So You Think You Can Dance Q & A: Disappointment for Alex Wong

Alex Wong sounded like someone whose heart had broken, but was trying to keep his chin up because really, what else can you do? I’ll be the first to admit that he didn’t hold a special place in my heart as a competitor on the show, but I’d have to be completely insane not to recognize his amazing abilities. I, along with everyone else, felt sorrow and disappointment at the announcement of his injury last week.

Many of the interview questions revolved around his injury, the upcoming surgery and recovery, and his intention of returning to next year’s So You Think You Can Dance.

According to Alex, his injury occurred during the last eight count of the last run through of the Bollywood piece with Adechike. He heard a loud crack and thought perhaps the floor buckled before he realized it was his own ankle he heard. He knew before the show Thursday night that he would be going home, having gotten the word from the doctors that his Achilles had split in half.

The pain, he says, is more emotional than physical. He’s so frustrated at having to bow out early after having worked so hard and given up so much to be back on the show this season. He is having surgery on July 13^th, and the recovery process – which involves painful and slow physical therapy – could last up to a year.

As far as returning to the show next season, Alex answered with a guarded tone in his voice. He did say more than once that he didn’t feel as though he got the chance to complete his journey, to finish what he started. That said, he needs to focus on recovering well enough to dance at his old level again at all, never mind on the show. There is so much more for him to learn, and that’s why he came on the show to begin with, so if everything works out he will be back. He did mention how much work the show is, how much you have to sacrifice without even knowing for sure you will make it into the top twenty (or ten), so that will be a point to consider as well.

As far as other questions, ones related to dance, Alex loved learning the styles apart from ballet – that’s why he wanted to do the show. He loved the Hip-Hop routine that won him so much love from the judges and audience, and also looked forward to the Bollywood number he never got to perform. He enjoyed the Fox Trot and wishes he could have done more ballroom styles, and adored working with each one of the all-stars.

He mentioned again how close all the contestants are, and is the second eliminated dancer to state that the friendships are the best part of the show. They all get along so well, it’s like they caught lightning in a bottle. For Alex, the hardest part is to leave his fellow contestants and the all-stars.

Oh, and for all you fledgling stalkers out there? The shirt Alex wore on the finale is from a company called Peace Love World and he plans on spending the majority of his recovery time in Vancouver, BC.

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Photograph courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro