Donyelle Jones of So You Think You Can Dance has died at 46 after a battle with cancer
So you think you can dance finalist Donyelle Jonesalso known as Donyelle Dense Wilson, has died at the age of 46.
The news was announced via her Instagram account on Tuesday, December 2, as a text image informed her nearly 34,000 followers. “Today at 8:34 a.m., Donyelle Denise Wilson, made the transition. A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. And a warrior who kicked cancer’s ass every day she was here. Her spirit never weakened. Her heart never hardened. And even in the storm, she never lost her smile. GIWMA,” the post read.
Jones, a hip-hop and jazz dancer, appeared on season 2 of reality television series Cytycdbroadcast in 2006, where she finished the competition in third place Benji Schwimmer won the season and Travis Wall was ranked second.
Her death comes nearly a decade after she was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer, which later progressed to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, according to a report from People.
Just a week before the announcement on Instagram, a video of Jones sitting in a chair with tubes in her nostrils was shared with fans. “Hello everyone, this is Donyelle Denise. I have come to the point where I have started to get my affairs in order. Most of you know that at this point I am in hospice care and have done everything I can to prolong my stay here in this dimension. At this point I have surrendered to whatever God’s will is,” she said.
The video also details that her liver had “stopped working” while she remained open to a “miraculous recovery.”
She told fans with a smile, “I’m bold. And I have to believe that you can do it, but I’m also aware enough to know that I’ve been blessed with ten years of miracles. What else can I ask for?” Jones captioned the heartbreaking video, “The Legacy Statement.”
A 10 in their eyes. Len Goodman was honored by Carrie Ann Inaba and other members of his Dancing With the Stars family following his death. “A dancer. A teacher. A refined gentleman. A wonderful storyteller. A special soul. A mentor. A family man. And… A precious friend,” Inaba, 55, wrote in loving tribute. […]
Previous Instagram posts have captured her fighting spirit, including an Oct. 18 video, filmed at the 2024 Stars Benefit Gala held in Beverly Hills, Calif., that detailed how she landed a role as a dancer for Janet Jackson. “All the dancers in the room, you know what it’s like, after a few weeks or a few months of not dancing, imagine not dancing for a year… on top of that, cancer treatment,” she said during her speech at the event. “I had the great idea to audition for Janet Jackson. And I booked the job. It was three months after the chemotherapy treatment.”
Singer-songwriter Shanice addressed Jones’ death via her Instagram account immediately after the announcement went live. “My heart is completely broken. My cousin @donyelledenise8 fought stage 4 breast cancer for 10 years. She passed away this morning. She was the strongest human being on this planet. She suffered towards the end, so much I want her here, I’m happy she’s no longer in pain. I love you cousin. Rest in peace,” she wrote.
Fans and former collaborators of Jones also took to the comments section of the announcement to share touching tributes. “Fly high SuperStar. You were a gift for the gift. Grateful to have been able to dance next to you and feel this incredible power,” read one of the many.
