So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 17

So You Think You Can Dance
Season 17
Hosted by	Cat Deeley
Judges	Stephen "tWitch" Boss JoJo Siwa Matthew Morrison Leah Remini
Winner	Alexis Warr
Runner-up	Keaton Kermode
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	May 18 (2022-05-18) – August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Season chronology

So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition reality show, which returned for its seventeenth season on May 18, 2022.

A 17th season of So You Think You Can Dance had originally been set to air in the summer of 2020, with a judging panel composed of series creator Nigel Lythgoe (his seventeenth consecutive season as judge), Mary Murphy and Laurieann Gibson. However, in June 2020 the show was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season was finally produced in the summer of 2022, now with an entirely different set of judges: freestyle hip-hop dancer Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who had been a Season 4 runner-up and Season 15 judge; entertainer and YouTube celebrity JoJo Siwa; and actor Matthew Morrison. Cat Deeley returned to her role as host for a sixteenth consecutive season.

In May 2022, Morrison was fired from the show, after having sent direct messages on social media to a female contestant that were deemed by producers to be inappropriate. He was replaced by actress Leah Remini, starting with the season's fifth episode.

On August 10, 2022, Alexis Warr was crowned "America's Favorite Dancer", making her the first ballroom dancer to win the show. (While Season 2 winner Benji Schwimmer was also a partner dancer, his specialty, West Coast Swing, is generally not considered a ballroom dance).

This was the final season to feature Stephen "tWitch" Boss, prior to his death in December 2022.

Auditions

Initial auditions, for dancers ages 18 to 30, were due to begin in March 2020 but were postponed amid in the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. Auditions would likely be continued for this season during the delay. Those who were originally submitted in 2020 and could be getting an extended age limit to 32. Production was rescheduled for March 2022 including the start of auditions.

Choreography Round

This season, the Callbacks/Academy Round was renamed the Choreography Round and took place over the course of one day, as opposed to one week like past seasons. The Choreography Round consisted of three rounds led by creative producer/choreographer, Mandy Moore. The first round had the contestants dancing in their own style, the second round focused on partner work and the third round was a group routine. 42 contestants made it to the choreography round and contestants were eliminated after each round until 12 remained to advance to the studio shows.

Contestants

Top 12 Contestants

Female contestants

Contestant	Age	Home Town	Dance Style	Elimination date	Placement
Alexis Warr	21	Orem, Utah	Latin Ballroom	N/A	Winner
Essence Wilmington	20	Davenport, Iowa	Hip Hop	August 3, 2022	Top 3
Ralyn Johnson	18	Walker, Louisiana	Contemporary	July 27, 2022	Top 6
Anna Miller	18	San Ramon, California	Contemporary	July 13, 2022	Top 8
Jordan Betscher	24	Cincinnati, Ohio	Jazz	June 29, 2022	Top 10
Virginia Crouse	21	Hammond, Louisiana	Contemporary	June 22, 2022	Top 12

Male contestants

Contestant	Age	Home Town	Dance Style	Elimination date	Placement
Keaton Kermode	20	Fairland, Indiana	Contemporary	August 10, 2022	Runner-Up
Beau Harmon	23	Kennesaw, Georgia	Musical Theater	July 27, 2022	Top 6
Carter Williams	20	Sandy, Utah	Latin Ballroom	July 27, 2022	Top 6
Waverly Fredericks	20	Washington Heights, New York	Contemporary	July 13, 2022	Top 8
Thiago Pacheco	18	Boston, Massachusetts	Contemporary	June 29, 2022	Top 10
James "Lord Finn" Thomas	26	Chicago, Illinois	Hip Hop	June 22, 2022	Top 12

Elimination chart

Contestants are listed in chronological order of elimination.

Legend

Female

Male

Bottom 3/4 contestants

Eliminated

Result show date:	6/15	6/22	6/29	7/13	7/20	7/27	8/3	8/10
Contestant	Results
Alexis Warr			Btm 4		Btm 3			Winner
Keaton Kermode								Runner-Up
Essence Wilmington	Btm 4						Elim
Beau Harmon				Btm 4	Btm 3	Elim
Carter Williams	Btm 4		Btm 4
Ralyn Johnson				Btm 4	Btm 3
Anna Miller				Elim
Waverly Fredericks		Btm 4
Jordan Betscher		Btm 4	Elim
Thiago Pacheco	Btm 4
James "Lord Finn" Thomas		Elim
Virginia Crouse	Btm 4

Studio shows

Once again, the Bottom 2 vote-getters of each gender will face elimination & the judges vote, with one male & one female leaving each round. However, for the first time this series only the studio audience can vote for which dancer should stay in the competition.

