So You Think You Can Dance (American season 6)


So You Think You Can Dance, also known as SYTYCD, is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season six premiered on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host. Season six is the first to air during the fall season, immediately following the summer airing of season five. Live shows began airing October 26 and the season finale aired on December 16. Russell Ferguson, the first krumper to make it to the Las Vegas auditions, won the title of "America's Favorite Dancer" and the $250,000 prize. Also in the finale were Jakob Karr in second place, Kathryn McCormick in third place, Ellenore Scott in fourth place, Ashleigh Di Lello in fifth place and Ryan Di Lello in sixth place.

Auditions

Locations

Open auditions for this season somewhat overlapped season 5. These auditions for season 6 were held in the following cities after season 5's Las Vegas week, but before season 5's finals started:
AuditionCityDateJudges
Colonial TheatreBoston, MassachusettsMay 28, 2009Nigel, Mary, Tyce Diorio
Woodruff Arts CenterAtlanta, GeorgiaJune 1, 2009Nigel, Mary, Lil' C
The Orpheum TheatreLos Angeles, CaliforniaJune 12, 2009Nigel, Mary, Adam Shankman
New Orleans Morial Convention CenterNew Orleans, LouisianaJune 19, 2009Adam Shankman, Mary, Lil C
Phoenix Convention CenterPhoenix, ArizonaJune 26, 2009Nigel, Mary, Mia Michaels
Rose Wagner Performing Arts CenterSalt Lake City, UtahJuly 24, 2009Nigel, Mary, Mia Michaels

Lythgoe was accepting an honorary degree from the University of Bedfordshire; therefore, two guest judges were present.

Las Vegas week

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Debbie Allen
The Las Vegas callbacks were held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 152 dancers were invited to participate in the callback auditions. This number was cut to 38 dancers, before the announcement of the season's top 20 contestants. Las Vegas week included the following rounds, with cuts made after each:
DancerTask/styleMusicChoreographer
All SoloMusic chosen by contestantThe dancer
AllHip-Hop"Girls on the Dance Floor"—Far East MovementTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
AllCha-Cha"Disturbia "—RihannaLouis van Amstel
Anya Garnis
AllJazz"Green Light"—John LegendLaurie Ann Gibson
All Group choreographyCD with track picked from a hatThe group
AllContemporary"Walking on Air"—KerliMia Michaels
Female dancersBroadway"There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" from Sweet CharityTyce Diorio
Male dancersBroadway"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"—Billy JoelTyce Diorio
All SoloMusic chosen by contestantThe dancer

Top 20 Finalists

Female Contestants

Male Contestants

Dumlao replaced original Top 20 dancer Billy Bell, who had to withdraw from the competition due to illness.

Finals

Elimination chart

The elimination song for the women playing during the montage was "Never Say Never" by The Fray. The elimination song for the men playing during the montage was "Where It Ends" by 16 Frames.



The show was unable to schedule full performance and results shows for the first two weeks due to conflicts with the World Series.

These female dancers were barred from performing their routines. See below for more information.

Performance nights

Due to network conflicts with the World Series, the show was unable to schedule a separate results show for the first two weeks. As a result, no public voting was held on those occasions; after the couples' performances, the judges alone selected four dancers to perform solos, and subsequently eliminated two.
The standard format of a performance show followed by voting, with a results show the following night, resumed for the third week of competition.

Week 1 (October 26, 2009)

"Meet the Top 20"
DancersStyleMusicChoreographer
Top 20Jazz"Comanche"—The RevelsWade Robson
Amanda Robson
Russell Ferguson
Kevin Hunte
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Hip-Hop"Beggin' "—MadconTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
Channing Cooke
Ariana DeBose
Jakob Karr
Nathan Trasoras
Contemporary"Crying"—k.d. langTyce Diorio
Phillip Attmore
Bianca Revels
Peter Sabasino
Tap"Take the "A" Train"—Ella FitzgeraldDerick K. Grant
Mollee Gray
Pauline Mata
Ellenore Scott
Jazz"On a Cloud"—Platinum Pied PipersSonya Tayeh
Kathryn McCormick
Noelle Marsh
Billy Bell
Victor Smalley
Contemporary"Viva La Vida"—ColdplayMandy Moore
Karen Hauer
Ashleigh Di Lello
Ryan Di Lello
Samba"Everything I Can't Have"—Robin ThickeJason Gilkison
Performance show
CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Channing Cooke
Phillip Attmore
Jive"Rockin' Robin"—The Jackson 5Jason GilkisonSafe
Jakob Karr
Ashleigh Di Lello
Broadway"Hit Me With a Hot Note "
from Sophisticated Ladies
Tyce DiorioSafe
Ariana Dubose
Peter Sabasino
Hip-Hop"Black and Gold"—Sam SparroTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
Dubose Eliminated
Melanie LaPatin
Russell Ferguson
Foxtrot"Vagabond Shoes"—Vic DamoneTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Ferguson in bottom 4
Bianca Revels
Victor Smalley
Contemporary"Wasted Time"—Me'shell NdegeocelloTravis WallSafe
Karen Hauer
Kevin Hunt
Cha-Cha"Push It" from GleeTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Safe
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Contemporary Jazz"Arcadia"—ApparatSonya TayehSafe
Brandon Dumlao
Pauline Mata
Smooth Waltz"You Light Up My Life"—Whitney HoustonJason GilkisonMata in bottom 4
Dumlao eliminated
Kathryn McCormick
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Hip-Hop"On & On"—Missy ElliottDave ScottSafe
Mollee Grey
Nathan Trasoras
Disco"Turn the Beat Around" —Gloria EstefanDoriana SanchezSafe

Noelle Marsh did not perform on the show due to injury. She would become Ferguson's partner in Week 2.
DancerStyleMusicResult
Ariana DuboseContemporary"Darkest Hour"—Charlotte MartinEliminated
Russell FergusonKrump"Give the Drummer Sum"—Black Milk''Safe
Pauline MataJazz"Magalenha"—Sérgio MendesSafe
Brandon DumlaoHip-Hop"Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"—John MayerEliminated

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Noelle Marsh
Russell Ferguson
Hip-Hop"Move Shake Drop Remix"—DJ Laz, Flo Rida and CasleyJamal SimsMarsh in bottom 4
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jakob Karr
Viennese Waltz"At Last"—Etta JamesTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Safe
Bianca Revels
Victor Smalley
Broadway"Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Something" from The Color PurpleTyce DiorioRevels eliminated
Smalley in bottom 4
Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Bollywood"Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah" from Jodhaa AkbarNakul Dev MahajanSafe
Channing Cooke
Phillip Attmore
Samba"Maracatu Funk"—The Samba SquadTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Attmore eliminated
Karen Hauer
Kevin Hunte
Hip-Hop"Ice Cream Paint Job"—DorroughTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
Safe
Kathryn McCormick
Contemporary"2 Steps Away"—Patti LaBelleStacey TookeySafe
Pauline Mata
Peter Sabasino
Jazz"Little Green Bag"—George Baker SelectionWade RobsonSafe
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Argentine Tango"Violentango"—Ástor PiazzollaMiriam Larici
Leonardo Barrionuevo
Safe

DancerStyleMusicResult
Noelle MarshContemporary"For a Reason"—ZhanéSafe
Victor SmalleyContemporary"Narvas" from 'Safe
Bianca RevelsTap"Tootsee Roll"—69 BoyzEliminated
Phillip AttmoreTap"Almost Like Being in Love"—Nat King ColeEliminated

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Karen Hauer
Kevin Hunte
Hustle"Come To Me"—France JoliMaria TorresBottom 3
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jakob Karr
Jazz"Relax"—Frankie Goes to HollywoodMandy MooreSafe
Pauline Mata
Peter Sabasino
Quickstep"Hey Baby! "—Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat PackJT Thomas
Tomas Mielnicki
Both eliminated
Kathryn McCormick
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Broadway"I Wan'na Be Like You "—Swingin' FireballsAndy BlankenbuehlerSafe
Channing Cooke
Victor Smalley
Contemporary"Be Be Your Love" —Rachael YamagataStacey TookeySafe
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Hip-Hop
"Lost Boiz Anthem"—Tha J-SquadLil' CBottom 3
Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Salsa"Quimbara"—Celia Cruz and Johnny PachecoGustavo VargasSafe
Noelle Marsh
Russell Ferguson
African Jazz"Frog Dance"—Mickey Hart and Planet DrumSean CheesmanSafe

