Created by Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller, “So You Think You Can Dance” premiered on Fox in 2005 and has been a summer staple ever since. Do you know who won each season of “SYTYCD”? Click through our photo gallery above to see who all earned the title of America’s Favorite Dancer.
The first season premiered on July 20, 2005 with Lauren Sanchez as host, Nigel Lythgoe as the main judge, and Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels and Brian Friedman as most frequent guest judges. Nick Lazzarini was crowned America’s Favorite Dancer on October 5, 2005 with 37.7% of the votes.
The second season premiered May 25, 2006, with new host Cat Deeley. On August 16, Benji Schwimmer was announced as the winner of Season 2 and received the grand prize of $100,000, a new hybrid SUV, and a one-year contract with Celine Dion’s Las Vegas show, “A New Day.”
In the third season, Cat Deeley returned for her second consecutive season as host. Nigel Lythgoe returned as a permanent judge, joined this year by choreographer Mary Murphy. Sabra Johnson won this season on August 16, 2007.
Joshua Allen was announced the winner of Season 4 on August 7, 2008, the first hip-hop dancer to claim victory.
In Season 5, Jeanine Mason was crowned America’s Favorite Dancer on August 6, 2009, making her only the second female to win the show.
Season 6 was the first to air during the fall season, immediately following the summer airing of Season 5. On December 16, 2009 Russell Ferguson won the title of America’s Favorite Dancer and the $250,000 prize.
In Season 7, contemporary/jazz dancer Lauren Froderman was named America’s Favorite Dancer on August 12, 2010 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 Melanie Moore won Season 8 on August 11, 2011 and Sasha Mallory was the runner-up. This was the first season where the winner and runner-up were both female.
Amongst the Season 9 changes, the results show was cut and there were two winners announced: one boy (Chehon Wespi-Tschopp) and one girl (Eliana Girard). They prevailed on September 18, 2012.
Just like the previous season, there were two winners for Season 10: Amy Yakima and Du-Shaunt ‘Fik-Shun’ Stegall. This was also the first season to last longer than nine weeks. They won the finale on September 10, 2013.
Contemporary dancer Ricky Ubeda won the $250,000 grand prize on September 3, 2014. Other winning perks this season included appearing on the cover of “Dance Spirit” and the offer of a role in the Broadway musical “On the Town.” Tap dancer Valerie Rockey was the runner-up.
Tap dancer Gaby Diaz won the $250,000 grand prize on September 14, 2015. Other winning perks this season included the opportunity to dance with Jennifer Lopez during her Las Vegas residency. The runner-up was hip-hop dancer Jaja Vankova.
Despite being told by host Nigel that he was the least trained of the season, Leon “Kida” Burns pulled it off and became the Season 13 winner of “So You Think You Can Dance” on September 12, 2016.
Fluent in both English and Japense, Lex Ishimoto was inspired by his sister to begin dancing. On September 25, 2017 he was awarded the title of America’s Favorite Dancer.
The contemporary dancer overtook Latin ballroom dancer Jensen Arnold to be named America’s favorite dancer when the season 15 winner was crowned on September 10, 2018. In addition to winning the title, her victory also won her a role in a FOX production of the musical “Rent.”
B-boy Bailey Munoz was crowned America’s favorite dancer on September 16, 2019, edging out his own partner, runner-up Mariah Russell. Gino Cosculluela finished third, and Sophie Pittman came in fourth. Munoz is the first b-boy ever to win the competition.
His prize package included $250,000 and a cover article in Dance Spirit magazine.
