Donyell Jones, Finalist on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ Passes Away at 46
Donyell Jones, who was a finalist on the second season of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, has died at the age of 46 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer that lasted nearly a decade.
Her family shared the news via a statement on her Instagram, mentioning that she “transitioned” at 8:34 a.m. on a recent morning.
In the heartfelt message, they described her as a “wife, daughter, sister, friend,” and praised her fighting spirit, stating, “She kicked cancer’s butt every day.”
The statement continued, “Her spirit never faltered. Her heart was never hardened. And even through the storm, she never lost her smile. #GIWMA.”
Jones finished third on SYTYCD in 2006, coming in after runner-up Travis Wall and the winner, Benji Schwimmer.
Benji Schwimmer, now 41, expressed his sorrow over her passing, sharing an emotional Instagram post that included footage from their time on the show, as well as a personal message reflecting on their friendship.
He recounted a vivid dream he had where they were dancing together in a magical setting. “I woke up from a dream with tears in my eyes—not from sadness, but from joy,” he shared. “In my dream, she was healthy and laughing with me.”
What’s striking is that he learned of her death shortly after waking. “I woke up at 8:40 a.m. and found out that Donyelle passed at 8:34 a.m.,” he noted, adding that every memory of her felt ethereal.
Jones was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer in 2016, which progressed to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She actively documented her journey on Instagram, updating her followers just a week before her death, sharing that she had entered hospice care.
In her last message, she spoke about getting her affairs in order and surrendered to whatever fate awaited her. “I want to go back to the community. Go back to your family,” she stated with poignant clarity.
Despite her struggles, she expressed hope, saying, “I’m bold, and you have to believe that you can do it, but I’m also very aware that I’ve been receiving miracles for 10 years. What else can I ask for?”