Week 4 (November 17, 2009)

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jakob Karr
Lyrical Hip-Hop"Whatcha Say"—Jason DerüloTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
Safe
Karen Hauer
Kevin Hunte
Broadway"If My Friends Could See Me Now" from Sweet CharitySpencer LiffHunte eliminated
Noelle Marsh
Russell Ferguson
Foxtrot"Baby "—Michael Bublé and
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Edward SimonSafe
Channing Cooke
Victor Smalley
Jazz"Blackbird"—Bobby McFerrinTyce DiorioCooke eliminated
Paso Doble"Pursuit" from Cirque du SoleilTony MeredithSafe
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Contemporary"Your Ex-Lover Is Dead"—StarsTravis WallSafe
Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Pop-Jazz"Bad Romance"—Lady GagaLaurie Ann GibsonBottom 3

Week 5 (November 24, 2009)

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Lindy Hop"I've Got To Be a Rug Cutter"—The Boilermaker Jazz BandCarla HeineyBottom 3
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Broadway"Razzle Dazzle" from ChicagoSpencer LiffBottom 3
Kathryn McCormick
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Jazz"So Deep"—Hot ChipSonya TayehSafe
Kathryn McCormick
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
"Your Guardian Angel"—The Red Jumpsuit ApparatusJean-Marc Généreux
France Mousseau
Safe
Karen Hauer
Victor Smalley
Tango"Montserrat"—Orquesta del PlataTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Both eliminated
Karen Hauer
Victor Smalley
Hip-Hop"Moving Mountains"—UsherLaurie Ann GibsonBoth eliminated
Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Hip-Hop"Ring-a-Ling"—The Black Eyed PeasJamal SimsBottom 3
Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Can-Can"Cancan Suite" —Offenbach/PonchielliTyce DiOrioBottom 3
Noelle Marsh
Russell Ferguson
Samba"Hips Don't Lie"—ShakiraTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Safe
Noelle Marsh
Russell Ferguson
Contemporary"A Case of You"—Diana KrallTyce DiOrioSafe
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jakob Karr
Lyrical Jazz"Time Flies"—Lykke LiSonya TayehSafe
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jakob Karr
Cha-Cha"Cha Cha Heels" —
Rosabel feat. Jeanie Tracy
Jean-Marc Généreux
France Mousseau
Safe

Week 6 (December 1, 2009)

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Noelle Marsh
Ryan Di Lello
Hip-Hop"Give It to Me Right"—Melanie FionaTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
Marsh eliminated
Di Lello in bottom 4
Noelle Marsh
Ryan Di Lello
Smooth Waltz"Jeux d'Eau"—Cirque du SoleilJT Thomas
Tomas Mielnicki
Marsh eliminated
Di Lello in bottom 4
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Contemporary"Poison"—The ProdigyGarry StewartSafe
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Hip-Hop"Slow Down"—Bobby ValentinoDave ScottSafe
Kathryn McCormick
Nathan Trasoras
Broadway"Choreography"—Danny KayeSpencer LiffMcCormick in bottom 4
Trasoras eliminated
Kathryn McCormick
Nathan Trasoras
Rumba"Walk On By"—Aretha FranklinTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
McCormick in bottom 4
Trasoras eliminated
Ellenore Scott
Jakob Karr
Quickstep"Four Brothers"—The Manhattan TransferTony Meredith
Melanie LaPatin
Safe
Ellenore Scott
Jakob Karr
Contemporary"Tore My Heart"—OONA and Dave TweedieSonya TayehSafe
Mollee Gray
Russell Ferguson
Lyrical Jazz"It Must Have Been Love"—RoxetteMandy MooreSafe
Mollee Gray
Russell Ferguson
Jive"Land of 1000 Dances"—Jimmy BarnesAnya Garnis
Pasha Kovalev
Safe

DancerStyleMusicResult
Mollee GrayJazz"Rock the Beat"—LMFAOSafe
Russell FergusonKrump"Outros"—Black MilkSafe
Noelle MarshContemporary"Every Time It Rains"—Charlotte MartinEliminated
Ryan Di LelloPaso Doble"Rock You Like a Hurricane"—ScorpionsBottom 4
Kathryn McCormickContemporary"Beautiful"—Bethany DillonBottom 4
Nathan TrasorasContemporary"Golden Train"—Justin NozukaEliminated
Ellenore ScottJazz"Beatbox Harmonica"—Yuri LaneSafe
Jonathan "Legacy" PerezBreakdancing"No Air"—Jordin Sparks & Chris BrownSafe
Ashleigh Di LelloSamba"Batucada Por Favor"—Bob AzzamSafe
Jakob KarrContemporary"Always Midnight" —Pat MonahanSafe

