So You Think You Can Dance is an American television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season seven premiered on May 27, 2010. In the August 12 finale, contemporary/jazz contestant Lauren Froderman was named "America's Favorite Dancer" and received the grand prize of $250,000, as well as an appearance on the cover of Dance Spirit magazine and in print advertising for Gatorade. Contemporary dancer Kent Boyd was named runner-up.
Judging panel Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman returned as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returned to host. Mary Murphy stepped down from her judging position, but guest judged during Las Vegas week and made an appearance at the finale. Mia Michaels became the third permanent judge for this season. During the auditions, various guest judges joined Lythgoe, including Shankman and Michaels along with others. This was Michael's only season as a permanent judge. It was announced in early 2011 that Murphy would return as a permanent judge for season 8. Michaels left because she felt she didn't fit well on the panel and wanted to do her own work without being linked to the show.
Auditions
Open auditions
Audition City Date Guest judgesAdrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Miami January 18, 2010 Sonya Tayeh, Jason GilkisonParadise Theater The Bronx, New York City January 25, 2010 Mia Michaels, Adam ShankmanMcFarlin Memorial Auditorium Dallas March 10, 2010 Tyce Diorio, Toni RedpathAcuff Theatre Nashville March 14, 2010 Adam Shankman, Joey DowlingCadillac Palace Theatre Chicago March 18, 2010 Adam Shankman, Stacey TookeyOrpheum Theatre Los Angeles March 26, 2010 Adam Shankman, Hi-Hat
Las Vegas week Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Toni Redpath, Lil' C, Tyce Diorio Day 1 kicks off with individual solos, Day 2 is hip-hop, Day 3 is cha-cha, Day 4 is broadway, Day 5 is group routines, Day 6 is Contemporary, and the final day is individual solos.
The Las Vegas callbacks were held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Task/styleMusicChoreographer(s)Individual SoloMusic Chosen by ContestantThe contestantsHip-Hop"OMG"—Usher ft. will.i.amTabitha D'umoCha-cha-cha"Just Dance"—Lady GagaToni RedpathBroadway"Charleston" from Billion Dollar BabyTyce DiorioGroup routinesPicked out of a hatThe contestantsContemporary"A Beautiful Mess"—Jason MrazTravis WallIndividual soloMusic chosen by contestantThe contestant
Studio Shows
Format changes Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has stated numerous format changes for this season. Instead of naming a top 20 to compete in the studio shows, the show planned on selecting a top 10 - they ended up accepting an extra contestant to create a top 11. The contestants were informed of their inclusion in the studio shows by the judges either traveling to each contestant's home or personally telephoning them to reveal their fate. This is in contrast to previous seasons where the contestants walked down a long corridor to face the judging panel.
Rather than partnering up the contestants with each other, partners were chosen at random each week from a pool of All-Stars composed of former top contestants that have appeared in previous seasons of the show, and the contestants performed in their All-Star partners' specialized style. Additionally, rather than sending home a pair of contestants each week, contestants were voted on as individuals from the beginning of the competition, and only one was sent home per week. Only three contestants were featured in the finale, as opposed to the usual four.
On June 16, 2010—the first performance show—host Cat Deeley revealed that the phone numbers viewers needed to dial to vote for their favorite contestant(s) were changed to 1-888-6BEST## from the usual 1-888-TEMPO##, ## being the numerical order of the contestant. This year also marks the first season in which, just like the results shows in all seasons prior, the performance shows were aired live, as opposed to being taped earlier in the week. This is also the first season to be broadcast in high-definition video.
