So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation is the 13th season of So You Think You Can Dance, an American dance competition show. The show premiered on May 30, 2016, in a new format featuring contestants between ages 8 to 13 at the time of their auditions. The season was broadcast on Fox in the United States, one show each week on Mondays, as it was the previous season.Connolly, Kelly. "So You Think You Can Dance: Go behind the scenes of the 'fierce' new season", Entertainment Weekly, May 9, 2016 The top prize remained $250,000, and Cat Deeley continued as host.Cutler, Jacqueline. "‘So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation’: The auditions, the judges and the contestants take Manhattan", New York Daily News, May 18, 2016
Auditions were held in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL and New York City. 100 contestants were selected by the judges for the Dance Academy portion of the season, in which 10 contestants were selected by, and paired with, "all-stars" from previous seasons, who mentored and performed with them during the live performance episodes.Andreeva, Nellie. "So You Think You Can Dance Kids Edition Confirmed", Deadline.com, February 1, 2016
Judges Series creator and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, along with new permanent members Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo, returned as members of the permanent judging panel and judge the audition rounds. After this, the fourth judge, dancer Maddie Ziegler, who was then 13 years old, joined the show.Gallagher, Caitlin. "Maddie Finally Judges So You Think You Can Dance & Offers Relatable Feedback to 'The Next Generation'", Bustle.com, July 11, 2016
Format Season 13 featured a significant shift in format in that the contestants were all between the ages of 8 and 13 at the time of their auditions. Approximately 100 dancers were selected from the auditions for the next segment of the season, the Dance Academy. From these, the top 50 were chosen, and finally the top 10 were selected as contestants by a So You Think You Can Dance "all-star" who provided mentorship during the live shows and participated as a duet partner with his or her contestant in performances.Connolly, Kelly. "So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation: Get your exclusive look at the first promo", Entertainment Weekly, April 7, 2016
Auditions Open auditions for season 13 were held in three cities beginning in February 2016."So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation Premieres Monday, May 30 on Fox", Fox.com, accessed June 1, 2016
Air DateAudition VenueCityAudition Date May 30, 2016 Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, CA February 27, 2016 June 6, 2016 Lou Conte Dance Studio Chicago, IL March 11, 2016 June 13, 2016 Broadway Dance Center New York City March 18, 2016
During the audition round, the judges interviewed each audition contestant, watched a brief audition and gave feedback, while the audition contestant's family sat at the side of the stage and often participated in the interviews. Offstage, Cat Deeley chatted with contestants and judges. Approximately 100 contestant were sent through to the academy.Nicosia, Elena. "Watch So You Think You Can Dance Season 13, Episode 2 Online", EarnTheNecklace.com, June 6, 2016Gallagher, Caitlin. "So You Think You Can Dance Changes Auditions & More for a Kid-Friendly Season", Bustle.com, May 31, 2016
Dance Academy Dance Academy week was split among two episodes. The June 20 episode covered the first day of the academy. The first task for the 10 all-stars was to watch solo dances by each of the contestants were sent through from the auditions. From these, each all-star selected five contestants (three from their own dance style and two wildcards), from the large number of audition contestants, to join their "team". If a contestant was selected by more than one all-star, he or she could choose which all-star's team to join.Connolly, Kelly. "So You Think You Can Dance recap: 'The Next Generation: Academy 1'", EW, June 20, 2016Feller, Alison. "SYTYCD: The Next Generation Season 13 Recap: The Academy", Dance Spirit, June 21, 2016 Choreographer Warren Carlyle and the all-stars then taught the 50 remaining contestants a Broadway couples dance routine in 90 minutes, and contestants from each team were paired with contestants from another team. After all of the couples danced, each all-star was required to cut one contestants from his or her team, either gender, leaving a total of 40 contestants. Throughout the episode, Maddie Ziegler and Cat Deeley interviewed successful competitors.
