Mondays from 7-9 (well, 10 because the Teen Wolf love is still there) is an event. It’s So You Think You Can Dance time. It’s been my favorite reality show ever since its inception back in 2005. And even though I haven’t been a fan of the format for a few seasons now: the jam-packing into one show instead of two, the all-star introductions, and this stage vs. street nonsense (TEAM STAGE), I’ve remained a loyal viewer. For two hours, I’m glued to the tv and my phone (my bestie and I live-text the show) and I get to immerse myself in one of my favorite things: dance. I danced religiously up until college, and did two years of college before calling it quits. I have such a deep appreciation for the art and greatly enjoy watching it. Plus, it’s a great place to get new music.
It was hard compiling this list because there have been so many performances that I loved and still love to go back and rewatch. I also skipped over seasons 1, 9, and 10 because I couldn’t watch due to a lack of television access. (And photos link to YouTube vids! Check them out).
SEASON 2
Duet: “Calling You” – Contemporary, Travis + Heidi (choreographer: Mia Michaels)
Group: “Ramalama (Bang Bang)” – Jazz, Top 8 (choreographer: Wade Robson)
So, yes, I know my choices are extremely cliché, but these are the best known dances from this season for a reason. Firstly, you can’t go wrong with a TWall + Mia combo and I miss Wade Robson terribly. And the song Ramalama has a special place in my heart because we used to go stretching and warm-ups to that song at my studio. Hello nostalgia.
SEASON 3
Duet: “Night of the Dancing Flame” —Jazz, Neil + Lauren (choreographer: Wade Robson)
Group: “The Moment I Said It” – Contemporary, Top 10 (choreographer: Mia Michaels)
More Wade and Mia dances because the quality of their dances are always top notch. Neil was my favorite dancer this season…yes, he mostly because he was extremely pretty. This was also the first season whose tour I went to and “The Moment I Said It” was amazing live.
SEASON 4
Duet: “Bleeding Love” – Hip-hop, Mark + Chelsie (choreographer: Napoleon and Tabitha)
Group: “The Dance” – Contemporary, Top 16 (choreographer: Mia Michaels)
Seeing “The Dance” live was basically a religious experience. So. Freaking. Good. And this was back when lyrical hip-hop was new and fresh.
SEASON 5
Duet: “If It Kills Me” – Contemporary, Jason + Jeanine (choreographer: Travis Wall)
Group: “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” – Hip-hop/Samba, Top 16 (choreographers: Dmitry Chaplin, Napoleon and Tabitha)
Choosing this was so hard because the addiction piece, “ Gravity” is one of my all-time favorites, but “If It Kills Me” barely wins. TWall’s first piece for SYTYCD and it’s amazing. And I love me some Dmitry.
SEASON 6
Duet: “Ordinary Day”—Viennese Waltz, Jakob + Mollee (choreographer: Jason Gilkison)
Group: “Aha!” – Contemporary jazz, Top 14 (choreographer: Wade Robson)
Oh, season six. The season that time forgot. This Viennese Waltz is probably my favorite ballroom routine of all-time.
SEASON 7
Duet: “Collide” – Contemporary, Kent + Lauren (choreographer: Travis Wall)
Group: “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” aka Alice in Mia Land – Contemporary (choreographer: Mia Michaels)
I think this is last season where I’ve been truly impressed by the quality of performances. I feel like they’ve slowly declined since season 7. There are so many performances that I loved from this group of dancers. “Outta Your Mind” (obvi), “Mad World” (duh), and “Fix You” are all tied for a very close second.
SEASON 8
Duet: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Contemporary, Neil + Melanie (choreographer: Mandy Moore)
Solo: “You’re the One That I Want” – Contemporary, Melanie
I couldn’t think of a group routine that stood out for me, so I went with a solo aka my favorite solo.
SEASON 11
Duet: “Like Real People Do” – Contemporary, Casey + Jessica (choreographer: Travis Wall)
Group: “My Immortal” – Contemporary, Top 7 Girls (choreographer; Mandy Moore)
One of my favorite songs (My Immortal) + one of my favorite choreographers = one of my favorite (if not my favorite) group dances.