Sonya Tayeh Says Former "SYTYCD" Costar tWitch 'Took My Breath Away' When Dancing: 'Changed My Way of Thinking' (Exclusive)
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12/13/2024 05:23 PM
"It's not every day where you meet someone that is already so transcendent. He is an angel in our lives," Tayeh told PEOPLE of Stephen "tWitch" Boss ahead of the two-year anniversary of his death
Former So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Sonya Tayeh paid tribute to her late costar Stephen "tWitch" Boss ahead of the second anniversary of his death.
At the opening night celebration of Romeo + Juliet on Oct. 25, Tayeh — who serves as the Broadway production's movement director and choreographer — opened up to PEOPLE about the lasting impact of tWitch, who died by suicide at age 40 in December 2022.
"It's not every day where you meet someone that is already so transcendent," Tayeh, 47, shared. "He is an angel in our lives."
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Stephen tWitch Boss pictured in a still for So You Think You Can Dance.tWitch competed on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008, ending season 4 as a runner-up and later returning as an All-Star. He was a judge when the show returned in 2022.
She added that the late dancer and choreographer "moved my world when I would watch him dance and took my breath away and we had the most invigorating in-depth conversations about family and art and the world, and he changed my way of thinking about movements and made an imprint on my heart that I will never be able to articulate."
"Even standing here now, he is someone that is beyond, he is someone that has spread so much love and wholeness to our lives and I will never forget," she added.
Following the news of tWitch's death, Tayeh joined a chorus of his former costars in remembering the television personality.
Cindy Ord/Getty
Sonya Tayeh, winner of the award for Best Choreography for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Tony Awards at Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 2021 in New York City.In a statement to PEOPLE at the time, she shared: "Blessed beyond belief to be in the presence of Twitch (I called him Twizzle). The gift he gave to our beloved dance community is boundless."
"Watching him dance was like watching a marvel of the craft grace us," she added. "He will be forever in our cells."
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Allison Holker also remembered her late husband on the second anniversary on Dec. 13. She shared a photo of the pair posing alongside their children on social media and wrote, "Our Angel @sir_twitch_alot is watching over us and protecting us."
"You are always on our hearts and we will always love you," she added. "We miss you Stephen. 2 years with you not here but you are always on our minds. We love you."
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
