So You Think You Can Dance, an American dance competition show, returned for its fifteenth season on Monday, June 4, 2018. The season's judge panel once again features series creator Nigel Lythgoe, as well as the return of ballroom expert Mary Murphy, and Vanessa Hudgens, while Season 4 runner-up Stephen "tWitch" Boss is the new fourth judge during the auditions and the live shows. Cat Deeley continues in her role as host for a fourteenth consecutive season. This is the last season to feature Hudgens as judge.
Auditions
Open auditions for season 15 were held in two cities beginning in March 2018. During the auditions, the judges were joined by special guest judge, Stephen "tWitch" Boss.
Air DateAudition VenueCityAudition DateJune 18 & 25, 2018Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical BalletBrooklyn, NYMarch 2–4, 2018June 4 & 11, 2018Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing ArtsLos Angeles, CAMarch 26–28, 2018
The Academy Top 20 contestants Below comprises those who have advanced into the initial top twenty contestants (both gender: ten female contestants and ten male contestants), until this year's "twist" which ultimately cut the contestants roster going to the live shows in half.
Female Contestants Top Ten FemaleDance StyleDayna MadisonJazzBrianna PenroseTapStephanie SosaLatin BallroomSydney MossContemporaryEmily CarrContemporary
Male Contestants Top Ten MaleDance StyleJustin PhamContemporaryPeyton AlbrechtContemporaryKyle Bennett, Jr.AnimationDustin PayneAnimationAllen GenkinBallroom
Contestants
Top 10 contestants
Female contestants ContestantAgeHome townDance stylePlacementHannahlei Cabanilla18Anaheim Hills, CaliforniaContemporaryWinnerJensen Arnold20Provo, UtahLatin BallroomRunner-UpGenessy Castillo18Jamaica, New YorkContemporary3rd PlaceMagda Fialek27Nowy Sacz, PolandLatin BallroomTop 8Chelsea Hough24Nashville, TennesseeJazzTop 10
Male contestants ContestantAgeHome townDance stylePlacementSlavik Pustovoytov19Poltava, UkraineHip Hop/Animation4th PlaceJay Jay Dixonbey20Detroit, MichiganJazzTop 6Darius Hickman19Green Acres, FloridaContemporaryTop 6Cole Mills24Ocean Township, New JerseyLatin BallroomTop 8Evan DeBenedetto19Ansonia, ConnecticutTapTop 10
Elimination chart
Contestants are listed in chronological order of elimination (TBD).
+ Legend Female Male Bottom 4 contestants Eliminated
Result show date: 8/13 8/20 8/27 9/10 Contestant Results Hannahlei CabanillaWinnerJensen Arnold Runner-UpGenessy CastilloBtm 43rd PlaceSlavik Pustovoytov4th PlaceJay Jay DixonbeyElimDarius HickmanBtm 4Cole MillsBtm 4ElimMagda FialekBtm 4Evan DeBenedettoElimChelsea Hough
Performances
Top 10 Perform, Part 1 (August 6, 2018) Group dance: Top 10: "Dream State" — Son Lux (Contemporary; Choreographer: Travis Wall) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Vanessa Hudgens, Stephen "tWitch" Boss
CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Jensen ArnoldJay Jay DixonbeySamba"Mad Love" — Sean Paul & David Guetta feat. Becky GJean-Marc GénéreuxJazz"Ex's & Oh's" — Elle KingMandy MooreHannahlei CabanillaCole MillsContemporary"They Won't Go When I Go" — George MichaelTyce DiorioPaso Doble"Heroes of Chaos" — TybercoreJean-Marc GénéreuxChelsea HoughEvan DeBenedettoPop Jazz"Make Me Feel (EDX Dubai Skyline Remix)" — Janelle MonáeRay LeeperTap"Singin' In The Rain" — Jamie CullumAnthony MorigeratoGenessy CastilloSlavik PustovoytovHip-hop"Round & Round" — FabolousLuther BrownContemporary"An Evening I Will Not Forget (Acoustic)" — Dermot KennedyTalia FaviaMagda FialekDarius HickmanContemporary"Glass Heart Concerto" — Blondie & Philip GlassTravis WallCha-cha"I Like It Like That" — Pete RodriguezVal Chmerkovskiy