Top 12 Perform Part 1 – The Dancers Dozen (June 15, 2022)

• Group Routine: Top 12: "Bussin" – Nicki Minaj & Lil Baby (Hip Hop; Choreographer: Luther Brown)

In this round, each pair danced a routine in the Main Style of the Male Partner. This is the 300th episode of the show. No elimination took place this week.

Dancers	Style	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Virginia Crouse	Hip Hop	"Drop It Like It's Hot" — Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams	Luther Brown	Bottom 4
James "Lord Finn" Thomas				Safe
Jordan Betscher	Contemporary	"Bob in the Rain and the Lizard of Hope" — Tom Rosenthal	Mandy Korpinen & Elizabeth Petrin	Safe
Waverly Fredericks
Anna Miller	Broadway	"Dancing in the Dark" — Frank Sinatra	Al Blackstone	Safe
Beau Harmon
Essence Wilmington	Contemporary	"No More 'I Love You's'" — Annie Lenox	Tessandra Chavez	Bottom 4
Thiago Pacheco
Ralyn Johnson	Jive	"I'm Still Standing" — Elton John	Alan Bersten	Safe
Carter Williams				Bottom 4
Alexis Warr	Contemporary	"Rome" — Dermot Kennedy	Talia Favia	Safe
Keaton Kermode

Top 12 Perform Part 2 – Girl's Night Out (June 22, 2022)

• Group Routine: Top 12: "Aura" – Lady Gaga (Pop-Jazz; Choreographer: Brian Friedman)

Each pair will now dance the main style of the Female Partner. Two dancers (one girl & one boy) will go home at the end of the show

Dancers	Style	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Ralyn Johnson	Contemporary	"Mindless Town" — Roman Lewis	Teddy Forance	Safe
Carter Williams
Alexis Warr	Cha Cha	"I Like It Like That (Uproot Andy Remix)" — Pete Rodriguez	Pasha Pashkov & Daniella Karagach	Safe
Keaton Kermode
Virginia Crouse	Contemporary	"Eight" — Sleeping At Last	Jaci Royal	Eliminated
James "Lord Finn" Thomas
Jordan Betscher	Jazz	"Can't Buy Me Love" — Michael Bublé	Dominique Kelley	Bottom 4
Waverly Fredericks
Anna Miller	Contemporary	"exile" — Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver	Talia Favia	Safe
Beau Harmon
Essence Wilmington	Hip Hop	"The One" — Mary J. Blige ft. Drake	Mel Charlot	Safe
Thiago Pacheco

Top 10 Perform – Around the World (June 29, 2022)

This week, the Top 10 were assigned new partners & danced styles originating from different countries around the world

Dancers	Style	Country of Origin	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Anna Miller	Salsa	Havana, Cuba	"Don't Go Yet" — Camila Cabello	Jonathan & Oksana Platero	Safe
Carter Williams					Bottom 4
Essence Wilmington	Bollywood	Mumbai, India	"Chikni Chameli" — Agneepath (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	Achinta S. McDaniel	Safe
Waverly Fredericks
Jordan Betscher	Viennese Waltz	Vienna, Austria	"Fall On Me" — Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli	Sasha Farber & Emma Slater	Eliminated
Beau Harmon					Safe
Ralyn Johnson	African Jazz	Nairobi, Kenya	"Into The Light" — District 78 & Sean Cheesman	Sean Cheesman	Safe
Keaton Kermode
Alexis Warr	Broadway	New York City, United States	"City Lights" — Liza Minelli	Al Blackstone	Bottom 4
Thiago Pacheco					Eliminated

Top 8 Perform – Turn Back Time (July 13, 2022)

The dancers were once again given new partners & performed a routine inspired by a previous decade, as well as a solo in their own style

Duets

Dancers	Style	Decade	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Ralyn Johnson	Jazz	1950's	"I Want You To Be My Baby" — Georgia Gibbs	Jonathan Redavid	Bottom 4
Beau Harmon
Essence Wilmington	Disco	1970's	"Boogie Wonderland" — Earth, Wind, & Fire	Doriana Sanchez	Safe
Keaton Kermode
Waverly Fredericks	Pop-Jazz	1980's	"Straight Up" — Paula Abdul	Sean Cheesman	Eliminated
Anna Miller
Alexis Warr	Contemporary	1990's	"I Have Nothing" — Whitney Houston	Robert Roldan	Safe
Carter Williams

Solos

Dancers	Style	Music
Waverly Fredericks	Contemporary	"Throne" — ASADI
Anna Miller		"Me and Bobbie McGee" — Janis Joplin
Carter Williams	Latin Ballroom	"Bailar" — Deorro ft. Elvis Crespo
Alexis Warr		"Sax" — Fleur East
Beau Harmon	Musical Theater	"Big Spender" — Shirley Bassey
Ralyn Johnson	Contemporary	"Nicest Thing" — Kate Nash
Keaton Kermode		"I've Been Loving You Too Long" — Otis Redding
Essence Wilmington	Hip Hop	"Look At Me Now" — Chris Brown ft. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne

Top 6 Perform – Starry Starry Night (July 20, 2022)

• Group Routine: Top 6 & All-Stars: "The Chain" – Fleetwood Mac (Contemporary; Choreographers: Mandy Korpinen & Elizabeth Petrin)

Since the judges could not reach a decision, no contestant was eliminated this week.

Dancers	Style	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Carter Williams Bailey Munoz	Hip Hop	"Alive" — Lil Jon, Offset & 2 Chainz	Gabe de Guzman	Safe
Alexis Warr Amy Yakima	Jazz	"Escalate" — Tsar B	Ellenore Scott	Bottom 3
Keaton Kermode Ezra Sosa	Jive	"King Creole (Viva Mix)" — Elvis Presley	Sasha Farber & Emma Slater	Safe
Essence Wilmington Koine Iwasaki	Contemporary	"Slow Me Down" — Emmy Rossum	Jaci Royal	Safe
Beau Harmon Lex Ishimoto	Contemporary	"Say I'm Sober" — Billy Lockett	Talia Favia	Bottom 3
Ralyn Johnson Comfort Fedoke	Hip Hop	"Blick Blick" — Coi Leray & Nicki Minaj	Luther Brown	Bottom 3

Top 6 Perform Part 2 – Head 2 Head (July 27, 2022)

• Trios:
  • Top 3 Girls: "Woman" – Doja Cat (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Mel Charlot)
  • Top 3 Boys: "Mr. Pinstripe Suit" – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Broadway; Choreographer: Dominique Kelley)
  • Carter, Ralyn, & Beau: "Please Turn Green" – Teddy Swims (Contemporary; Choreographer: Chase Haley Bowden)
  • Alexis, Essence, & Keaton: "Why Don't You Do Right?" – Julie London (Jazz; Choreographer: Jonathan Redavid)

Head to Head Solos

New to the series, each dancer was paired against each other in a head to head dance off. The loser of each pair is eliminated. There were no judge's saves this week.

Round 1

Dancers	Style	Music	Results
Carter Williams	Jive	"Proud Mary" — Tina Turner	Eliminated
Alexis Warr	Cha Cha/Paso Doble	"Do It To It" — Acraze ft. Cherish	Safe

Round 2

Dancers	Style	Music	Results
Essence Wilmington	Hip Hop	"Dior" — Pop Smoke	Safe
Ralyn Johnson	Contemporary	"We Don't Eat" — James Vincent McMorrow	Eliminated

Round 3

Dancers	Style	Music	Results
Beau Harmon	Musical Theater	"That's Life" — Frank Sinatra	Eliminated
Keaton Kermode	Contemporary	"At This Moment" — Billy Vera and the Beaters	Safe

Top 3 Perform – The Final Cut (August 3, 2022)

Each dancer performed a duet with their fellow contestants as well as a duet in their own style with an All Star.

Dancers	Style	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Alexis Warr	Bollywood (w/ Keaton Kermode)	"Jai Jai Siva Sankaraa" — Benny Dayal & Nakash Aziz	Nakul Dev Mahajan	Safe
	Contemporary (w/ Essence Wilmington)	"Hero" — Mariah Carey	Chase Haley Bowden
	Argentine Tango (w/ Kiki Nyemchek)	"Obertura" — Forever Tango	Leonardo Barrionuevo & Miriam Larici
Essence Wilmington	Contemporary (w/ Alexis Warr)	"Hero" — Mariah Carey	Chase Haley Bowden	Eliminated
	Hip Hop (w/ Robert Green)	"Wipe Me Down" — Lil Boosie ft. Foxx & Webbie	Mel Charlot
	Jazz (w/ Keaton Kermode)	"Vibe Check" — District 78 & Leah Levi	Ellenore Scott
Keaton Kermode	Bollywood (w/ Alexis Warr)	"Jai Jai Siva Sankaraa" — Benny Dayal & Nakash Aziz	Nakul Dev Mahajan	Safe
	Contemporary (w/ Audrey Case)	"A Song For You" — Donny Hathaway	Robert Roldan
	Jazz (w/ Essence Wilmington)	"Vibe Check" — District 78 & Leah Levi	Ellenore Scott

The Season 17 Finale (August 10, 2022)

Each of the finalists performed four times: a duet with a fellow Top 12 finalist of their choice, a duet outside of their style with an All Star, a solo and in a duet with each other.

• Group Routine: Top 12 & Judges: "Instruction (feat. Demi Lovato & Stefflon Don)" — Jax Jones (Pop-Jazz; Choreographer: Brian Friedman)

Dancers	Style	Music	Choreographer(s)	Results
Alexis Warr	Samba (w/ Carter Williams)	Samba — Gloria Estefan	Sasha Farber & Emma Slater	Winner
	Contemporary (w/ Jason Glover)	"The End." — November Ultra	Robert Roldan
	Jazz (w/ Keaton Kermode)	"Snake" — Rony Rex feat. Nani Castle	Brian Friedman
Keaton Kermode	Contemporary (w/ Anna Miller)	"Stayaway (Recorded at Electric Lady Studios NYC)" — MUNA	Talia Favia	Runner-Up
	Hip Hop (w/ Lex Ishimoto)	"Going Bad" — Meek Mill feat. Drake	Nika Kljun
	Jazz (w/ Alexis Warr)	"Snake" — Rony Rex feat. Nani Castle	Brian Friedman

Solos

Dancers	Style	Music	Results
Alexis Warr	Samba	"Machika" — J Balvin, Jeon & Anitta	Winner
Keaton Kermode	Contemporary	"Love On The Brain" — Noah Guthrie	Runner-Up

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Show	Episode	First Air Date	Rating (18–49)	Share (18–49)	Viewers (millions)	Rank (timeslot)	Rank (night)
1	Dance is Back! Auditions Show 1	May 18, 2022 (2022-05-18)	0.3	3	2.07	3	8
2	Auditions Show 2	May 25, 2022 (2022-05-25)	0.3	2	1.26	3 (tied)	8 (tied)
3	Auditions Show 3	June 1, 2022 (2022-06-01)	0.3	3	1.60	4	9 (tied)
4	The Big Cut – Choreography Round	June 8, 2022 (2022-06-08)	0.3	2	1.40	3	12 (tied)
5	The Dancers Dozen	June 15, 2022 (2022-06-15)	0.3	3	1.74	2	9 (tied)
6	Girls Night Out	June 22, 2022 (2022-06-22)	0.3	3	1.54	4	12
7	Around the World	June 29, 2022 (2022-06-29)	0.3	3	1.51	4	12
8	Turn Back Time	July 13, 2022 (2022-07-13)	0.3	3	1.55	3	6
9	Starry Starry Night	July 20, 2022 (2022-07-20)	0.3	3	1.40	4 (tied)	9 (tied)
10	Head 2 Head	July 27, 2022 (2022-07-27)	0.3	3	1.54	3	7
11	The Final Cut	August 3, 2022 (2022-08-03)	0.2	2	1.49	4	13
12	The Season 17 Finale	August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)	0.3	3	1.46	3	10

External links

• Official website