The dance community is mourning a profound loss. Joshua Allen, a name synonymous with dazzling moves and the ultimate victory on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ has passed away. He was just 36 years old.
News broke on Wednesday, October 1, that Allen was gone. TMZ first reported his passing. His family has asked for privacy and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. The reason for his death has not yet been shared with the public.
Emmanuel Hurd, a close friend of the late dancer, shared his thoughts with TMZ. He remembered Allen as a truly “honest and real person.” Hurd noted that Joshua “didn’t always do things the way everyone thought he should, but that’s why he was a winner.”
Allen truly shot to fame when he claimed the top prize in Season 4 of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ back in 2008. He danced his way to victory, besting the incredibly talented Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who himself tragically passed away in December 2022 at age 40.
Before his big win, Allen spoke with Entertainment Weekly in 2008. He explained how he took modern dance and ballet classes. He felt he needed to learn different styles to become a better dancer. He wanted to widen his understanding of dance before auditioning for the show.
Allen first tried out for the show in Dallas. It took “months” before he moved to Las Vegas for the live performances. He used that time wisely, soaking up “all the classes he could.” This dedication clearly paid off on stage. He admitted he wasn’t always “as technically trained.” He mostly took summer classes, ran track, and played football. He said his training was never “hard training” on its own.
He mentioned that some of the show’s choreography felt “difficult.” But Allen made it his goal to always “make it look easy” when he performed. That was his secret on the stage.
During that same interview, Allen made it clear there was no bad blood between him and Boss. Even though they were competing for the same title, they were good friends. Allen shared that they were “very happy for each other” and were “two of the closest people there” on the show.
After his ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ triumph, Allen didn’t slow down. He showed off his dance skills in the movie ‘Step Up 3D,’ which came out in 2010. He also joined the cast of Oxygen’s ‘Dance Your Ass Off.’ Fans might also remember him from the 2011 remake of ‘Footloose.’ Beyond dance, Allen branched into acting, appearing in commercials and TV shows like ‘Community’ and ‘American Horror Story’ before his passing.
Allen had big dreams beyond dancing. In his 2008 chat with Entertainment Weekly, he laid out his future plans. He wanted to be a recording artist and a choreographer. He hoped to open his own studio and dance company someday. His ultimate goal included having his own record label and becoming a producer. He also wished to pursue modeling.
However, Allen’s life wasn’t without its challenges. Years before his death, he made headlines for a domestic violence arrest in 2016. The incident involved an ex-girlfriend.
In 2017, the details of his legal situation emerged. Allen was sentenced to one year in jail after he pleaded no contest to the charges. Reports from Deadline also stated he received five years of formal probation. Plus, he was ordered to attend one year of domestic violence counseling. The judge also made sure Allen had to stay away from his ex-partner.