnson was randomly paired with ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
dancer, Pasha Kovalev
Pasha Kovalev
Pavel Kovalev is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer. Born and raised in Siberia, Pasha Kovalev started dancing at age eight...
, for the next performance where they performed a Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
routine and a quickstep
Quickstep
The quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events...
. In week 8, Johnson was randomly paired with contemporary dancer Neil Haskell
Neil Haskell
Neil David Haskell is an American contemporary dancer. 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...
for the next dances where they performed a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
routine and a paso doble routine. During the following results show, Johnson was announced as a top 4 finalist of the season. Throughout the season Johnson was praised for her passion, enthusiasm, prodigious talent, personality, strong dancing and versatility in the different routines. In the end, Johnson garnered more votes than her fellow finalists and was subsequently crowned America's favorite dancer, beating out 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....
, Neil Haskell
Neil Haskell
Neil David Haskell is an American contemporary dancer. 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...
, and 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...
.
Performances
| Week | Partner | Dance | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dominic Sandoval | 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... |
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) No More Tears (Enough is Enough) "No More Tears " is a duet from 1979 by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. While Summer was famous for her disco material and Streisand for her more easy listening and soundtrack work , this song fused both sounds with a slow beginning which then develops into a disco song... "— Donna Summer Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach... & Barbra Streisand Barbra Streisand Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,... |
Bottom 3 |
| 2 | Contemporary Contemporary dance Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement... |
"I'll Stand by You I'll Stand by You "I'll Stand by You" is a 1994 song recorded by The Pretenders from their sixth studio album, Last of the Independents. Written by Chrissie Hynde in collaboration with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg , it was the Pretenders' most recent significant hit single, and their last... "—The Pretenders The Pretenders The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers... |
Safe | |
| 3 | Rumba Rumba (dance) Rumba is a dance term with two quite different meanings.In some contexts, "rumba" is used as shorthand for Afro-Cuban rumba, a group of dances related to the rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. The most common Afro-Cuban rumba is the guaguancó... |
"Stickwitu Stickwitu "Stickwitu" is a R&B ballad by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls from their debut album, PCD. Produced by Jimmy Iovine, Robin Antin, Ron Fair and Tal Herzberg, it was released as the album's second single in late 2005. The song is an uptempo ballad being different to their previous single... "—The Pussycat Dolls |
Safe | |
| 4 | Hip-hop | "Make It Work"—Ne-Yo Ne-Yo Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario... |
Safe | |
| 5 | Jive Jive (dance) In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance... |
"I Do the Jerk"—Ryan Shaw Ryan Shaw Ryan Christopher Shaw is a soul musician from Georgia, USA.-Biography:Shaw began singing in Pentecostal church at the age of three, having been raised in a deeply religious household. Shaw won a spot in a gospel musical at Georgia State University, and in 1998 he dropped out of college to take... |
Safe | |
| 6 | Kameron Bink | Contemporary Contemporary dance Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement... |
"Amazing Grace Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,... "—Crystal Lewis Crystal Lewis Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church... |
Safe |
| Solo | "Waiting on the World to Change Waiting on the World to Change "Waiting on the World to Change" is the first single released from John Mayer's 2006 studio album, Continuum. The song enjoyed commercial success as a single and won the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards... "—John Mayer John Mayer John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his... |
|||
| 7 | Pasha Kovalev Pasha Kovalev Pavel Kovalev is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer. Born and raised in Siberia, Pasha Kovalev started dancing at age eight... |
Broadway 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... |
"A Wild Wild Party"— from The Wild Party The Wild Party (Lippa musical) The Wild Party is a musical with book, lyrics, and music by Andrew Lippa. It is based on Joseph Moncure March's 1928 narrative poem of the same name... |
Safe |
| Quickstep Quickstep The quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events... |
"Mr. Pinstripe Suit"—Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing revival band from southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O", "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight ", and "Mr. Pinstripe Suit". The band played the Super Bowl XXXIII half-time show in 1999.The band was originally formed in Ventura,... |
|||
| 8 | Neil Haskell Neil Haskell Neil David Haskell is an American contemporary dancer. 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... |
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... "—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... "—Juan & Gennaro |
|||
| 9 | Neil Haskell Neil Haskell Neil David Haskell is an American contemporary dancer. 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... |
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... & Elephant Man |
Winner |
| 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... |
Jazz | "Koyal (Songbird)"—Nitin Sawhney Nitin Sawhney Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality... |
||
| 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.... |
Cha cha Cha-cha-cha (dance) The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953... |
"Gotta Get Down (La Negra Tiene Tumbao) [Spanglish Remix]"—Celia Cruz Celia Cruz Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums... |
||
Note: Results highlighted in red indicate that contestants placed in the bottom dancers or couples, but may not have necessarily been eliminated.
Post SYTYCD
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. Johnson has made appearances as a performer and teacher at numerous events and workshops, appearing at charity events. As part of those activities, she has travelled abroad to locations such as Iceland (with SYTYCD choreographers Dan Karaty
Dan Karaty
Daniel Quinten Karaty , an American TV personality, producer, dancer and choreographer. He has performed with and/or created routines for pop superstars such as Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, and *NSYNC...
and Shane Sparks
Shane Sparks
Shane Sparks is an award-winning hip-hop choreographer best known for his work as a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance and judge on America's Best Dance Crew. He won an American Choreography Award for his work as co-choreographer on 2004 film You Got Served...
and Season 3 runner-up 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....
), Australia (alongside fellow Season 3 contestant Kameron Bink) and South Africa.
In 2008, Johnson was a pro dancer at the Dance Times Square Showcase benefit held on October 25. She was partnered with SYTYCD finalist Neil Haskell
Neil Haskell
Neil David Haskell is an American contemporary dancer. 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...
.
In 2009, Johnson began the year as the Special Guest Artist at the Merrimack Hall Second Annual Evening of Dance in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. (SYTYCD Season 4 winner Joshua Allen
Joshua Allen
Joshua Allen is the winner of the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance. He had originally auditioned in Dallas, Texas with his friend and fellow contestant, Comfort Fedoke. Allen was announced winner of the show on August 7, 2008, winning $250,000.-Early life:Allen was born in Fort Worth,...
taught a master hip-hop class there a few days later.) She later appeared at the St. Louis Auto Show and was a member of the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
Cedar Lake is a New York City-based contemporary ballet company dedicated to the continued development of dance by providing choreographers a comprehensive environment for creation as well as curating work for presentation to a worldwide audience...
company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for a time.
Johnson taught dance master classes for the East Coast Movement on August 25, 2010, along with Kameron Bink.,
External links
- Profile at So You Think You Can Dance
- "Sabra Dance" at The Standard-Examiner (Utah)