Allison Holker: A Life in Motion, A Legacy of Light

Some careers unfold in neat chapters. For Allison Holker, every chapter has been a leap, sometimes terrifying, sometimes exhilarating, always transformative. From the shy teenager in Utah stepping into the bright lights of Los Angeles, to a celebrated artist and teacher on the world stage, to a mother and author navigating profound personal loss, Holker’s journey is one of courage, resilience, and creativity.

She has danced on stages that millions dream of, partnered with celebrities on live television, and inspired audiences through every medium available film, tours, teaching, choreography, books. Yet, as she sits with LA Living Magazine for her cover story, what emerges most clearly is not just the outline of a decorated career, but the presence of a woman determined to live in alignment with love, joy, and light, even in the hardest moments.

When Holker auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance in 2006, she was just a teenager from Orem, Utah. For the first time, she left behind the comfort of family and the routines of her hometown.

“SYTYCD was my first job moving away from my hometown in Utah, so I was a bit nervous moving to Los Angeles. But I was so ready for the opportunity that set me on the path for the rest of my career,” she recalls.

That stage buzzing with the energy of live television and filled with raw, hungry talent  quickly became a second home. “SYTYCD truly was the greatest gift to me, and I felt extremely ready physically, spiritually, and mentally. That stage was my home and a place where I felt like I could make a huge impact.”

Her run on the show not only earned her national recognition but also gave her something far more personal: confidence.

For many dancers, So You Think You Can Dance was a pinnacle. For Holker, it was a springboard. Her next big chapter Dancing with the Stars  required her to start over in some ways.

“Before becoming a Pro on Dancing With The Stars I had never danced any ballroom style. Every dance style I had to teach, choreograph, and perform with a celebrity on the show was my first time dancing it as well,” she shares.

Imagine walking onto live television with millions watching  and attempting to teach a dance you yourself had never performed. It could have been a recipe for disaster. Instead, Holker embraced it with the same spirit she had as a teenager taking unpaid jobs just for the chance to dance.

“I loved the challenge, and it also gave me a unique twist and take with the other dance styles I could lean on from SYTYCD. It ended up being a fun advantage in certain ways,” she says. “DWTS is one of my favorite experiences of my career  this show taught me so much and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Her adaptability and warmth with celebrity partners cemented her as a fan favorite and showed the world that artistry isn’t about mastering a single style but about bringing authenticity to every performance.

Holker’s career started at 16, when “yes” was the default answer. If a gig gave her the chance to move, to share, to connect, she was in  even when it meant no paycheck.

“I love dance so much I would take jobs that paid nothing as long as it meant a chance to dance and have an impact on someone else’s life,” she says.

But with time and motherhood, her boundaries shifted. “As I got older and started having children, I had to adjust a little bit. My time needed to be more balanced for my family life. So now, when accepting an opportunity, I ask myself: does this align with my purpose, my values, and my time away from my children?”

This clarity is part of what makes Holker’s career so resonant. She isn’t driven by spotlight or status but by impact a compass that guides both her artistry and her life.

In her marriage to Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Holker found not only a partner in life but a partner in artistry. Together, they became one of dance’s most visible power couples, inspiring millions with their creativity and their joy. His sudden passing in 2022 left a void that words can barely hold.

“After losing my partner, I had to ask myself what my purpose for life was now. Then I realized my purpose has always been and will never change. It just became more important and louder. I will continue to move forward living my life with the purpose of spreading love and light.”

Her grief is layered, personal, public, and ongoing. “I lost someone I love so much and that kind of loss affects all of you forever. But he left a beautiful mark in my life that I will always be grateful for. The impact has been loud and hard on me and my children, but I believe we are all put through experiences to learn and grow,” she shares.

Rather than retreat, Holker has chosen to use her platform to speak candidly about mental health, grief, and resilience. “I want to help others from not making this choice for themselves and loved ones. And I also want to be an example to those who have experienced great loss to find it in their own hearts to keep moving forward. To keep finding that light inside themselves. And if I can encourage anyone, I know I’m living my life for the right reason.”

Motherhood, for Holker, isn’t a distraction from her artistry, it’s fuel for it. Her three children are central not only to her life but to her creative process.

“The thing that has allowed me the space to balance motherhood and creativity is letting them exist together. Motherhood inspires me to keep going. My kids are actively a part and involved when I’m creating, and it ends up being beautiful family moments created together,” she explains.

When she wrote her children’s books, her kids weren’t just inspiration but collaborators. “They would express their ideas, add their opinions, and I brought them along for the ride. It was magic,” she says.

These projects aren’t just professional milestones they’re keepsakes of family life.

In 2025, Holker released her memoir, This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light. The process was both foreign and healing.

“I had always expressed my emotions with body and movement in dance  I had never expressed myself with words. It was both a scary but healing process. I am grateful for that opportunity and want to continue in the space of writing,” she says.

The memoir solidified a new chapter in Holker’s artistry one where language, not movement, became the vessel of expression.

If there’s a through line in Holker’s life, it’s vulnerability. From exposing her emotions through choreography to sharing her family’s grief publicly, she has never shied away from openness.

“Dance has always been an outlet for me to express my personal emotions and stories. I never knew in my early years how to use my words, so I used my dancing to tell my stories. I have always had to be extremely vulnerable and open, but the dance floor always made me feel safe,” she says.

That safety net the stage is now complemented by her writing, her teaching, and her family life. Vulnerability, for Holker, is no longer a byproduct of art but a philosophy of living.

Holker has worn many hats performer, choreographer, teacher, author. But mentoring young dancers remains one of her deepest joys.

“I am forever grateful to see my kiddos thriving and succeeding. We must be an example to the next generation. Show them the way, then be a helping hand along the way,” she says.

Her legacy, she hopes, is one of persistence and compassion. “I hope to be remembered as someone that never gave up, someone that kept leading and moving from love and light. Life can have difficult moments, but we must learn to embrace those moments because it’s where the hard lessons are learned in order to become the greatest version of yourself.”

In her twenties, Holker believed the big stages and the high-profile jobs were the true markers of success. Now, her perspective is quieter but richer.

“Existing is enough. Slowing down and taking in the simple moments of life is just as important as the big moments,” she reflects.

It’s this shift from chasing every opportunity to embracing presence that gives her story such weight.

For now, Holker is embracing a season of family, storytelling, and self-discovery. Her second children’s book, The Fresh Beat, inspired by her son Maddox, explores the power of music and emotions. She has also taken up hobbies like tennis, golf, and horseback riding, simple joys that keep her grounded.

“In the first half of my life, I spent all my energy and time on dance to really learn and become the best in that art form. But I didn’t take any time to learn other skills. I’m having a lot of fun learning other hobbies,” she says.

Dance may always be her first language, but it no longer defines her entirely. Holker is now fluent in the art of living fully, vulnerably, and with light.

From Orem to Hollywood, from television to books, from personal triumphs to heartbreaking loss, Allison Holker has moved through life with the same qualities that make her dance unforgettable: grace, authenticity, and courage.

Her story isn’t just one of fame, or dance, or even resilience. It’s a reminder that artistry is not limited to a stage, it’s in how you live, how you love, and how you keep moving forward.

And for Holker, the dance continues.