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Yesterday afternoon, dancer Billy Bell was very much looking forward to see that evening’s episode of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, his very first appearance in the Top 20 of the show’s 6th season.
“That one will be fine to watch,” the 19-year-old from Loxahatchee Groves said. “The one (Tuesday) will be a little sad.”
That’s because he won’t be on it.
Bell, a graduate of Dreyfoos School For The Arts and a current student at New York’s prestigious Julliard School, had to drop out of the competition Monday after being hospitalized for mononucleosis. While he was featured in that evening’s pre-taped show, in which each of the Top 20 dancers was introduced, he won’t be there for Tuesday’s live performance, and has been replaced with hip-hop dancer Brandon Dumlao, from Los Angeles.
“It’s a little upsetting, because you work so hard to get there,” Bell said by telephone from L.A., where he had been released from the hospital just hours earlier. “It’s understandable – they don’t want to put anyone else at risk of (getting sick) and being taken out of the Top 20.”
Bell said he was “feeling fine” last Wednesday, when his place in the Top 20 was announced. This was after an audition process during which he got accidentally clocked in the nose by then-partner Karen Hauer during a rehearsal, and where he made judge Adam Shankman tear up.
“But right after that, I started feeling a little down. I went to the doctor a few days after,” which is when Bell was diagnosed with mono. Although he was released from the hospital Monday and is no longer considered contagious, he was advised to drop out during his four- to six-week recovery period because “when you have mono, your spleen is enlarged. If you dance, your spleen comes out from the bottom of your ribs – you obviously move your ribs – and you don’t want to do physical activity because you don’t want your spleen to rupture,” he said.
Obviously disappointed, Bell said he’s grateful for his fans around the country and locally, more than 50 of whom gathered last week at a restaurant to watch him named to the Top 20.
“I just want to say ‘Thank you’ for all their support. There are so many pictures that my mom has shown me of the little signs that everyone has made for me,” he said. “It really helps to see that you really do have support and backing from home. I get that little hometown feel, and that really helps me get through.”
Bell expected to stay in Los Angeles for another week or so to rest, and was then probably planning to come home to Palm Beach County. He said he’s not sure when he’ll return to Julliard yet, because he’s hoping to be busy.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to apply again for (So You Think You Can Dance),” he said. “I’m staying hopeful and anticipating that I’ll be there on Season 7.”
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He tweeted about five hours ago that he was doing the”tourist” thing with his Mom???
hope he has a good recovery! First the nose and now this, its very unfortunate I hope he gets well soon
This is soooooooo sad. I have a pretty good batting average about predicting the top 10 contestants based on their auditions and varied TV performances and Billy easily made it to that list.
Come back next year Billy!!
Very, very sad. He is a magnificent dancer and I was looking forward to watching his magic grow through this season. It is not at all inconsistent that he would have mono and be out shopping with his mom. It is true that people with mono are especially susceptible to rupturing their spleen and are advised to avoid all risk of trauma to their abdomen, unrelated to how they feel. It is also true that mono is not easily transmitted, so he could well be out without endangering others. I just don’t know why the show has been so silent about the diagnosis. I only hope that he will return in the Spring.
He needs to hit the gym and become stronger in his upper body, I noticed he had problems lifting the girls. He’s a great dancer and I hope to see him next season!!
walking around a bit to see the sights is definitely different than the grueling dance rehersals on SYTYCD…I am SO sad he is sick in addition to Mia leaving…it’s been a hard week. But certainly wish them both well.
After being too young for season 5, and being sick for season 6, I’m looking forward to seeing Billy in season 7, making it all the way to the end. He’s a great dancer and deserves his chance on the show. I’m disappointed he’s not there this year and wish him the best.
you are a wonderful dancer as evidenced by your audition on so you think you can dance. i was truly impressed & really enjoyed your dancing & i know you not only blew the judges away, but many in the tv audience as well. i was really looking forward to seeing you dance in season 6, but things do happen that we have no control over. get well soon & i as will many many people we will be looking with anticipation to see you on season 7. in just the short time that you were seen on so you think you can dance you impressed so many. keep up the good work & i will be looking for you in season 7 thank you for making dancing so great to watch
You dance wonderfully and his choreographies are magic. With his video in youtube, you have many persons of the most distant places of the world who admire you. I am one of these persons and live in Chile. The magic of his dance also came here.