When you hear names like Maria Kochetkova, Sutton Foster and Robbie Fairchild, you immediately picture flashes of them as the fully-formed, phenomenal performers they are today.

But even when they were kids, they had a glimmer of their future star power, giving a glimpse of what was to come. Thankfully for Instagram, we've got the pictures and home videos to prove it.

Robbie and Megan Fairchild

Now: Talk about talent running in the family. Sister Megan is now a principal at New York City Ballet, while her brother Robbie has since departed NYCB, delving in to Broadway and film, including the much-anticipated Cats film.

Then: The sibling duo was putting on their own shows at home, with Megan lending her old costume to her Robbie. Mid-performance, Robbie even gets snot rubbed off his face.

Diana Vishneva

Now: Full-on ballet royalty, at 43, she's still performing with the Mariinsky and runs her contemporary dance festival, CONTEXT.

Then: Back in 1994, 18-year-old Vishneva gave a welcome address to kick off the new school year at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. It was an honor awarded to the program's most promising senior student.

Natalia Arja and Renan Cerdeiro

Now: The longtime friends are colleagues at Miami City Ballet, where Arja is a principal soloist and Cerdeiro is a principal.

Then: Back home in their native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the pair was chummy, seizing the opportunity to dance together even outside of class.

James Whiteside

Now: Whiteside is his own brand of triple threat: a principal at American Ballet Theatre, pop performer JbDubs and a choreographer.

Then: He was a regular teen who admittedly loved dancing to Britney Spears. We can't say we're surprised.

Daniil Simkin

Now: An international ballet superstar—currently a principal at Staatsballett Berlin and American Ballet Theatre—known for his bounding jumps and sailing turns

Then: A promising young dancer, known for his bounding jumps and sailing turns. Some things never change.

Catherine Hurlin

Now: A captivating soloist who's scooping up roles at American Ballet Theatre, Hurlin is also known by her nickname, Hurricane.

Then: At age 3, Hurlin seemed to be channeling Isadorables vibes, posing in a flowing vintage dress.

Kathryn Morgan

Now: Morgan leaps back into company life this season as a soloist at Miami City Ballet.

Then: From a young age, she was cheesing it up and already feeling at home in a mess of tulle and sequins.

Kyle Abraham

Now: The busy MacArthur "genius" choreographer is creating work this season for his own company, A.I.M, plus Misty Copeland, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Then: Abraham was that cool kid in high school who was also deeply intellectual. A longtime music lover, he played cello as a teen.

Maria Kochetkova

Now: Though the ballet maverick has struck out on her own, leaving traditional company life behind, Kochetkova continues to perform around the world.

Then: While most ballet students dance in a Nutcracker growing up, very few can say their first was at the Bolshoi Ballet School. Welcome to the life of Kochetkova.

Ryan Heffington

Now: Heffington has molded a career out of making the awkward enticingly cool, whether he's choreographing for Sia or crafting the central "five movements" for Netflix's "The OA."

Then: He was a spiffy dance student who appeared several times on "Star Search."

Karina González

Now: A longtime principal at Houston Ballet, the audience favorite also became a mother last year.

Then: As a kid in Venezuela, González was literally bending over backwards to dance. After showing up at the wrong address for dance lessons, we're extremely glad she was swiftly redirected to the right school.

Sutton Foster

Now: Foster is preparing to strike Broadway gold once again for the 2020 revival of The Music Man, in which she'll star opposite Hugh Jackman.

Then: Based on this early tap routine, Sutton was clearly destined for Broadway.

Pep rallies are generally pretty fun. But at Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita, AZ, homecoming assemblies are on a different level. A slightly-too-long speech by the principal and the marching band's pitch-challenged rendition of "Seven Nation Army"? PLEASE. Instead, at Walden Grove, students are treated to a fabulous themed performance by the school's PAC Dance Team. And for the past few years, those homecoming numbers have absolutely shut down the internet.

This year, the group pulled off a Marvel-themed routine that referenced Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, to the delight of everyone at the school and online:

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Does the PAC Dance Team look familiar? Odds are good you've seen one of their previous viral homecoming performances (perhaps last year's Harry Potter-themed extravaganza?). Or maybe you caught them on "America's Got Talent" Season 13.

Here are some of their greatest hits:

"Harry Potter" Homecoming Assembly

"Pixar" Homecoming Assembly

"Wizard of Oz" Homecoming Assembly

"Alice In Wonderland" Homecoming Assembly

PAC Dance Team: High-school Group WILD Act Divides The Judges | America's Got Talent 2018

The PAC Dance Team THEIR BEST PERFORMANCE Quarterfinals 1 America's Got Talent 2018 

For the longest time, dancers were expected to be thin above all. Well-meaning dance teachers used to warn against dancers "getting too bulky." A "serious" dancer wouldn't dream of partaking in any other kind of sport or physical activity—let alone (gasp!) weightlifting.

But in 2019, things have—thank goodness—changed. Terms like strong, muscular, and fit now bring to mind the ideal dancer body, and it's widely recognized that dancers are athletes as well as artists. When it comes to higher jetés, effortless extensions, and rock-solid balances, strength training is a dancer's best friend.

