# Allison Holker
**Allison Holker** (also known as Allison Holker Boss) is an American dancer, choreographer, and actress known for competing on season 2 of *So You Think You Can Dance* in 2006, returning as an all-star, and serving as a professional dancer on *Dancing with the Stars* across four seasons.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1988, Anoka County, Minnesota; grew up in Orem, Utah[1](https://socinety.com/en/person/allison-holker) • [2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1) |
| SYTYCD | Season 2 contestant (2006, age 18, Top 8 finalist); all-star in seasons 7 through 11[3](https://linda-hoang.com/my-exclusive-sytycdism-com-interview-with-sytycd%E2%80%99s-season-2-top-8-finalist-allison-holker/) • [2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1) |
| DWTS partners | [Jonathan Bennett](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-bennett-actor) (season 19), Riker Lynch (season 20), Andy Grammer (season 21), Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds (season 23)[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth) |
| Best DWTS result | Runner-up with Riker Lynch in season 20 after leading the leaderboard and earning perfect semifinal scores[5](https://time.com/3856703/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-finals-noah-galloway-riker-lynch-nastia-liukin-rumer-willis-derek-hough/) |
| Emmy nomination | 2013 Primetime Emmy, Outstanding Choreography, for "Heart Cry" and "Stars", shared with Derek Hough[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/awards/) |
| Marriage | Married Stephen "tWitch" Boss on December 10, 2013; he died December 14, 2022[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/) |
| Later roles | Judge on *So You Think You Can Dance* season 18 (2024) alongside Maksim Chmerkovskiy and JoJo Siwa[8](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/allison-holker-talks-her-think-202008080.html) |
| Books | *Keep Dancing Through: A Boss Family Groove* (January 2025) and the memoir *This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light* (February 4, 2025)[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth) |
## Early training and competition wins
Holker trained at "The Dance Club" studio in [Orem, Utah](https://www.edgepedia.org/orem-utah), specializing in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and tap. Sources give different accounts of when she started there: IMDb says she began at age nine[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/), while a Women Fitness profile places her formal training at the studio from age four, with teaching at the same studio from age 16[2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1). She entered national competitions and won the Co DANCE national competition in 2004 and the National Senior Outstanding Dancer title at the New York City Dance Alliance in 2005[2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1). She graduated from Timpanogos High School in June 2006[2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1).
Before her television debut she performed with [Earth, Wind & Fire](https://www.edgepedia.org/earth-wind-and-fire) in the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2002 Utah Olympics, danced in the tap show "Revolution" and on the "Ballroom with a Twist" tour choreographed by Louis van Amstel, and appeared as a cheerleader in *High School Musical* (2006) and *High School Musical 2* (2007)[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/).
## So You Think You Can Dance
At age 18, Holker competed on season 2 of *So You Think You Can Dance*, dancing the salsa with partner Ivan Koumaev during the run and surviving the first week of the competition[9](https://www.deseret.com/2006/6/20/19959599/orem-dancers-put-steps-utah-in-the-spotlight/). A Deseret News profile that June paired her with fellow Orem dancer Jaymz Tuaileva and noted Orem's long-standing tradition of producing successful dancers[9](https://www.deseret.com/2006/6/20/19959599/orem-dancers-put-steps-utah-in-the-spotlight/). She left the show as a Top 8 finalist[3](https://linda-hoang.com/my-exclusive-sytycdism-com-interview-with-sytycd%E2%80%99s-season-2-top-8-finalist-allison-holker/), though IMDb states she made the top 6[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/).
**All-Star return.** In 2010 the network invited her back as one of 12 all-stars for season 7, a new aspect of the program in which former contestants partnered the competing dancers each week[10](https://www.deseret.com/2010/11/1/20150163/orem-dancer-thrilled-to-be-part-of-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tour/). It was there that she met fellow dancer Stephen "tWitch" Boss[2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1). Her favorite routine to perform was "Fix You", a contemporary work choreographed by [Travis Wall](https://www.edgepedia.org/travis-wall) in which she danced with runner-up Robert Roldan, and she carried it onto the show's 40-city national tour[10](https://www.deseret.com/2010/11/1/20150163/orem-dancer-thrilled-to-be-part-of-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tour/). She continued appearing as an all-star through seasons 7 to 11[2](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1).