The June 27 episode covered days two and three of academy week. On day two, the all-stars each narrowed down their teams to three and then two contestants, based first on a hip-hop routine for pairs choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, and then on a contemporary routine, created by Travis Wall, danced simultaneously by the remaining three members of each team.Elizabeth, Stormy. "So You Think You Can Dance Recap 6/27/16: Season 13 Episode 5 'The Next Generation: Academy #2'", CelebDirtyLaundry.com, June 27, 2016 On the last day, the last two contestants from each team danced a solo just for their own all-star. Each all-star then selected one contestant, making a total of 10 contestants that he or she will mentor through the finals round.Hiembrod, Mimi. "So You Think You Can Dance: Next Generation Spoilers: Maddie Ziegler Appears on Monday", Design & Trend, June 14, 2016Connolly, Kelly. "So You Think You Can Dance recap: 'The Next Generation: Academy 2'", Entertainment Weekly, June 27, 2016 The all-stars and their contestants are:Lieberman, Shana. "So You Think You Can Dance 2016 Recap: Maddie Ziegler & the All-Stars Meet the Kids", GossipandGab.com, June 21, 2016
Contemporary Kathryn McCormick: season 6, 3rd place – Tate Robert Roldan: season 7, 3rd place – J. T. Sasha Mallory: season 8 runner-up – Jordan Ballroom Jenna Johnson: season 10, top 8 – Jake Paul Karmiryan, season 10, top 6 – Ruby Jonathan Platero, season 5, top 16 – Daniela
Tap Gaby Diaz, season 12 winner – Emma Hip-Hop Marko Germar°, season 8, top 3 (replacing Joshua Allen) – Sheaden Comfort Fedoke, season 4, top 8 – Tahani Du-Shaunt "Fik-Shun" Stegall, season 10 winner – KidaKida's birth name is "Leon Burns". Sastry, Keertana. "So You Think You Can Dance recap: 'The Next Generation: Top 10 Perform'", Entertainment Weekly, July 12, 2016. See also "Sacramento Boy's Winning Dance Video Goes Viral, Lands Him On Queen Latifah Show", CBS, October 17, 2014, accessed September 13, 2016 °Although Marko competed in season 8 as a contemporary/jazz contestant, he stepped in, before the first live show, to mentor hip-hop contestant Sheaden after Joshua withdrew from the show.Gallagher, Caitlin. "So You Think You Can Dance Hip-Hop Contestant Sheaden Lost All-Star Joshua, But Showed He'll Be Just Fine", Bustle.com, July 11, 2016
Studio Shows
Top 10 Contestants ContestantAgeHome townDance styleAll-star mentorPlacement Leon "Kida" Burns 14 Sacramento, California Hip Hop Du-Shaunt "Fik-Shun" Stegall First J.T. Church 10 Haymarket, Virginia Jazz Robert Roldan Second Tate McRae 13Weiss, Shari. "Kida, Tate So You Think You Can Dance Video: Watch Hip-Hop and Jazz Dances!", Gossip Cop, July 18, 2016 Calgary, Alberta, Canada Contemporary/Ballet Kathryn McCormick Third Emma Hellenkamp 11 San Diego, California Tap Gaby Diaz Fourth Tahani Anderson 13 Victorville, California Hip Hop Comfort Fedoke Fifth Ruby Castro 12 Miami, Florida Ballroom Paul Karmiryan Sixth Jake Monreal 12 Miami, Florida Ballroom Jenna JohnsonSeventh Jordan Nata'e Wandick 14Self, Jennifer. "Bakersfield's tiny dancer gets shot at fame on TV", Bakersfield.com, June 15, 2016 Bakersfield, California Contemporary/Jazz Sasha Mallory Sheaden Gabriel 12 Murrieta, California Hip Hop Marko Germar Ninth Daniela Avanzini 11 Atlanta, Georgia Ballroom Jonathan Platero Tenth
Elimination chart + Legend Female Male Bottom 2 contestants Eliminated
Result show date: 7/18 7/25 8/1 8/22 8/29 9/12 Contestant Results Leon "Kida" Burns Winner J.T. Church Runner-Up Tate McRae 3rd Place Emma Hellenkamp 4th Place Tahani Anderson Btm 2 Btm 2 Elim Ruby Castro Btm 2 Elim Jake Monreal Elim Jordan Nata'e Wandick Sheaden Gabriel Btm 2 Elim Daniela Avanzini Elim
Performances Showcase (July 11, 2016) The live shows were all two-hour broadcasts. The first live show, on July 11, 2016, opened with a group dance by all ten contestants dancing with their all-stars and all together, futuristically dressed in white. In the middle of the show there was a contemporary group dance by the all-stars, and the show ended with a group hip-hop dance by all of the top-ten contestants. During the show, each contestant performed one solo and one duet with his or her all-star; both dances were in the contestant's primary dance style.Petralia, Christine. "So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 10 Perform", BuddyTV.com, July 11, 2016 At the beginning of the show, host Cat Deeley announced that all-star Joshua Allen has been replaced by Marko Germar, to mentor and pair with hip-hop contestant Sheaden Gabriel. Maddie Ziegler observed the contestants' rehearsals and joined the judging panel, during the broadcast, giving the contestants "relatable feedback" and offering encouraging words about their performances.
Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s)Top 10 and all-starsMultiple styles"Prodigy"—Nathan Lanier Christopher Scott Leon "Kida" BurnsDu-Shaunt "Fik-Shun" Stegall Hip-hop "Winning"—Fingazz Christopher Scott Tate McRaeKathryn McCormick Contemporary "Goldenheart"—Dawn Richard Tyce DiorioJake MonrealJenna Johnson Cha-cha-cha "Toca Toca Radio Edit"—Fly Project Jean-Marc Généreux Sheaden GabrielMarko Germar Hip hop "Why I'm Here (Original Mix)"—Statik Link feat. Young Live Christopher "Pharside" JenningsKrystal "Phoenix" Meraz Jordan Nata'e WandickSasha Mallory Contemporary "The Light That Never Fails"—Andra Day Brian Friedman Emma HellenkampGaby Diaz Tap "Watch Me Do"—Meghan Trainor Anthony Morigerato Ruby CastroPaul Karmiryan Cha-cha-cha "How Deep Is Your Love"—Calvin Harris & Disciples Jean-Marc Généreux Tahani AndersonComfort Fedoke Hip-hop "Cut It"—O.T. Genasis feat. Young Dolph Luther Brown Daniela AvanziniJonathan Platero Salsa "Latinos"—Proyecto Uno Oksana Platero J. T. ChurchRobert Roldan Contemporary "Stand in the Light"—Jordan Smith Mandy Moore All-stars Contemporary "Unsteady (Erich Lee Gravity Remix)"—X Ambassadors Mandy Moore Top 10 Hip-hop "Move (If You Wanna)"—MIMS WilldabeastJanelle Ginestra
Top 10 contestant's solos: Contestant Style MusicEmma HellenkampTap"Impossible"—Lion BabeTahani AndersonHip-hop"Anyway"—Chris Brown feat. Tayla ParxJ. T. ChurchJazz”Dance with Me Tonight”—Olly MursRuby CastroPaso Doble"Unstoppable”—E.S. PosthumusDaniela AvanziniJive”Proud Mary”—Tina TurnerLeon "Kida" BurnsHip-hop"Ants"—edITJordan Nata'e WandickContemporary"Freedom"—Anthony Hamilton & Elayna BoyntonTate McRaeContemporary"The Beginning"—Factor EightSheaden GabrielHip-hop"Look at Me Now"—Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta RhymesJake MonrealCha-cha-cha"I Like It Like That"—Tito Nieves
Week 1 (July 18, 2016)