Enter Dancers Who Lift, a health and fitness program that helps dancers reach their bodies' full potential. As a professional dancer and ISSA-certified personal trainer, founder Amber Tacy understands firsthand the demands of a dancer's non-stop lifestyle. Her platform, which includes one-on-one virtual coaching as well as free resources like her blog, email subscription, and Instagram, is designed to bridge the gap between the gym and the studio, empowering dancers with tools to live healthier and dance stronger.

Dance Spirit caught up with Tacy to chat about DWL, cross-training, and lots more.

DS: What's your dance and fitness background, and how did Dancers Who Lift get started?

Tacy: I started college in Virginia as a physical therapy major, but transferred to Marymount Manhattan College and graduated in 2015 with a degree in dance science. That summer, I booked an outdoor theater gig in NYC. I soon hurt my ankle, however, and landed in physical therapy being treated myself. I ended up going so often that the clinic offered me a job! Over the next year, I worked with some of New York's best physical therapists. But I also kept dancing, booking jobs, and having opportunities to perform. Working in the P.T. clinic wasn't where my heart was.

I didn't want injury to be a constant in my life. I started strength training, working with a coach, reading articles and blogs, and talking to people who were in the field. I also started the Dancers Who Lift blog, mainly because I was writing about my strength training journey on social media so much that I could feel my friends and family getting irritated! Eventually, I got my personal trainer certification and started training some of my own clients at the gym.

On the DWL blog, I wrote about connections between certain exercises and improvements in my dancing, and people I had known for years took notice. A girl I grew up dancing with commented about how I looked and danced so differently–she ended up being my first coaching client. To make things more affordable and flexible, I coached her entirely online, and created a P.T./strength training hybrid program personalized for her needs.

Over the course of four months, she got stronger, reduced her risk of injury, and ended up losing 15 pounds, which made her more confident and marketable. Through word of mouth from my friend and people reading my blog, more clients appeared. Suddenly, I had this business.

That's how DWL was born. The blog has been going for three years now and I've been coaching for two online. I also just launched the DWL app, which gives me more direct access to my clients, as opposed to just emails.

No body is the same–I don't train a modern dancer who's doing a lot of floor work the same as I would a ballet dancer, or someone dancing on a cruise ship who needs to be working on their stability. Every workout I plan for my clients is personalized and explained thoroughly, including how it's going to translate into their dancing.

DS: What are some misconceptions that dancers still hold about health and fitness?

Tacy: Growing up, I didn't have any sort of cross-training promoted to me as a dancer. There was no information other than if you were injured, you had to go to P.T. and do the exercises they give you for a few weeks until you started to feel better. Now, cross-training for dancers, particularly strength training, has turned into a movement. You can look at any sort of audition call now, and it'll say "tumbling is a bonus," or "looking for high-energy, athletic dancers."

For dancers, "muscles" definitely shouldn't feel like a bad word. Part of moving forward and progressing dance as an athletic art form is prioritizing muscles, and making sure that we do have athletic-looking dancers. Obviously, if it's someone's first time in a gym, you won't throw two-hundred pounds at them. Your weights should get progressively heavier, however, meaning you're getting progressively stronger, until eventually, maybe you are picking up two-hundred pounds.

Amber Tacy, courtesy Theik Smith Photography

DS: How can dancers tell the difference between factual fitness information and fads, especially on social media?

Tacy: We know a lot more than we give ourselves credit for. Most of us have spent decades honing in on our craft. We know that person didn't get their developpé a la seconde to their ear overnight. It was day after day of showing up at the barre, getting warm, and getting their leg one inch higher. The same is true with your strength training. It's about showing up, practicing, and being diligent, patient, and kind to yourself. There are days when you can show up to a ballet class and fall out of every single turn–that doesn't make you a bad dancer or person, it just means you weren't on your leg that day. The same is true in the gym: You show up and you won't always feel your strongest, or you're out with friends and you won't always choose the best meal for your goals, but you move past it, and look at yourself with empathy and excitement. You're not going to lose or gain weight overnight. It's about showing up and channeling that diligence that we've been taught as dancers.

My philosophy is, I want to give away as much free information as I can. I wish there was more available when I was younger, so I find that it's my responsibility to put out honest, factual content that's easy to understand and to put into practice. Knowledge is power, and I want more dancers to feel powerful in the gym, when they're making nutritional choices, and when they step into an audition or onstage.

DS: What advice do you have for dancers to build a positive body image?

Tacy: That's such a heavy conversation, and I have it with my clients a lot. We're totally right to say "love your body," "be body positive," and "show up in your skin," but unfortunately our industry is not where we are as a society yet. Part of that is knowing you signed up to be in this industry, and as a result, someone else may have the right to dictate how you look for a particular job or part. If you don't align with that, maybe it's not the role for you. We have to remove ourselves emotionally from that and look at it logically. For example, I'm 5 feet tall, so I'm never going to be a Rockette. It doesn't make me a bad dancer, or make the casting director someone who hates me—I'm just not a Rockette build.

You can also look at it from a health standpoint and ask, "Am I going to be able to keep up with the athletic demands of where dance is headed?" It's much better to look at your body as simply the carriage for your performer self. Instead of wanting to look a certain way, think of what you want as a dancer, such as getting through a three-hour show, having longevity in your career and less injury–or even just less frequent soreness. Those are all things I've worked with dancers for.