## Dancing with the Stars
Holker debuted as a professional on *Dancing with the Stars* in season 19, partnered with *Mean Girls* actor Jonathan Bennett[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth). For season 20 her celebrity partner was [Riker Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/riker-lynch), the singer from R5; the pair led the leaderboard all season and earned perfect marks on both dances in the semifinals, ultimately placing second.[5](https://time.com/3856703/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-finals-noah-galloway-riker-lynch-nastia-liukin-rumer-willis-derek-hough/) Their season included a Captain Jack Sparrow paso doble to "[He's a Pirate](https://www.edgepedia.org/hes-a-pirate)" during Disney week that scored 38 out of 40[11](https://time.com/3819649/dancing-with-the-stars-disney-dwts-derek-hough-rumer-willis-chris-soules/).
She returned with singer [Andy Grammer](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-grammer) in season 21[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth). Their "Good Morning" routine from *Singin' in the Rain* earned a perfect 40 out of 40 from the judges[12](https://time.com/4079191/dancing-with-the-stars-olivia-newton-john-paula-deen-vogue/). During that season's switch-up week, after announcing her second pregnancy, she choreographed a Disney-style Viennese waltz for teenage Vine star [Hayes Grier](https://www.edgepedia.org/hayes-grier)[13](https://time.com/4070889/dancing-with-the-stars-recap-switch-up/). Her final season as a professional was season 23, with Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth).
Her 2013 Emmy nomination recognized "Heart Cry" and "Stars", routines she choreographed with [Derek Hough](https://www.edgepedia.org/derek-hough) for the show[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/awards/). That year's ceremony presented the Outstanding Choreography award live for the first time, with a group number created by the nominated choreographers including Holker and Hough[14](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/first-dance) • [15](https://www.tvguide.com/news/emmys-dance-tayeh-holker-1070435/).
## Screen and hosting work
Beyond the competition shows, Holker played a Devil Girl on the VH1 series *Hit the Floor* (2013 to 2014, 18 episodes), appeared as Gina in *Make Your Move* (2013), and danced in *Footloose* (2011), *[House](https://www.edgepedia.org/house-tv-series)* (2011), and the [Christina Perri](https://www.edgepedia.org/christina-perri) "Jar of Hearts" video[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/). Her hosting and judging credits include *Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings* (2017 to 2018), the judge's chair on *The Funny Dance Show* (2020), and HGTV's *Design Star: Next Gen* (2021)[16](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/allison-holker/). She is a co-founder and resident choreographer of the online studio CLI Studios[17](https://www.clistudios.com/online-dance-classes/instructors/allisonholker/), and with Boss built a large TikTok presence filming family dance videos during the coronavirus pandemic[18](https://www.etonline.com/allison-holker-and-stephen-twitch-boss-on-why-they-love-being-on-tiktok-as-professional-dancers).
## Personal life
Holker married Stephen "tWitch" Boss, whom she met on *So You Think You Can Dance*, on December 10, 2013[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/). Boss, a DJ on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* and a judge on SYTYCD season 17, died in December 2022 at age 40[19](https://www.etonline.com/allison-holker-returns-to-so-you-think-you-can-dance-set-1-year-after-husband-stephen-twitch-boss). She has three children: daughter Weslie, and Maddox and Zaia with Boss[20](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/why-allison-holker-cried-after-live-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tours/).
After Boss's death she founded the Move With Kindness Foundation, which aims to carry on his legacy by spreading love and mental health awareness[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth). In 2024 she returned to *So You Think You Can Dance* as a judge for season 18, joining [Maksim Chmerkovskiy](https://www.edgepedia.org/maksim-chmerkovskiy) and [JoJo Siwa](https://www.edgepedia.org/jojo-siwa) on the panel[8](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/allison-holker-talks-her-think-202008080.html), and spoke publicly about moving through grief and a changed sense of purpose[21](https://www.glamour.com/story/allison-holker-now-my-purpose-is-different). She published the children's book *Keep Dancing Through: A Boss Family Groove* in January 2025 and the memoir *This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light* on February 4, 2025[4](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth).
