So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 15 explained

Module1:
Host:Cat Deeley
Judges:Nigel Lythgoe
Mary Murphy
Vanessa Hudgens
Stephen "tWitch" Boss
Winner:Hannahlei Cabanilla
Runner Up:Jensen Arnold
Network:Fox Broadcasting Company

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.[1] [2] 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 Date
June 18 & 25, 2018Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical BalletBrooklyn, NYMarch 2–4, 2018
June 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 dancers (ten male and ten female dancers), until this year's "twist" which ultimately cut the finalist roster going to the live shows in half.

Male Contestants

Top Ten MaleDance Style
Justin PhamContemporary
Peyton AlbrechtContemporary
Kyle Bennett, Jr.Animation
Dustin PayneAnimation
Allen GenkinBallroom

Female Contestants

Top Ten FemaleDance Style
Dayna MadisonJazz
Brianna PenroseTap
Stephanie SosaLatin Ballroom
Sydney MossContemporary
Emily CarrContemporary

Contestants

Top 10 contestants

Female contestants

ContestantAgeHome townDance stylePlacement
Hannahlei Cabanilla18Anaheim Hills, CaliforniaContemporaryWinner
Jensen Arnold20Provo, UtahLatin BallroomRunner-Up
Genessy Castillo18Jamaica, New YorkContemporary3rd Place
Magda Fialek27Nowy Sacz, PolandLatin BallroomTop 8
Chelsea Hough24Nashville, TennesseeJazzTop 10

Male contestants

ContestantAgeHome townDance stylePlacement
Slavik Pustovoytov19Poltava, UkraineHip Hop/Animation4th Place
Jay Jay Dixonbey20Detroit, MichiganJazzTop 6
Darius Hickman19Green Acres, FloridaContemporaryTop 6
Cole Mills24Ocean Township, New JerseyLatin BallroomTop 8
Evan 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 CabanillaWinner
Jensen ArnoldRunner-Up
Genessy CastilloBtm 43rd Place
Slavik Pustovoytov4th Place
Jay Jay DixonbeyElim
Darius HickmanBtm 4
Cole MillsBtm 4Elim
Magda FialekBtm 4
Evan DeBenedettoElim
Chelsea Hough

Performances

Top 10 Perform, Part 1 (August 6, 2018)

DancersStyleMusicChoreographer(s)
Jensen Arnold
Jay Jay Dixonbey
Samba"Mad Love" — Sean Paul & David Guetta feat. Becky GJean-Marc Généreux
Jazz"Ex's & Oh's" — Elle KingMandy Moore
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Cole Mills
Contemporary"They Won't Go When I Go" — George MichaelTyce Diorio
Paso Doble"Heroes of Chaos" — TybercoreJean-Marc Généreux
Chelsea Hough
Evan DeBenedetto
Pop Jazz"Make Me Feel (EDX Dubai Skyline Remix)" — Janelle MonáeRay Leeper
Tap"Singin' In The Rain" — Jamie CullumAnthony Morigerato
Genessy Castillo
Slavik Pustovoytov
Hip-hop"Round & Round" — FabolousLuther Brown
Contemporary"An Evening I Will Not Forget (Acoustic)" — Dermot KennedyTalia Favia
Magda Fialek
Darius Hickman
Contemporary"Glass Heart Concerto" — Blondie & Philip GlassTravis Wall
Cha-cha"I Like It Like That" — Pete RodriguezVal Chmerkovskiy

Top 10 Perform, Part 2 (August 13, 2018)

DancersStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Result
Magda Fialek
Darius Hickman
Bollywood"Badri Ki Dulhania"—Badrinath Ki Dulhania SoundtrackNakul Dev MahajanFialek Bottom 4
Hickman Safe
Jazz"Fever"—Peggy LeeMandy Moore
Chelsea Hough
Evan DeBenedetto
Lyrical Hip-hop"Love on the Brain"—RihannaChristopher ScottBoth Eliminated
Contemporary"Snowing"—Sonya KitchellTravis Wall
Hannalei Cabanilla
Cole Mills
Hip-hop (Stepping)"Pump It Up"—Joe BuddenJoe BrownCabanilla Safe
Mills Bottom 4
Disco"Last Dance"—Donna SummerDoriana Sanchez
Jensen Arnold
Jay Jay Dixonbey
Contemporary"Lost Without You"—Freya RidingsJaci RoyalBoth Safe
African Jazz"Run"—Hybrid Core Music + SoundSean Cheesman
Genessy Castillo
Slavik Pustovoytov
Jive"Jump, Jive an' Wail"—The Brian Setzer OrchestraSharna BurgessBoth Safe
Broadway"Someone to Watch Over Me"—Ella Fitzgerald & London Symphony OrchestraAl Blackstone

Top 8 Perform (August 20, 2018)

DancersStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Result
Jensen Arnold
Jay Jay Dixonbey
Jazz"I Got You (I Feel Good)"—Jessie JSean CheesmanBoth Safe
Hip hop"Cookin"—Fat Joe, Remy Ma & French Montana ft. RySoValidRandi & Hef
Genessy Castillo
Slavik Pustovoytov
Contemporary"Fall For You"—Leela JamesMandy MooreCastillo Bottom 4
Putstovoytov Safe
Jazz"House Work"—Jax Jones ft. Mike Dunn & MNEKRay Leeper
Magda Fialek
Darius Hickman
Hip-hop"Killa"—DistoPharside & PhoenixFialek Eliminated
Hickman Bottom 4
Contemporary"Undertow"—Ane BrunJaci Royal
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Cole Mills
Broadway"Get Happy (Live)"—Judy GarlandTravis WallCabanilla Safe
Mills Eliminated
Cha Cha"Sing It Back"—MolokoSasha Farber & Emma Slater
DancerStyleMusic
Cole MillsJive"Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis Presley
Hannahlei CabanillaContemporary"River (King Kavalier Remix)" – Bishop Briggs
Jay Jay DixonbeyJazz"Clear Air" – Sevdaliza
Slavik PustovoytovHip-hop"Separate" – whereisalex
Magda FialekSamba"Marchina (Samba/50 Bpm)" – TNN
Jensen ArnoldCha Cha"Ain't Your Mama" – Jennifer Lopez
Darius HickmanContemporary"Strange Fruit" – Nina Simone
Genessy CastilloContemporary"Yours" – Ella Henderson

Top 6 Perform (August 27, 2018)

DancersStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Jensen Arnold
Kiki Nyemchek
Cha cha cha"Bailar (Radio Edit)" — Deorro ft. Elvis CrespoJenna JohnsonSafe
Genessy Castillo
Lex Ishimoto
Jazz"Be Brave" — My Brightest DiamondMandy Korpinen
Elizabeth Petrin
Safe
Slavik Pustovoytov
Jana "Jaja" Vaňková
Hip-hop"Beggin' & Pleadin'" — BrandyComfort FedokeSafe
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Marko Germar
Contemporary"Welcome Home" — Joy WilliamsRobert RoldanSafe
Jay Jay Dixonbey
Lauren Froderman
Jazz"Runaway Baby" — Bruno MarsMandy MooreEliminated
Darius Hickman
Taylor Sieve
Contemporary"It Takes A Lot to Know a Man" — Damien RiceTravis WallEliminated
Jensen Arnold
Jay Jay Dixonbey
Tahitian"Lugahiva" — Te VakaTiana LiufauArnold Safe
Dixonby Eliminated
Genessy Castillo
Slavik Pustovoytov
Salsa"Machika" — J Balvin, Jeon & AnittaJonathan Platero
Oksana Platero
Both Safe
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Darius Hickman
Argentine Tango"Tanguango" — Ryota KomatsuMiriam Larici
Leonardo Barrionuevo
Cabanilla Safe
Hickman Eliminated

Top 4 Perform (September 3, 2018)

DancersStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Genessy Castillo
Slavik Pustovoytov
Hip-hop"Poke It Out" — Playboi Carti & Nicki MinajLuther Brown
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Jensen Arnold
Jazz (Heels)"Dem Beats" — Todrick Hall ft. RuPaulBrian Friedman
Genessy Castillo
Jonathan Platero
Samba"Watch Out For This (Bumaye)" — Major LazerElena Samodanova3rd Place
Slavik Pustovoytov
Melanie Moore
Contemporary"Gun" — Mas YsaTravis Wall4th Place
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Slavik Pustovoytov
African Jazz"When Rivers Cry" — Somi ft. CommonSean Cheesman
Genessy Castillo
Jensen Arnold
Broadway"Maybe This Time" — Liza MinnelliTravis Wall
Hannahlei Cabanilla
DuShaunt "Fik-shun" Stegall
Hip-hop"Move Something" — DJ Quik & ProblemRandi & HefWinner
Jensen Arnold
Robert Roldan
Contemporary"Can't Help Falling In Love" — Kina Grannis (from "Crazy Rich Asians")Mandy MooreRunner-Up
Genessy Castillo
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Contemporary"Numbers" — DaughterTalia Favia
Jensen Arnold
Slavik Pustovoytov
Cha-Cha"Boom" — Tiësto & Sevenn ft. Gucci ManeOksana Platero
Solos:
DancerStyleMusic
Genessy CastilloContemporary"Cried" – Candice Glover
Slavik PustovoytovHip-hop"Some Minds" – Flume ft. Andrew Wyatt
Jensen ArnoldCha Cha"Where Have You Been" – Rihanna
Hannahlei CabanillaContemporary"Back Again" – Party Favor & Gent & Jawns

