# So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 5

So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season five premiered on May 21, 2009, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host. Jeanine Mason was crowned America's Favorite Dancer on August 6, 2009, making her the second female to win the show. For the first time, the show moved to a new stage, but it turned out to be the last season at CBS Studios.

## Auditions

Open auditions for this season were held in the following locations:
| Audition Venue | City | Date | Guest Judge(s) |
| Mark Morris Dance Center | Brooklyn, New York | November 13, 2008 | Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo |
| Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts | Miami, Florida | February 3, 2009 | Tyce Diorio |
| Orpheum Theatre | Los Angeles, California | February 12, 2009 | Adam Shankman |
| Paramount Theatre | Denver, Colorado | March 12, 2009 | Sonya Tayeh |
| The Cadre Building | Memphis, Tennessee | March 16, 2009 | Lil' C |
| The Moore Theatre | Seattle, Washington | March 28, 2009 | Mia Michaels |

### Las Vegas week

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels, Lil' C, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen.
The Las Vegas callbacks were held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 172 contestants were invited to participate in the callback auditions. This number was cut to 32 contestants (each gender: 16 female and 16 male), before the announcement of the season's top 20 contestants. Las Vegas week included the following rounds, with cuts made after each:
| Contestant(s) | Thing/style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| All (individual) | Solo | Individual songs chosen by contestant | The contestant |
| All | Hip-hop | "Boom Boom Pow"—The Black Eyed Peas | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo |
| All | Waltz | "May It Be"—Enya | Jean-Marc Généreux France Mousseau |
| All | Jazz | "Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)"—The Ting Tings | Sonya Tayeh |
| All (in groups) | Group choreography | Individual songs picked by the group | The group |
| All | Contemporary | "Belief (Stripped Version)"—Gavin DeGraw | Mia Michaels |
| Female contestants | Broadway | "America" from West Side Story | Tyce Diorio |
| Male contestants | Broadway | "Cool" from West Side Story | Tyce Diorio |
| All (individual) | Solo | Individual songs chosen by contestant | The contestant |

## Top 20 Contestants
### Female Contestants

| Contestant | Age | Home Town | Dance Style | Elimination date | Placement |
| Jeanine Mason | 18 | Miami, Florida | Contemporary/Jazz | August 6, 2009 | Winner |
| Kayla Radomski | 18 | Aurora, Colorado | Contemporary | August 6, 2009 | 4th Place |
| Melissa Sandvig | 29 | Los Angeles, California | Ballet | July 30, 2009 | Top 6 |
| Janette Manrara | 25 | Miami, Florida | Salsa | July 23, 2009 | Top 8 |
| Randi Evans | 23 | Orem, Utah | Jazz | July 16, 2009 | Top 10 |
| Caitlin Kinney | 21 | Annapolis, Maryland | Contemporary | July 9, 2009 | Top 12 |
| Karla Garcia | 23 | Brooklyn, New York | Contemporary | July 2, 2009 | Top 14 |
| Asuka Kondoh | 25 | San Francisco, California | Latin Ballroom | June 25, 2009 | Top 16 |
| Ashley Valerio | 22 | Mesa, Arizona | Contemporary | June 18, 2009 | Top 18 |
| Paris Torres | 19 | Issaquah, Washington | Contemporary | June 11, 2009 | Top 20 |

### Male Contestants

| Contestant | Age | Home Town | Dance Style | Elimination date | Placement |
| Brandon Bryant | 20 | Miami, Florida | Contemporary | August 6, 2009 | Runner Up |
| Evan Kasprzak | 21 | Benzonia, Michigan | Broadway | August 6, 2009 | 3rd Place |
| Ade Obayomi | 20 | Peoria, Arizona | Contemporary | July 30, 2009 | Top 6 |
| Jason Glover | 21 | Fresno, California | Contemporary | July 23, 2009 | Top 8 |
| Kupono Aweau | 23 | Kailua, Hawaii | Lyrical Jazz | July 16, 2009 | Top 10 |
| Phillip Chbeeb | 20 | Houston, Texas | Popping | July 9, 2009 | Top 12 |
| Vitolio Jeune | 26 | Miami, Florida (originally from Haiti) | Contemporary | July 2, 2009 | Top 14 |
| Jonathan Platero | 21 | Tampa, Florida | Salsa | June 25, 2009 | Top 16 |
| Maksim Kapitannikov | 26 | Brooklyn, New York | Latin Ballroom | June 18, 2009 | Top 18 |
| Tony Bellissimo | 20 | Buffalo, New York | Hip Hop | June 11, 2009 | Top 20 |

