Stephen Boss, Allison Holker.
Invision/AP/ShutterstockGoodbye. Stephen “tWitch” Boss was honored by his loved ones during an emotional memorial service on Saturday, February 11.
More than 500 friends and family members gathered to honor the late dancer at a Celebration of Life service in Los Angeles, multiple outlets report. Wife Allison Holker and daughter Weslie, 14, spoke at the event.
“He is a light. He chooses love, grace and kindness. And he deserves to be celebrated,” said Holker via people.
Mickey Guyton and Andy Grammer performed songs at the memorial service when Bdash (real name James Derrick), Slavik Pustovoytov and Ceasare “Tighteyex” Willis honor the Boss with a dance tribute.
family pastor, Joe Smithhost a Celebration of Life, Entertainment Tonight report. Guests are included Ellen DeGeneres, Wayne Brady, Loni Tresna, Jeff Thacker, Derek Hough, AJ McLean, By Robin Ant and many members both in So You Think You Can Dance with The Ellen DeGeneres Show cast and crew.
While paying tribute to the choreographer, Holker and his family announced that they are starting the Move with Kindness Foundation, which “aims to continue the legacy of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss by spreading love and mental health awareness,” per ET.
Us Weekly confirmed the death of Boss by the reported death at the age of 40 on December 13. Holker broke the silence shortly after the news of the dancer’s passing made headlines.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” the Dance With The Stars alum, 34, told Wong. “Stephen lights up every room he enters. He values family, friends and community above all else and leads with love and light as everything to him. He is the backbone of his family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.
Holker, who raised three children with her late husband, reflected on the legacy she left behind. “His positive impact will continue to be felt. I am sure there will never be a day when we will not honor his memory,” she said. “We ask for privacy during this difficult time for me and especially for our three children. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.
The couple got married in 2013 after meeting on the set of season 7 So You Think You Can Dance three years before. Boss and Holker expanded their family with son Maddox in 2016 and daughter Zaia in 2019. The Alabama native also adopted his wife’s child from a previous relationship.
Before his death, the couple reflected on the early days of their relationship. During the interview The Jennifer Hudson Show in November, Holker gushed about the “amazing” moment they crossed paths, adding, “Of course I [made the first move].”
The boss, for his part, joked that he was “a little oblivious” to try to romanticize Holker at first. “They’re also incredibly nice and welcoming and things like that,” she said. “So I’m not going to be like, ‘Yeah, he’s feeling me.’ … Literally, he felt me during dance practice, but I didn’t know. But I got something.
The actress noted that she did not deny her plans to have another child. “I certainly am.” [want more children]. I think we’d love to start trying something else [baby]” he shared at the time.
In response, Boss pointed out that major milestones require personal discussion, saying, “Listen. … I love lil babies. I love them. It’s a constant conversation.”
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