A TV dance audition that’s been 14 years in the making for Denver teen
“So You Think You Can Dance,” Fox’s popular dancecompetition show, has seen hundreds of performers over 16 seasons and 285 episodes. But how many have been training to audition since they were 5 years old?
Phoebe Kochis, a 19-year-old Highlands Ranch resident, will make her debut on the July 1 audition episode. Whether or not she advances, that in itself is a triumph. Kochis has been doing everything in her power to get on the show for the past 14 years, and her path to it has been more difficult than most.
Kochis has Down syndrome,
the genetic disorder that leads to lifelong physical and mental disabilities. Her parents were told not to get their hopes up when she was born, “that she may never potty-train or ride a bike,” according to an emailed statement from her parents. “She showed signs of some talent at an early age, so (we) decided to put her in some ‘special needs’ dance classes, but she was way ahead of the other students, so (we) tried a regular studio and the studio helped to challenge her and she worked hard to stay in classes with typical kids.”
As a result, Phoebe has been dancing since age 3. When she told them two years later that she wanted to be a contestant on “So You Think You Can Dance” — the same night she first saw it on TV — their reaction was more practical than emotional: “That’s 13 years away.” (Note: contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 to be considered for the show.)
Still, Phoebe put in the hard work, dancing six to seven days a week and taking extra private lessons, her parents said. When auditions for the show opened this year in Dallas, her parents sent in an audition tape. To their delight, Phoebe was invited to Dallas and made it through to the Los Angeles-based round.
“She always did gymnastics, cheerleading and dance growing up, but we moved out of the country for a brief time around age 13 and it all stopped,” her parents said. “Once she came back to Colorado, (we) said she could do one of those things and she chose dance. She was invited to audition for her studio’s performance company and even won first place on her solo her senior year.”
Phoebe Kochis poses with security guards in Dallas during a “So You Think You Can Dance” audition. (Provided by Rogers & Cowan)
Since graduating high school, Kochis has been trying a new style — ballroom dancing — although that’s not what you’ll see on the July 1 episode. (Ballroom is still fairly new to her, so Kochis auditioned in a jazz style.)
“Phoebe’s tagline has always been ‘Reach for the Stars,’ and she has!” her parents said. “She gives speeches all around the state, encouraging others with disabilities to reach for the stars! She is like a light wherever she goes.”
Check out Kochis on the “So You Think You Can Dance: Judges Auditions No. 1” episode at 7 p.m. Monday, July 1 on KDVR Channel-31.