by Gina Scarpa

Last night, on the results episode of So You Think You Can Dance, it was the end of the road for hip hop dancer Phillip Chbeeb.  Phillip had the misfortune of pulling Russian Folk Dance from the hat this week and it was one of the reasons he landed in the bottom three couples this week along with his partner, Jeannine Mason.  It wasn't all bad news, though.  Executive Producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe announced during the live broadcast that Phillip (and Caitlin Kinney, who was also eliminated) will be joining the Top 10 on tour this fall.  Today, Phillip spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about his experiences on the show.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: We all saw you last season when you tried out for So You Think You Can Dance.  What made you want to come back and try again?
A. Phillip: I think I just noticed my own growth in the audition process and wanted to experience that again.  It was more to make a statement and prove to myself that even though I didn’t have this background, I could still make it work.  I love how much I grow every time I get on the show and especially in this situation because I got so far.  I feel like I have grown light years.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You auditioned with Arielle Coker, your good friend that you met during last season’s auditions.  What was it like to go through this process with her?
A. Phillip: Both of us are really levelheaded in that sense and we knew that that situation could happen but we were prepared for it.  I would never have wanted to go about the audition process any other way.  I attribute most of my success because of what she did for me in those first few weeks. 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Has Arielle been supportive of you since you made the Top 20?
A. Phillip: Oh definitely!  She’s come to watch two of the shows and we talk a lot.  She is planning on auditioning for season 6 and I’m so excited.  She’s going as a solo artist and people can see what she can actually do.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your reaction to finding out that Jeannine was your partner?
A. Phillip: I think, out of everyone, I didn’t get to know Jeannine that much in Vegas.  She was just a fireball of energy, I can’t even explain it to you.  She was great.  Getting to know her throughout the process was even better.  We worked well together and we made whatever needed to happen happen.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What style of dance did you struggle with most?
A. Phillip: I think, very clearly, my only major weakness is ballroom.  Standard ballroom, such as tango, waltz, foxtrot, anything with a frame, is the hardest.  That would definitely be my weakness.  I think my only regret was not getting contemporary.  We were hoping that we would get it at least once.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I was trying to figure out what they were thinking when the show handed you guys Russian Folk Dance.  What went through your minds this week?
A. Phillip: I’m sure they have it on tape somewhere but we were like, “No way!”  There are certain cards where there are no shining moments possible.  We knew this was going to be a hard week to avoid the bottom.  I pretty much knew I was in the bottom ahead of time.  It didn’t take long after they announced that I was in the bottom that I was going home.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are you surprised that you were eliminated?
A. Phillip: I couldn’t really say.  I felt like I understand why I left.  There’s two parts to the show.  I think the growth aspect wasn’t outweighing how much they needed a steady, consistent dancer.  I’m assuming that’s why I went.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You must’ve been happy that they told you, right then and there, that you were going to be on the tour.
A. Phillip: Yeah, I’m actually really happy they announced it on television.  It’s great being an alternate for the Top 10 but at least now, I feel like I’m actually a part of it.  I know a lot of swings in the past have had to take a backseat.  It’s nice that they announced it like that.  I’m really excited.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Is there any routine that you performed on the show that you’re hoping will make the tour?
A. Phillip: I’m hoping the hip hops are on tour.  I’m really thinking that the first one I did will be on it.  As far as the other, I’m not sure.  I’m very confident that first hip hop routine will make it.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans that supported you throughout this process?
A. Phillip: I would just like to say thanks.  I have a lot of work coming out soon on my YouTube page.  I plan on doing a lot of choreography and solo work.  I’m definitely not stopping here.  There’s a lot of things to come. 


Be sure to tune in when the Top 10 hit the stage on So You Think You Can Dance, Wednesday night at 8pm on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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