Last night before Jordan Fisher was crowned the winner, the former Dance Moms star, she was urging her own fans to vote on Instagram.
Now, speaking of SYTYCD, Maddie was addicted to the latest season of the show, which Lex Ishimoto won.
“I’m obsessed with that show,” she told JJJ exclusively in a recent interview. “I knew a lot of people who were on the show this season and I’ve very proud of Lex. He’s incredible. It was great.”
If you remember, Maddie was actually a judge on the Next Generation season last year — and would love for that to come back.
“I hope they do [do that version again]!” she says. “I did have fun getting to work with Nigel Lythgoe, Jason Derulo and Paula Abdul during that season. It was so fun.”
TELL JJJ: Did you like The Next Generation season of SYTYCD?
Lex Ishimoto and Koine Iwasaki pull out their best dance moves for the photo booth after appearing on Build Series in New York City on Monday (October 16).
The two — who placed 1st and 2nd on So You Think You Can Dance season 14 — opened up about auditions, the run of show, and more.
Koine even shouts out Val Chmerkovskiy about teaching her how to salsa in under an hour, saying he was one of her favorite choreographers on the show.
Lex added that when he’s dancing with Koine, especially with the Broadway pizza delivery guy number, that “all I have to do is basically support her.”
He continues, “It’s really easy [with her]. She’s an amazing partner.”
The dancer, who hails from Irvine, Calif., opened up about that final moment and working with season 12 winner and All-star, Gaby Diaz.
“I felt really content with whatever was going to happen,” Lex tells JJJ. “This was one of the scenarios where it was out of my control, for all of us. I did what I needed to do throughout the competition and I was perfectly happy with whatever was going to be the outcome.”
Lex also says that working with Gaby was kind of a dream come true.
“It was amazing. She’s definitely one of those people who’s taught me a lot in this specific experience and I’m so grateful,” he says. “Just seeing her dancing is inspiring and I love her.”
In fact, Lex‘s favorite performance throughout the season was their tap number.
“I felt like it was just a classic, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers vibes and it was actually the only tap number throughout the show. It was a much needed to have tap out there and be seen.”
In fact, Taylor and Lex have been dating for quite a while and were on another tour prior to the show, which is where they met.
JJJ spoke to Lex after his big win and asked him about having Taylor by his side throughout the show.
“It was such a good thing to have,” he revealed. “Without her, I don’t think I would’ve been able to go through this show as much as I actually did.”
Lex adds, “Mentality wise, it’s such a grueling process and to have her by my side was a very calming and made everything so much easier.”
In fact, it wasn’t just Taylor who helped him through the show, but all the Top 10 dancers, especially Kiki Nyemchek and Koine Iwasaki, who rounded out the Top 4.
“It’s actually awesome. All four of us just connected so well together and we felt deserved to be in the Top 4,” Lex said of their friendship. “They all brought something specific to their own table and it felt amazing to experience this with them. They are such great friends.”
If you didn’t know, the two starred together in High School Musical over 10 years ago, and then again, in High School Musical 2!
While Allison didn’t have a speaking part, you can see her in the cheer team in the first movie, and then trying to get her yearbook signed by Sharpay Evans in “What Time Is It?” in the second movie.
If you missed the So You Think You Can Dance finale last night, Vanessa also took the stage to perform “Reminding Me”, her collaboration with Shawn Hook — and even danced with all-star Robert Roldan.
