Allison Holker


Allison Renae Holker Boss is an American dancer. Holker is credited with a wide variety of work in film, television, and concert tours. She is known from her appearances on the television dance competition So You Think You Can Dance, where she was a contestant in season 2 and an all-star in seasons 7–11 and 14.

Early life and education

Holker was born in Anoka County, Minnesota, grew up in Orem, Utah, and graduated from Timpanogos High School in June 2006. Holker began her dance training at the age of nine when she enrolled as a student at The Dance Club in Orem. While there she began to specialize in contemporary, tap, ballet, and jazz, and performed in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Since then she has won numerous dance titles including her first National competition in Co DANCE in 2004 and as the National Senior Outstanding Dancer at the New York City Dance Alliance in 2005.

Career

Holker performed with Earth, Wind and Fire at the opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympic Games in 2002, and in the Disney movies High School Musical and High School Musical 2. On television, she has been seen in various commercials and advanced to the Top 8 on the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, and danced in that season's SYTYCD nationwide tour. She performed with a show called "Ballroom with a Twist," choreographed by Louis Van Amstel, and appeared with American Idol's Clay Aiken in his PBS special "Tried and True". Holker was featured in the "Jar of Hearts" music video by Christina Perri. In September/October 2011 Holker was one of Demi Lovato's backup-dancers. Holker has taught at different dance conventions and workshops across the country, also branching out into choreography.
Holker was a backup-dancer on The X Factor USA working together with Brian Friedman. On April 30, 2013, she performed a dance routine on Dancing with the Stars with Stephen "tWitch" Boss. They danced to Crystallize, which was being performed live by Lindsey Stirling.

''Dancing with the Stars''

In August 2014, Holker was announced as one of the 12 professional dancers on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. The announcement of Holker, a contemporary dancer, as a cast member was met with controversy due to her limited experience with dancing and teaching Latin Ballroom dance. She partnered with Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett. The couple was eliminated on Week 6, finishing in 9th place. On February 11, 2015, Holker was partnered with R5 singer and actor Riker Lynch in the show's 20th season. The couple made it to the finals and finished in second place. For season 21 she was paired with singer Andy Grammer. They were eliminated on Week 8 and finished in 7th place. She didn't appear in season 22 due to pregnancy.
Holker returned for season 23 and was partnered with singer-songwriter Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. The couple were eliminated on Week 4 and finished in 11th place.
SeasonPartnerPlace
19Jonathan Bennett9th
20Riker Lynch2nd
21Andy Grammer7th
23Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds11th

''Dancing with the Stars'' performances

With celebrity partner: Jonathan Bennett">Jonathan Bennett (actor)">Jonathan Bennett

Season average: 28.7''
1Score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.
2The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.
3This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Bennett performed with Peta Murgatroyd instead of Holker. Holker performed with Antonio Sabàto, Jr.
4Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.
5Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman.

With celebrity partner: [Riker Lynch]

Season average: 37.3''

With celebrity partner: [Andy Grammer]

Season average: 23.88''
1 Score given by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro.
2 This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Grammer performed with Sharna Burgess instead of Holker. Holker performed with Hayes Grier.
3 Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
4 Score given by guest judge Olivia Newton-John.

With celebrity partner: Babyface">Babyface (musician)">Babyface

Season average: 26.3

Personal life

On May 26, 2008, Holker had a daughter, Weslie Renae, with an ex-fiancé. Weslie was later adopted by Twitch at some point after his marriage to Holker.
On December 10, 2013, Holker and fellow So You Think You Can Dance all-star, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, were married at Villa San-Juliette Winery in Paso Robles, California, owned by So You Think You Can Dance producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe.
On March 27, 2016, they welcomed a son, Maddox. The couple announced they were expecting their second child together in May 2019, and she gave birth to their daughter, Zaia, on November 6, 2019.

Awards