Top 11 contestants Female contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacementLauren Froderman18Phoenix, ArizonaContemporaryAugust 12, 2010WinnerAshley Galvan19Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaLyrical JazzJuly 15, 2010 (Injured)SeventhMelinda Sullivan22Jericho, New YorkTapJuly 1, 2010NinthCristina Santana 24San Diego, CaliforniaSalsaJune 24, 2010TenthAlexie Agdeppa26Rowland Heights, CaliforniaContemporaryJune 17, 2010Eleventh
Male contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacementKent Boyd18Botkins, OhioContemporaryAugust 12, 2010Runner-UpRobert Roldan19Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaContemporaryAugust 12, 2010ThirdAdéChiké Torbert23Brooklyn, New YorkContemporaryAugust 5, 2010FourthJose Ruiz21Pembroke Pines, FloridaBreakdanceJuly 29, 2010FifthBilly Bell19Loxahatchee, FloridaContemporarySixthAlex Wong23Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaBalletJuly 8, 2010 (Injured)Eighth
Elimination chart + Legend Female Male Bottom 3 contestants Bottom 2 contestants Injury
Result show date: 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 Contestant Results Btm 3WinnerKent Boyd Runner-UpRobert RoldanBtm 3Btm 3Btm 2Btm 2 ElimAdéChiké TorbertElimJose RuizBtm 2Btm 2ElimBilly BellBtm 3Btm 2Btm 2InjuryAshley GalvanBtm 2InjuryAlex WongInjuryMelinda SullivanBtm 3Btm 3ElimCristina SantanaBtm 3ElimAlexie AgdeppaElim
Performance shows The contestants that are marked in bold are the Season 7 contestants.
Meet the Top 11 (June 10, 2010) Performances: ContestantsStyleMusicChoreographer(s)All ContestantsJazz"Fame"—David BowieWade RobsonKent BoydLauren FrodermanMark KanemuraKathryn McCormickJazz"Paris is Burning"—St. VincentTravis Wall (season 2)Alexie AgdeppaLauren GottliebAllison HolkerMelinda SullivanBroadway"There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" from Sweet CharityTyce DiorioStephen "Twitch" BossComfort FedokeJose RuizDominic SandovalHip-Hop"Din Daa Daa" (District 78 mix)—George KranzTabitha andNapoleon D'umoAnya GarnisPasha KovalevCristina SantanaSamba"Work" (Freemason remix)—Kelly RowlandJason GilkisonBilly BellAde ObayamiAlex WongContemporary"This Bitter Earth/On the Nature of Daylight"—Max Richter and Dinah WashingtonMia MichaelsCourtney GalianoAshley GalvanNeil HaskellRobert RoldanAdéChiké TorbertJazz"Freak"—Estelle feat. Kardinal OffishallSonya Tayeh
Week 1 (June 16, 2010) Performances: Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsBilly BellLauren GottliebBroadway"Footloose"—Kenny LogginsTyce DiorioSafeMark KanemuraCristina SantanaJazz"Starstruck"—SantigoldSonya TayehBottom 3Comfort FedokeJose RuizHip-Hop"Beautiful Monster"—Ne-YoTabitha andNapoleon D'umoSafeKathryn McCormickAdéChiké TorbertJazz"Addicted to Love"—Florence and the MachineTravis Wall (season 2)SafePasha KovalevMelinda SullivanJive"L-O-V-E"—VV BrownTony MeredithMelanie LaPatinBottom 3Allison HolkerAlex WongContemporary"Hallelujah"—Jeff BuckleySonya TayehSafeAlexie AgdeppaStephen "Twitch" BossHip-Hop"Butterfly"—Jason MrazTabitha andNapoleon D'umoEliminatedLauren FrodermanAde ObayomiPop-Jazz"Oh Yeah"—YelloMandy MooreSafeKent BoydAnya GarnisCha-cha-cha"Lady Marmalade"—Diva InvasionTony MeredithMelanie LaPatinSafeAshley GalvanNeil HaskellContemporary"For All We Know"—Roberta Flack & Donny HathawayTyce DiorioSafeCourtney GalianoRobert RoldanAfrican Jazz"Norweg" from SaltimbancoSean CheesmanSafe
