"So You Think You Can Dance" Choreographer Alex Da Silva Pleads Not Guilty to Raping Four Students

NEW YORK (CBS) Former TV choreographer Alex Da Silva, of the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance," has reportedly pleaded not guilty to the rape of four of his students.

According to RadarOnline, the 42-year-old ex-salsa teacher is charged with eight felony counts of assault and was arraigned Wednesday morning in Van Nuys, Calif.

Police say Da Silva lured the victims -- who were all female dance students -- to his homes in North Hollywood and Van Nuys and sexually assaulted them, CBS affiliate KCAL reported last year. The alleged assaults occurred over six or seven years. 

Radar reports Da Silva was arrested in Aug. 2009 on four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object.

A court spokeswoman said Da Silva would remain in custody on $6.2 million dollar bail.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Da Silva won the World Salsa Dancing Championships in 2002 and 2007, according to KCAL. Before his arrest, Da Silva was teaching at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, Calif. and the Mayan Club in Los Angeles.

Reporting Contributed by CBS Affiliate KCAL