A B-boy from Kalihi is one of the final seven contestants on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Mark Villaver, 27, graduated from Farrington High School and trained at 24/7 Danceforce in Kaneohe. The studio has produced a number of dancers who have gone on to appear on TV competitions and tour with big acts.

Villaver moved to Los Angeles in 2012 to pursue a professional dance career, landing gigs with pop artists such as Ariana Grande and touring with Taylor Swift in 2015. He also enjoyed a bit of internet stardom when a video of him dancing with his deaf mother, Emilia Villaver Daquiog, went viral in 2014.

But that buzz doesn’t compare to the spotlight of “So You Think You Can Dance,” which premiered its 14th season in June and transitioned last month to live tapings for same-day broadcast on Fox. Villaver has been partnered with Season 4 contestant Comfort Fedoke, with whom he said he enjoys a “very powerful” connection on stage.

“What Comfort and I have (is that) we love to perform,” Villaver said Tuesday from Los Angeles, where he had the day off before returning to daily rehearsals leading up to Monday’s round of competition, which will air at 7 p.m. in Hawaii. “It’s energy. It’s soul. It’s mind. It’s everything. We connect in so many ways. It’s very powerful.”

After finding himself at risk of being booted from the show Aug. 21 by finishing in the bottom three, Villaver and Fedoke returned Monday night with a jazz performance that earned them nothing but praise from the judges.

“You were absolutely terrific in that routine,” said Nigel Lythgoe, adding that Villaver exhibited a “vast improvement” from the week before.

“No one would have said that you are a B-boy and a hip-hop dancer watching that routine. The jazz feel to it was absolutely terrific.”

Actress-singer Vanessa Hudgens raved that the dance number was “the sexiest jazz routine I’ve ever seen,” while Mary Murphy complimented Villaver’s ability to incorporate his personal style into his performance.

“I love how you’ve grown every single week,” she gushed. “You have now become a Broadway baby — yes, you have!”

Villaver said Monday’s critique was so flattering it left him at a loss for words.

“I couldn’t speak, honestly. I was humbled,” he said.

“Every choreographer has a different process. This week, for sure, was just a lot of, like, (uncertainty) and a little bit of stress here and there. That’s why I was just so blown away by the comments. It was the opposite (of what I expected). It was so cool. We put in the work and just believed we were that good.”

Villaver said he tries to remember his Hawaii roots when dealing with Hollywood-style stress. Despite online buzz suggesting he has a chance to win it all this season, he’s already made peace with his role on the show and is looking forward to future opportunities.

“Trust the journey and always think positive,” he said. “Just know that you create your own world. If you decide to go the negative route, all you do is attract negative things. And if you think positive, you know, same thing. Just try to think positive and be smart about the vibe you have and what you put out into the universe. Just trust it. Trust the struggle. Trust the pain.”

Even if he doesn’t end up going all the way on “So You Think You Can Dance,” Villaver has earned himself a spot on the post-show tour that will take finalists to cities around the country.

Except Honolulu — for now. Villaver said he’s putting it out to the universe to make it happen: “Stay positive. I just can’t wait to go home and give back. That’s all I want to do.”