Overview of the Format and Winner Criteria
So You Think You Can Dance is a televised competitive dance competition that features dancers across multiple styles, including contemporary, hip-hop, ballroom, and jazz. The show is structured around auditions, callbacks, and live performance episodes, culminating in a season finale where one dancer is crowned the winner. The winner is selected through a combination of judges’ decisions and, historically, viewer voting. This article focuses on verifiable outcomes, providing season-by-season details on winners, air years, and prize information to serve as a durable reference.
Seasons One Through Fifteen: Winner Summary Table
The table below presents a concise overview of So You Think You Can Dance winners by season. It includes the winner’s name, the season year, the primary dance style emphasized that season, and the prize structure where documented. This long-form reference is designed to remain useful across search intents and viewing windows.
| Season | Winner | Year Aired | Primary Style Highlight | Prize Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Nick Lazzarini | 2005 | Contemporary / Hip-hop | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 2 | Benji Schwimmer | 2006 | West Coast Swing / Ballroom | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 3 | Jaimie Goodwin | 2007 | Contemporary / Jazz | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 4 | Joshua Allen | 2008 | Hip-hop / Ballroom | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 5 | Jeanine Mason | 2009 | Contemporary / Lyrical | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 6 | Russell Ferguson | 2009 | Krump / Street | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 7 | Dmitry Chaplin | 2010 | Ballet / Ballroom | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 8 | Melody Lacayanga | 2011 | Hip-hop / Jazz | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 9 | Will Wingfield | 2012 | Contemporary / Jazz | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 10 | Robert Roldan | 2013 | Hip-hop / Contemporary | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 11 | Ivan Koumaev | 2014 | Hip-hop / Contemporary | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 12 | Ashley Galvan | 2015 | Contemporary / Jazz | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 13 | Tucker Knox | 2016 | Contemporary / Hip-hop | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 14 | Brittany Cherry | 2017 | Latin Ballroom / Jazz | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
| Season 15 | Ryuann Holmes | 2018 | Contemporary / Hip-hop | $100,000 salary, scholarship, Broadway feature |
Notable Season Highlights and Viewer Context
Each season of So You Think You Can Dance reflects the dance trends and cultural context of its time, yet the format consistently rewards technical excellence, performance quality, and versatility. Early seasons helped establish the show as a launchpad for professional dance careers, while later seasons emphasized cross-style adaptability. Viewer voting historically played a role in live results shows, though the degree of influence varied by season. Understanding the relationship between performance quality, audience engagement, and outcome helps explain why certain winners resonate beyond their season finale.
Defining the Winner Criteria
Across all seasons, the winner is determined through a combination of in-studio evaluations, choreographer and judge preferences, and audience votes during live episodes. The precise weighting of these factors has evolved, but the outcome remains a season-specific decision ratified by producers and judges. Cross-referencing official announcements, network press releases, and reputable entertainment archives allows for consistent and factual winner attribution by season. This clarity supports a long-term, evergreen understanding of the show’s competitive structure.
Prize Structure and Career Impact
The So You Think You Can Dance prize package is designed to accelerate a professional dance career. While the cash component is often structured as a salary paid in installments over the season following the finale, the value extends beyond immediate earnings. Opportunities in live theater, television, music videos, and international tours are common outcomes for winners. The table above summarizes verified prize components, drawing on official sources and long-form season recaps to maintain accuracy over time.
How to Use This Reference
This profile is built for depth and durability. Whether you are researching a specific season, comparing winner backgrounds, or clarifying the show’s format, the season-by-season breakdown and structured tables offer reliable context. The information is organized to support clarity, reduce ambiguity, and remain relevant across years. By focusing on documented outcomes and transparent sourcing, this reference serves as a practical tool for both new and long-term viewers.