So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 18

So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition reality show, which returned for its eighteenth season on March 4, 2024.[1][2]

So You Think You Can Dance
Season 18
Hosted byCat Deeley
Judges
WinnerAnthony Curley
Runner-upDakayla Wilson
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseMarch 4 (2024-03-04) –
May 20, 2024 (2024-05-20)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 17

An eighteenth season of So You Think You Can Dance was announced on December 5, 2023, with a judging panel composed of series creator Nigel Lythgoe (which would have been his seventeenth season as judge), season 2 contestant and season 711 and 14 All-Star Allison Holker,[3] and former Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Comfort Fedoke guest judged during the auditions. Cat Deeley returned to her role as host for a seventeenth consecutive season.[1][2]

In January 2024, Lythgoe departed from the show following a sex abuse lawsuit from former judge Paula Abdul.[4][5][6][7][8] He was replaced by season 17 judge JoJo Siwa.[9][10]

The season premiere ended with a tribute to season 4 runner-up, former judge, and Holker's husband Stephen "tWitch" Boss who was found dead by suicide in December 2022.

On May 20, 2024, Anthony Curley was crowned the winner.

Auditions

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The auditions for season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance took place in Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia where all the dancers had to audition in front of judges Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Allison Holker, and special guest judge Comfort Fedoke.[11] From the thousands that applied through video submissions, the Top 100 were invited to Atlanta to audition in front of the judges. Unlike previous seasons, this season took more of a documentary style and taught the audience a little bit more about the dancers' background. Notable dancers included Easton Magliarditi who auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, Jin Lee, who had dedicated her dance to Allison Holker's late husband Stephen "Twitch" Boss,[12] Kenidee Allen who had trained with Maks,[13] Kaylee Bays, a dancer that had been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that left her in a wheelchair,[13] and Mariyah Hawkins who had previously auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation.[14]

Choreography Round

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Like season 17, the Callbacks/Academy Round was renamed the Choreography Round and took place over one day, as opposed to one week like past seasons. The Choreography Round consisted of two rounds led by choreographer, Galen Hooks. The first round had the contestants dancing in different groups, and the second round focused on partner work. 35 contestants made it to the choreography round and were eliminated after each round until 10 remained to advance to the studio shows.

Top 10 Contestants

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Female contestants

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Contestant Age Home Town Dance Style Elimination date Placement
Dakayla Wilson 18 Tampa, Florida Jazz May 20, 2024 Runner-Up
Madison Rouge Alvarado 21 Chicago, Illinois Jazz Funk May 20, 2024 3rd Place
Mariyah Hawkins 21 Dallas, Texas Contemporary May 6, 2024 Top 5
Avery Gay 19 Scottsdale, Arizona Ballet April 15, 2024 Top 10
Olivia Alboher 22 Totowa, New Jersey Contemporary April 15, 2024 Top 10

Male contestants

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Contestant Age Home Town Dance Style Elimination date Placement
Anthony Curley 19 Phoenix, Arizona Contemporary N/A Winner
Easton Magliarditi 19 Las Vegas, Nevada Contemporary May 13, 2024 Top 4
Jaylin Sanders 20 Los Angeles, California Hip-Hop April 29, 2024 Top 6
Braylon Browner 18 Killeen, Texas Contemporary April 22, 2024 Top 8
Roman Nevinchanyi 26 Kiev, Ukraine Ballroom April 22, 2024 Top 8

Elimination chart

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Contestants are listed in chronological order of elimination.

Legend
Female Male Bottom 3/4 contestants Eliminated
Result show date: 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20
Contestant Results
Anthony Curley Btm 4 Btm 3 Winner
Dakayla Wilson Btm 4 Btm 3 Runner-Up
Madison Rouge Alvarado 3rd Place
Easton Magliarditi Btm 4 Btm 3 Elim
Mariyah Hawkins Btm 3 Elim
Jaylin Sanders Elim
Roman Nevinchanyi Elim
Braylon Browner Btm 4 Elim
Olivia Alboher Elim
Avery Gay Elim

Studio shows

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For the first time this series, the judges are solely responsible for which dancers are safe and which are eliminated, with no audience voting. Previously, the dancers which received the most audience votes each week would be safe from elimination.

Top 10 Perform – Challenge #1: Music Videos (April 15, 2024)

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In this challenge, the top 10 were divided into two groups of five dancers; each group performed a music video together. The dancers were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the music video as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 4 dancers; the bottom 4 each performed a solo and the judges eliminated two dancers.