Top 10 Perform, Part 2 (August 13, 2018) Group dance: Top 10: "Yummy" – Gwen Stefani ft. Pharrell Williams (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Vanessa Hudgens, Stephen "tWitch" Boss
CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultMagda FialekDarius HickmanBollywood"Badri Ki Dulhania"—Badrinath Ki Dulhania SoundtrackNakul Dev MahajanFialek Bottom 4Hickman SafeJazz"Fever"—Peggy LeeMandy MooreChelsea HoughEvan DeBenedettoLyrical Hip-hop"Love on the Brain"—RihannaChristopher ScottBoth EliminatedContemporary"Snowing"—Sonya KitchellTravis WallHannalei CabanillaCole MillsHip-hop (Stepping)"Pump It Up"—Joe BuddenJoe BrownCabanilla SafeMills Bottom 4Disco"Last Dance"—Donna SummerDoriana SanchezJensen ArnoldJay Jay DixonbeyContemporary"Lost Without You"—Freya RidingsJaci RoyalBoth SafeAfrican Jazz"Run"—Hybrid Core Music + SoundSean CheesmanGenessy CastilloSlavik PustovoytovJive"Jump, Jive an' Wail"—The Brian Setzer OrchestraSharna BurgessBoth SafeBroadway"Someone to Watch Over Me"—Ella Fitzgerald & London Symphony OrchestraAl Blackstone
Top 8 Perform (August 20, 2018) Group dance: Top 8: "Runaway" – Nathan Lanier (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Christopher Scott) Top 4 Female Contestants: "Wanderlust" – Empara Mi (Contemporary; Choreographer: Talia Favia) Top 4 Male Contestants: "Juice" – Yo Gotti (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Vanessa Hudgens, Stephen "tWitch" Boss
CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultJensen ArnoldJay Jay DixonbeyJazz"I Got You (I Feel Good)"—Jessie JSean CheesmanBoth SafeHip hop"Cookin"—Fat Joe, Remy Ma & French Montana ft. RySoValidRandi & HefGenessy CastilloSlavik PustovoytovContemporary"Fall For You"—Leela JamesMandy MooreCastillo Bottom 4Putstovoytov SafeJazz"House Work"—Jax Jones ft. Mike Dunn & MNEKRay LeeperMagda FialekDarius HickmanHip-hop"Killa"—DistoPharside & PhoenixFialek EliminatedHickman Bottom 4Contemporary"Undertow"—Ane BrunJaci RoyalHannahlei CabanillaCole MillsBroadway"Get Happy (Live)"—Judy GarlandTravis WallCabanilla Safe Mills EliminatedCha Cha"Sing It Back"—MolokoSasha Farber & Emma Slater Top 8 contestant's solos: Contestant Style MusicCole MillsJive"Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis PresleyHannahlei CabanillaContemporary"River (King Kavalier Remix)" – Bishop BriggsJay Jay DixonbeyJazz"Clear Air" – SevdalizaSlavik PustovoytovHip-hop"Separate" – whereisalexMagda FialekSamba"Marchina (Samba/50 Bpm)" – TNNJensen ArnoldCha Cha"Ain't Your Mama" – Jennifer LopezDarius HickmanContemporary"Strange Fruit" – Nina SimoneGenessy CastilloContemporary"Yours" – Ella Henderson
Top 6 Perform (August 27, 2018) Group dance: Top 6: "Spring 1" – Max Richter (Contemporary; Choreographer: Mia Michaels) Top 3 Female Contestants: "Bump" – Trish (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown) Top 3 Male Contestants: "Violence Broken" – No Mono (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Christopher Scott) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Vanessa Hudgens, Stephen "tWitch" Boss
