Biography

Bonnie Lythgoe is an entertainment industry success story. With a career spanning more than 20 years, Bonnie's achievements as a dancer, choreographer, TV presenter, TV producer and Broadway producer are second to none. Bonnie started her dancing career at the Corona School for Performing Arts.

While studying, she won a role in the feature film 'To Sir With Love' starring Sidney Poitier. Seven months later she was offered a presenter role on a children’s television series in the UK. Bonnie then auditioned for a BBC dance series called 'Young Generation'. The choreographer for the series was Nigel Lythgoe who Bonnie later married in 1974.

A variety of choreography and directing roles followed including Snow White [London], Seven Brides for Seven Brothers [London], The Best Little Whore House in Texas, The Real Monty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Aladdin and Royal Variety for HRH Queen Elizabeth. With ongoing success in musical theatre, Bonnie was then approached by the BBC to produce a 100 years of music special. BBC were so impressed with her that they asked her to produce and appear as a judge on a new series called S Club Juniors created by Simon Fuller.

After working with Simon Fuller on this series, Bonnie then flew to the United States to join a new Simon Fuller venture - American Idol. Here she was reunited with her husband Nigel Lythgoe who was the Executive Producer on the series. Bonnie was a producer on the first three series of American Idol before moving on to a new project - So You Think You Can Dance US where she was judge and producer for the first two series.

Bonnie has worked with numerous well known entertainers throughout her career including Gene Kelly, Sammy Davis Junior, Sir Cliff Richard, Victoria Beckham, Dudley Moore, Sidney Poitier, Olivia Newton-John, Black Eyed Peas, Sarah - Duchess of York, Rolf Harris and Jerry Lee Lewis. In 2008 Bonnie joined the hit TV series So You Think You Can Dance Australia as judge.

Q + A with Bonnie

1. How did season 1 of SYTYCD change the dance scene in Australia?
Dancers were hungry for recognition and season one put dancers on the map. At last the public in Australia and Overseas could watch amazing dancers. It also meant the dancers could work anywhere and be up at the top with the rest of the world.

2. What do you enjoy most about working on SYTYCD?
Watching Dancers, learning, improving and taking on board our remarks and encouragement. Meeting all the choreographers and watching them work with our dancers and making them fantastic. Getting to know the dancers and making them part of the SYTYCD family.

3. How important do you think it is for each contestant to strive to win?
I think it is very important to be competitive and yes winning is the goal to aim for , but I do believe the minute the dancers are in our top 20 they are already winners , but I am not sure they realize that.

4. How are the Aussie dancers different to those on the US version?
Australian dancers are sometimes lacking in confidence , something American dancers have too much of . Also Australian dancers don’t have the variety of choreographers that American dancers have , so I think they are a little slower at picking up , part of that is nerves of course , one thing that Americans don’t seem to have .

5. Describe the most embarrassing moment of your dance/music career!
One of the most embarrassing moments was when I was a dancer on a TV series and we were doing this dance routine in one live show. In the routine we ran on to the camera and also ran out to go to the next position in the studio. Anyway, I left the first part of the routine to run behind the camera and to move very quickly to the next live section. On my way, the make up lady stopped me to put some gloss on and we started talking - I was standing there just watching the TV monitor when I realized I was watching the live routine that I should have been in. What I said I can't repeat!!! I thought all the dancers were great though and I loved watching the routine but boy did I get it in the neck by the choreographer. It was of course Nigel.

6. If you were a contestant on this years show, what style of dance would be most afraid of being pulled out of the hat and why?
Easy one - Hip hop. I don't think I could do any of those amazing tricks and I don' think I could ever get the style. I have always been a Jazz , Modern , Tap and Ballroom lady, but Hip Hop? I would be the first one out if I got that!!! And I like to look at my audience, Hip Hop dancers dance to the floor.

7. How important is 'personality' with regards to being a contestant on STYTYCD?
I believe Personality is very important. It is no use being a Technical dancer if the rest of the body gives the wrong message. The audience wants to love the dancer and to feel they know them. That's where personality comes in, it's not about just the dance - performance comes in very strongly.