The opportunity to speak with Ralyn was a chance I couldn't pass up, having first been captivated by her performances on So You Think You Can Dance. Upon hearing her announcement as a contestant, followed by the revelation of her roots in Walker, Louisiana, I knew I had to reach out.
As she emerged from her vehicle, Ralyn was a vision in a chic crop top paired with a striking brown fluff jacket. Her ripped knee jeans were perfectly complemented by a stylish pair of brown boots, creating an ensemble that perfectly encapsulated her personality - effortlessly cool, fun-loving, and radiating confidence and style.
Photographing Ralyn was a delightful experience, but even more enjoyable was the opportunity to engage in conversation with her. Her wit and humor made the interview fly by.
At the young age of 18, Ralyn auditioned for the highly acclaimed So You Think You Can Dance competition. She grew up watching some of her favorite YouTube dancers on SYTYCD: The Next Generation.
So when she found out auditions were being held in New Orleans, it was too perfect to not give it a shot.
Even though auditions were held close to home, the COVID-19 pandemic made the process far from what Ralyn had anticipated. "I expected to see crowds of people everywhere, but they actually put us in smaller groups." She was also surprised to find that she was one of the youngest dancers in the room, with the minimum age being 18.
Before even stepping foot in front of the judges, Ralyn had to send in a video of her solo performance to be allowed to audition in person. She then performed the same solo three more times during the audition process. Despite the pressure, Ralyn wowed the judges and received a standing ovation.
Ralyn was still in high school during her audition which caused some challenges. She had to miss lessons during the lengthy audition process, so her return to school on finals week definitely put the pressure on. But being the hard worker that she is, she walked away with a high school diploma and a spot on the SYTYCD top 12.
FUN FACT: Ralyn had to keep the secret that she had made it to the top 12, until the show aired.
One of the highlights of Ralyn's SYTYCD experience was meeting JoJo Seewa. Ralyn was a bit star-struck during the judges' round, but she managed to maintain her composure and put on an incredible performance.
Costuming and makeup were also a huge highlight of the SYTYCD experience for Ralyn. However, the hardest part was undoubtedly learning the choreography. Dancers have only one to two days to learn each routine, and the pressure to perform flawlessly is intense.
Despite the challenges, Ralyn made it all the way to fourth place in the competition. Her talent, dedication, and hard work paid off, and she has now become a rising star in the world of dance. Ralyn's success on SYTYCD has opened doors for her, and she looks forward to continuing to pursue her passion for dance in the years to come.