by Allison Holker spent much of her adult life on Fox’s hit reality competition series, “So You Think You Can Dance.” The former contestant and all-star now sits on the show’s judging panel alongside newcomers Maksim Chmerkovskiy and JoJo Siwa.
For the 18th season finale of “SYTYCD,” Holker opted for a rhinestone-studded Mew Mews halter dress, metallic Christian Louboutin pumps and Melinda Maria jewelry. Speaking to WWD, the Emmy-nominated dancer and choreographer revealed the inspiration behind her final look, her thoughts on the show’s updated format and why costumes are a “core part” of any production.
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WWD: What do you think sets this season of “SYTYCD” apart?
Allison Holker: For me, what was so incredible about “So You Think You Can Dance” this season is that we really changed the format, and went on a completely different course. I know that can be scary for people, but sometimes things need to change and change with the times.
I think what the show has done is give so much respect to dancers, and the work that has been done that maybe people didn’t realize when you see people in TV and film and music videos, a lot of the time everyone sees the finished product. , but they don’t see all the work that has been put in and the show did a great job of showing that and giving you a chance to get to know the contestants on a more intimate level.
WWD: Describe the energy going into the finale, and how the experience differs from when you were a contestant on the show.
AH: Going to the finale was wild, it brought back all the incredible memories I had. Most of all, I remember being so proud of myself for putting myself out there when I first competed. I didn’t know what the show was doing in everything. When I was in the finale for the first time, I remember being like, “Wow. I really took the chance and went with it and rolled with it and had this incredible experience, and I learned so much.” Now as I sit on the judging panel, watching these contestants, it took me back to that moment, I hope they had the same success.I hope they saw their work as many people as they can be proud of It kind of made me feel like a mom bird. I hope they had the same feeling I had, it was just a magical experience and something that changed the entire trajectory of my life that I was so grateful for. .
WWD: Tell us about your search for the finale and what inspired it.
AH: I loved my outfit. We’ll call it the chandelier dress. I’m a dancer – put me in rhinestones and simmer and glow. I wanted to shine because, for me, I am a judge up there and so my role has changed. But at heart, I’m still a performer. I wanted to make sure that when I sat there it almost took me back to my various performances where I loved the glitz and the glamour.
WWD: Do you take into account what contestants wear when judging?
AH: I believe that the costume is as important as the performance. Your performance can change everything, but the outfit can also change everything, and people don’t always think that. People are like, “Oh, I want to see the good dancing or I want to see the performance, the storytelling, the emotion.” But if you’re poorly dressed, it’s an eyesore.
I don’t think people recognize as performers, when you look at the musical arts, when you look at people on tour, when you look at award shows, when you look at music video, when you are watching dancers on a dance show, the costumes are so good. People are sewn into their costumes, people are taped into their costumes, because you don’t want things to fall out. You don’t want things flying at the cameras. If you’re rolling on the floor, you don’t want something to hit you on the floor. So it’s really important to think about the little details of what you’re wearing.
WWD: You’ve said you love glitz and glamor – do you remember the first time you wore something glamorous on stage?
AH: When I was a contestant on “SYTYCD,” I was 18 years old and so innocent. I was the youngest person on the show. I think it was week four, I found the Argentine tango, which by the way, is one of the sexiest dances there is. They put me in this fiery red dress with rhinestones on it. I played so differently than I ever did. When I put on that outfit, I never felt like that before. It almost made me an alter ego. It changed me. It was an experience I will never forget. I never thought I would have a moment like that in front of millions of people, but here we are.
WWD: How does being a dancer affect your personal style?
AH: I’m not afraid to take risks with outfits. My daughter always brings up this particular day to her friends which was really funny. She was in fifth grade and it was just a regular day. I wasn’t even working this day or coming from a set or anything like that. But I picked her up, and she was traumatized. She was like, “You looked like Cinderella picking me up. What were you even doing today?” And I was like, “Just grocery shopping, running some errands.” I was in a full ball gown and I wasn’t even fazed by it. But she was like, ” Mama, people don’t look like this on a regular day.” As a performer or a dancer, I love being in this stuff. So it felt like another costume for me.
The “SYTYCD” season finale airs Monday on Fox at 9 pm ET.
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