So You Think You Can Dance Trailblazer Donyelle Jones Dies at 46, Dance World Mourns
So You Think You Can Dance standout Donyelle Jones has died at 46 after a years-long battle with cancer, her family announced on her social media, as tributes from fans and peers pour in.
Tough news: Donyelle Jones, the So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 standout, has died at 46 after a long, relentless fight with breast cancer. If you watched that 2006 season, you remember her energy. This one hurts.
The news
Jones, who also went by Donyelle Denise Wilson, died on December 2, 2025. Her family shared the update on her official Instagram and included the exact time: 8:34 am. The comments have been flooded with love from fans and fellow dancers.
"Today at 8:34 am, Donyelle Denise Wilson, transitioned. A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. And a warrior who kicked cancer's a-- every single day she was here.
Her spirit never dimmed. Her heart never hardened. And even in the storm, she never lost her smile."
Her health battle, in plain English
Back in 2016, Jones was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer. It later advanced to stage 4 metastatic disease. According to Dancers Against Cancer, she underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. It was a lot. She never hid that part of her life, either.
She regularly updated followers on Instagram throughout her treatment. In May 2025, she shared that the cancer had progressed to stage 4. The week before she died, she posted that she had entered hospice. In that video, she said her liver had shut down and that she had done "everything possible" to "extend her time," while thanking everyone for the thousands of messages and prayers over the years. It was brave and heartbreakingly straightforward.
What she did and why people remember her
- So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 (2006): Known for a sharp hip-hop and jazz fusion style, she finished in third place and became a fan favorite.
- Film: Be Cool (2005).
- Film: Spirited (2022).
Jones was a pro who made everything look effortless, even when life absolutely wasn’t. Sending love to her family, friends, and the SYTYCD community.