Local talent has put South Florida on the dance world's map once again. This time, in the shape of Jonathan Lee ``Legacy'' Perez, 28, and Victor Smalley, 21 -- both second-timers the judges couldn't turn away this season on the popular Fox reality dance show So You Think You Can Dance.

Both contestants say their primary goal is not so much to win but to learn as much as possible and use this opportunity as an avenue to help others follow their own dreams.

``It's a window to show the world what I do and I've been wanting this for so long that now that I have this opportunity, I'm embracing it,'' said Perez.

Smalley, who didn't start dancing until he was 14, says he is the perfect example of a late bloomer who fought hard for the sake of a dream.

``If I hadn't gone through everything that I went through -- struggling with dance class having people make fun of me and say I sucked -- I would've never made it where I am right now,'' said Smalley, a dance major at Miami Dade College. ``My main message is: Push for what you want and anything is possible; believe in yourself, be determined and have faith. Whatever happens to me after the show, well, that'll be a blessing."

Like Smalley, Perez recalls the many who doubted his talent and didn't think making a living from dance would be possible. ``The reason why I kept dancing was to prove those that kept telling me I couldn't wrong,'' said Perez.

``My motto is: Do what you love; love what you do,'' he said. ``I strongly believe that when you sacrifice something for something greater, the universe takes care of you.''

• So You Think You Can Dance airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday on WSVN-Fox 7.

-- VANESSA ALVAREZ

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@