Week 2 (June 23, 2010) Performances: Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsPasha KovalevCristina SantanaPaso Doble"Ira Deorum/Sanctus"—James DooleyJean-Marc GénéreuxFrance MousseauEliminatedAllison HolkerAdéChiké TorbertContemporary"Listen to Your Heart" (Edmee's Unplugged Vocal Edit)—DHTMandy MooreSafeLauren GottliebAlex WongBroadway"Summertime"—SylvesterTyce DiorioSafeAshley GalvanMark KanemuraLyrical Jazz"Wonderful"—Annie LennoxTravis WallSafeBilly BellComfort FedokeKrumping"So U Think U Can Krump"—Tha J-SquadLil' CSafeAnya GarnisRobert RoldanArgentine Tango"Libertango"—BondJean-Marc GénéreuxFrance MousseauBottom 3Ade ObayomiMelinda SullivanContemporary"Squander"—Skunk AnansieStacey TookeyBottom 3Kathryn McCormickJose RuizBollywood"Marjaani Marjaani Kasama" from BilluNakul Dev MahajanSafeLauren FrodermanDominic “D-Trix” SandovalLyrical hip-hop"If I Were a Boy"—Beyoncé KnowlesTessandra ChavezSafeKent BoydCourtney GalianoJazz"Amy Amy Amy"—Amy WinehouseTyce DiorioSafe
Week 3 (June 30, 2010) Performances: Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsLauren GottliebAdéChiké TorbertHip-hop"Hot-N-Fun"—N.E.R.D ft. Nelly FurtadoDave ScottSafeAshley GalvanAde ObayomiContemporary"Cosmic Love"—Florence and the MachineDee CasparySafeCourtney GalianoRobert RoldanJazz"XXXO"—M.I.A.Sonya TayehBottom 3Pasha KovalevMelinda SullivanSalsa"Magdalena, Mi Amor" (Quimbara)—D.L.G.Fabian SanchezEliminatedLauren FrodermanNeil HaskellBroadway"Let Me Entertain You"—Debbie GibsonJoey DowlingSafeBilly BellKathryn McCormickContemporary"Jar of Hearts"—Christina PerriStacey TookeyBottom 3Anya GarnisJose RuizSamba"Long Time"—ShakiraDmitry ChaplinSafeKent BoydAllison HolkerJazz"Heartburn"—Alicia KeysMandy MooreSafeAlex WongStephen "Twitch" BossHip-hop"Outta Your Mind" (District 78 mix)—Lil Jon and LMFAONapoleon andTabitha D'umoSafe Solos: ContestantStyleMusicResultBilly BellJazz"Something Bigger, Something Better"—Amanda BlankBottom 3Jose RuizBreaking"Super Bad"—James BrownSafeKent BoydContemporary"Down" (Candlelight Remix)—Jay SeanSafeAlex WongBallet"Rule the Planet" from Planet of the ApesSafeAshley GalvanJazz"Royal T"—Crookers feat. Róisín MurphySafeRobert RoldanContemporary"Hold You in My Arms"—Ray LaMontagneBottom 3Melinda SullivanTap"Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"—Alicia KeysEliminatedAdéChiké TorbertContemporary"Ruthless Gravity"—Craig ArmstrongSafeLauren FrodermanContemporary"Unchained Melody"—Cyndi LauperSafe
Week 4 (July 7, 2010) Performances: ContestantsStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultLauren FrodermanPasha KovalevCha-cha-cha"Telephone"—Lady Gaga and Beyoncé Knowles Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance MousseauSafeLauren GottliebJose RuizContemporary"Never Tear Us Apart"—INXSMandy MooreSafeKent BoydComfort FedokeHip-hop"You're Not My Girl"—Ryan LeslieDave ScottSafeCourtney GalianoAdéChiké TorbertJazz"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" (Rae & Christian Remix)—Dinah WashingtonMandy MooreSafeBilly BellKatee SheanBroadway"Macavity: The Mystery Cat" from CatsSpencer LiffBottom 3Ashley GalvanDominic “D-Trix” SandovalHip-hop"How Low"—LudacrisTabitha andNapoleon D'umoBottom 3Kathryn McCormickRobert RoldanJazz"Sinking Feeling"—Róisín MurphySean CheesmanSafeMarlaAdéChiké TorbertBollywood"Mourya Re" from Don: The Chase Begins AgainNakul Dev MahajanAlex Wong (Injured) WithdrewKent BoydLauren FrodermanContemporary"Collide" (Acoustic version)—Howie DayTravis WallSafeAshley GalvanRobert RoldanQuickstep"Man with the Hex"—Atomic FireballsJean-Marc GénéreuxFrance MousseauGalvan Bottom 3Billy BellJose RuizAfrican Jazz"The Hunt"—Mickey HartSean CheesmanBell Bottom 3
Shean was asked to step in due to an injury sustained by Allison Holker. Marla, the assistant choreographer, was asked to step in due to contestant Alex Wong sustaining an injury during rehearsal that would force his withdrawal from the competition. Alex would have done the foxtrot with Anya, but due to his injury, it was cancelled.
Week 5 (July 14, 2010) Performances: