Utah couple still dancing toward finale

Utahns Ryan and Ashleigh Di Lello don't have any children of their own yet. And they're way too young to be the parents of teenagers.

Yet the "So You Think You Can Dance" finalists have found themselves thrust into sort of a parental role.

"We've kind of been the mom and dad of the group. They call us that," Ashleigh, 26, said with a laugh.

"They started calling us Mom and Dad … because we're the oldest in the cast and the married couple," said Ryan, 28. "We're all friends on the same level, but they just kind of joke and call us Mom and Dad because we kind of watch out for everybody."

(The remaining finalists perform in Tuesday's show, which airs at 7 p.m. on Fox/Ch. 13. Two will be eliminated on Wednesday's show — 8 p.m. on Ch. 13).

The Di Lellos' situation is unprecedented for "SYTYDC." A husband and wife competing against each other, performing with other partners.

Partners like the just-eliminated Noelle Marsh, who admitted it was somewhat uncomfortable to perform a hip-hop routine that was "all smoky and hot" with Ryan while Ashleigh looked on.

"I was like, 'Oh man, what is Ashleigh going to think of this?' " Marsh said. "But we're all so close, and I just adore Ashleigh and Ryan. It's just so nice to have them both on the show and they're really supportive of each other. So it wasn't too awkward."

The Di Lellos are one-quarter of the eight finalists remaining on the show. And there are actually three Utahns, including Mollee Gray, so at least one of them will be among the six who compete in next week's season finale.

As far as the show goes, executive producer/judge Nigel Lythgoe said that having a married couple "hasn't really affected us in any way, shape or form."

"They're extremely professional about it. And both of them, I think, have been two of the major dancers that have grown in this production and this season so far. They're a joy to watch at the moment."

With the exception of the one day when all the remaining finalists work on a group dance for the show, the Di Lellos don't spend that much time together during the long days of rehearsal.

"We're just so involved with our partners and working hard to try to give the best performance we can with them," Ryan said.

On a personal level, however, he said it has been "a really big benefit" for them to be on the show together.