# Alex Da Silva (dancer)

Alex Da Silva is a Brazilian dancer and choreographer, specializing in Salsa dancing. Da Silva is also known for being a recurring guest choreographer on the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance.

## Biography

Da Silva was born March 27, 1968, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He discovered Salsa dancing at the age of 20. He is credited with contributing to the LA-style of salsa dancing. Da Silva started his career as a salsa dancer and instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area.

## Rape charge and conviction

In 2009, Da Silva was charged with "four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object." Da Silva stated he was innocent and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He had stated in interviews that the sex was consensual and that the women were trying to extort money from him and they may have known each other as they came from the same small town.
Da Silva was arrested in August 2009, and unable to pay bail set at two million dollars, he remained in jail for two years as mistrials and delays prevented his case from reaching a conclusion.
On September 16, 2011, a downtown Los Angeles jury found Alex Da Silva, 43, guilty of raping a 22-year-old woman in August 2002 and assault with intent to commit rape involving another woman in March 2009.
On January 27, 2012, L.A. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy, defense attorney Carlos Valdez. Valdez and associates Santa Ana CA handed down a 10-year prison sentence in reference to the 2009 arrest.
Da Silva was released from prison on February 15, 2018. He was deported back to Brazil soon after.

## SYTYCD choreography

| Season | Show | Dancers | Style | Music |
| Season 1 | Week 1 | Michelle Brooke Jonnis Tannis | Mambo | "Caravan"—Eddie Torres and His Mambo Kings |
| Season 1 | Week 1 | Melissa Vella Ryan Conferido | Mambo | "Caravan"—Eddie Torres and His Mambo Kings |
| Season 1 | Week 2 | Melissa Vella Ryan Conferido | Salsa | "Cubanjam"—Orquesta la Palabra |
| Season 1 | Week 5 | Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Mambo | "Mambo Cool"—Ernesto Marquez and his Orchestra |
| Season 1 | Week 5 | Ashlé Dawson Artem Chigvintsev | Cha Cha | "El Sabroso Son"—La Palabra |
| Season 1 | Week 6 | Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Argentine tango | "Santa Maria"—Gotan Project |
| Season 1 | Week 7 | Ashlé Dawson Jamile McGee | Salsa | "Oh Mayi"—La Sonora Poncena |
| Season 1 | Week 8 | Alex Da Silva Lauren Sánchez | Guest performance | "Caravan"—Eddie Torres and His Mambo Kings |
| Season 2 | Week 1 | Allison Holker Ivan Koumaev | Salsa | "El Tamblor"—La Palabra |
| Season 2 | Week 1 | Natalie Fotopoulos Musa Cooper | Mambo | "Nina"—Joe Cuba Sextet |
| Season 2 | Week 3 | Heidi Groskreutz Ryan Rankine | Cuban rumba | "Rumba del Solar"—Angelo Rodriguez |
| Season 2 | Week 3 | Allison Holker Ivan Koumaev | Argentine tango | "Libertango"—bond |
| Season 2 | Week 7 | Allison Holker Ivan Koumaev | Argentine tango | "La Cumparsita"—Orquestra Esquela de Tango |
| Season 2 | Week 7 | Heidi Groskreutz Benji Schwimmer | Mambo | "Black Mambo"—Angel and the Mambokats |
| Season 2 | Week 9 | Heidi Groskreutz Benji Schwimmer | Salsa | "La Comay"—Sonora Carruseles |
| Season 3 | Week 1 | Ashlee Langas Ricky Palomino | Argentine tango | "Sentimiento Tango"—Trio Federico-Berlingieri |
| Season 3 | Week 1 | Lauren Gottlieb Neil Haskell | Salsa | "Friday Night Rhythm"—Mazerati 5 |
| Season 3 | Week 4 | Shauna Noland Cedric Gardener | Mambo | "Flauta Y Timbal"—Tito Puente |
| Season 3 | Week 7 | Sara Von Gillern Danny Tidwell | Argentine tango | "Whatever Lola Wants"—Sara Vaughan and Gotan Project |
| Season 4 | Week 2 | Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura | Argentine tango | "Mi Confesión"—Gotan Project |
| Season 4 | Week 2 | Susie Garcia Marquis Cunningham | Salsa | "Aguanilé"—Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe |
| Season 4 | Week 4 | Kourtni Lind Matt Dorame | Mambo | "Ban-Con-Tin"—Super-All-Star |
| Season 4 | Week 5 | Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura | Salsa | "Fuego"—Joe Bataan |
* Favourite routines:
** Mambo with Benji Schwimmer and Heidi Groskreutz was chosen by Benji Schwimmer (winner) as his best performed routine season 2