So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season five premiered on May 21, 2009, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host. Jeanine Mason was crowned America's Favorite Dancer on August 6, 2009, making her the second female to win the show. For the first time, the show moved to a new stage, but it turned out to be the last season at CBS Studios.
Auditions
Open auditions for this season were held in the following locations:
Audition VenueCityDateGuest Judge(s) Mark Morris Dance Center Brooklyn, New York November 13, 2008 Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Miami, Florida February 3, 2009 Tyce Diorio Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, California February 12, 2009 Adam Shankman Paramount Theatre Denver, Colorado March 12, 2009 Sonya Tayeh The Cadre Building Memphis, Tennessee March 16, 2009 Lil' C The Moore Theatre Seattle, Washington March 28, 2009 Mia Michaels
Las Vegas week Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels, Lil' C, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen.
The Las Vegas callbacks were held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 172 contestants were invited to participate in the callback auditions. This number was cut to 32 contestants (each gender: 16 female and 16 male), before the announcement of the season's top 20 contestants. Las Vegas week included the following rounds, with cuts made after each:
Contestant(s)Thing/styleMusicChoreographer(s)All (individual)SoloIndividual songs chosen by contestantThe contestantAllHip-hop"Boom Boom Pow"—The Black Eyed PeasTabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umoAllWaltz"May It Be"—EnyaJean-Marc GénéreuxFrance MousseauAllJazz"Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)"—The Ting TingsSonya TayehAll (in groups)Group choreographyIndividual songs picked by the groupThe groupAllContemporary"Belief (Stripped Version)"—Gavin DeGrawMia MichaelsFemale contestantsBroadway"America" from West Side StoryTyce DiorioMale contestants"Cool" from West Side StoryAll (individual)SoloIndividual songs chosen by contestantThe contestant
Top 20 Contestants
Female Contestants Contestant Age Home Town Dance Style Elimination date Placement Jeanine Mason 18 Miami, Florida Contemporary/Jazz August 6, 2009 Winner Kayla Radomski 18 Aurora, Colorado Contemporary August 6, 2009 4th Place Melissa Sandvig 29 Los Angeles, California Ballet July 30, 2009 Top 6 Janette Manrara 25 Miami, Florida Salsa July 23, 2009 Top 8 Randi Evans 23 Orem, Utah Jazz July 16, 2009 Top 10 Caitlin Kinney 21 Annapolis, Maryland Contemporary July 9, 2009 Top 12 Karla Garcia 23 Brooklyn, New York Contemporary July 2, 2009 Top 14 Asuka Kondoh 25 San Francisco, California Latin Ballroom June 25, 2009 Top 16 Ashley Valerio 22 Mesa, Arizona Contemporary June 18, 2009 Top 18 Paris Torres 19 Issaquah, Washington Contemporary June 11, 2009 Top 20
Male Contestants Contestant Age Home Town Dance Style Elimination date Placement Brandon Bryant 20 Miami, Florida Contemporary August 6, 2009 Runner Up Evan Kasprzak 21 Benzonia, Michigan Broadway August 6, 2009 3rd Place Ade Obayomi 20 Peoria, Arizona Contemporary July 30, 2009 Top 6 Jason Glover 21 Fresno, California Contemporary July 23, 2009 Top 8 Kupono Aweau 23 Kailua, Hawaii Lyrical Jazz July 16, 2009 Top 10 Phillip Chbeeb 20 Houston, Texas Popping July 9, 2009 Top 12 Vitolio Jeune 26 Miami, Florida (originally from Haiti) Contemporary July 2, 2009 Top 14 Jonathan Platero 21 Tampa, Florida Salsa June 25, 2009 Top 16 Maksim Kapitannikov 26 Brooklyn, New York Latin Ballroom June 18, 2009 Top 18 Tony Bellissimo 20 Buffalo, New York Hip Hop June 11, 2009 Top 20
Elimination chart
