Plot Synopsis

This series follows the ultimate search for the nation's favorite dancer. Dancers skilled in everything from street hip-hop, krumping and popping to classic ballroom compete to be named the best. Viewers get to vote for their favorite couples. In the first season Nick Lazzarini won $100,000 and use of a Central-Park apartment for a year. Benji Schwimmer didn't even make the top 20 of Season 2 until one of the contestants couldn't secure a visa -- then Benji stepped in and killed it, winning $100,000, a new car and a one-year contract to perform with Celine Dion in Las Vegas. For Season 3, the prize was increased to $250,000 cash and Sabra Johnson danced away with the dough. Viewers voted Joshua Allen a "America's Favorite Dancer" in Season 4, and that title came with $250,000 cash and a role in "Step Up 3D." Recent winners include: Jeanine Mason (Season 5); Russell Ferguson (Season 6); Lauren Froderman (Season 7); Melanie Moore (Season 8); Chehon Wespi-Tschopp & Eliana Girard (Season 9); Dushaunt 'Fik-Shun' Stegall & Amy Yakima (Season 10); and Ricky Ubeda (Season 11); Gaby Diaz (Season 12); Kida the Great (Season 13); Lex Ishimoto (Season 14); Hannahlei Cabanilla (Season 15).

SYTYCD returned for its eleventh season on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on Fox, with host Cat Deeley and resident judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning for another season of awe-inspiring performances. In the two-hour Season 11 premiere, Justin Bieber and his choreographer, Nick DeMoura, introduced the top dance crews from across the country that vie for a spot on the season finale. Then, during each of the first four audition episodes, Bieber and DeMoura showcased two dance crews, revealing hash tags that viewers could use to tweet their favorite of the two crews. After the tweets were tallied, the most popular crew overall was invited to perform on the finale. Plus, guest judges for Season 11 include: Jenna Dewan-Tatum (Atlanta); Billy Porter and Misty Copeland (Philadelphia); Wayne Brady (New Orleans); Jenna Elfman and Fabrice Calmels (Chicago); and Christina Applegate (Los Angeles).

Hosted by Cat Deeley, and featuring returning judge Nigel Lythgoe and new judges Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE enters its 12th season on a new night and with a new twist: the series will showcase America's most talented dancers from the stage and the street, beginning with the audition rounds on Monday, June 1, 2015 from 8-10pm ET/PT on FOX. Throughout the auditions, the dancers who advance will be placed into two teams -- the STAGE dancers, featuring those trained in styles such as contemporary, ballet, jazz or tap; and the STREET dancers, hopefuls skilled in hip-hop, animation or breaking. As the auditions continue, the judges, along with each team's All-Star Mentor, will eliminate dancers until only the Top 20 -- 10 Street Dancers and 10 Stage Dancers -- remain. One dancer from each genre will be eliminated each week leading up to the season finale.

Season 13 of SYTYCD premiered on Monday, May 30, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT on FOX, with 13-year-old Maddie Ziegler (DANCE MOMS) joining Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo on the judging panel for the new season. Ziegler will lend her expertise as a young dancer to critique and praise the contestants as they battle it out during the studio shows this summer, but will not be part of the early audition shows. This season, dancers between the ages of 8-13, who are skilled in various dance styles, such as contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, animation or breaking, will be paired up with All-Stars to compete for the title of America's Favorite Dancer. During nationwide auditions, which begin next month in three cities, including Los Angeles (Saturday, Feb. 27), Chicago (Friday, March 11) and New York (Friday, March 18), the most talented next generation of dancers will compete in front of the judges for a place at "The Academy," where only the best of the best will be selected for the next round of competition. At the end of the round, the Top 10 dancers will be partnered permanently with a SYTYCD All-Star. The competition then moves on to the SYTYCD studio, where the top youngsters will compete each week in a variety of styles, working and performing alongside their All-Stars with world-renowned choreographers. One young contestant will go home each week until a winner is named on the season finale.

