From Utah's local theaters to a British ballroom throne
In short: Alexis Warr broke a glass ceiling in American dance by becoming the first Latin and ballroom dancer to win So You Think You Can Dance. Her journey from a child watching her sister perform to competing on the UK's Strictly Come Dancing illustrates a unique path of technical versatility.
Born in Highland, Utah, in 2000, Alexis Warr’s foundation in movement began at age six at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio. Her training was notably diverse; while she mastered ballet and jazz by age seven, she did not incorporate ballroom into her repertoire until she was thirteen. This multi-disciplinary background—which includes contemporary, hip hop, tap, and gymnastics—provided the technical breadth necessary to navigate different competitive landscapes.
Warr’s professional trajectory is marked by high-profile milestones in both American and British media. After touring with Derek Hough and appearing on America's Got Talent, she secured a historic victory in 2022 as the seventeenth season winner of So You Think You Can Dance. This win was significant for its technical distinction: she was the first ballroom-trained dancer to be crowned "America's Favorite Dancer." Her success transitioned into the broader sphere of entertainment, including a role in JoJo Siwa’s 2024 music video.
Her move to the United Kingdom marked a new chapter in her career. As a professional, she teamed up with internet figure George Clarke for Strictly Come Dancing's twenty-third season starting July 2025. The duo reached the finale on December 20, 2025, finishing as joint runners-up alongside Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin. She continued her UK tenure in the twenty-fourth series, partnering with former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips. Her narrative is also deeply personal; she dedicated her major American win to her mother’s battle with brain cancer.
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