Jenna Johnson (dancer)

Jenna Michelle Johnson (born April 12, 1994) is an American professional ballroom dancer. She was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance. She is a professional dancer and choreographer on Dancing with the Stars.

Family and Childhood

Johnson is the daughter of Tamara Jean and Curt Johnson and she has 5 siblings : Stacy Johnson Bills (sister), Scott Johnson (brother), Jillian Johnson Zenger (sister), Jason Johnson (brother) and Skyler Johnson (brother). Johnson was born and grew up in Provo, Utah, with her family and her 2 current best friends : Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson. She went to Timpview High School and graduated in 2012. Johnson didn't attend university because she focused on her dance career.

Career

She first started dancing at the age of 3. She's trained in ballroom, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop.

So You Think You Can Dance

Johnson was a contestant on Season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance. She first auditioned for season 10 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her 2 older sisters had auditioned prior to her, but were cut at Green Mile. She was paired with contemporary dancer: Tucker Knox. Johnson made it to the top 8. Her specialty was Latin Ballroom. She was eliminated on August 20, 2013.^[1] In 2016 she came back to So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation and she was one of the mentors and choreographers. She competed alongside Jake Monreal, and made it to Top 8 before elimination on August 1, 2016.^[2]

On being an All-Star in SYTYCD:

I believe that our main job is to be their mentor regardless if it means to be their friends, their teachers, their inspiration, their emotional support. The most important thing is to be there for them no matter what they're going through.

Dancing With The Stars

Johnson was a troupe member on Dancing with the Stars from Season 18 to Season 22. In August 2016, it was revealed on media that Johnson would be a pro on the next season.^[3] She became a professional dancer on Season 23 and was partnered with actor Jake T. Austin.^[4] They danced jive and cha-cha and were the first couple eliminated on September 20, 2016.^[5] Due to Sharna Burgess sitting out the October 31st and November 7th shows for a knee injury from the October 24th dress rehearsal, Johnson filled in as James Hinchcliffe's partner in weeks 8 and 9 and was their trio partner in Week 10.^[6]

Season 23 with celebrity partner Jake T. Austin

Personal life

Johnson was in a relationship with fellow Dancing with the Stars professional Val Chmerkovskiy from 2014 to September 2016.

References

External links