...the Pinoy dancers 2 (update)

Pinoys make it to Top 5 male dancers of SYTYCD

by Yong Chavez

ABS-CBN North America Bureau

07/17/2011

LOS ANGELES – For the first time in "So You Think You Can Dance" history, 2 of the top 5 male contestants are Filipino.

Hip-hop dancer Tadd Gadduang and contemporary dancer Marko Germar may be rivals on stage, but these 2 Filipino-Americans are good friends in real life.

If both continue to do well on the show, they could face each other during the finale.

Hip-hop dancer Tadd Gadduang.

When asked if it will affect their friendship, Germar said, "Not at all. We’re roommates."

Melanie Moore, Germar’s dance partner, said that the 2 Pinoys were in a "bromance."

"They love each other," Moore said.

"No matter what happens, we'll always be supportive of whoever goes farther," Tadd said.

During a recent episode, Gadduang proudly talked about his Filipino roots.

"Over the past year or two, I've realized that a lot of who I am today is based on how my parents raised me. It's really connected to my heritage," he said.

Though he is from Utah, many of Gadduang's Filipino relatives are from the Bay Area. Should he win, he plans to give back to kababayans in need in the Philippines.

"I've budgeted and figured out how I want to split up the money because there are so many things back home that my friends and I are involved with, with helping people. There's a bunch of charity and community work that we want to do," Gadduang said.

Marko Germar with his dance partner, Melanie Moore.

Germar, meanwhile, was an early favorite by judges and fans alike. He admits that being a frontrunner comes with challenges, but adds that he is up for it.

"There’s definitely extra pressure. We don't really focus on that. It's anybody's game," Germar said.

The Emmy-nominated show is one of the most popular reality contests in America.
Germar and Gadduang have both expressed their gratitude for the support of the Fil-Am community.

$250,000 and other prizes await this year's "So You Think You Can Dance" winner. The top 4 will compete for the title of "America's Best Dancer" at the finale on August 11.