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen ratings

ShowEpisodeFirst Air DateRating
(18–49)
Share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
Rank
(timeslot)
Rank
(night)
1Auditions #10.733.25[3] 33 (tied)
2Auditions #20.732.96[4] 33 (tied)
3Auditions #30.843.17[5] 23 (tied)
4Auditions #40.632.85[6] 24 (tied)
5Academy #10.732.73[7] 33 (tied)
6Academy #20.632.42[8] 35
7Top Ten Women0.632.60[9] 3 (tied)4 (tied)
8Top Ten Men0.632.61[10] 3 (tied)4 (tied)
9Top 10 Perform, Part 10.632.49[11] 3 (tied)4 (tied)
10Top 10 Perform, Part 20.632.59[12] 45
11Top 8 Perform0.522.39[13] 45 (tied)
12Top 6 Perform0.632.68[14] 33 (tied)
13Top 4 Perform0.522.43[15] 44 (tied)
14Season Finale0.632.60[16] 45 (tied)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Renewed For Season 15 On Fox. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. February 16, 2018. February 16, 2018.
  2. Web site: Fox Summer Premiere Dates: ‘MasterChef’, New Ramsay Series, ‘SYTYCD’, Game Shows & More. Deadline. Nellie. Andreeva. March 20, 2018. March 20, 2018.
  3. Web site: Stanley Cup Finals Game 4 adjusts up: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180608052425/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-june-4-2018/. dead. June 8, 2018. Porter. Rick. TV by the Numbers. June 5, 2018. June 5, 2018.
  4. Web site: ‘Elementary,’ ‘Supergirl,’ other originals hold: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613015311/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-june-11-2018/. dead. June 13, 2018. Porter. Rick. TV by the Numbers. June 12, 2018. June 12, 2018.
  5. Web site: ‘The Proposal,’ other originals hold, ‘Whose Line’ rerun adjusts down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001853/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-june-18-2018/. dead. June 20, 2018. Porter. Rick. TV by the Numbers. June 19, 2018. June 19, 2018.
  6. Web site: Porter . Rick . ‘Ninja Warrior,’ other originals hold, CBS reruns adjust down: Monday final ratings . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627005339/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-june-25-2018/ . dead . June 27, 2018 . . June 26, 2018 . June 26, 2018.
  7. Web site: Welch . Alex . ‘The Bachelorette’ holds, ‘The Proposal’ and ‘Dateline’ adjust down: Monday final ratings . https://web.archive.org/web/20180710233230/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-july-9-2018/ . dead . July 10, 2018 . . July 10, 2018 . July 10, 2018.
  8. Web site: Welch . Alex . ‘The Proposal’ adjusts down: Monday final ratings . https://web.archive.org/web/20180718001532/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-july-16-2018/ . dead . July 18, 2018 . . July 17, 2018 . July 17, 2018.
  9. Web site: 'American Ninja Warrior,’ ‘The Bachelorette,’ and ‘The Proposal’ adjust down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724232731/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-july-23-2018/. dead. July 24, 2018. Welch. Alex. TV by the Numbers. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018.
  10. Web site: 'The Proposal’ adjusts down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801023232/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-july-30-2018/. dead. August 1, 2018. Welch. Alex. TV by the Numbers. July 31, 2018. July 31, 2018.
  11. Web site: 'Elementary’ adjusts down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180808000327/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-august-6-2018/. dead. August 8, 2018. Welch. Alex. TV by the Numbers. August 7, 2018. August 7, 2018.
  12. Web site: ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?,’ ‘The Proposal’ adjust down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180814235625/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-august-13-2018/. dead. August 14, 2018. Welch. Alex. August 14, 2018. TV By The Numbers. August 14, 2018.
  13. Web site: 'Whose Line Is it Anyway?’ and ‘The Proposal’ adjust down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821234533/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-august-20-2018/. dead. August 21, 2018. TV By the Numbers. Welch. Alex. August 21, 2018. August 21, 2018.
  14. Web site: ‘Penn & Teller: Fool Us’ adjusts up, ‘Mom’ repeat adjusts down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829033116/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-august-27-2018/. dead. August 29, 2018. Welch. Alex. August 28, 2018. TV By The Numbers. August 28, 2018.
  15. Web site: ‘American Ninja Warrior’ and ‘Mom’ repeat adjust up: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014132/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-sept-3-2018/. dead. September 6, 2018. Welch. Alex. September 5, 2018. TV By The Numbers. September 5, 2018.
  16. Web site: 'Bachelor in Paradise' adjusts down: Monday final ratings. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911231032/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-sept-10-2018/. dead. September 11, 2018. Welch. Alex. September 11, 2018. TV By The Numbers. September 11, 2018.