So You Think You Can Dance revolutionized televised dance competitions when it premiered in 2005, launching careers and bringing contemporary, ballroom, and hip-hop dance to mainstream American audiences.
Show Format
Premiered: July 20, 2005 on Fox
Created by: Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe (permanent), rotating panel including Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels, Adam Shankman
Competition structure:
- Auditions → Callbacks → Top 20 → Weekly eliminations
- Contestants paired with partners, assigned different dance styles weekly
- Styles include: contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom (waltz, tango, foxtrot), tap, Broadway, Bollywood
The format forced dancers to master multiple styles, not just their specialty.
Cultural Impact
Prime years: 2005-2012
Emmy Awards: 17 Primetime Emmys including Outstanding Reality-Competition Program (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Ratings peak:
- Season 5 (2009): 10+ million viewers
- Launched careers of Travis Wall, tWitch, Alex Wong, Kathryn McCormick
Signature moments:
- “The Hummingbird and the Flower” (2007, Mia Michaels contemporary routine)
- “Mercy” (2008, Katee & Joshua, Mia Michaels)
- “Hometown Glory” (2008, Kathryn & Robert, Stacey Tookey)
- “Bang Bang” (choreographed by Napoleon & Tabitha D’Umo)
These routines garnered millions of YouTube views and became dance class staples.
Choreographer Platform
SYTYCD elevated choreographers to celebrity status:
- Mia Michaels: Contemporary visionary
- Tabitha & Napoleon D’Umo (NappyTabs): Hip-hop duo
- Sonya Tayeh: Dark, edgy contemporary
- Travis Wall: Former contestant turned Emmy-winning choreographer
- Stacey Tookey: Emotional storytelling specialist
These choreographers gained international recognition, leading to work with Cirque du Soleil, concert tours, and music videos.
Decline & Revival
2009-2016: Ratings declined as competition show fatigue set in
2017-2019: Show moved to different networks, format changes
COVID pause: Production halted during pandemic
2022: Revival on Fox with new format
Despite ratings decline, the show’s influence on American dance culture remained significant—it made contemporary dance accessible to Middle America.
Legacy
- Popularized contemporary dance in the US (previously niche)
- Launched professional dance careers for dozens of contestants
- Created demand for dance studios offering hip-hop, contemporary, and ballroom classes
- Paved way for shows like World of Dance, Dance Moms
- Made choreographers household names
tWitch (Stephen Boss) became the show’s most famous alumni—transitioning from Season 3 runner-up to Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ and pop culture icon before his tragic death in 2022.
Sources:
Fox Broadcasting - SYTYCD Archive
Emmy Awards Database
The Hollywood Reporter - SYTYCD Impact