8 Things to Know About ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Judge Stephen “tWitch” Boss
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The next season of So You Think You Can Dance is truly right around the corner. Season 17 of So You Think You Can Dance premieres on May 18 with a brand new judging panel. Here’s everything you need to know about the new judge, Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss returns to the So You Think You Can Dance ballroom for the premiere. In the reinvented series, he sits as a judge alongside Glee actor Matthew Morrison and Dancing With the Stars runner up JoJo Siwa. Here’s everything you need to know about him ahead of the premiere.
1. He Competed on So You Think You Can Dance
The premiere of So You Think You Can Dance will not be Boss’s first appearance on the series. The hip hop dancer originally competed on the series on season four in 2008. At the conclusion of the season, Boss earned the title of runner-up behind Joshua Allen. It was later reported that this dancer originally auditioned for season three, but was not selected to be in the Top 20.
Boss’s most notable performance on So You Think You Can Dance was a Contemporary piece choreographed by Mia Michaels. The hip hop dancer took the stage with Katee Shean for this dance. The choreography of the dance was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award that year.
2. He’s Worked On The Ellen DeGeneres Show
In current day, Boss is mostly known for his role as a DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. This hip-hop dancer has worked as a DJ on the talk show series since April 2014. While So You Think You Can Dance was his big break for dance, this was his big break as a on-screen personality.
On top of being known as Degeneres’ DJ, Boss worked on his own mini series in addition to hosting game show, Ellen’s Game of Games. His 2018 mini series was named tWitch Please…Help Me Dance. It featured him teaching dance moves to people in need of a lesson.
3. He’s the Host of Clash of The Cover Bands, The Real Dirty Dancing
Recently, Boss has been seen in multiple hosting jobs outside of The Ellen Degeneres Show. In 2021, he was featured as the first ever host of Clash of The Cover Bands. The E! series featured several cover bands fighting it out for $100,000 and a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In 2022, he was featured as the host of the The Real Dirty Dancing. This FOX production included celebrity contestants attempting to recreate the famous dances from the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.
4. So You Think You Can Dance Wasn’t His TV Debut
Boss was actually featured on national television way before auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. He also appeared on the series The Wade Robson Project and Star Search. In 2003, Boss placed third in the The Wade Robson Project and later won second place on Star Search.
5. He’s Been in Several Films
I promise you’ve seen Boss in a film before. After rising to fame on The Ellen Degeneres Show he got the opportunity to join the cast of Magic Mike XXL. Among his lengthy film credits are multiple films in the Step Up franchise, the 2007 adaptation of Hairspray, the 2016 adaptation of Ghostbusters, and more.
6. He Married a So You Think You Can Dance alum
Boss connected with his current wife, Allison Holker, after season seven of So You Think You Can Dance. At the wrap party they acknowledged their feelings for one another. The couple wed on December 10, 2013. At this time, Boss also adopted Holker’s daughter, Weslie Renae Boss. In current day, Boss and Holker have three children, Weslie Renae Boss (13), Maddox Laurel Boss (6), and Zaia Boss (2).
7. He Has Been a Guest Dancer on Dancing With the Stars
Even though Boss has been busy with The Ellen Degeneres Show, he hasn’t strayed away from the So You Think You Can Dance legacy. Most So You Think You Can Dance alum transition onto Dancing With the Stars soon after their season concludes. While Boss has never worked as a professional on the series, he did guest star. He appeared on DWTS with Holker, dancing to Lindsey Stirling‘s live violin performance in 2013.
8. His Nickname Came From Various Inspirations
One of the biggest questions about this dancer is within the origin of his name. Reports state that Boss originally got the nickname “tWitch” in his youth and it followed him into his adulthood. It was originally his dance style (known as popping) involves him performing jerky, robotic-like moves, that prompted the nickname. His peers called him “tWitch” because of this dance form.
Reports also state that the name is inspired from Boss’s first car. The dancer named his car Twitch when he began travelling for dance and teaching dance. He noted that he would often choreograph in his car, so it seems like that’s how the name stuck.