One thing that I preach is you have to be 100% in love with who you are every time that you step onstage or into an audition. It's wonderful through strength training to watch everyone find themselves in that way. There is something that clicks when my clients lift something super heavy, like one-hundred pounds for the first time after starting with a fifteen-pound dumbbell. As we pass these milestones, confidence grows and people really step into themselves. It's a beautiful growth process to watch and be a part of. On one hand, it's about lifting weights, but as Dancers Who Lift, it's also our responsibility to lift up each other, and elevate the dance community as a whole.

The one before the last one! Last night on "So You Think You Can Dance," the Top 4—Gino, Mariah, Bailey, and Sophie—took to the stage for the final night of competition. They danced with each other in every possible combination, with an All-Star, and in a solo. And, yay, no one was sent home at the end!

Of course, next week, four become one. But until then, here's what you need to know:

The Opening Number

Oh hey, did you know Cats is coming to the big screen later this year? Well, if you didn't as of yesterday morning, you sure as heck did after last night's opening number. In this delightful bit of #sponcon, Gino, Sophie, Mariah, Bailey, and the All-Stars were, sadly, not dressed as cats. But they did have the kind of energy we only get on the second-to-last episode of the season, and it was wonderful. (Way to choreograph the heck out of it, Mandy Moore!)

Sophie & Gino, Jazz with Ray Leeper

O.M.G. Those opening shimmies! All those beautiful developpés! Those many, many controlled pirouettes! There were solid individual moments and a lot of great partnering in this hot-like-fire routine. And oh boy, the chemistry between these two! Mary called it tribal, Dominic called it sexy, Laurieann said they fearlessly attacked the choreography, and Nigel loved the sparks that were happening.

Mariah & Bailey, Smooth Jazz with Jonathan Redavid

The concept here was that Mariah is Bailey's dream girl...which is probably not far from the IRL truth?! (Squeeee!) This partnership has been strong since day one: They're so well matched, have a ton of chemistry, and are totally in sync. Last night, their routine was, well, smooth! It was cheeky without being cheesy, and the audience went absolutely wild for it. So did Dominic, who reminded us all that these two are consistent every week. Laurieann called Bailey's transformation remarkable, and said Mariah was unshakeable and unstoppable. Nigel said Bailey has had the biggest journey on the show ever, and Mary called Mariah full of sass, sophistication, and soul.

Sophie & All-Star Marko, Contemporary with Talia Favia

"Who am I without this person?" That was the question Talia Favia wanted Sophie and Marko to answer in this routine, which was emotionally charged from start to finish. It was pretty tremendous from a technical standpoint, too: At one point, Sophie and Marko went from being in side-by-side headstands, to Sophie jumping on and off of Marko's back, to doing a series of front walkovers. Bonkers! (Our campaign for a Talia Favia Emmy nomination is ongoing. MAKE IT HAPPEN, PEOPLE.) The judges gave it a standing ovation, and especially loved Sophie's onstage journey. Laurieann said Sophie found her strength as a woman and world-changer. Nigel praised Sophie for letting herself go. Mary said there was passion with purpose, and Dominic said it was Sophie's best performance of the entire season.

Bailey & All-Star Comfort, Hip Hop with Luther Brown

YES, Bailey in his element! Normally it's impossible not to stay glued to Comfort, but all eyes were on Bailey for this one. He was sharp, slick, smooth, and spot-on from start to finish. 10/10 would gladly watch again and again. (And the little secret handshake after the routine ended? Eee!) The crowd went nuts and started straight-up CHANTING BAILEY'S NAME. Chills! Goosebumps! Happiness! The judges gave it praise on praise on praise, and Nigel flashed a gold grill, which was...something!

Mariah & Gino, Quickstep with Sharna and Artem

So Mariah and Gino had never danced together, and then their first-ever routine was the quickstep?! Not nice, "SYT." That said, we're talking Mariah and Gino, here. They didn't just handle the fancy-footed choreography—they absolutely nailed it. (The pre-finale energy was off the charts!) Another standing ovation from the judges. Mary gave it an A+, calling it respectable and acknowledging the difficulty of the style. Dominic remembered no one wanting to do the quickstep when he was on the show. Laurieann loved it all, and Nigel approved heartily.

Sophie & Bailey, Bollywood with Nakul Dev Mahajan

Sophie called Bailey her "biggest competition" during rehearsals, which was kind of cool to hear, right? This show is awesomely all about teamwork and camaraderie, but, uh, yeah, it's also a contest! Despite being (not-so-bitter) rivals, Sophie and Bailey worked together beautifully in this jump-filled, joyful routine. (At this point in the show, it was hard not to wonder how the dancers were still standing, let alone performing this stuff full-out. Did all of this week's choreographers get together and say, "Let's really turn it up this week?" They must have.) Laurieann and Nigel wanted more of the details and said it wasn't their VERY best, but Mary said it was fun, and Dominic praised the energy required to pull it off.

Gino & All-Star Melanie, Contemporary with Jaci Royal

For most of the competition, Gino has gotten by on his impeccable technique. But this routine may have been his breakthrough moment. He was, as Nigel said, vulnerable. He was a brilliant partner. He connected with Melanie, during both the big lifts and the quieter, still moments. Bravo, Gino!