Week 7 (December 8, 2009)

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographerResults
Kathryn McCormick
Ryan Di Lello
Disco"Last Dance" —Donna SummerDoriana SanchezDi Lello in bottom 4
Kathryn McCormick
Ryan Di Lello
Cha-Cha"Put Your Hands On Me"—Joss StoneJason GilkisonDi Lello in bottom 4
Mollee Gray
Jakob Karr
Viennese Waltz"Ordinary Day"—Vanessa CarltonJason GilkisonGray eliminated
Mollee Gray
Jakob Karr
Broadway"Easy Street" from AnnieJoey DowlingGray eliminated
Ellenore Scott
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Contemporary"Machine Gun"—PortisheadTravis WallScott in bottom 4
Perez eliminated
Ellenore Scott
Jonathan "Legacy" Perez
Hip-Hop"People Are Strange" —The DoorsTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo
Scott in bottom 4
Perez eliminated
Russell Ferguson
Rachel/Alysha
Hip-Hop"Too Much Booty 2" —Soundmaster T
& Jah-Rista feat. Korveil
Shane SparksSafe
Russell Ferguson
Rachel/Alysha
Bollywood"Spirit of Rangeela" from RangeelaNakul Dev MahajanSafe

DancerStyleMusicResult
Jakob KarrContemporary"When You Say My Name"—Mario SpinettiSafe
Mollee GrayJazz"Heartburn"—Alicia KeysEliminated
Jonathan "Legacy" PerezBreakdance"Fancy Footwork"—ChromeoEliminated
Ellenore ScottJazz"I Got the Feelin'"—James BrownBottom 4
Russell FergusonKrump"Holiday Buckness"—J-SquadSafe
Kathryn McCormickContemporary"Shadowfeet"—Brooke FraserSafe
Ryan Di LelloCha-Cha"Din Da Da"—Kevin AvianceBottom 4

Ashleigh Di Lello was paired with Russell Ferguson, but dislocated her shoulder during rehearsal of their Bollywood number and was barred from performing by doctors. As a result, she did not perform a solo and Ferguson danced their two numbers with the choreographers' assistants, Alysha Shroff. Voting for Di Lello was still opened; viewers were urged to consider her previous performances and rehearsal footage in making their choice in voting for her.

Week 8 (December 15, 2009)

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer
Kathryn McCormick
Ryan Di Lello
Samba"Magalenha"—Sérgio MendesJason Gilkison
Ellenore Scott
Jakob Karr
Broadway"I Gotcha" from FosseTyce Diorio
Ashleigh Di Lello
Russell Ferguson
Lyrical Jazz"Angel Standing By"—JewelSonya Tayeh
Ellenore Scott
Ryan Di Lello
Jazz"Kontact Me"—Boyz NoiseGarry Stewart
Ashleigh Di Lello
Jakob Karr
Foxtrot"Let the Good Times Roll"—Chuck Brown & Eva CassidyJean-Marc Généreux
Ellenore Scott
Russell Ferguson
Paso Doble"Village Attack" from Blood DiamondJason Gilkison
Kathryn McCormick
Jakob Karr
Contemporary Ballet"At This Moment"—Michael BubléDwight Rhoden
Desmond Richardson
Ashleigh Di Lello
Ryan Di Lello
Contemporary"I'm There Too"—Michelle FeatherstoneTravis Wall
Kathryn McCormick
Russell Ferguson
Hip-Hop"I Can Transform Ya"—Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Swizz BeatsTabitha and
Napoleon D'umo

Result shows

Week 3 (November 11, 2009)

DancerStyleMusicResult
Ellenore ScottJazz"Eleanor"—Alexa WoodwardSafe
Ryan Di LelloJive"Jump with My Baby"—Big Bad Voodoo DaddySafe
Pauline MataJazz"Took the Night"—ChelleyEliminated
Peter SabasinoTapNoneEliminated
Karen HauerSamba"Celia y Tito"—Celia Cruz & Tito PuenteSafe
Kevin HunteHip-Hop"I Question Mark"—Wade RobsonSafe

Sabasino chose to dance a cappella.
DancerStyleMusicResult
Karen HauerLatin"Break on Through "—The DoorsSafe
Kevin HunteHip-Hop"Freeze"—T-Pain featuring Chris BrownEliminated
Channing CookeContemporary"The Face"—RyanDanEliminated
Victor SmalleyContemporary"Baby's Romance"—Chris GarneauSafe
Mollee GrayJazz"Let Me Think About It "—Ida Corr vs. Fedde le GrandSafe
Nathan TrasorasContemporary"So Insane"—DiscoverySafe

DancerStyleMusicResult
Karen HauerCha-Cha"She Wants to Move" - N.E.R.D.Eliminated
Victor SmalleyContemporary"Village Attack" from Blood DiamondEliminated
Mollee GrayJazz"Bulletproof"—La RouxSafe
Nathan TrasorasContemporary"Going Going Gone "—StarsSafe
Ellenore ScottJazz"Bottom"–Zap MamaSafe
Ryan Di LelloSamba"Baila Baila Conmigo"—MissiegoSafe

DancerStyleMusicResult
Noelle MarshContemporary"Inside a Boy" —My Brightest DiamondEliminated
Ryan Di LelloPaso Doble"Rock You Like A Hurricane"—ScorpionsSafe
Kathryn McCormickContemporary"Beautiful"—Bethany DillonSafe
Nathan TrasorasContemporary"Pretty Wings"—MaxwellEliminated

DancerStyleMusicResult
Jonathan "Legacy" PerezBreakdance"Flashing Lights"—Vitamin String QuartetEliminated
Ellenore ScottJazz"Hajnal"—Venetian SnaresSafe
Ryan Di LelloCha-Cha"Din Da Da"—Kevin AvianceSafe
Mollee GrayJazz"You'll Find A Way" —SantigoldEliminated

Week 8 (Finale) (December 16, 2009)

DancersStyleMusicChoreographer
Top 20Jazz"Scared of Me"—Fedde le Grand featuring Mitch CrownKelley Abbey
Top 20Jazz"Comanche"—The RevelsWade Robson
Amanda Robson
Judges' picks
As Ferguson injured himself performing in the first Judge's Pick routine, the noted subsequent routines were shown pre-recorded rather than newly performed live.
As a result of the auditions for season 6 taking place concurrently with the airing of season 5, increased promotion was possible. A Deeley voice-over at the end of the fifth season's audition episodes sent viewers to the official website for more information about auditioning for the fall season. The judges' travels to various cities were also mentioned if the audition weekend followed a results show. A video segment of Ryan Kasprzak, brother of top 20 contestant Evan Kasprzak and fellow auditioner for season 5, aired during the summer's top 18 results show. It showed him auditioning for season 6 in Los Angeles and making it to the Las Vegas round. Nigel Lythgoe also mentioned him in the finale of season 5, stating that there will be "more Kasprzak in the fall." Since then, however, it was announced Kasprzak was eliminated after the ballroom round of Vegas week.

Foreign broadcast

Unlike previous seasons, much of season 6 was not simulcast on Canadian network CTV, due to conflicts with their fall schedule. As a result, CTV's sister network 'A' aired the series from its start until the end of November, with CTV resuming with the Top 10 week on December 1. Norwegian channel TVNorge will air the show in performance and results shows, and shows all routines, as it did in season 5. In South Africa the season is set to premier in February. AXN Asia also aired this season just after the season 4 ended airing in January 2010.
Australia finally airs this season since the fifth season back in 2009 on Network Ten. This season premiered on January 15, 2011 on the new channel Eleven.

Special performance episode

On October 26, 2009, Fox aired a special episode introducing viewers to the Top 20 contestants of season 6 dancing in their own styles. Contemporary dancer Billy Bell appeared in the special before having to withdraw due to illness.

Changes

Besides not starting results shows until the Top 16, this will be the first season where the finale will occur at the Top 6 stage, rather than the usual Top 4. This is most likely due to the show producers and network not wishing to continue airing through the week of Christmas, due to the special performance show.