## References
1. [Allison Holker, Socinety](https://socinety.com/en/person/allison-holker)
2. [Allison Holker: Exceptional Professional Dancer Reveals Her Workout, Diet & Beauty Secrets, Women Fitness](https://www.womenfitness.net/allison-holker/?amp=1)
3. [My Exclusive SYTYCDISM.COM Interview with SYTYCD's Season 2 Top 8 Finalist, Allison Holker, Linda Hoang](https://linda-hoang.com/my-exclusive-sytycdism-com-interview-with-sytycd%E2%80%99s-season-2-top-8-finalist-allison-holker/)
4. [Allison Holker's Net Worth in 2025, Parade](https://parade.com/celebrities/allison-holker-net-worth)
5. [Dancing With the Stars Recap: Here Are the Finalists, Time](https://time.com/3856703/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-finals-noah-galloway-riker-lynch-nastia-liukin-rumer-willis-derek-hough/)
6. [Allison Holker – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/awards/)
7. [Allison Holker, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2217540/)
8. [Allison Holker Talks Her 'So You Think You Can Dance' Finale 'Chandelier Dress', Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/allison-holker-talks-her-think-202008080.html)
9. [Orem dancers put steps, Utah in the spotlight, Deseret News (June 20, 2006)](https://www.deseret.com/2006/6/20/19959599/orem-dancers-put-steps-utah-in-the-spotlight/)
10. [Orem dancer thrilled to be part of 'So You Think You Can Dance' tour, Deseret News (November 1, 2010)](https://www.deseret.com/2010/11/1/20150163/orem-dancer-thrilled-to-be-part-of-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tour/)
11. [Dancing With the Stars Watch: No Dirty Dancing During Disney Week, Time](https://time.com/3819649/dancing-with-the-stars-disney-dwts-derek-hough-rumer-willis-chris-soules/)
12. [Dancing With the Stars Watch: Olivia Newton John Had to Watch Paula Deen Vogue, Time](https://time.com/4079191/dancing-with-the-stars-olivia-newton-john-paula-deen-vogue/)
13. [Dancing with the Stars Watch: Chaos Rules on The Switch Up, Time](https://time.com/4070889/dancing-with-the-stars-recap-switch-up/)
14. [First Dance, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/first-dance)
15. [SYTYCD Vets Sonya Tayeh, Allison Holker on Creating Emmys' Big Dance Number, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/emmys-dance-tayeh-holker-1070435/)
16. [Allison Holker – Dancer, Host, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/allison-holker/)
17. [Take Dance Lessons Online With Allison Holker at CLI Studios](https://www.clistudios.com/online-dance-classes/instructors/allisonholker/)
18. [Allison Holker and Stephen 'tWitch' Boss on Why They Love Being on TikTok as Professional Dancers, Entertainment Tonight](https://www.etonline.com/allison-holker-and-stephen-twitch-boss-on-why-they-love-being-on-tiktok-as-professional-dancers)
19. [Allison Holker Returns to 'So You Think You Can Dance' Set 1 Year After Husband Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' Death, Entertainment Tonight](https://www.etonline.com/allison-holker-returns-to-so-you-think-you-can-dance-set-1-year-after-husband-stephen-twitch-boss)
20. [Why Allison Holker Cried After Live So You Think You Can Dance Tours, Us Weekly](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/why-allison-holker-cried-after-live-so-you-think-you-can-dance-tours/)
21. [Allison Holker: 'Now My Purpose Is Different', Glamour](https://www.glamour.com/story/allison-holker-now-my-purpose-is-different)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Reality and competition franchise editions › Dancing with the Stars and dance-competition franchises*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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