### Elimination chart

Contestants are listed in reverse chronological order of elimination. The song for the eliminated female contestants was "Already Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. The song for the eliminated male contestants was "On Your Own" by Green River Ordinance.
| Week: | 6/11 | 6/18 | 6/25 | 7/2 | 7/9 | 7/16 | 7/23 | 7/30 | 8/6 |
| Contestant | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result |
| Jeanine Mason | | | | Btm 3 | Btm 3 | | | | Winner |
| Brandon Bryant | | | | | | | Btm 4 | | Runner-Up |
| Evan Kasprzak | | | | | | | | | 3rd place |
| Kayla Radomski | | Btm 3 | | Btm 3 | | | Btm 4 | | 4th place |
| Ade Obayomi | | | | | Btm 3 | Btm 4 | | Elim | |
| Melissa Sandvig | | | | | Btm 3 | Btm 4 | | Elim | |
| Jason Glover | | Btm 3 | Btm 3 | | Btm 3 | | Elim | | |
| Janette Manrara | | | | | | | Elim | | |
| Kūpono Aweau | | Btm 3 | | Btm 3 | | Elim | | | |
| Randi Evans | | | | | | Elim | | | |
| Philip Chbeeb | | | | Btm 3 | Elim | | | | |
| Caitlin Kinney | | Btm 3 | Btm 3 | | Elim | | | | |
| Vitolio Jeune | Btm 3 | | Btm 3 | Elim | | | | | |
| Karla Garcia | Btm 3 | | Btm 3 | Elim | | | | | |
| Jonathan Platero | Btm 3 | | Elim | | | | | | |
| Asuka Kondoh | Btm 3 | | Elim | | | | | | |
| Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov | | Elim | | | | | | | |
| Ashley Valerio | | Elim | | | | | | | |
| Tony Bellissimo | Elim | | | | | | | | |
| Paris Torres | Elim | | | | | | | | |

### Performances
#### Week 1 (June 10, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Lyrical hip-hop | "Mad"—Ne-Yo | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Safe |
| Asuka Kondoh Vitolio Jeune | Broadway | "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago | Tyce Diorio | Bottom 3 |
| Karla Garcia Jonathan Platero | Cha-cha | "Poker Face"—Lady Gaga | Tony Meredith | Bottom 3 |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Jazz | "I Only Have Eyes for You"—Jamie Cullum | Tyce Diorio | Safe |
| Paris Torres Tony Bellissimo | Hip-hop | "Let the Beat Rock" (Boyz Noize Megamix)—The Black Eyed Peas | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Both eliminated |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Bollywood | "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire | Nakul Dev Mahajan | Safe |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Foxtrot | "Come Fly with Me"—Michael Bublé | Louis van Amstel | Safe |
| Ashley Valerio Kūpono Aweau | Jazz | "Felt Mountain"—Goldfrapp | Wade Robson | Safe |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Contemporary | "Right Here Waiting"—Richard Marx | Mandy Moore | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov | Samba | "Jum Bah Day"—House of Gypsies | Louis van Amstel | Safe |

