An Indiana talent places on ‘So You Think’; another to dance with ‘Stars’

Alas, Indianapolis can't claim a second TV competition show champion. But Indy native Valerie Rockey certainly made it onto the pop-culture radar with her second place finish on "So You Think You Can Dance."

Alas, the show's tour isn't scheduled to come closer than Merrillville, where it will play the Star Plaza Theatre Oct. 18.

Meanwhile, Tavis Smiley, the radio commentator who grew up in Bunker Hill, IN, will kick up his heels beginning Sept. 15 as a competitor on "Dancing with the Stars." His fellow "stars" include a "Duck Dynasty" granddaughter, stoner comic Tommy Chong, "Back to the Future" star Lea Thompson, NASCAR's Michael Waltrip, and video blogger Bethany Mota.

If televised dancing has sparked your interest, though, keep in mind that Dance Kaleidoscope's season kicks off Oct. 23 with "Carmina Burana," tap legend Savion Glover brings his magic to the Madame Walker Theatre in Oct.,  both Clowes Hall and the Center for the Performing Arts offer a steady stream of dance performances…and that's just the beginning of the dance offerings in the area.