On December 2, 2025, Donyelle Denise Wilson, popularly known from the renowned TV series “So You Think You Can Dance,” passed away at the age of 46. Wilson, known as Donyelle Jones on the show, had been battling breast cancer for nearly a decade.
The family disclosed her demise on Wilson’s Instagram account, which she had been using to update her followers about her health condition. The post described Wilson as “A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. And a warrior who kicked cancer’s a** every single day she was here.” Her spirit and smile remained undiminished even in the face of extreme adversity, as noted in the message.
Wilson was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016 when doctors discovered Stage 3C breast cancer. The cancer later evolved into Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Despite her deteriorating health, Wilson continued to pursue her passion for dance and maintained her professional commitments throughout her treatment.
She gained fame in 2006 as a participant in the second season of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Wilson, renowned for her hip-hop and jazz dance skills, secured the third position in the competition, trailing behind winner Benji Schwimmer and runner-up Travis Wall. Her performances on the show propelled her into the limelight and kick-started her professional dance career. Schwimmer, Wilson’s dance partner on the show, paid tribute to her on social media following her death, recounting a dream he had of dancing with her pain-free.
Following her stint on the show, Wilson continued her journey as a professional dancer, making appearances in the Ryan Reynolds movie “Spirited” and performing for pop icon Janet Jackson. Remarkably, she secured the latter opportunity just three months after completing a round of chemotherapy. Her cousin, singer-songwriter Shanice, described Wilson as “the strongest human being” on this planet. Actress Yvette Nicole Brown commended Wilson for her indomitable spirit in battling her terminal illness while continuing to live, fight, love, and dance.
Wilson was married to Tahir Wilson for 13 years and had forged close ties with other dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance,” including Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who passed away in 2022. She was also a participant in Kanye West’s Sunday Service events in 2019, where she sought solace in worship amidst her struggle with her illness.
In early 2025, Wilson resumed teaching dance classes, considering it a birthday gift to herself. However, in the weeks leading up to her death, she shared videos revealing her worsening health condition. She informed her followers that she had begun arranging her affairs and had “surrendered to whatever God’s will is” as her liver was failing. She spent her final days in hospice care. In one of her last posts, Wilson declared that she had done everything she could to prolong her life. She also encouraged her followers to cherish community and family, underscoring the value she placed on relationships.
Wilson’s passing occurred approximately two months after the death of another “So You Think You Can Dance” star, Joshua Allen, the Season 4 winner. Throughout her struggle with cancer, Wilson remained candid with her fans, consistently updating them about her health on social media. Her transparency served as a source of strength for many others battling similar health issues.
Wilson’s participation in “So You Think You Can Dance” during its formative years, when the show was rising to prominence, was marked by her distinctive hip-hop and jazz performances. Her talent and skill set a standard for the show and catapulted her into a successful professional career. Wilson passed away at 8:34 a.m. on December 2, 2025, leaving behind her husband, family, friends, and a legion of fans who admired her talent, courage, and resilience.
