Melanie Moore, contestant on the popular TV show So You Think You Can Dance, has a connection to Auburn University that people might not expect.
Her sister, Megan Elisabeth Moore, goes to Auburn, and the sisters have spent a big portion of their childhood dancing together.
"She started dancing when she was two," Megan said. "I used to dance until eighth grade, and she saw me on stage and decided that was something she really wanted to do and hasn't quit since."
Though Megan is away on a study abroad trip and can't attend the competitions, she still appreciates the talent that led Melanie to do so well on the show.
"Just as much as I'm an inspiration to her, she's an inspiration to me," Megan said. "Honestly we feed off of each other, and we're very close."
Megan also said the show is a great way to showcase all the hard work Melanie put into dancing.
"Obviously the show has meant a lot to her," Megan said. "It's helping her career and her future and showing everyone what my family already knew--that she was an incredible dancer."
Her time on the show is a long way from being the pinnacle of Melanie's career, however, especially since she has so many other talents to pursue after the show.
Melanie has been trained in many different things, including art, which she got a scholarship in from Fordham University in New York. She even designed some of the costumes for her performances.
Though some of her talents may be less of a priority for Melanie during the time she's on the show, dance instructor Becca Moore (of no biological relation to Melanie) thinks she will be able to balance everything with aplomb.
"She does really well in school. She sings. She dances. She acts, and she's not afraid of hard work," Becca said. "She's a perfectionist in a lot of ways, and she's just so committed to everything she does. I think it takes a very special person to be able to juggle all that and do it well."
Becca is confident that once the show is over Melanie will then be ready to experience all that New York has to offer, including its great patronage of the arts.
"I don't think she's been able to take advantage of all the opportunities New York has to offer yet, but there's no doubt in my mind she will," Becca said. "She'll be back there sometime soon, and she'll be able to start auditioning."
Becca attributed her confidence in Melanie not only to her talent as a performer, but to her undeniable charisma as well.
"I think another thing is just having the 'it' factor," Becca said. "She just has it. It's the thing you can't really teach someone. If you put a group of people on the stage everybody's eyes go to one person usually, and she's that person. She just has that quality that draws you in when she performs."
According to choreographer Katie Carroll, who works with Becca Moore at Rhythm Dance Studio in Marietta, Ga., Melanie's 'it' factor has been captivating audiences for some time.
"Melanie has been performing as long as I've known her, that's for sure; probably as long as her mother's known her," Carroll said.
The So You Think You Can Dance competition is a bit different from her other competitions, however, in that all of the performances must be perfected in such a short amount of time.
"I think that's probably the one thing she's had to get used to: the stress of learning something and perfecting it so quickly, but she's obviously done a great job," Becca said.
Carroll also thinks Melanie has done well and admires her for handling the stress of such an intense rehearsal schedule so easily and with a good-natured spirit.
"She's holding up remarkably well and still staying true to herself," Carroll said. "The personality you see on TV isn't an act; it's still her being her and she's doing amazing."
The show may be a different experience from other competitions, but the opportunities to learn and advance are appreciated, and Melanie's family said they are excited about how well she's doing in the competition.
"Pretty much right now we're just taking each week as a blessing and being incredibly supportive and excited for her," Megan said. "Whatever does happen, she's just so happy to be given this opportunity."
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