So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition reality show, which returned for its eighteenth and final season on March 4, 2024.
The eighteenth season of So You Think You Can Dance was announced on December 5, 2023, with a judging panel composed of series creator Nigel Lythgoe (which would have been his seventeenth season as judge), season 2 contestant and season 7–11 and 14 All-Star Allison Holker, and former Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Comfort Fedoke guest judged during the auditions. Cat Deeley returned to her role as host for a seventeenth consecutive season.
In January 2024, Lythgoe departed from the show following a sex abuse lawsuit from former judge Paula Abdul. He was replaced by season 17 judge JoJo Siwa.
The season premiere ended with a tribute to season 4 runner-up, former judge, and Holker's husband Stephen "tWitch" Boss who was found dead by suicide in December 2022.
On May 20, 2024, Anthony Curley was crowned the winner.
Only Madison Rouge Alvarado became the forty-third contestant in the show's run never to face elimination from being among the bottom three or bottom four contestants overall, and became the thirty-forth contestant to be in the grand finale to never to face elimination from being among the bottom three or bottom four overall.
On July 20, 2025, the show marked 20 years since its series premiere.
Auditions The auditions for season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance took place in Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia where all the contestants had to audition in front of judges Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Allison Holker, and special guest judge Comfort Fedoke. From the thousands that applied through video submissions, the Top 100 contestants were invited to Atlanta to audition in front of the judges. Unlike previous seasons, this season took more of a documentary style and taught the audience a little bit more about the contestants' background. Notable contestants included Easton Magliarditi who auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, Jin Lee, who had dedicated her dance to Holker's deceased husband Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Kenidee Allen who had trained with Maks, Kaylee Bays, a contestant that had been diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome that left her in a wheelchair, and Mariyah Hawkins who had previously auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation.
Choreography Round Like season 17, the Callbacks/Academy Round was renamed the Choreography Round and took place over one day, as opposed to one week like past seasons. The Choreography Round consisted of two rounds led by choreographer, Galen Hooks. The first round had the contestants dancing in different groups, and the second round focused on partner work. 35 contestants made it to the choreography round and were eliminated after each round until 10 remained to advance to the challenge shows.
Top 10 contestants Female contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacementDakayla Wilson18Tampa, FloridaJazzMay 20, 2024Runner-UpMadison Rouge Alvarado21Chicago, IllinoisJazz FunkMay 20, 20243rd PlaceMariyah Hawkins21Dallas, TexasContemporaryMay 6, 2024Top 5Avery Gay19Scottsdale, ArizonaBalletApril 15, 2024Top 10Olivia Alboher22Totowa, New JerseyContemporaryApril 15, 2024Top 10
Male contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacementAnthony Curley19Phoenix, ArizonaContemporaryN/AWinnerEaston Magliarditi19Las Vegas, NevadaContemporaryMay 13, 2024Top 4Jaylin Sanders20Los Angeles, CaliforniaHip-HopApril 29, 2024Top 6Braylon Browner18Killeen, TexasContemporaryApril 22, 2024Top 8Roman Nevinchanyi26Kiev, UkraineBallroomApril 22, 2024Top 8
Elimination chart Contestants are listed in chronological order of elimination.
+ Legend Female Male Bottom 3/4 contestants Eliminated
Result show date:4/154/224/295/65/135/20ContestantResultsAnthony CurleyBtm 4Btm 3WinnerDakayla WilsonBtm 4Btm 3Runner-UpMadison Rouge Alvarado3rd PlaceEaston MagliarditiBtm 4Btm 3ElimMariyah HawkinsBtm 3ElimJaylin SandersElimRoman NevinchanyiElimBraylon BrownerBtm 4ElimOlivia AlboherElimAvery GayElim
Challenge shows For the first time this series, the judges are solely responsible for which contestants are safe and which are going home, with no audience voting. Previously, the contestants which received the most audience votes each week would be safe from been sent home.