Contestants are listed in reverse chronological order of elimination. The song for the eliminated female contestants was "Already Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. The song for the eliminated male contestants was "On Your Own" by Green River Ordinance. + Legend Female Male Bottom 3 couples Bottom 4 contestants Week: 6/11 6/18 6/25 7/2 7/9 7/16 7/23 7/30 8/6 Contestant Result Jeanine Mason Btm 3 Btm 3 Winner Brandon Bryant Btm 4 Runner-Up Evan Kasprzak 3rd place Kayla Radomski Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 4 4th place Ade Obayomi Btm 3 Btm 4 Elim Melissa Sandvig Btm 3 Btm 4 Jason Glover Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Janette Manrara Kūpono Aweau Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Randi Evans Philip Chbeeb Btm 3 Elim Caitlin Kinney Btm 3 Btm 3 Vitolio Jeune Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Karla Garcia Btm 3 Btm 3 Jonathan Platero Btm 3 Elim Asuka Kondoh Btm 3 Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov Elim Ashley Valerio Tony Bellissimo Elim Paris Torres
Performances
Week 1 (June 10, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results Jeanine MasonPhillip Chbeeb Lyrical hip-hop "Mad"—Ne-Yo Tabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umo Safe Asuka KondohVitolio Jeune Broadway "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago Tyce Diorio Bottom 3 Karla GarciaJonathan Platero Cha-cha "Poker Face"—Lady Gaga Tony Meredith Bottom 3 Randi EvansEvan Kasprzak Jazz "I Only Have Eyes for You"—Jamie Cullum Tyce Diorio Safe Paris TorresTony Bellissimo Hip-hop "Let the Beat Rock" (Boyz Noize Megamix)—The Black Eyed Peas Tabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umo Both eliminated Caitlin KinneyJason Glover Bollywood "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire Nakul Dev Mahajan Safe Janette ManraraBrandon Bryant Foxtrot "Come Fly with Me"—Michael Bublé Louis van Amstel Safe Ashley ValerioKūpono Aweau Jazz "Felt Mountain"—Goldfrapp Wade Robson Safe Melissa SandvigAde Obayomi Contemporary "Right Here Waiting"—Richard Marx Mandy Moore Safe Kayla RadomskiMaksim "Max" Kapitannikov Samba "Jum Bah Day"—House of Gypsies Louis van Amstel Safe
Week 2 (June 17, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Lil' C Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results Randi EvansEvan Kasprzak Jive "Shake A Tail Feather"—Ray Charles Louis van Amstel Safe Melissa SandvigAde Obayomi Jazz "24 Hours" (The Aston Shuffle A-Bomb Remix)—Terry Poison Sonya Tayeh Safe Caitlin KinneyJason Glover Hip-hop "Missin' You"—Trey Songz Shane Sparks Bottom 3 Janette ManraraBrandon Bryant Disco "Loving Is Really My Game"—Brainstorm Doriana Sanchez Safe Asuka KondohVitolio Jeune Waltz "Dreams Are More Precious"—Enya Louis van Amstel Safe Kayla RadomskiMaksim "Max" Kapitannikov Pop-Jazz "Hot Like Wow"—Nadia Oh Brian Friedman Kapitannikov Eliminated Karla GarciaJonathan Platero Contemporary "Falling Slowly"—The Frames Stacey Tookey Safe Jeanine MasonPhillip Chbeeb Tango "Violento (Up Mix)"—Bailongo! Tony Meredith Safe Ashley ValerioKūpono Aweau Hip-hop "Imma Be"—The Black Eyed Peas Shane Sparks Valerio Eliminated
Week 3 (June 24, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Toni Basil Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results Karla GarciaJonathan Platero Hip-hop "By My Side"—Jadakiss featuring Ne-Yo Dave Scott Platero Eliminated Asuka KondohVitolio Jeune Jazz "Heartbreaker"—Pat Benatar Mandy Moore Kondoh Eliminated Melissa SandvigAde Obayomi Rumba "Emotion"—Destiny's Child Tony Meredith Safe Janette ManraraBrandon Bryant Hip-hop "What a World"—Common Dave Scott Safe Kayla RadomskiKūpono Aweau Viennese Waltz "Sweet Dreams for You"—Jewel Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance Mousseau Safe Randi EvansEvan Kasprzak Contemporary "Koop Island Blues"—Koop featuring Ane Brun Mia Michaels Safe Caitlin KinneyJason Glover Paso Doble "O Fortuna"—Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg & Kurt Pretsel Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance Mousseau Bottom 3 Jeanine MasonPhillip Chbeeb Broadway "Moses Supposes" from Singin' in the Rain Tyce Diorio Safe