Groups

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Dancers Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
Avery Gay Contemporary "All Around Me" — Justin Bieber Phillip Chbeeb & Makenzie Chbeeb-Dustman Eliminated
Dakayla Wilson Safe
Braylon Browner Bottom 4
Roman Nevinchanyi Safe
Jaylin Sanders
Olivia Alboher Hip Hop "Juice" — Lizzo Luther Brown Eliminated
Mariyah Hawkins Safe
Madison Rouge Alvarado
Easton Magliarditi Bottom 4
Anthony Curley Safe

Solos

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Dancers Style Music
Easton Magliarditi Contemporary "The Blower's Daughter" — Damien Rice
Avery Gay Ballet "Can't Catch Me Now" — Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Alboher Contemporary "Snowing" — Sonya Kitchell
Braylon Browner "Life is Not the Same" — James Blake

Top 8 Perform – Challenge #2: Broadway (April 22, 2024)

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In this challenge, the top 8 were divided into two groups of four dancers; each group performed a Broadway piece together. The dancers were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the Broadway piece as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 4 dancers; the bottom 4 each performed a solo and the judges eliminated two dancers.

Groups

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Dancers Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
Anthony Curley Broadway "In the Mood" — BBC Big Band
"I Got Rhythm" — Bobby Darin
Al Blackstone Bottom 4
Dakayla Wilson
Jaylin Sanders Safe
Madison Rouge Alvarado
Braylon Browner "Willkommen" — Cabaret
"Money" — Cabaret
Sarah O'Gleby Eliminated
Easton Magliarditi Safe
Mariyah Hawkins
Roman Nevinchanyi Eliminated

Solos

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Dancers Style Music
Braylon Browner Contemporary "Stabat Mater" — Woodkid
Roman Nevinchanyi Ballroom "Beggin'" — Måneskin
Dakayla Wilson Jazz "Demons" — Doja Cat
Anthony Curley Contemporary "Punchbag Love" — Adam French

Top 6 Perform – Challenge #3: Movies (April 29, 2024)

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In this challenge, the top 6 were divided into two groups of three dancers; each group performed a movie sequence together. The dancers were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the movie sequence as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 3 dancers; the bottom 3 each performed a solo and the judges eliminated one dancer.

  • Group Routine: Top 6: "Low" – Flo Rida (Hip Hop; Choreographer: N/A)

Groups

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Dancers Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
Easton Magliarditi Broadway "When the Sun Goes Down" — In the Heights Chris Scott Safe
Madison Rouge Alvarado
Jaylin Sanders Eliminated
Anthony Curley Jazz "Footloose" — Footloose Jamal Sims Safe
Dakayla Wilson Bottom 3
Mariyah Hawkins

Solos

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Dancers Style Music
Mariyah Hawkins Contemporary "Stuttering" — Jazmine Sullivan
Jaylin Sanders Hip-Hop "Proud... Uuu" — TellaX
Dakayla Wilson Jazz "My Mind" — Yebba

Top 5 Perform – Challenge #4: On Tour (May 6, 2024)

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Groups

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Dancers Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
Madison Rouge Alvarado Hip Hop/Contemporary Fusion "Church" & "Dreaming" — T-Pain Fullout Cortland & Kyle Hanagami Safe
Anthony Curley Bottom 3
Mariyah Hawkins Eliminated
Easton Magliarditi Bottom 3
Dakayla Wilson Safe

Solos

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Dancers Style Music
Easton Magliarditi Contemporary "Lately" — Stevie Wonder
Mariyah Hawkins "Lost One" — Jazmine Sullivan
Anthony Curley "Disconnect" — 6lack

Top 4 Perform – Challenge #5: Brand Challenge (May 13, 2024)

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Groups

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Dancers Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
Madison Rouge Alvarado Hip Hop/Contemporary Fusion "I'm Good (Blue)" — David Guetta & Bebe Rexha Hi-Hat Safe
Anthony Curley
Easton Magliarditi Eliminated
Dakayla Wilson Safe

Solos

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Dancers Style Music
Anthony Curley Contemporary "Still Alive" — Aaryan Shah
Dakayla Wilson Jazz "My Immortal" — Evanescence
Easton Magliarditi Contemporary "Perfectly Wrong" — Shawn Mendes
Madison Rouge Alvarado Jazz Funk "Can't Be Tamed" — Miley Cyrus

The Season 18 Finale (May 20, 2024)

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Each of the finalists performed two times: a duet with a fellow Top 10 finalist of their choice, and a solo.

  • Groups:
    • Top 10 & Judges: "Fly as Me" – Silk Sonic (Hip Hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown)
    • Olivia, Avery, Roman, Jaylin & All-Stars (Bailey Munoz (season 16 winner), Alex Wong (season 7 finalist), Alexis Warr (season 17 winner) & Jasmine Harper (season 10 finalist)): Performer: Natasha Bedingfield – "Unwritten"

Duets

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Dancers Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
Madison Rouge Alvarado Jazz Funk
(w/ Braylon Browner)
"Not About You" — Haiku Hands Kayla Radomski & Tucker Barkley 3rd Place
Anthony Curley Hip Hop
(w/ Mariyah Hawkins)
"Bang" — Jacob Banks & Tobe Nwigwe Diana Matos & Ivan Koumaev Winner
Dakayla Wilson Contemporary
(w/ Easton Magliarditi)
"Change" — Lana Del Rey Talia Favia Runner-Up