Top 10 Perform – Challenge #1: Music Videos (April 15, 2024) In this challenge, the top 10 contestants were divided into two groups of five contestants; each group performed a music video together. The contestants were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the music video as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 4 contestants; the bottom 4 each performed a solo and the judges sent home two contestants in each gender. Group Routine: Top 10 with the Judges: "Don't Start Now" – Dua Lipa (Hip Hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown)
Groups Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsAvery GayContemporary"All Around Me" – Justin BieberPhillip Chbeeb & (season 5) Makenzie Chbeeb-DustmanEliminatedDakayla WilsonSafeBraylon BrownerBottom 4Roman NevinchanyiSafeJaylin SandersOlivia AlboherHip Hop"Juice" – LizzoLuther BrownEliminatedMariyah HawkinsSafeMadison Rouge AlvaradoEaston MagliarditiBottom 4Anthony CurleySafe
Solos Contestant Style MusicEaston MagliarditiContemporary"The Blower's Daughter" – Damien RiceAvery GayBallet"Can't Catch Me Now" – Olivia RodrigoOlivia AlboherContemporary"Snowing" – Sonya KitchellBraylon Browner"Life is Not the Same" – James Blake
Top 8 Perform – Challenge #2: Broadway (April 22, 2024) In this challenge, the top 8 were divided into two groups of four contestants; each group performed a Broadway piece together. The contestants were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the Broadway piece as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 4 contestants; the bottom 4 contestants each performed a solo and the judges sent home two contestants. Group Routine: Top 8: "If My Friends Could See Me Now" – Sammy Davis Jr. (Broadway; Choreographer: Al Blackstone)
Groups Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsAnthony CurleyBroadway"In the Mood" – BBC Big Band"I Got Rhythm" – Bobby DarinAl BlackstoneBottom 4Dakayla WilsonJaylin SandersSafeMadison Rouge AlvaradoBraylon Browner"Willkommen" – Cabaret"Money" – CabaretSarah O'GlebyEliminatedEaston MagliarditiSafeMariyah HawkinsRoman NevinchanyiEliminated
Solos Contestant Style MusicBraylon BrownerContemporary"Stabat Mater" – WoodkidRoman NevinchanyiBallroom"Beggin'" – MåneskinDakayla WilsonJazz"Demons" – Doja CatAnthony CurleyContemporary"Punchbag Love" – Adam French
Top 6 Perform – Challenge #3: Movies (April 29, 2024)
In this challenge, the top 6 contestants were divided into two groups of three contestants; each group performed a movie sequence together. The contestants were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the movie sequence as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 3 contestants; the bottom 3 contestants each performed a solo and the judges sent home one contestant. Group Routine: Top 6: "Low" – Flo Rida (Hip Hop; Choreographer: N/A)
Groups Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsEaston MagliarditiBroadway"When the Sun Goes Down" – In the HeightsChris ScottSafeMadison Rouge AlvaradoJaylin SandersEliminatedAnthony CurleyJazz"Footloose" – FootlooseJamal SimsSafeDakayla WilsonBottom 3Mariyah Hawkins
Solos Contestant Style MusicMariyah HawkinsContemporary"Stuttering" – Jazmine SullivanJaylin SandersHip-Hop"Proud... Uuu" – TellaXDakayla WilsonJazz"My Mind" – Yebba
Top 5 Perform – Challenge #4: On Tour (May 6, 2024)
Group Routine: Top 6: "Boombayah" – Blackpink (Hip Hop; Choreographer: Kyle Hanagami)
Groups Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsMadison Rouge AlvaradoHip Hop/Contemporary Fusion"Church" & "Dreaming" – T-PainFullout Cortland & Kyle HanagamiSafeAnthony CurleyBottom 3Mariyah HawkinsEliminatedEaston MagliarditiBottom 3Dakayla WilsonSafe
Solos Contestant Style MusicEaston MagliarditiContemporary"Lately" – Stevie WonderMariyah Hawkins"Lost One" – Jazmine SullivanAnthony Curley"Disconnect" – 6lack
Top 4 Perform – Challenge #5: Brand Challenge (May 13, 2024)
Group Routine: Top 4: "She's All I Wanna Be" – Tate McRae (Contemporary; Choreographer: Tessandra Chavez)
Groups Contestants Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsMadison Rouge AlvaradoHip Hop/Contemporary Fusion"I'm Good (Blue)" – David Guetta & Bebe RexhaHi-HatSafeAnthony CurleyEaston MagliarditiEliminatedDakayla WilsonSafe
Top 4 contestants' solos Contestant Style MusicAnthony CurleyContemporary"Still Alive" – Aaryan ShahDakayla WilsonJazz"My Immortal" – EvanescenceEaston MagliarditiContemporary"Perfectly Wrong" – Shawn MendesMadison Rouge AlvaradoJazz Funk"Can't Be Tamed" – Miley Cyrus
The Season 18 Finale (May 20, 2024) Each of the top 3 contestants performed twice: a duet with a fellow Top 10 contestant of their choice, and a solo. Groups: Top 10 & Judges: "Fly as Me" – Silk Sonic (Hip Hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown) Olivia, Avery, Roman, Jaylin & All-Stars (Bailey Munoz (season 16 winner), Alex Wong (season 7 contestant), Alexis Warr (season 17 winner) & Jasmine Harper (season 10 contestant)): Performer: Natasha Bedingfield – "Unwritten"
Duets Contestant Style Music Choreographer(s) ResultsMadison Rouge AlvaradoJazz Funk(w/ Braylon Browner)"Not About You" – Haiku HandsKayla Radomski (season 5) & Tucker BarkleyEliminatedAnthony CurleyHip Hop(w/ Mariyah Hawkins)"Bang" – Jacob Banks & Tobe NwigweDiana Matos & Ivan Koumaev (season 2)WinnerDakayla WilsonContemporary(w/ Easton Magliarditi)"Change" – Lana Del ReyTalia FaviaRunner-Up
Final Two's solos Contestant Style MusicAnthony CurleyContemporary"Better Alone" – Aaryan ShahDakayla WilsonJazz"A Palé" – Rosalía
Ratings
References
External links