Mariah & All-Star Robert, Contemporary with Mandy Moore

This routine was about life's journey, Mandy explained during rehearsals. In other words, it was Operation Get Mariah to Show Vulnerability. And the verdict? Big success. Huge. Nigel loved the lifts. Mary cried and called herself the luckiest person alive for getting to watch performances like that one. Laurieann also cried, and reminded Mariah to "own it." Dominic didn't cry (!), but he said Mariah's dad, who's in prison, would be proud, so everyone else cried.

Bailey & Gino, Broadway with Al Blackstone

Gino said Bailey is his biggest competition in the competition—a sentiment shared earlier by Sophie. Everyone's coming for you, Bailey! Anyway, the Top 2 guys' performance, which gave us all kinds of beach vibes, was easy to watch—slow and smooth, but still complicated, with lots of nuanced movements and hat tricks. (No one dropped a hat, yay!) The judges gave it a standing O, with Nigel calling it his favorite routine of the series. (Casual! Also, spoiler: He's going to want to see this one again next week.) Mary called Bailey and Gino the new couple to beat.

Sophie & Mariah, Hip Hop with Luther Brown

These two are friends! Best friends! (No, really. In real life. How cute is that?) Luther Brown gave them a fab routine filled with cattiness, shade, and a whole lot of sass. Sophie and Mariah were clearly having fun with it, but not so much fun that they didn't hit it hard. It was #ponytailgoals, it was #twerkinggoals—and offstage, at least, it was #friendshipgoals. The judges gave this high-vibing piece a standing ovation and the biggest smiles ever.

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE! And see you next week to find out who will be named America's Favorite Dancer—and Dance Spirit's next cover star!

Jellicle cats, come one and all—because there's even more (and even more amazing) behind-the-scenes footage from the new Cats movie, and it is full of dancey goodness. So, paws whatever you're doing, and go watch this new BTS video right meow (and no, the cat puns aren't stopping).

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While we've been able to see a little bit of Cats from the few videos that have been released, and the somewhat controversial trailer that came out in July, this behind-the-scenes video seems catered to dancers specifically. We get a look inside what appears to be the Cats studio space! We get to see the Les Twins in funny-looking motion capture suits! We get to hear the beautiful Francesca Hayward and Robbie Fairchild talk about what it's actually like to dance in the movie! This video is fur-real a dancer's dream come true.

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This look behind the scenes has us feline some kind of way. Mostly, we're even more excited for the movie to come out so we can see all of the amazing dancing going on at the Jellicle Ball. December 20th can't come soon enough!

Dancers breaking world records before they've even had their morning coffee? Shouldn't surprise you, considering our next-level enthusiasm for absolutely anything that has to do with dance. And that's exactly the feat 300+ dancers—myself included!—achieved this morning on the streets of NYC.

A few weeks ago, dynamic American Ballet Theatre duo Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside sent out an all-call for ballet dancers to appear with them on the morning talk show "Live with Kelly and Ryan" on September 10. The mission? Break the current Guinness World Record for most dancers en pointe simultaneously: 245.

Dancers appeared on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" on September 10 to break a Guinness World Record (Amanda Sherwin)

It was an instant "challenge accepted" from me. When I arrived at the "Live" studios at our call time of 7:30am, there was already a line of excited dancers half a block long (because as any dancer knows, thou shalt always arrive at least 15 minutes before your actual call time). I was assigned to a specific section of the street outside the studios, which had been roped off for the event.

Ready to break the record! (Abby DeReamer)

Students from the Joffrey Ballet School (Amanda Sherwin)

Despite the rain and everyone's obvious lack of sleep, the dancers were in high spirits. And we were all pretty much instantly best friends. Something about the shared pain of wearing those boots for two hours in the rain made bonding pretty easy.

Dancers did what they could to keep their shoes dry! (Amanda Sherwin)

The diversity of the crowd once again reflected that ballet is truly for everyone–I saw boys, girls, beginners and professionals alike, and learned that many had come from around the country to participate in the record-breaking attempt.

The McCarter family, including Rosemary, a former dancer in the Yugoslavia State Ballet, her daughter Elizabeth, a former Joffrey Ballet Company member, and her three granddaughters (Amanda Sherwin)

Dancers young and old came to break the world record, including 7-year-old Laura. (Amanda Sherwin)

And of course, it wouldn't be live TV without star guests! Boylston and Whiteside appeared about an hour into the event, and were soon joined by New York City Ballet principals Tiler Peck, Lauren Lovette, and Maria Kowroski. Host Ryan Seacrest, who wasn't afraid to admit he knew absolutely nothing about "on pointe," and Kelly Ripa, drawing on her 13 years of ballet training to join in on the attempt, also appeared onstage.

(From left) James Whiteside, Isabella Boylston, Kelly Ripa, Tiler Peck, Lauren Lovette, and Maria Kowroski (Amanda Sherwin)

Guinness officials herded us into lines of five in each section, which obviously wasn't hard—we always stan a neat formation. After the officials explained all the rules about the attempt, the clock counted down, and we were off!

In order to officially break the record, we each had to remain en pointe for exactly one minute, and we weren't allowed to lean on each other or hold hands (but thankfully, we were allowed to bourrée, which we took full advantage of). I was having a grand old time using my port de bras, but looking around, most dancers kept their arms down with laser focus, determined to reach the goal. Before we knew it, the minute had passed, and we had done it!

