When you think of the ideal reality show contestant, many qualities come to mind, from possessing a unique point of view to having an aggressive spirit of competition. But one word you don't think of is shy.
For better or for worse, So You Think You Can Dance phenom Jakob Karr is exactly that. Shy. His voice is soft and sweet. He comes across like someone so determined not to say anything that they would regret later that they don't say anything memorable at all.
Perhaps that's why Jakob lost, despite being arguably the best pure dancer the show has ever seen. The man willing to take so many death defying risks on the stage is very cautious about sharing himself.
I asked Jakob about his colorful shoes, the curse of being the front runner, his Broadway plans and what it feels like to fly.
Where did you get your shoes?
[Jakob models his wildly-striped and glittering shoes] These are Creative Recreation. They were sent to us today as a gift and they are amazing. They feel great on my feet.
How did you did you learn to do those flying leap kick things? If you were learning, and you did one half way, you'd land on your head. Wouldn't you?
I had a very good teacher growing up and she would not settle until everything was perfect. She pushed me a lot and got me to where I am now.
Did you land on your head a lot?
Of course I did! No, I sustained some pretty serious injuries. But here I am!
What does it feel like to fly like that?
It only lasts for about a second so I don't really feel it. I'm just going through the motions. But dancing an amazing routine feels amazing.
Were you surprised by the outcome?
No! I wasn't. Russell did an amazing job.
The judges have talked you up so much. Does that take away from the underdog factor, and actually work against you in the voting?
The things they've said to me the whole season have been very uplifting and positive. I think sometimes it deletes your surprise factor a little bit, because they keep saying I was expected to be so good. But everything they've said has really helped me grow, and it's been unbelievable every time they speak to me.
Nigel said you'd be a great solo dancer. But is it a good thing to stand out as a solo artist in a competition that's all about working with other dancers?
I think that it would be. But I think that I have done everything in my power to succeed in pairs. I love partnering because you can feed off of someone else. It's not up to you. It's up to you and the person next to you.
Is there one routine that stands out as your personal favorite?
Of course I loved dancing in my own style, but my favorite dance of the whole competition was the cha cha that I got to do with Ashleigh. It was the only time in the competition when she got to work her style and watching her do it was so inspiring. I tried so hard to make sure that I was on her level. She did so much to help me.
Where do you go from here?
I'm from New York, so I'm going to go back there and talk to Broadway shows and touring companies, and see what I can get.
-Interview conducted by Henry Jenkins