Katie Holmes Teams Up With 'So You Think You Can Dance' For Dizzy Feet

The actress will perform on the show on July 23 to celebrate new dance scholarship foundation.
By Sabrina Rojas Weiss

Katie Holmes
Photo: Soul Brother/ FilmMagic

On Wednesday night's "So You Think You Can Dance" — in between the competition's first-ever ballet performance and its first actually entertaining quickstep — executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe came clean about a rumor that's been circulating for weeks: Katie Holmes is, in fact, going to be on the show. More important, he explained why: She is one of the founding members of the brand-new Dizzy Feet Foundation.

Holmes, Lythgoe, director/choreographer Adam Shankman and "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba teamed up to create the foundation, which seeks to provide dance scholarships to underserved and at-risk youth, as well as to create an accreditation program for dance schools nationwide.

To celebrate the new foundation, Holmes will take the "SYTYCD" stage on July 23 (the show's 100th episode) and perform a song-and-dance homage to Judy Garland, choreographed by her friend and "SYTYCD" regular Tyce Diorio. Holmes' only previous televised dance performance was on an episode of "Eli Stone," but she told host Cat Deeley that she's excited to appear on the show.

"I like to sing and dance, so this has been really fun," Holmes said. "I think it's important to let kids experience music and dancing and singing and the arts and also sports. This is the next generation, and I think it's important to give them every opportunity to grow and discover what it is that they like."

Former "American Idol" executive producer Lythgoe said his rewarding experience with "Idol Gives Back" inspired him to create another charity. "I have been a dancer, and involved in the dance world, for nearly 50 years — it's my passion," he said. "I feel very grateful to be in a position where I can now give back to the dance community."

Dizzy Feet already has the support of some other famous dancers: Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus are on the foundation's steering committee, along with "SYTYCD" choreographers Mia Michaels, Mary Murphy, Debbie Allen, Shane Sparks and Lil C.

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