Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of chatting with Karen Hauer, the latest dancer to be eliminated from So You Think You Can Dance.

Karen wowed the judges with her sensuality and star power, provoking Adam Shankman to reconsider his sexuality and Nigel Lythgoe to compare her to Jennifer Lopez. Karen chatted with us about her two favorite dances, her controversial solos, and what's next for her.

What was your favorite routine of the season?

"I had two favorite dances, actually.  The first one was the hip hop with Kevin and the second one was the tango with Victor.""

Tell us about the differences between dancing with Kevin and Victor:

"With Kevin, we had met in New York previously, so we're both New Yorkers and we had danced together in Vegas.  And then it was such a coincidence that when we were in New York taking dance classes together, we were making believe that we were dance partners already.  So the connection was instantaneously with Kevin. 

With Victor, it was kind of like, I didn't really speak to him much and then all of a sudden once we were partnered together, it was like also a spark, but it was at a higher--a different level because Kevin as a hip hop artist, he's amazing.  But the technicality that Victor has is at another level.  I really enjoyed and he really surprised me and he inspired me as well.  So they were both amazing to work with."

What role do you think your sensuality and sexuality played on the show?

"I was just being myself.  I embrace who I am.  It's all about really putting yourself out there.  I didn't feel like I wasn't doing anything out of my own personality.  I was just being myself and you should always embrace who you are no matter what."

Tell us about your "dance for your life" solos:

"My strong points are dancing with a partner and interacting with a partner. Ten years of solid ballroom training and training to feel somebody and be in synch with another person is a lot to work with.  And then all of a sudden you're out there on your own and it is tough, but it's not an excuse.  It's not an excuse that I can't dance by myself.  I thought I did very well in my solos and I wish I had more time to prepare.  But it's one of those things that I just went out there and I danced my heart out no matter what, whether it was with a partner or whether it was just by myself."

What did it feel like to be eliminated just shy of the Top 10?

"It was like tease.  It was like you're making it and now you're not.  Just the exposure and the amazing people that we got to work with, it is hard because everybody wants to make that top ten to go on tour.  It's like a dream for everybody, but just the fact that I made it this far out of thousands of dancers, it's amazing.  Yes, top ten would have been amazing, but I am extremely happy with how far I got in the competition.  "

Will you be a special guest on tour?

"Oh, I would love that.  That would be amazing.  I would love to go on tour and be a special guest.  That would be great because I came so close and that would really be neat, definitely."

What's next for you?

"My next step would be just keep on dancing, whatever doors, maybe Broadway, maybe going on the tour or something. I'm very excited to see what's coming up, but definitely dancing and teaching and continuing to spread the word of dance."