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Another year, another batch of young hopefuls aspiring to become America’s favorite dancer! After 16 successful seasons, Fox’s summer reality mainstay So You Think You Can Dance has continually launched several of its contestants into dance stardom.
“Each season, the talent on So You Think You Can Dance reaches new levels and continues to create the most incredible routines,” Rob Wade, the network’s president of alternative entertainment and specials, said in a press release in January 2019. “The hard work and passion that goes into each performance is awe-inspiring. We can’t wait to see what season 16 has in store and look forward to bringing you a new crop of incredible, inspired and inspiring dancers.”
A rotating panel of judges comprised of Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels, Paula Abdul, Jason Derulo and Vanessa Hudgens have presided over the competition through the years. Plenty of former contestants — such as Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Dominic “D-Trix” Sandoval — have returned to the show as guest judges, choreographers, all-star mentors and team leaders. Many former contestants, including Travis Wall, even won Emmy gold for their reprise performances on the show. In addition, Cat Deeley has served as the host of the reality TV show since its inception.
After a two-year hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic, SYTYCD set its season 17 return in May 2022 with an all-new panel of judges, including Boss, JoJo Siwa and Matthew Morrison.
“I have been such a fan of the show for many, many years,” the Glee alum told Playbill ahead of the season premiere. “I spent a couple of years in London doing a similar show called The Greatest Dancer and I was able to reach the next generation of artists and help them come into their own and find their potential and greatness.”
Morrison continued: “I’m well-versed in so many different practices of dance, so I am in a good position to give my thoughts. I like that the show talks about looking for America’s Favorite Dancer and I look forward to seeing all people having to get out of their comfort zone. Like, if they are a ballroom dancer, they must do contemporary and all this other stuff. That is what makes the show so exciting.”
Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in May 2022 that Morrison would depart the series less than one week after the season 17 premiere following a “minor infraction” on the set.
The SYTYCD stage is just the kickoff for many aspiring dancers’ careers. Contestants from the long-running show have ventured on to other pursuits, from Broadway and Cirque du Soleil to Dancing With the Stars.
Scroll down to get updates on So You Think You Can Dance fan-favorite contestants who’ve become bona fide stars:
Credit: FOX via Getty Images
Where Are the ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Alums Now?
Another year, another batch of young hopefuls aspiring to become America’s favorite dancer! After 16 successful seasons, Fox’s summer reality mainstay So You Think You Can Dance has continually launched several of its contestants into dance stardom.
“Each season, the talent on So You Think You Can Dance reaches new levels and continues to create the most incredible routines,” Rob Wade, the network’s president of alternative entertainment and specials, said in a press release in January 2019. “The hard work and passion that goes into each performance is awe-inspiring. We can’t wait to see what season 16 has in store and look forward to bringing you a new crop of incredible, inspired and inspiring dancers.”
A rotating panel of judges comprised of Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels, Paula Abdul, Jason Derulo and Vanessa Hudgens have presided over the competition through the years. Plenty of former contestants — such as Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Dominic “D-Trix” Sandoval — have returned to the show as guest judges, choreographers, all-star mentors and team leaders. Many former contestants, including Travis Wall, even won Emmy gold for their reprise performances on the show. In addition, Cat Deeley has served as the host of the reality TV show since its inception.
[jwplayer g0mUWITO-zhNYySv2]After a two-year hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic, SYTYCD set its season 17 return in May 2022 with an all-new panel of judges, including Boss, JoJo Siwa and Matthew Morrison.
“I have been such a fan of the show for many, many years,” the Glee alum told Playbill ahead of the season premiere. “I spent a couple of years in London doing a similar show called The Greatest Dancer and I was able to reach the next generation of artists and help them come into their own and find their potential and greatness.”
Morrison continued: “I’m well-versed in so many different practices of dance, so I am in a good position to give my thoughts. I like that the show talks about looking for America’s Favorite Dancer and I look forward to seeing all people having to get out of their comfort zone. Like, if they are a ballroom dancer, they must do contemporary and all this other stuff. That is what makes the show so exciting.”
Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in May 2022 that Morrison would depart the series less than one week after the season 17 premiere following a “minor infraction” on the set.
The SYTYCD stage is just the kickoff for many aspiring dancers’ careers. Contestants from the long-running show have ventured on to other pursuits, from Broadway and Cirque du Soleil to Dancing With the Stars.
Scroll down to get updates on So You Think You Can Dance fan-favorite contestants who’ve become bona fide stars:
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Credit: Larry Marano/Shutterstock
Koko Iwasaki
The Japan native finished in second place on the 14th season of the dancing competition series — the same show where she met Kiki Nyemchek. She joined Dancing With the Stars as a pro for the 31st season. In November 2022, she and Nyemchek announced their engagement.
“Easy ask, easy yes 🤍,” the couple captioned a joint Instagram post of proposal photos at the time.
Credit: Ryan Miller/Shutterstock
Kiki Nyemchek
The Russia native competed on the 14th season of SYTYCD and finished in fourth place. In November 2022, he proposed to Iwasaki after dating for four years.
Credit: Courtesy Alexis Warr/Instagram
Alexis Warr
The Utah-based ballroom dancer won the America’s Favorite Dancer title during season 17 finale, which aired in August 2022. Next, she is set to join the Dancing With the Stars family.
