HAVERHILL — Naturally, Haverhill's own Channing Cooke was disappointed that she was eliminated from TV program "So You Think You Can Dance?"
But, she told The Eagle-Tribune last night, she's trying to focus on the positives.
"I'm just grateful for getting on this show," she said. She noted "hundreds and hundreds" of people auditioned for the opportunity. There are now 12 contestants left, so at least Cooke can say there were only 11 between her and the winner.
Cooke, daughter of Richard and Stephanie Cooke of Groveland Street, has been dancing since she was 2 1/2. For most of that time, she has been a student of local dance teacher Karla Pattavina.
Cooke graduated from Pentucket Regional High School last June but "I didn't see myself going to college right after high school," she said.
Instead, she planned to "move out to California to see what I could do in this industry." When the opportunity came to try out for "So You Think You Can Dance," she auditioned in Boston.
For the immediate future, Cooke said she plans to stay in Los Angeles long enough to see the taping of the segment of the show "so I can see a different perspective." Indeed, she takes her dancing very seriously.
She said she hopes to be back in Haverhill by Tuesday, stay here for Thanksgiving and Christmas, then return to California, where she'll look for commercial work or tours as a backup dancer.
Cooke described her style of dancing as a "fusion of contemporary and hip hop." Thanks to her athletic background, she said, she performs "strong movements."
She played baseball — not softball — as well as basketball and soccer with the boys, she said. Cooke also ran track at Pentucket and was a cheerleader. After all, her mother and aunt were the coaches.
Was trying out for the TV show worth it, especially to have come to close to winning the whole thing?
"One-hundred percent yes. It was completely worth it," Cooke said.
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