Week 4 (July 1, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results Cha-cha "Hush Hush; Hush Hush"—The Pussycat Dolls Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance Mousseau Safe Kayla RadomskiKūpono Aweau Contemporary "Eyes On Fire"—Blue Foundation Sonya Tayeh Randi EvansEvan Kasprzak Broadway "Rich Man's Frug" from Sweet Charity Joey Dowling Safe Caitlin KinneyJason Glover Pop-Jazz "Creator"—Santigold Brian Friedman Safe Jeanine MasonPhillip Chbeeb Hip-hop "Love Lockdown"—Kanye West Tabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umo Bottom 3 Melissa SandvigAde Obayomi "Romeo and Juliet: Prokofiev's Suite (No.1 Op 64b, 6th Movement)"—Orchestre De La Suisse Romande & Armin Jordan Thordal Christensen Safe Karla GarciaVitolio Jeune Quickstep "Puttin' on the Ritz"—Rufus Wainwright Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance Mousseau
Week 5 (July 8, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Tyce Diorio Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsMelissa SandvigAde Obayomi Disco "Move On Up"—Destination Doriana Sanchez Bottom 3 Waltz "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"—Mary J. Blige Ron MontezKayla RadomskiKūpono Aweau Contemporary "Gravity"—Sara Bareilles Mia Michaels Safe Broadway "The Dance At the Gym" from West Side Story Joey DowlingCaitlin KinneyJason Glover Foxtrot "Minnie the Moocher"—Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatin Lyrical Jazz "Show Me Heaven"—Maria McKee Mandy MooreJeanine MasonPhillip Chbeeb Kalinka "Kalinka"—Barynya Youri NelzineLilia Babenko Jive "Stuff Like That There"—Bette Midler Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatinRandi EvansEvan Kasprzak Lyrical hip-hop "Halo"—Beyoncé Knowles Tabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umo Safe Samba "Ritmo De Bom Bom"—Jubaba Anya GarnisPasha Kovalev (Season 3)Janette ManraraBrandon Bryant Argentine Tango "Libertango" from Forever Tango Miriam LariciLeonardo Barrionuevo Safe Jazz "Ruby Blue"—Róisín Murphy Wade Robson
Week 6 (July 15, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Debbie Allen
Group dances: ContestantStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Top 5 female contestantsBollywood"Dholna" from Pyaar Ke GeetNakul Dev MahajanTop 5 male contestantsAfrican Jazz"Balant Funk"—Ayanda Clark and Shawn KellyJeffrey Paige Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results Kayla RadomskiEvan Kasprzak Viennese Waltz "Kiss from a Rose"—Seal Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatin Safe Janette ManraraAde Obayomi Hip hop "Love Sex Magic"—Ciara featuring Justin Timberlake Tabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umoObayomi in bottom 4 Jeanine MasonJason Glover Contemporary "If It Kills Me" (The Casa Nova Sessions)—Jason Mraz Travis Wall (Season 2)Safe Randi EvansKūpono Aweau Paso Doble "Dies Irae"—Karl Jenkins Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatinBoth eliminated Melissa SandvigBrandon Bryant Broadway "Aquarius" from Hair Tyce DiorioSandvig in bottom 4 Top 10 contestant's solos: ContestantStyleMusicResultBrandon BryantContemporary"In Your Eyes"—Jeffrey GainesSafeRandi EvansContemporary"Dream"—Priscilla AhnEliminatedKupono AweauJazz"Marina Gasolina"—Bonde do RolêEliminatedMelissa SandvigBallet"Gabriel"—LambBottom 4Evan KasprzakBroadway"Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart"—Rufus WainrightSafeKayla RadomskiContemporary"Rock Your Soul"—ElisaSafeAde ObayomiContemporary"Unchained Melody"—The Righteous BrothersBottom 4Jeanine MasonJazz"Violento (Up Mix)"—Bailongo!SafeJason GloverBroadway"Train Fare Home"—Muddy WatersSafeJanette ManraraSalsa"This is Miami"—Sander KleinenbergSafe
Week 7 (July 22, 2009)
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Ellen DeGeneres, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels Group dance: Top 8: "Let It Rock"—Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne (Pop-Jazz; Choreographer: Travis Wall) Couple dances: