So You Think You Can Dance, also known as SYTYCD, is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season six premiered on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host.Adam Shankman will be ‘SYTYCD’ judge Season six is the show's only season to air during the fall season, immediately following the summer airing of season five. Live shows began airing October 26 and the season finale aired on December 16. Russell Ferguson, the first krump contestant to make it to the Las Vegas auditions, won the title of "America's Favorite Dancer" in first place and the $250,000 prize. Also in the finale were Jakob Karr in second place, Kathryn McCormick in third place, Ellenore Scott in fourth place, Ashleigh Di Lello in fifth place and Ryan Di Lello in sixth place.
This season is also noteworthy for featuring Ariana DeBose who, despite being amongst the first contestants eliminated, would later go on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Anita in the Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story.
Auditions
Locations Open auditions for this season somewhat overlapped season 5. These auditions for season 6 were held in the following cities after season 5's Las Vegas week, but before season 5's finals started: AuditionCityDateJudgesColonial Theatre Boston, Massachusetts May 28, 2009 Nigel, Mary, Tyce DiorioWoodruff Arts Center Atlanta, Georgia June 1, 2009 Nigel, Mary, Lil' CThe Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, California June 12, 2009 Nigel, Mary, Adam ShankmanNew Orleans Morial Convention Center New Orleans, Louisiana June 19, 2009 Adam Shankman, Mary, Lil C Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix, Arizona June 26, 2009 Nigel, Mary, Mia MichaelsRose Wagner Performing Arts Center Salt Lake City, Utah July 24, 2009 Nigel, Mary, Mia Michaels
Lythgoe was accepting an honorary degree from the University of Bedfordshire; therefore, two guest judges were present.
Las Vegas week Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Debbie Allen
The Las Vegas callbacks were held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 152 contestants were invited to participate in the callback auditions. This number was cut to 38 contestants, before the announcement of the season's top 20 contestants. Las Vegas week included the following rounds, with cuts made after each:
Contestant(s)Task/styleMusicChoreographer(s)All (individual)SoloMusic chosen by contestantThe contestantAllHip-Hop"Girls on the Dance Floor"—Far East MovementTabitha andNapoleon D'umoAllCha-Cha"Disturbia (Jody den Broeder remix)"—RihannaLouis van Amstel Anya Garnis (assisting)AllJazz"Green Light"—John LegendLaurie Ann GibsonAll (in groups)Group choreographyCD with track picked from a hatThe groupAllContemporary"Walking on Air"—KerliMia MichaelsFemale contestantsBroadway"There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" from Sweet CharityTyce DiorioMale contestants "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"—Billy JoelAll (individual)SoloMusic chosen by contestantThe contestant
Top 20 Contestants
Female Contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacementKathryn McCormick 18 Augusta, Georgia Contemporary December 16, 2009 3rd PlaceEllenore Scott 18 San Diego, California Jazz December 16, 2009 4th PlaceAshleigh Di Lello 26 Orem, Utah Latin Ballroom December 16, 2009 5th PlaceMollee Gray 18 Orem, Utah Jazz December 9, 2009 Top 8Noelle Marsh 18 Raleigh, North Carolina Contemporary December 2, 2009 Top 10Karen Hauer 27 Holmdel, New Jersey (originally from Venezuela) Latin Ballroom November 25, 2009 Top 12Channing Cooke 18 Haverhill, Massachusetts Contemporary November 18, 2009 Top 14Pauline Mata 19 Malibu, California (originally from Philippines) Jazz November 11, 2009 Top 16Bianca Revels 20 Detroit, Michigan Tap November 3, 2009 Top 18Ariana DeBose 18 Raleigh, North Carolina Contemporary October 27, 2009 Top 20
Male Contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacementRussell Ferguson 19 Boston, Massachusetts Krump December 16, 2009 WinnerJakob Karr 18 → 19 Orlando, Florida Contemporary December 16, 2009 Runner UpRyan Di Lello 28 Orem, Utah Latin Ballroom December 16, 2009 6th PlaceJonathan "Legacy" Perez 28 Miami, Florida Breakdance December 9, 2009 Top 8Nathan Trasoras 18 Fresno, California Contemporary December 2, 2009 Top 10Victor Smalley 21 Miami, Florida Contemporary November 25, 2009 Top 12Kevin Hunte 23 Brooklyn, New York Hip Hop November 18, 2009 Top 14Peter Sabasino 22 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tap November 11, 2009 Top 16Phillip Attmore 25 Pasadena, California Tap November 3, 2009 Top 18Brandon Dumlao 21 Sacramento, California Hip Hop October 27, 2009 Top 20
Dumlao replaced original Top 20 contestant William "Billy" Bell, who had to withdraw from the competition due to illness.
Studio Shows
Elimination chart The elimination song for the women playing during the montage was "Never Say Never" by The Fray. The elimination song for the men playing during the montage was "Where It Ends" by 16 Frames. + Legend Female Male Bottom 3 couples Bottom 4 contestants
Result show date: 10/27 11/03 11/11 11/18 11/25 12/02 12/09 12/16 Contestant Results Russell Ferguson Btm 4 Winner Jakob Karr Runner-Up Kathryn McCormick Btm 4 3rd place Ellenore Scott Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 4 4th place Ashleigh Di Lello Injury 5th place Ryan Di Lello Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 4 Btm 4 6th place Jonathan "Legacy" Perez Elim Mollee Gray Btm 3 Btm 3 Nathan Trasoras Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Noelle Marsh Injury Btm 4 Victor Smalley Btm 4 Btm 3 Elim Karen Hauer Btm 3 Btm 3 Kevin Hunte Btm 3 Elim Channing Cooke Peter Sabasino Elim Pauline Mata Btm 4 Phillip Attmore Elim Bianca Revels Brandon Dumlao Elim Ariana DeBose
The show was unable to schedule full performance and results shows for the first two weeks due to conflicts with the World Series. These female contestants were barred from performing their routines. See below for more information.
Performance nights Due to network conflicts with the World Series, the show was unable to schedule a separate results show for the first two weeks. As a result, no public voting was held on those occasions; after the couples' performances, the judges alone selected four contestants to perform solos, and subsequently eliminated two.
The standard format of a performance show followed by voting, with a results show the following night, resumed for the third week of competition.
Week 1 (October 26, 2009)
"Meet the Top 20" Performances: ContestantsStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Top 20Jazz"Comanche"—The RevelsWade RobsonAmanda Robson (co-conceived)Russell FergusonKevin HunteJonathan "Legacy" PerezHip-Hop"Beggin' (District 78 mix)"—MadconTabitha andNapoleon D'umoChanning CookeAriana DeBoseJakob KarrNathan TrasorasContemporary"Crying"—k.d. langTyce DiorioPhillip AttmoreBianca RevelsPeter SabasinoTap"Take the "A" Train"—Ella FitzgeraldDerick K. GrantMollee GrayPauline MataEllenore ScottJazz"On a Cloud"—Platinum Pied PipersSonya TayehKathryn McCormickNoelle MarshBilly BellVictor SmalleyContemporary"Viva La Vida"—ColdplayMandy MooreKaren HauerAshleigh Di LelloRyan Di LelloSamba"Everything I Can't Have"—Robin ThickeJason Gilkison
Performance show Top 20 Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsChanning CookePhillip AttmoreJive"Rockin' Robin"—The Jackson 5Jason GilkisonSafeAshleigh Di LelloJakob KarrBroadway"Hit Me With a Hot Note (And Watch Me Bounce)"from Sophisticated LadiesTyce DiorioSafeAriana DeBosePeter SabasinoHip-Hop"Black and Gold"—Sam SparroTabitha andNapoleon D'umoDeBose EliminatedMelanie LaPatinRussell FergusonFoxtrot"Vagabond Shoes"—Vic DamoneTony MeredithMelanie LaPatinFerguson in bottom 4Bianca RevelsVictor SmalleyContemporary"Wasted Time"—Me'shell NdegeocelloTravis Wall (season 2)SafeKaren HauerKevin HuntCha-Cha"Push It" from GleeTony MeredithMelanie LaPatinSafeEllenore ScottRyan Di LelloContemporary Jazz"Arcadia"—ApparatSonya TayehSafeBrandon DumlaoPauline MataSmooth Waltz"You Light Up My Life"—Whitney HoustonJason GilkisonMata in bottom 4Dumlao eliminatedKathryn McCormickJonathan "Legacy" PerezHip-Hop"On & On"—Missy ElliottDave ScottSafeMollee GreyNathan TrasorasDisco"Turn the Beat Around" (Pablo's 12" Remix)—Gloria EstefanDoriana SanchezSafe Noelle Marsh did not perform on the show due to injury. She would become Ferguson's partner in Week 2.
Bottom 4 contestant's solos: ContestantStyleMusicResultAriana DeBoseContemporary"Darkest Hour"—Charlotte MartinEliminatedRussell FergusonKrump"Give the Drummer Sum"—Black MilkSafePauline MataJazz"Magalenha"—Sérgio MendesSafeBrandon DumlaoHip-Hop"Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"—John MayerEliminated Eliminated: Ariana DeBose Brandon Dumlao New Pairs: Pauline Mata and Peter Sabasino
Week 2 (November 3, 2009) Top 18 Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsNoelle MarshRussell FergusonHip-Hop"Move Shake Drop Remix"—DJ Laz, Flo Rida and CasleyJamal SimsMarsh in bottom 4Ashleigh Di LelloJakob KarrViennese Waltz"At Last"—Etta JamesTony MeredithMelanie LaPatinSafeBianca RevelsVictor SmalleyBroadway"Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Something" from The Color PurpleTyce DiorioRevels eliminatedSmalley in bottom 4Mollee GrayNathan TrasorasBollywood"Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah" from Jodhaa AkbarNakul Dev MahajanSafeChanning CookePhillip AttmoreSamba"Maracatu Funk"—The Samba SquadTony MeredithMelanie LaPatinAttmore eliminatedKaren HauerKevin HunteHip-Hop"Ice Cream Paint Job"—DorroughTabitha andNapoleon D'umoSafeKathryn McCormickContemporary"2 Steps Away"—Patti LaBelleStacey TookeySafePauline MataPeter SabasinoJazz"Little Green Bag"—George Baker SelectionWade RobsonSafeEllenore ScottRyan Di LelloArgentine Tango"Violentango"—Ástor PiazzollaMiriam LariciLeonardo BarrionuevoSafe Bottom 4 contestant's solos: DancerStyleMusicResultNoelle MarshContemporary"For a Reason"—ZhanéSafeVictor SmalleyContemporary"Narvas" from The Matrix: RevolutionsSafeBianca RevelsTap"Tootsee Roll"—69 BoyzEliminatedPhillip AttmoreTap"Almost Like Being in Love"—Nat King ColeEliminated Eliminated: Bianca Revels Phillip Atmore New pairs: Channing Cooke and Victor Smalley
Week 3 (November 10, 2009) Top 16 Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsKaren HauerKevin HunteHustle"Come To Me"—France JoliMaria TorresBottom 3Ashleigh Di LelloJakob KarrJazz"Relax"—Frankie Goes to HollywoodMandy MooreSafePauline MataPeter SabasinoQuickstep"Hey Baby! (Shake Those Hula Hips)"—Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat PackJT ThomasTomas MielnickiBoth eliminatedKathryn McCormickJonathan "Legacy" PerezBroadway"I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)"—Swingin' FireballsAndy BlankenbuehlerSafeChanning CookeVictor SmalleyContemporary"Be Be Your Love" (Live at KRCW)—Rachael YamagataStacey TookeySafeEllenore ScottRyan Di LelloHip-Hop(Krump)"Lost Boiz Anthem"—Tha J-SquadLil' CBottom 3Mollee GrayNathan TrasorasSalsa"Quimbara"—Celia Cruz and Johnny PachecoGustavo VargasSafeNoelle MarshRussell FergusonAfrican Jazz"Frog Dance"—Mickey Hart and Planet DrumSean CheesmanSafe
Week 4 (November 17, 2009) Top 14 Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsAshleigh Di LelloJakob KarrLyrical Hip-Hop"Whatcha Say"—Jason DerüloTabitha andNapoleon D'umoSafeKaren HauerKevin HunteBroadway"If My Friends Could See Me Now" from Sweet CharitySpencer LiffHunte eliminatedNoelle MarshRussell FergusonFoxtrot"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)"—Michael Bublé andSharon Jones & The Dap-KingsEdward SimonSafeChanning CookeVictor SmalleyJazz"Blackbird"—Bobby McFerrinTyce DiorioCooke eliminatedPaso Doble"Pursuit" from Cirque du SoleilTony MeredithSafeEllenore ScottRyan Di LelloContemporary"Your Ex-Lover Is Dead"—StarsTravis Wall (season 2)SafeMollee GrayNathan TrasorasPop-Jazz"Bad Romance"—Lady GagaLaurie Ann GibsonBottom 3
Week 5 (November 24, 2009)