Courtesy Neil Haskell doesn’t think; he knows he can dance. %He hopes to also be considered a singer and an actor.

Neil Haskell often auditions for dance-oriented stage productions in New York City, so when he tried out for the third season of Fox's “So You Think You Can Dance,” Haskell viewed it as simply one in a long line of auditions — albeit one that gave him a nationally televised showcase.

Courtesy Neil Haskell doesn’t think; he knows he can dance. %He hopes to also be considered a singer and an actor.

THE RUNDOWN WHAT: “So You Think You Can Dance” Tour WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 WHERE: AT&T Center HOW MUCH: $35-$55 INFO: attcenter.com

Haskell aced his “Dance” audition, landed on the show and eventually reached the Season 3 finale, where he placed third behind runner-up Danny Tidwell and champion Sabra Johnson. Now, the cast is on the road for the “So You Think You Can Dance” Tour, which hits the AT&T Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Before the top 10 finalists from Season 3 took to the stage, Haskell — who blends jazz and ballet in forming his contemporary dance style — talked with 210SA about auditioning for the show, the rise of dancing in the American mainstream and the misconceptions (and truths) about New York City.

Why did you decide to try out for the show?

There was nothing that pushed me into going, and it was just another opportunity. I got to see some awesome dancers and some funny dancers. There was some of everything — a lot of hip-hop, a lot of ballroom and a lot of jazz. There was definitely a good mix.

Living in New York, what do you think are some common misconceptions about it?

It's not as scary as I thought it would be (Haskell grew up around Buffalo). Overall, I think some of the stereotypes are true, but it's not as bad as what people portray in the movies with everyone being rude.

What are some of the NYC labels that are spot on?

A couple of times, if someone bumped into me on the street, they would just say the most awkward and rude obscenities. I'd be like, “Oh, OK.” Others would say they were sorry. It's like that anywhere.

You're only 20, but you've already won some awards and experienced your share of success. What's it like to have done so much at such a young age?

It definitely came fast. I know a lot of dancers who maybe have not accomplished the things I have, but they've still accomplished a lot of things. It's great to see dancers get a higher profile in the public, and the public is very open to it. I'm very happy to say I've accomplished those things, but there's definitely more that I want to do.

Like what?

After this is over, I'd like to maybe pursue film or television or something like that. I don't want to be labeled as a dancer my entire career. Maybe a dancer here or an actor here or a singer here, but I don't want to be typed into one of those things.

What was the hardest dance to pull off on the show?

Probably the first week when we did salsa. It was definitely a tough dance, but the hip-hop in general was as well. If you don't have that natural style in you already, it's hard to pick up.

Do you watch “Dancing with the Stars?”

I actually don't. Most of the time when the show is on, we're in rehearsals, so I don't get a chance to watch. It's definitely really cool. For (the celebrities) to even take a chance on dancing, it's definitely a big compliment to dancing.
 

CLINT HALE | 210SA