With over 300 dancers participating, we broke the record easily. As soon as we were off the clock, we all high-fived and hugged, to the cheers of the crowd that had gathered to watch. The dancer next to me said, with a look of relief, "I totally cramped up in the middle of that, but nothing was going to make me stop!"

And that, friends, is why dancers absolutely rock.

Each September, as throngs of models and designers descend upon the Big Apple for New York Fashion Week, we at Dance Spirit wait with bated breath for the inevitable fashion/dance collabs to pop up in our Insta feeds. And while the fashion industry has a long, sometimes complicated, sometimes amazing, history with the dance world, it's done nothing but wow us as of late. Case in point? 21-year-old model/dancer extraordinaire Alton Mason's star turn at the Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya show Sunday night (which took place at the historic Apollo Theater, no less).

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alton (@altonmason) on Sep 9, 2019 at 5:53am PDT

Turns out, Mason has a pretty extensive dance background, as evidenced by his undeniable musicality on the runway. Not only did he formerly assist Laurieanne Gibson (and is apparently his godson), but, as he explained in W magazine, "Dance was my first love." He even performed at the BET Awards with Diddy, Lil' Kim, Jadakiss, and Mase.

This wasn't the first time Mason made the entire front row's jaws drop: In January, he went full out (like, round-off-back-handspring-layout full out) for the Louis Vuitton runway show.

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Dancing down the runway at @LouisVuitton🕺#BoFW #pfwm pic.twitter.com/aZoj1AOcMW

— The Business of Fashion (@BoF) January 17, 2019

It's safe to say we are absolutely, officially, 100% Mason stans—and we hope more brands snag him for some super dancy campaigns down the line.

From the moment we saw Darriel Johnakin flash a million-watt smile while nailing a textbook tilt at her Cover Model Search photo shoot this spring, we knew she'd go far in the dance world. Now, having crossed "Dance Spirit Cover Model Search winner" off her bucket list, Darriel's back to doing what she does best: logging long hours in the studio, polishing her technique, applying her teachers' corrections, and trying to be a little bit better than she was yesterday.

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Darriel brought this attitude with her to NYC. We were blown away by her humility, especially as we watched her shine in class at Broadway Dance Center. Her movements were seamless, her extensions and jumps jaw-dropping, her focus unparalleled. And as thousands of votes and social media shares poured in during the contest, it became clear that Darriel's work ethic was super-inspirational to her peers, as well.

Now a sophomore in Pace University's commercial dance program, Darriel caught us up on her whirlwind summer—and what's next.

What have you been up to since your trip to NYC?

In addition to officially finishing my freshman year of college, I had the opportunity to perform at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards with fellow Pace commercial program dancers. I also had the chance to dance in a film choreographed by Martha Nichols, which premieres soon, so stay tuned! I was in NYC during New York City Dance Alliance Nationals, where I volunteered at the Pace recruitment booth during the college fair. I wrapped up my summer at Contemporary Now, an intensive created by the amazing Jenn Freeman, with Peter Chu on faculty.

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What was your favorite part of the Cover Model Search?

I absolutely loved meeting the other finalists, experiencing a professional photo shoot, and meeting the super-fun Dance Spirit staff.

What was your voting campaign strategy?

Post, post, post! I posted on Instagram every day to remind people to vote. I also made pins, and it was fun to see people walking around town wearing them.

What are you looking forward to this year?

I'm so excited to be a sophomore and be with my Pace family! I really can't wait to see what new opportunities arise this year.

What advice do you have for future Cover Model Search finalists?

Just try to live in the moment, make tons of new friends, and always smile!

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Dear readers,

This has been an amazing opportunity and I can't thank you all enough. First, to the staff at Dance Spirit for selecting me as a Cover Model Search finalist: You all are really genuine and loving people. Second, to my partners in this journey, Emma and Diego: I'm hoping for a lifetime of friendship. Thanks to everyone who supported me by voting, sharing, and just getting the word out—my friends, my family, and strangers, too. Lastly, thanks to my mom, the No. 1 dance mom and cheerleader, for campaigning for me.

Love you guys,
Dari

Win a Copy of the New "Ballerina Project" Book

With so much dance in pop culture these days—from TV shows like "Fosse/Verdon" and "Pose" to the resurgence of movie musicals to movement-rich music videos—it's not surprising that the entertainment industry has decided to tip its hat to dance.

This week, plans for an L.A.–based Dance Hall of Fame were announced.

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The organization, helmed by Emmy-award winning director Louis J. Horvitz and Emmy-award winning choreographer Anita Mann, will recognize its inaugural Hall of Fame members at a live televised gala in fall 2020. (Given our ongoing lament that the Tonys doesn't air the presentation of its Best Choreography awards, we're delighted to hear that dance will be getting dedicated airtime. Finally!)

According to a press release, the Dance Hall of Fame will honor "dancers, choreographers, dance-related film directors, dance teams, dance visionaries and others who have made an indelible mark in the industry."

Though its founders are based in the entertainment industry, the honorees won't necessarily be limited to those who work in TV and film. The release states that the Dance Hall of Fame will "embrace and recognize all forms of dance, including ballet, hip-hop, tap, ballroom, jazz, contemporary, ensemble and solo dance for both stage and screen." The founders also confirmed that concert dance will be a consideration.

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While we're certainly excited to see another platform celebrating dance, it's important to note that this isn't the first hall of fame for all genres of dance. The National Museum of Dance, based in Saratoga Springs, New York, houses its own Dance Hall of Fame, which has been recognizing past and present figures since 1987.

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In addition to its awards gala, the L.A.-based Dance Hall of Fame has inherited a video archive from Kurt and Melinda Soderling. According to the organization, the Soderlings have provided thousands of hours of never-before-seen footage, including interviews and glimpses behind the scenes with legends and younger artists alike.

Jimmy Fallon's signature dance sketches are always a good time. But when he gets actual legit dancers to do them with him, they become something truly magical.

So when we heard that Jennifer Lopez—who a) is promoting the surprisingly dancy movie Hustlers, and b) started out as a backup dancer—would be stopping by "The Tonight Show" this week, we got excited. And hoo, boy: We were NOT disappointed.

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Lopez and Fallon ended up breaking down the history of music video dancing, from the Hammer Time to the Macarena, "Single Ladies" to "In My Feelings." They even worked in a pretty great Maddie-Ziegler-in-"Chandelier" impression, complete with bobbed blond wigs.

It's three decades of music video fabulosity in four delightful minutes:

Tucked into an almost two-hour Apple announcement video is pure dance gold: a promo for the newest version of the Apple Watch featuring none other than the trailblazing jack-of-all-styles herself, Emma Portner.

Honestly, Portner's electric, effortless grooving could sell ice to an eskimo. But the Apple Watch is also fitting.

(From Lauren and Chris Grant to FKA twigs, snaps to Apple for continuing their streak of using super-talented performers in their campaigns.)

Check out Portner below!

We're thrilled for our Cover Model Search winner, Darriel Johnakin—but we also love our two runners-up, Diego Pasillas and Emma Sutherland! We talked to Diego about how life has changed since his NYC visit for the contest.

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Hi, Diego! What've you been up to since your trip to NYC?

Well, I got my driver's license, which was really cool! And I got a car. I spent a lot of time at the studio training for Radix Nationals, which paid off, because I won Teen Male Core Performer! That was obviously really nice. And I attended several intensives—DancerPalooza in Long Beach, and a program at my studio called Transform—and did some assisting with my mentor, Shannon Mather.

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You put on a really strong campaign. What strategies did you use?

It was a lot of posting on my Instagram story all day, asking people to vote and keep voting, and then posting pictures on my main social media pages so I stayed on everyone's radar. Lots of reminding people that they could vote every day.

What was your favorite part of the whole Cover Model Search experience?

I definitely loved seeing peoples' reactions to all the photos! I've never really done a dance photo shoot before—or at least not since I was, like, 7. And then to see all my family members and friends voting was really nice. People were super supportive—I really felt the love.

What upcoming projects and events are you excited about?

Mostly I'm excited about touring with Radix all this next season!

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What are your goals for this upcoming year?

To get into more classes in L.A. and get my name out there, since I'm going to be graduating high school in a couple of years and beginning my professional career. I want to start to vibe with choreographers in the industry.

Do you have any advice for future CMS finalists?

Take in every single moment, because this is very special and such an amazing opportunity!

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Dance Spirit family!

First of all, I wanted to thank God for blessing me and surrounding me with all of you wonderful people! And big thanks to everyone who voted for me and supported me on social media during the voting campaign. It was an honor to win Editors' Choice, and then to be a finalist was a dream come true. Photographer Erin Baiano made the shoot super-fun, and the entire Dance Spirit staff took great care of us. Darriel, Emma, and I hit it off immediately, and we had so much fun in such a short time! Finally, I'd like to give thanks to all the choreographers at Mather Dance Company—especially Shannon Mather and Addison Holmes.

Diego

We're thrilled for our Cover Model Search winner, Darriel Johnakin—but we also love our two runners-up, Diego Pasillas and Emma Sutherland! We talked to Emma about how life has changed since her NYC visit for the contest.

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Hi, Emma! What have you been up to since your trip to NYC?

I finished out senior year, both with the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts and with Dance Industry, my studio. I committed to the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, which is exciting! At the end of June, I attended the Presidential Scholar national recognition program in D.C. (Yes, I met Trump.) There were so many smart people there; I was intimidated! Then came New York City Dance Alliance Nationals in July, where I performed for probably the last time with my studio. The next day, I attended orientation at USC, where I met lots of people. After a few days at home, I left for a two-week William Forsythe intensive in Moncalvo, Italy. It was so beautiful—we glamped! Then I had just a bit of time off before Welcome Week at USC. I thought I was going to be home a lot this summer, but it turned out to be my busiest summer yet.

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How did you campaign during the voting period?

It was difficult, just because of how chaotic my schedule was. I mostly shared posts from other people via Instagram. My family and friends were very supportive and always posted for me, which was very generous of them. My studio was so helpful, too. YoungArts tweeted for me a couple times, and my fellow Presidential Scholar winners were voting for me. I've had people behind me this whole time, which has been really nice, because I've found that it's very difficult to advocate for yourself.

What was your favorite part of the Cover Model Search experience?

Meeting all the staff and Diego and Dari. It was so interesting to learn about everyone's lives and their jobs, and what it's like working in NYC. Getting to know Diego and Dari so well was awesome. We chat frequently now, and it's cool to have such supportive people that I know will be in my life later on.

How do you think you've grown since the trip?

I've had so many opportunities recently to travel, meet new people, and learn how great it is to collaborate with others. From YoungArts to the Cover Model Search to the Presidential Scholar program to college orientation, I've been embracing novel experiences—which was not my forte before this year..

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What are your goals for the coming year?

I think it'll be a year of discovery for me. A really, really big thing at USC is just figuring out what kind of artist you want to be, and I know I want to bring more diversity to my movement. My goal is to successfully acclimate to college life while growing as an artist and as an individual. I know it'll be fun and interesting and challenging, all at once. I'm really excited.

What advice do you have for future CMS hopefuls?

I think that when it comes to self-advertising, it's important to think about how you want to present yourself as an artist. You don't need to come off as a certain type of person, or look like a certain type of dancer, to succeed. Your special qualities are what make you fascinating to people. It's important for future CMS finalists to really embrace their uniqueness.

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Dear readers,

My experience as a Dance Spirit Cover Model Search finalist was truly incredible! I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to be a part of it. I'm so appreciative of my family, friends, teachers, and everyone who voted for and promoted me during the contest—you are all the BEST! I am especially thankful for the amazing staff at Dance Spirit, who made this a very special experience from beginning to end. The photo shoot, classes at Broadway Dance Center, our outing to see King Kong on Broadway—these are amazing memories I will never forget. Also, enormous thanks to my dance family at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center, and to Mark Caserta for giving me the beautiful movement I explored in my submission solo. I would not be who I am today without all of you. To Diego and Dari: I had the best time in NYC, and am truly honored to have been a part of this alongside y'all!

Love,

Emma

We absolutely stan a music video that makes a commitment to showcasing serious dancers. Which is why we're full-blown excited for the new video for Netsky's "Snitch."

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Catch hip-hop phenoms Tahani Anderson and Sammy B dance-battling it out in this video, in a routine choreographed by none other than our fave, Dana Alexa. Alexa even makes a guest appearance as the too-cool-for-schoolteacher, which totally makes us regret not going to whatever school she teaches at.

We can get enough of the dancy goodness in this video, and we think you're going to love it too:

It's been 14 years (!) since "So You Think You Can Dance" first graced our television screens. Over its 16 seasons, the prolific show has presented hundreds of routines. And many of them have been jump-off-your-couch-and-cheer great. "SYT" numbers regularly wow viewers, win Emmy Awards, and launch the careers of dancers and choreographers.

So in a way we weren't surprised that, when asked to pick their favorite "SYT" routines, producer Nigel Lythgoe and host Cat Deeley had the same initial response: It's too hard! We asked them to choose 5 to 10 pieces; Lythgoe couldn't narrow his list to fewer than 12.

In the end, their agonized-over choices included not only stone-cold classics, but also some unexpected picks. Here—in chronological order—are the "SYT" numbers Deeley and Lythgoe can't live without. —Margaret Fuhrer

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Cat Deeley

"Ramalama (Bang Bang)," choreographed by Wade Robson, danced by the Top 10 (Season 2)

"This was my first season on the show, and I'd never seen anything like this routine! Wade just took things to an entirely different level, and the ghoul-and-goblin hair and makeup was absolutely incredible, too."

Also a Nigel favorite!

"Gravity," choreographed by Mia Michaels, danced by Kayla Radomski and Kupono Aweau (Season 5)

"Growing up, I'd seen the ballet at Christmas, and it was all very beautiful and lovely. But I'd never seen dance take on truly dark subject matter until this routine. Mia has the most incredible mind—she can translate deep, inexpressible emotions into movement that surprises you but also hits you powerfully."

Also a Nigel favorite!

"Run the World (Girls)," choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo, danced by Comfort Fedoke and Jasmine Harper (Season 10)

"Jasmine and Comfort, plus Nappytabs choreography, plus Beyoncé! Oh my goodness, all I wanted was to have my own bike and plaid shirt and hot pants and join them onstage. And when we went to the White House as part of Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, Michelle told us this was her favorite routine!"

"The Mirror," choreographed by Travis Wall, danced by J.T. Church and Robert Roldan (Season 13)

"This routine seemed to move just about everybody, didn't it? So beautiful. And I personally got to give Travis his Emmy Award for this one, so for me it's extra special."

Also a Nigel favorite!

"It Takes a Lot to Know a Man," choreographed by Travis Wall, danced by Darius Hickman and Taylor Sieve (Season 15)

"Travis really got at the prejudices that seem to be driving too many people in the world at the moment. This routine asked us to be kinder to each other, more empathetic. What a powerful message that is. I have two little boys, and I'd like to think that they could be anything they want to be, so this one touched me."

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Nigel Lythgoe

"Calling You," choreographed by Mia Michaels, danced by Heidi Groskeutz and Travis Wall (Season 2)

"I asked Mia about the story behind this one, and she said it's about two great friends, one of whom has a physical love for the other that can't be reciprocated. The flower that Travis can't quite take from Heidi, the bench that separates them—it all symbolizes the love he can't give her, because he's gay."