Solos

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Dancers Style Music
Anthony Curley Contemporary "Better Alone" — Aaryan Shah
Dakayla Wilson Jazz "A Palé" — Rosalía

Ratings

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Viewership and ratings per episode of So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 18
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
1 "Auditions: Day One" March 4, 2024 0.2/2 1.04[15]
2 "Auditions: Day Two" March 11, 2024 0.1/1 0.87[16]
3 "Auditions: Day Three" March 18, 2024 0.2/2 0.89[17]
4 "The Final Audition: Top Ten Revealed" March 25, 2024 0.2/2 0.85[18]
5 "Challenge #1: Music Videos" April 15, 2024 0.2/2 0.81[19]
6 "Challenge #2: Broadway" April 22, 2024 0.2/1 0.84[20]
7 "Challenge #3: Movies" April 29, 2024 0.1/1 0.76[21]
8 "Challenge #4: On Tour" May 6, 2024 0.1/1 0.78[22]
9 "Challenge #5: Brand Challenge" May 13, 2024 0.1/1 0.85[23]
10 "The Finale" May 20, 2024 0.1/1 0.80[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Emmy Award-Winning "So You Think You Can Dance" Returns to FOX with Host Cat Deeley and All-New Format for 18th Season" (Press release). Fox. December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  2. ^ a b White, Peter (December 5, 2023). "So You Think You Can Dance Renewed For Season 18 On Fox With New Judges". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Haring, Bruce (February 8, 2024). "Allison Holker Joining Judges For So You Think You Can Dance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Patten, Dominic (December 30, 2023). ""Untrue" Says Nigel Lythgoe Of Paula Abdul's Sexual Assaults Suit Against Him, Takes Swipe At "History Of Erratic Behavior" By Ex-American Idol Judge – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Patten, Dominic (January 2, 2024). "Nigel Lythgoe Hit With Second Sexual Assault Case In Less Than A Week, But It May Not Have Much Legal Punch". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 3, 2024). "Nigel Lythgoe Under Investigation By SYTYCD Production Company In Light Of Sexual Assault Lawsuits". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  7. ^ White, Peter (January 5, 2024). "Nigel Lythgoe Steps Down From So You Think You Can Dance After Sexual Assault Accusations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Patten, Dominic (February 21, 2024). ""Never Occurred": Nigel Lythgoe Refutes Sexual Assault Suit Alleging 2016 Chauffeured Car Attack – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "JoJo Siwa Returns to the "So You Think You Can Dance" Judging Panel Alongside Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy" (Press release). Fox. January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  10. ^ White, Peter (January 26, 2024). "JoJo Siwa Returns To So You Think You Can Dance To Replace Nigel Lythgoe Following Sexual Assault Accusations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Dehnart, Andy (March 12, 2024). "So far, So You Think You Can Dance is just great dance—and great judging". Reality Blurred. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Amber, Ashley (March 5, 2024). "So You Think You Can Dance 2024 Recap: Season 18 Auditions 1 (Videos)". Mjsbigblog. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Montgomery, Daniel (March 12, 2024). "So You Think You Can Dance 18 episode 2 recap: Who were the standout performers during 'Auditions: Day Two'? [LIVE BLOG]". GoldDerby. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (March 19, 2024). "So You Think You Can Dance 18 episode 3 recap: In 'Auditions: Day Three,' one hopeful was like 'the LeBron James of dance'". GoldDerby. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 5, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Soft Returns for MasterChef Junior and So You Think You Can Dance on Fox". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 12, 2024). "Monday Ratings: ABC and NBC Share Broadcast Prime Time Victory with Their Respective Longtime Reality Franchises". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  17. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 19, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Oprah Winfrey Weight Loss Special Draws Decently for ABC". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 26, 2024). "Monday Ratings: The Bachelor 28th Season Finale on ABC Up Double-Digit Percent from Prior Season Ender". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Douglas Pucci (April 16, 2024). "Monday Ratings: WNBA Draft on ESPN Earns Record Audience of Nearly 2.5 Million Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Douglas Pucci (April 24, 2024). "Monday Ratings: New York Knicks' NBA Playoff Victory Thriller on TNT and truTV Up Double-Digits from Year-Ago Game". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  21. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 1, 2024). "Monday Ratings: CBS Tops in Total Viewers, TNT, USA and ESPN Outperform Broadcast Nets in Key Demos". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 7, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Bob Hearts Abishola Series Finale on CBS Reaches Total Viewer High Since Fifth Season Premiere". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 14, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Deal or No Deal Island on NBC Rises to Season-High in Total Viewers with Finale". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  24. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 21, 2024). "Monday Ratings: La Casa de Los Famosos Hits Series-High in Viewers with 4th Season Finale as Telemundo Tops All Broadcast Networks in 18-49". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
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