Couple Style Music Choreographer(s)ResultsJensen ArnoldKiki NyemchekCha cha cha"Bailar (Radio Edit)" — Deorro ft. Elvis CrespoJenna Johnson (season 10)SafeGenessy CastilloLex IshimotoJazz"Be Brave" — My Brightest DiamondMandy KorpinenElizabeth PetrinSafeSlavik PustovoytovJana "Jaja" VaňkováHip-hop"Beggin' & Pleadin'" — BrandyComfort Fedoke (season 4)SafeHannahlei CabanillaMarko GermarContemporary"Welcome Home" — Joy WilliamsRobert Roldan (season 7)SafeJay Jay DixonbeyLauren FrodermanJazz"Runaway Baby" — Bruno MarsMandy MooreEliminatedDarius HickmanTaylor SieveContemporary"It Takes A Lot to Know a Man" — Damien RiceTravis WallEliminatedJensen ArnoldJay Jay DixonbeyTahitian"Lugahiva" — Te VakaTiana LiufauArnold SafeDixonby EliminatedGenessy CastilloSlavik PustovoytovSalsa"Machika" — J Balvin, Jeon & AnittaJonathan PlateroOksana PlateroBoth SafeHannahlei CabanillaDarius HickmanArgentine Tango"Tanguango" — Ryota KomatsuMiriam LariciLeonardo BarrionuevoCabanilla SafeHickman Eliminated
Top 4 Perform (September 3, 2018) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Vanessa Hudgens, Stephen "tWitch" Boss
CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsGenessy CastilloSlavik PustovoytovHip-hop"Poke It Out" — Playboi Carti & Nicki MinajLuther BrownHannahlei CabanillaJensen ArnoldJazz (Heels)"Dem Beats" — Todrick Hall ft. RuPaulBrian FriedmanGenessy CastilloJonathan PlateroSamba"Watch Out For This (Bumaye)" — Major LazerElena Samodanova3rd PlaceSlavik PustovoytovMelanie MooreContemporary"Gun" — Mas YsaTravis Wall4th PlaceHannahlei CabanillaSlavik PustovoytovAfrican Jazz"When Rivers Cry" — Somi ft. CommonSean CheesmanGenessy CastilloJensen ArnoldBroadway"Maybe This Time" — Liza MinnelliTravis WallHannahlei CabanillaDuShaunt "Fik-shun" StegallHip-hop"Move Something" — DJ Quik & ProblemRandi & HefWinnerJensen ArnoldRobert RoldanContemporary"Can't Help Falling In Love" — Kina Grannis (from "Crazy Rich Asians")Mandy MooreRunner-UpGenessy CastilloHannahlei CabanillaContemporary"Numbers" — DaughterTalia FaviaJensen ArnoldSlavik PustovoytovCha-Cha"Boom" — Tiësto & Sevenn ft. Gucci ManeOksana Platero Top 4 contestant's solos: Contestant Style MusicGenessy CastilloContemporary"Cried" – Candice GloverSlavik PustovoytovHip-hop"Some Minds" – Flume ft. Andrew WyattJensen ArnoldCha Cha"Where Have You Been" – RihannaHannahlei CabanillaContemporary"Back Again" – Party Favor & Gent & Jawns all top 4 contestants were safe from elimination on September 3, winner was declared the following week on September 10, 2018.
Ratings
U.S. Nielsen ratings Show Episode First air date Rating(18–49) Share(18–49) Viewers(millions) Rank(timeslot) Rank(night)1Auditions #10.733.2533 (tied)2Auditions #20.732.9633 (tied)3Auditions #30.843.1723 (tied)4Auditions #40.632.8524 (tied)5Academy #10.732.7333 (tied)6Academy #20.632.42357Top Ten Women0.632.603 (tied)4 (tied)8Top Ten Men0.632.613 (tied)4 (tied)9Top 10 Perform, Part 10.632.493 (tied)4 (tied)10Top 10 Perform, Part 20.632.594511Top 8 Perform0.522.3945 (tied)12Top 6 Perform0.632.6833 (tied)13Top 4 Perform0.522.4344 (tied)14Season Finale0.632.6045 (tied)
References