"The Chairman's Waltz," choreographed by Wade Robson, danced by Jaimie Goodwin and Hokuto "Hok" Konishi (Season 3)

"The hummingbird and the flower routine was so clever in the way it highlighted Hok's abilities as a b-boy. Really tremendous."

"Are You the One," choreographed by Mia Michaels, danced by Neil Haskell and Danny Tidwell (Season 3)

"The two princes! I got letters afterward from fathers saying, 'I wanted my son to be a football player, but then I saw this piece and realized how athletic dance could be.' I thought, Wow—we're really changing people's opinions."

"Dhoom Tanna," choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan, danced by Joshua Allen and Katee Shean (Season 4)

The very first Bollywood routine we did, it was just fantastic, just nonstop energy—I don't know where they got their breath from.

"This Woman's Work," choreographed by Tyce Diorio, danced by Melissa Sandvig and Abe Obayomi (Season 5)

"Tyce's breast cancer routine made such an impact. I'm sure it meant worlds to people who'd been through illness."

"Outta Your Mind," choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, danced by Stephen "tWitch" Boss and Alex Wong (Season 7)

"This one showed one of the greatest strengths of the show, which is the versatility it brings out in the dancers. There was Alex, a ballet dancer, looking fantastic in a hip-hop routine next to tWitch!"

"Fix You," choreographed by Travis Wall, danced by Allison Holker and Robert Roldan (Season 7)

"You can't have a list like this without Travis. This one was very personal to him, and just beautiful."

"After Party," choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, danced by Du-Shaunt "Fik-Shun" Stegall and Amy Yakima (Season 10)

"Sometimes you just want to see dancers having great fun, and it doesn't get more fun than Fik-Shun and Amy as bellboys."

"Strange Fruit," choreographed by Travis Wall, danced by the Top 9 All-Stars (Season 14)

"Travis is brilliant at making social statements in movement rather than words. This one actually made me feel ill, physically sick, while watching it—I had such a powerful emotional response to the choreography."

We've been dying to hear more about "On Pointe," a docuseries following students at the School of American Ballet, since we first got wind of the project this spring. Now—finally!—we know where this can't-miss show is going to live: It was just announced that Disney+, the new streaming service set to launch November 12, has ordered the series.

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Otherwise, "On Pointe" remains fairly mysterious. We've heard that there will be six episodes, following a year in the life of a group of SAB students, including their prep for New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. We know that its crew got unprecedented access to SAB, and that its producers include bold-faced names like Ron Howard. We know that "On Pointe" will be in excellent dance company, since Disney+ is also home to the much-anticipated "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series."

All of which to say we're still very much hoping "On Pointe" will fill the "Strictly Ballet"–sized hole in our hearts. (Pretty, pretty please!)

Win Tickets to a "High Strung Free Dance" Screening

YouTubers and Arnold sister stans, take note: One of our favorite powerhouse dancing families is starting its own YouTube channel! And considering that the Arnolds have gathered over nine thousand subscribers in just five days, it seems like we're not the only ones who've been dreaming of this moment.

The four sisters—Lindsay, Jensen, Brynley, and Rylee—are ballroom-world royalty. And they're no strangers to the camera: They've made their mark all over dance television, from "Dancing with the Stars" and "DWTS Juniors" to "So You Think You Can Dance." Second-oldest sib Jensen says they started the channel as a way to keep others updated on their lives, and of course, as an excuse for quality sister bonding time. "We have an amazing following that genuinely wants to see what we are doing and what we're up to, and this is the perfect way to show that," she says.

New videos are set to be released every Thursday, but you can check out the first two on their channel now!

In "So You Think You Can Dance" Land, there are really two finales.

First, there's the competition finale. The second-to-last episode—the one that matters. The one where the Top 4 dancers must step it up to an unbelievably high, seemingly unsustainable level, dancing for their lives for a full two hours. It's an exciting episode, that almost-finale. But it's stressful.

That's why the finale finale—the one where we find out the results—is so much fun. When the last finale rolls around, everyone can relax. The results—a tally of the combined votes from the past two weeks—are in. This finale, the real finale, means it's time to take a deep breath and just dance.

It's not that the final episode doesn't matter. It matters! But this one is just for fun. This one is the celebration of surviving the season—for the Top 4, the judges, and, hey, the audience in the studio and at home.

And of course, this show's 16th finale didn't disappoint. Cat Deeley in that sleek, sexy black ensemble definitely didn't disappoint. All the tearful montages didn't disappoint. And the revisiting of the best performances of the season—well, that part never disappoints!

After a brilliant, high-energy, disco-esque opening number for the Top 10 (courtesy Mandy Moore) and nearly two hours' worth of the most memorable routines of the season (chosen by the judges and the Top 4), it was time to reveal the results:

Biggest, sparkliest, happiest CONGRATULATIONS to Bailey! He's your "SYTYCD" Season 16 winner, nabbing the title of America's Favorite Dancer, taking home $250,000, and getting his very own cover of Dance Spirit. (Mariah was runner-up, Gino was second runner-up, and Sophie was third.)

That's a wrap on sweet Season 16. Thanks for hanging out with us all season long.