“You’re looking at the newest member of @dancingwiththestars. I’m so excited and grateful to be on troupe this year🥰,” she gushed via Instagram several weeks after her SYTYCD victory. “Better make sure your @disneyplus is up and ready because season 31 is going to be magical!💖”
Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Hayley Erbert
The Kansas native competed on season 10 of the series in 2013. The contemporary dancer was one of the final top three female contestants. The following year, she joined Derek and Julianne Hough for their Move Live on Tour. In 2016, Erbert became a troupe dancer on Dancing With the Stars. After six seasons, the performer returned to DWTS in 2020 and 2021 to perform routines with then-boyfriend Derek. The couple announced in June 2022 that they got engaged after more than six years of dating.
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Ricky Ubeda
Contemporary dancer Ubeda won season 11 before tackling the Great White Way. He has starred in Broadway productions of On the Town and Cats the Musical.
Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock
Gaby Diaz
Diaz won season 12 during the first-ever “stage versus street” competition before serving as a mentor the following year. She appeared in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story.
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Credit: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for Hulu/Shutterstock
Kent Boyd
Boyd was the season 7 runner-up before landing several popular acting gigs. The Ohio native appeared in Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie franchise, Bunheads, Stepping High, Shake It Up and Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Credit: Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Lex Ishimoto
Ishimoto won the season 14 iteration of the show before joining Wall’s Shaping Sound company. He briefly dated fellow season 14 alum Taylor Sieve after their season wrapped.
Credit: Courtesy Hannahlei Cabanilla/Instagram
Hannahlei Cabanilla
The California native won the 15th season, captivating audiences with her contemporary prowess and ability to tackle the other genres. She appeared in FOX’s Rent: Live in January 2019 per her prize package. Cabanilla graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona in May 2022.
Credit: Courtesy Dushaunt ‘Fik-Shun’ Stegall/Instagram
Dushaunt ‘Fik-Shun’ Stegall
“Fix-Shun” won season 10 of the dance competition and has since returned to the program as a mentor and all-star dancer.
Credit: Gabriele Holtermann/UPI/Shutterstock
Ariana DeBose
DeBose rose to fame as a contestant on SYTYCD season 6 before making her Broadway debut in Bring It On: The Musical in 2012. She performed in Broadway productions of Motown the Musical, Pippin, Hamilton: An American Musical, A Bronx Tale: The Musical and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Her role in Summer even earned her first Tony Award nomination in 2018. The North Carolina starred as Anita in Spielberg’s West Side Story in 2021, winning a Best Actress in a Supporting Role trophy at the March 2022 Oscars.
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Jeanine Mason
After appearing as Merav in ABC’s Of Kings and Prophets and recurring as Dr. Sam Bello on Grey’s Anatomy, this SYTYCD season 5 champ got a starring role in the CW drama Roswell, New Mexico.
Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Stephen “tWitch” Boss
The season 4 runner-up returned to the Fox competition as an all-star in season 7 and as a team captain in season 12. He’s been deejaying on The Ellen DeGeneres Show since 2014, and he’s married to Holker. The Magic Mike XXL actor and Holker share son Maddox, born in March 2016, and daughter Zaya, born in November 2019. He adopted Holker’s daughter Weslie from a previous relationship.
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Travis Wall
So far, the season 2 runner-up has racked up multiple Emmys and additional nominations for his work as a So You Think You Can Dance choreographer, landing a nod every year from 2011 to 2018. He also starred in the Oxygen reality series All the Right Moves.
Credit: Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Benji Schwimmer
The season 2 winner announced his retirement from routine divisions at the 2018 Open Swing Dance Championships after multiple championships over the years at the annual event. He also appeared in the 2010 film Leading Ladies.
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Melanie Moore
After taking the crown in SYTYCD’s eighth season, Moore headed to the Great White Way, appearing in the Broadway productions of Finding Neverland, Fiddler on the Roof and Hello, Dolly!
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Hokuto “Hok” Konishi
The season 3 breakout won an Outstanding Choreography Emmy for his work on the show in 2008, and he has appeared in multiple LMFAO music videos. More recently, he appeared as a judge on the CBS reality competition The World’s Best.
Credit: Noam Galai/FilmMagic
Dominic Sandoval
Sandoval, another season 3 alum, joined Konishi and a dozen others in the dance troupe Quest Crew, which won the third season of America’s Best Dance Crew. “D-Trix” served as a judge for SYTYCD season 16.
Credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
Mollee Gray
The season 6 finalist has continued her acting career in recent years, appearing in the Disney Channel movies Teen Beach Movie and Teen Beach 2. She married choreographer Jeka Jane in September 2017.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellenore Scott/Instagram
Ellenore Scott
Scott, a finalist in SYTYCD season 6 and an all-star in season 8, performed at the Academy Awards in 2010 and on the shows Glee and Smash. These days, she’s a teacher at Broadway Dance Center in New York City.
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Derek Piquette
The season 12 finalist got a job with Cirque du Soleil as the Trickster in the show Kooza, started the Intrepid Dance Company, won the Male Dancer of the Year honor at the 2014 American Dance Awards, and returned to reality TV as a contestant on NBC’s World of Dance.