Actress, singer and dancer Vanessa Hudgens joined Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy as the third judge on the fourteenth season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. The season premiere, which debuted Monday, June 12 from 8-9pm ET/PT on FOX, marked Hudgens' judging debut in part-one of the Los Angeles auditions. "I am so excited for Vanessa to join Mary and me on the judging panel for the 14th season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. There was instant chemistry in the audition rounds, and I know the SYTYCD fans will love her as much as we do. Vanessa is an accomplished artist and brings her own brand of enthusiasm and energy to our panel," said Lythgoe, who also executive-produces. The 14th season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE features highly skilled dancers between the ages of 18-30 who will showcase their talents in various dance styles, including contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, animation, breaking and more. The Top 10 dancers will be paired up with All-Stars who will guide them throughout the competition as they vie for America's votes and the title of America's Favorite Dancer. "This season is about giving our loyal fan base what they've been asking for," said executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. "We've decided to go back to basics by bringing the best of our past formats together for an exciting new summer featuring accomplished adult competitors partnered with fan-favorite All-Star dancers. And, of course, as in past seasons, there will be new surprises which are sure to wow our viewers."

Season 15 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE premieres on Monday, June 4, 2018 at 8-9pm ET/PT on FOX. Highly-skilled dancers between the ages of 18 and 30 will showcase their talents in various dance styles, including contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, animation, breaking and more. Those who are selected to move on to the SYTYCD studio will work with world-renowned choreographers and compete LIVE each week for America's votes in a variety of styles. Contestants will be eliminated weekly until a winner is named on the season finale. Hosted by Cat Deeley and featuring Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Vanessa Hudgens as resident judges.

Hosted by Cat Deeley, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE returned for it sixteenth season on Monday, June 3, 2019 from 9-10pm ET/PT on FOX. Joining fan favorites Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy at the judging table for auditions and the Academy rounds are Emmy Award nominee Laurieann Gibson, Lady Gaga's longtime choreographer and creative director, and Emmy Award winner and SYTYCD alum Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval. The dance competition series spotlights highly skilled dancers between the ages of 18 and 30 who compete in contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, animation, breaking and more to secure their place in the SYTYCD studio, competing each week for America's votes. Contestants are eliminated weekly until a winner is named on the season finale.

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT, Season 17 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE premiered on FOX. The series introduces a new judging panel -- welcoming home Stephen "tWitch" Boss, alongside Emmy-, Tony- and Golden Globe-nominated artist Matthew Morrison and dancer, singer and digital sensation JoJo Siwa. Presenter and author Cat Deeley steps back into her role as host of the dance competition series. The brand-new version features highly skilled dancers between the ages of 18 and 30, showcasing their talents in various dance styles, including contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, animation, breaking and more. Those who are selected to move on to the SYTYCD studio will work with world-renowned choreographers and compete each week in a variety of styles, with brand-new twists and turns introduced into the competition. After their linear telecasts, all episodes of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will be available on FOX's free streaming platform, Tubi, as well as Fox Now, Hulu and On Demand.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE returned on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT on FOX for its 18th season with an all-new format. New to the judging panel are SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE All-Star and Emmy-nominated choreographer for DANCING WITH THE STARS Allison Holker and dancer and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE alum choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The duo join JoJo Siwa, who was previously a judge on the show's 17th season in 2022. Presenter and author Cat Deeley steps back into her role as host of the dance competition series.This season, during the auditions round, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE All-Star Comfort Fedoke, an associate choreographer on the new film Wicked and associate choreographer for Cabaret on London's West End, will join the judging panel to audition dancers from across the country as they showcase their talent in a wide array of dance styles including contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom and more, in hopes of securing one of ten coveted spots on the show.
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On Monday, May 20, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT, FOX premiered the Season 18 finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. After a challenging season, the final three dancers -- Dakayla Wilson, Anthony Curley, and Madison Rouge Alvarado -- face off in their pursuit of the $100,000 grand prize and one will be named the Season 18 winner. In the season finale, the top ten return and perform a group number choreographed by Luther Brown, and the final three each select someone from the top ten to perform with them in their final performance pieces. In addition to Luther Brown the choreographers for the final performance pieces from the top three include returning All-Star Kayla Radomski with Tucker Barkley, All-Star Ivan Koumaev with Diana Matos, and Talia Favia. Additionally, more All-Stars return alongside the top 10 as Natasha Bedingfield performs her iconic hit single "Unwritten," including fan favorites Season 17 winner Alexis Warr, Season 16 winner Bailey Munoz, Alex Wong, and Jasmine Harper. Who will have what it takes to win $100,000 and be crowned the winner?