Jakob Karr has a message for his fans from “So You Think You Can Dance”: Don’t be disappointed with the outcome Wednesday night.
The 19-year-old from Windermere says he is happy even though he placed second in the Fox dance contest. Viewers determine the winner by phone vote. Russell Ferguson, a hip-hop dancer from Boston, won the contest and a $250,000 cash prize. (Ferguson, left, and Karr wait for the announcement in this Fox photo by Mathieu Young.)
“Whatever happened was meant to happen,” Karr said in a phone interview. “Russell grew a lot and transformed himself every week. I really went in with no expectations. All six of us [finalists] deserved it in different ways. I have heard there was a little bit of uproar — people disagreeing with the outcome — but that’s OK. I’m happy for Russell.”
The judges repeatedly hailed Karr as brilliantly talented, but he said he had to transform himself, too.
“I had to do styles I had never done before,” Karr said. “Latin ballroom was very hard. It takes a long time to master. The quickstep was very hard.”
Performing in Wednesday’s finale was the high point for Karr. “There was no stress,” Karr said. “We had all done the dances. There was no pressure.”
Karr, who lives in New York, said he plans to return there and audition for dance companies and Broadway shows. “I’ve had a couple of things that have come out of the woodwork, but nothing too serious yet,” he said.
What does the second-place finisher get? “There’s not an award,” Karr said. “I’m the only person who will be the runner-up for season six. Only the winner gets the prize money.”
