'So You Think You Can Dance' Star Twitch to Teach Lessons in Oswego

So you think you can dance?

Let Stephen “Twitch” Boss be the judge of that. The famed hip-hop choreographer from Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance will teach several workshops on Aug 20 and 21 through Oswego’s Dance Rogue and Storm Alliance dance companies.

Dance Rouge CEO and founder Charles Lawrence said the studio, 2062 Mitchell Drive, has never hosted someone with Twitch’s celebrity status before.

“A lot of [Dance Rogue’s] faculty is spread all over the country. We work with a lot of choreographers and dancers for the stars – like Beyonce and Chris Brown – but no one like Twitch," he said.

Twitch gained popularity from his performances on the show So You Think You Can Dance and went on to star in two motion pictures in 2010: Step Up 3D and Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming.

At this weekend's event, Twitch will teach four intensive hip-hop classes plus a “mini class” for those ages 7 and younger. Other accomplished choreographers will also be teaching workshops at the event, including Charles Lawrence, Kathy King and Morgan Williams.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” said Lawrence. “It’s pretty big for me to share my company with my students.”

These students come from both Dance Rogue and Storm Alliance, the latter of which Lawrence serves as the hip-hop instructor. Dance Rogue was founded with the idea to push and inspire dancers into a new level of creativity in their routines—a “rogue” sort of creative, with uninhibited and free movements.

That’s why the idea of having Twitch, a celebrity in the dance world, come to the workshop is so inspirational to the message of Dance Rogue.

“He’ll really help the dancers aim higher and think bigger,” said Lawrence.

Standard registration for the workshop is $200, which is for level 1 or level 2 and includes nine dance classes—two taught by Twitch and the rest by the other guest choreographers.

There also will be an audition class for students interested in earning scholarships and awards. For those who just want to dance with Twitch, a special package of his four classes is available for $135.

But don’t count the other choreographers out either. Kathy King, who will be teaching workshops on contemporary jazz, said she is excited to be a part of the event.

“It’s going to be awesome," she said. "To be able to work with new students and be with such a great faculty … it’s a wonderful opportunity.”

King, who is the Artistic Director of the Michigan Dance Project, said this will be her first time working with Storm Alliance and the Chicago area. And like everyone else, she’s looking forward to the opportunity to work with Twitch.

“It’s pretty exciting to be able to work alongside someone like him," she said.

For those interested, registration will remain open up until the first day of the event. To register, visit Dance Rogue's website or contact Dance Rogue via email at info@dancerogue.com or phone at 312-380-9189.