by Gina Scarpa

This season, on So You Think You Can Dance, hip hop dancer Kevin Hunte and his partner Karen Hauer have had their share of ups and downs.  When they landed in the bottom three for the second week in a row, the judges were willing to give Karen another chance but didn’t feel the same way about Kevin.  Nigel told him that this competition was all about growth and he just wasn’t cutting it.  He was eliminated and today, spoke to reporters in a press conference call about his experiences on the show.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What styles were you formally trained in, before coming to So You Think You Can Dance?
A. Kevin: As you know, I’m a hip hopper.  I took ballet and modern.  That’s basically about it.  I had the priviledge of joining a contemporary company.  That’s all the training that I have.  No ballroom!
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was the hardest style of dance to pick up?
A. Kevin: Besides the cha cha, I would have to say the Broadway.  It took me out of my element.  It took me by surprise.  The character, the style, the movement, the whole feel of it - that was kind of different.  It was so fast.  It was just so fast!

 
Q. There’s a lot of people who started dancing young.  It’s interesting that you started when you were 14.  What got you so interested in dancing?
A. Kevin: Growing up, watching Michael Jackson inspired me to move.  My mom said that she really wanted me to pursue dance.  She put me in a dance school that I didn’t really like. I started watching the show and opening my eyes to other aspects of dance.  I started taking classes and getting my technique up to par.  I went full force with the whole hip hop thing.  I auditioned in season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance and was cut.  Mia Michaels told me that she wanted me to grow more and come back.  I took 2 seasons off and trained.  I came back for season 6 and made the Top 20.

 
Q. In the season premiere, you, Russell, and Legacy did your hip hop routine together.  That must’ve been a nice way to start the season.  Do you think it was a nice way to show off your routine?
A. Kevin: Oh, that was amazing!  That was the most amazing experience ever!  As you know, me and Russell became like brothers.  Just to be able to do that together is mind blowing.  Right after the taping of that, Russell and I had a moment where we hugged and they put it on the cameras.  We were like, “Wow, we’re really here.  We’re really doing this.”  It was just amazing.
 
Q. When the judges said that the solos weren’t up to par, did that make you want to raise your game when you performed last night?
A. Kevin: I loved my first solo.  I just told myself, “Next time, just dance your heart out like you always do.”  I did and it was a privilege.  I just thank God for the opportunity to perform on that stage.  I loved my solo and I loved my second solo.  That’s all that matters, how you feel about it.
 
Q. The judges made a comment that they were starting to see your growth as a dancer.  Were you already thinking about what you would do the following week to wow them?
A. Kevin: I was really hoping for contemporary.  I wanted to emote, let go, and show them that a hip hop dancer can give off the whole contemporary feeling.  A lot of time, the hip hop dancers can’t really do the contemporary styles.  I was excited to work with Tyce, Stacey, or Mandi.  Seeing them choreograph for other couples, you get inspired.  I really, really wanted to do contemporary.
 
Q. What are your aspirations now?  Who do you look up to?
A. Kevin: I look up to Twitch.  He’s a good friend of mine.  I look up to him.  There’s a couple other people who I look up to but I’m going to take this opportunity and get my name out there.  I want to become an actor and do movies, thanks like that.  That’s what I want to get into.
 
 
Be sure to tune in to So You Think You Can Dance, when the Top 12 take the stage, Tuesday night at 8pm ET on FOX.
 
(Image courtesy of FOX)

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa
 
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