Danny Tidwell

Danny Tidwell (born August 1, 1984 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American dance choreographer, contemporary and ballet dancer, known for being one of the contestants on Fox's third season of So You Think You Can Dance. He is the adopted brother of Travis Wall, runner-up of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance.

So You Think You Can Dance

Selected as one of the Top 20, he was paired up with ballroom dancer Anya Garnis. On the premiere of the show they danced a Tony Meredith jive routine to "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne. For their second dance, they performed a Viennese Waltz routine choreographed by Hunter Johnson. On the third show, the couple danced a hip hop choreographed by Dan Karaty. In the bottom 3 after this performance, Tidwell danced a contemporary solo that allowed him stay in the competition. In the fourth show, they danced a contemporary routine by Tyce DiOrio but again the found themselves in the bottom 3. Danny however was able to save himself during the Dance of Death solo and move on. Once in the top 12, Danny and Anya performed an incredible routine choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. After being for the third time in a row in the bottom 3, Anya was asked to leave the competition while Danny Tidwell was saved to be in the Top 10, and the upcoming national SYTYCD Tour.

Biography

Born in Norfolk, VA and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, Danny Tidwell started dancing at Denise Wall’s Dance Energy under the direction of Denise Wall and Vicky Cooke. At 15 he was invited to study classical ballet with Vladimir Djouloukhadze and Anatoli Kucheruk at the Universal Ballet Academy in Washington DC. Meanwhile, Danny got the opportunity to perform principal roles in two original shows created by Debbie Allen, Dreams and Pearl, performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

In 2001, Mr. Tidwell won the Second Prize at the International Ballet Competition in Shanghai, China and, in 2002, received the Silver Medal at the Jackson International Ballet Competition.

Soon after, Danny joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company. In May 2003, he was hired as ABT’s Corps de Ballet. He performed many roles in the classical ballet repertory including Spectre de la Rose and Peasant pas de deux in Giselle.

During this period as a professional ballet dancer, Danny Tidwell performed contemporary works by choreographers Nacho Duato, Jiri Killian, William Forsythe, Kirk Peterson and Robert Hill.

In 2005, Mr. Tidwell was featured as Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch and Pointe Magazine's TOP 10 VIP.

2005 is also the year where Danny along with publisher David Benaym, photographer Roger Moenks and Choreographer Lauren Adams, created Moving Still, a life performance, a combination between a live show and a photography art/fashion book that lead later on to the creation of Tidwell's magazine: movmnt.

In August 2005, Danny taught in Bermuda's ABT's Summer program. Continuing his works in the education of dance, Danny is now on the faculty of JUMP, break the floor, and has been invited to guest teach at many schools and studios across the country.

In 2006, Danny joined for a season, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company, under the direction of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson.

Since June 2006, Danny Tidwell participate creatively in the making of movmnt magazine, a dance and pop culture quarterly, that he co-founded along with partner David Benaym is also the co-founder of a new magazine, movmnt, launched in June 2006 with a focus on dance, music and fashion.

In June 2007, America discovers Danny Tidwell as one of the Top 20 contestant in the hit show So You Think You Can Dance. After being the victim of an "evil" edit the first week, technically talented Tidwell succeeded to make it to the top 10, allowing him to join the 2007 SYTYCD Tour.

Awards

• Second Prize at the 2001 International Ballet Competition in Shanghai, China
• Silver Medalist - 2002 International Ballet Competition - Jackson, Mississipi [1]
• New York City Dance Alliance, 2002 Outstanding Dancer [2]

Media Appearances

• In 2005, Tidwell was featured in a book of photography, Moving Still: a Life Performance by David Benaym [3]
• In June and November 2006, he was featured in a fashion/dance spread in Movmnt magazine, that he co-founded. [4]
• July 11th 2007 - Danny Tidwell has a full feature article in the New York Times [5]

External links

• Danny Tidwell Official Website
• movmnt magazine, co-founded by Danny Tidwell
• Denise Wall Dance Energy, Danny's adopted mother's and training studio
• Bio on Fox TV website
• Danny Tidwell myspace Fansite