When Joshua Allen was just a “kid,’ he noticed that whatever he did, his shadow did the exact same thing.

So, that’s how he learned to dance. As he practiced his dance moves, his shadow mimicked them and together they perfected the moves.

Evidently, shadow-dancing paid off.

Allen is this season’s winner of the popular television show, “So You Think You Can Dance” and he was in Troy on Monday to conduct two dance classes at Troy University. He also visited Pike Liberal Arts School and the Troy School of Dance.

Allen told the students at PLAS, that dancing is second nature to him.

“I’ve been dancing since I was born,” he said, with a smile. “I was always dancing at school and, when I was in the third grade, my teacher noticed me and put me on stage.”

As much as Allen enjoyed dancing, he didn’t become completely serious about dancing until nearing high school graduation in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Sports were my thing back then,” he said. “I was a running back on the football team and ran track. I set a school record in the 100-meter dash my senior year. But I knew what I really liked was dancing and that’s what I wanted to do.”

Competing on national television with millions of people watching was cause to be nervous and Allen admitted that he was.

“I was nervous but once I started dancing, I forgot to be nervous,” he said.

For Allen, winning the title was a stepping stone to other opportunities. He won a cash prize of $250,000 and a role in an upcoming movie, Step Up 3D.

Allen’s specialties are hip-hop, pop and break dancing but he enjoys all kinds of dancing.

“I love to dance and enjoy teaching others to dance,” he said.

As for his future, Allen hopes to take full advantage of any and all opportunities that come his way.

“I like getting paid to dance,” he said, with a broad smile. “It’s good when you can get paid to do something that you love.”