Alex Da Silva, guest choreographer on FOX hit show So You Think You Can Dance, was arrested Saturday on charges that he raped four of his dance students over the past six years. He is being held on a $3.8 million bond.
The 41 year old instructor from Rio de Janeiro, known for his Salsa dancing, lured several female students to his homes in N. Hollywood and Van Nuys between May 2003 and March 28, 2009, where he allegedly raped them.
According to L.A. police detective John Eum, several of the women filed reports years ago but not enough evidence existed at the time to press charges. The latest assault was taken seriously by law enforcement officials. When they looked back into their files on Da Silva, they conducted new interviews and were able to substantiate that the women, who did not know each other, all told similar stories.
Da Silva will make his first court appearance on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. See his mugshot below.
UPDATE: December 18, 2009 – Another award winning hip hop choreographer was arrested on 8 counts of child molestation. Shane Sparks, currently a judge on America’s Best Dance Crew, is being held on $590,000 bail – see arrest video here.
Similar charges were leveled against fashion designer Anand Jon.