Travis Wall has made quite a name for himself these past couple of years. The “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant-turned-choreographer-turned-Emmy nominee, 24, talked with HuffPost Celebrity about his dance journey and his new gig for “Step Up 4.”
Wall competed during the second season of “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2006, and though he didn’t take home the grand prize, he has gone on to become a regular choreographer on the FOX summer show.
“It’s definitely been a roller coaster. I had my eyes set on it the whole time, when I went on the show [during Season 2]. When I exited the show, I told them, ‘I will choreograph for this show one day.’” said Wall, who was nominated for an Emmy this year for his work on the show.
Over the summer, fans also got a treat when Wall stepped out from choreographer land and into the spotlight once again, joining Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy at the judges’ table one week.
“I loved it, especially after so many years of sitting in the audience or watching at home, just wishing that some of the judges would say some of the things that I wanted to say,” he said about being a guest judge, adding he was nervous at first but was glad to be given the opportunity to give specific and technical critiques -- especially for the contemporary dancers.
But while “SYTYCD” is on hiatus, Wall is busy in Miami choreographing several dance numbers for the upcoming “Step Up 4.” Like the previous “Step Up” films, it’s all about the dancing -- but the movie has a different vibe this time around.
“It’s not so much ‘to the streets’ this time. It’s based around a hip-hop flash-mob,” he said about the film, which will bring together a hip-hop dancer and a contemporary dancer, naturally.
Wall is teaming up with producer and frequent “SYTYCD” guest judge Adam Shankman and choreographer Jamal Sims for the film, with Wall is taking care of all the contemporary routines.
“There’s a contemporary company in the movie, so anything they do -- if they’re rehearsing, anything the lead does, etc. -- I choreographer,“ said Wall, who will receive a full choreographer credit for the film.
“SYTYCD” fans will be happy see fan favorites Kathryn McCormick (Season 6), Billy Bell (Season 6), Stephen “Twitch” Boss (Season 4), Nick Lazzarini (Season 1) and Tony Bellissimo (Season 5) in the upcoming flick -- as well as newcomer Ryan Guzman, who had never really had any formal dance training before stepping on the set.
“He’s never danced a day in his life,” Wall said of Guzman, but don’t think his lack of training will get in the way of the final product. “The contemporary duet is going to be unbelievable.”
To add even more projects to his already packed schedule -- which includes choreographing Demi Lovato’s tour -- Wall is set to film a pilot for a reality series, “Kings of Dance,” which will follow his life as a choreographer in L.A.
“It’s about me and my two best friends, Teddy Forance and Nick Lazzarini … We’re like the up-and-coming dancers-turned-choreographers and we are starting a dance company together,” he said. “We’re lifting the curtain on the choreography process.”
“When we have a job, like choreographing the VMAs -- from the minute I get the call, from the minute I get the music, from the minute I get it on paper and we start the dance, and then you see the final product at the end.”