#### Week 2 (June 17, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Lil' C
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Jive | "Shake A Tail Feather"—Ray Charles | Louis van Amstel | Safe |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Jazz | "24 Hours" (The Aston Shuffle A-Bomb Remix)—Terry Poison | Sonya Tayeh | Safe |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Hip-hop | "Missin' You"—Trey Songz | Shane Sparks | Bottom 3 |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Disco | "Loving Is Really My Game"—Brainstorm | Doriana Sanchez | Safe |
| Asuka Kondoh Vitolio Jeune | Waltz | "Dreams Are More Precious"—Enya | Louis van Amstel | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov | Pop-Jazz | "Hot Like Wow"—Nadia Oh | Brian Friedman | Kapitannikov Eliminated |
| Karla Garcia Jonathan Platero | Contemporary | "Falling Slowly"—The Frames | Stacey Tookey | Safe |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Tango | "Violento (Up Mix)"—Bailongo! | Tony Meredith | Safe |
| Ashley Valerio Kūpono Aweau | Hip-hop | "Imma Be"—The Black Eyed Peas | Shane Sparks | Valerio Eliminated |

#### Week 3 (June 24, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Toni Basil
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Karla Garcia Jonathan Platero | Hip-hop | "By My Side"—Jadakiss featuring Ne-Yo | Dave Scott | Platero Eliminated |
| Asuka Kondoh Vitolio Jeune | Jazz | "Heartbreaker"—Pat Benatar | Mandy Moore | Kondoh Eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Rumba | "Emotion"—Destiny's Child | Tony Meredith | Safe |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Hip-hop | "What a World"—Common | Dave Scott | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Kūpono Aweau | Viennese Waltz | "Sweet Dreams for You"—Jewel | Jean-Marc Généreux France Mousseau | Safe |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Contemporary | "Koop Island Blues"—Koop featuring Ane Brun | Mia Michaels | Safe |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Paso Doble | "O Fortuna"—Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg & Kurt Pretsel | Jean-Marc Généreux France Mousseau | Bottom 3 |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Broadway | "Moses Supposes" from Singin' in the Rain | Tyce Diorio | Safe |

#### Week 4 (July 1, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Cha-cha | "Hush Hush; Hush Hush"—The Pussycat Dolls | Jean-Marc Généreux France Mousseau | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Kūpono Aweau | Contemporary | "Eyes On Fire"—Blue Foundation | Sonya Tayeh | Bottom 3 |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Broadway | "Rich Man's Frug" from Sweet Charity | Joey Dowling | Safe |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Pop-Jazz | "Creator"—Santigold | Brian Friedman | Safe |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Hip-hop | "Love Lockdown"—Kanye West | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Bottom 3 |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Classical Pas de deux | "Romeo and Juliet: Prokofiev's Suite (No.1 Op 64b, 6th Movement)" —Orchestre De La Suisse Romande & Armin Jordan | Thordal Christensen | Safe |
| Karla Garcia Vitolio Jeune | Quickstep | "Puttin' on the Ritz"—Rufus Wainwright | Jean-Marc Généreux France Mousseau | Both eliminated |

#### Week 5 (July 8, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Tyce Diorio
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Disco | "Move On Up"—Destination | Doriana Sanchez | Bottom 3 |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Waltz | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"—Mary J. Blige | Ron Montez | Bottom 3 |
| Kayla Radomski Kūpono Aweau | Contemporary | "Gravity"—Sara Bareilles | Mia Michaels | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Kūpono Aweau | Broadway | "The Dance At the Gym" from West Side Story | Joey Dowling | Safe |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Foxtrot | "Minnie the Moocher"—Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin | Kinney eliminated |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Lyrical Jazz | "Show Me Heaven"—Maria McKee | Mandy Moore | Kinney eliminated |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Kalinka | "Kalinka"—Barynya | Youri Nelzine Lilia Babenko | Chbeeb eliminated |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Jive | "Stuff Like That There"—Bette Midler | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin | Chbeeb eliminated |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Lyrical hip-hop | "Halo"—Beyoncé Knowles | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Safe |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Samba | "Ritmo De Bom Bom"—Jubaba | Anya Garnis Pasha Kovalev (Season 3) | Safe |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Argentine Tango | "Libertango" from Forever Tango | Miriam Larici Leonardo Barrionuevo | Safe |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Jazz | "Ruby Blue"—Róisín Murphy | Wade Robson | Safe |

#### Week 6 (July 15, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Debbie Allen
* Group dances:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| Top 5 female contestants | Bollywood | "Dholna" from Pyaar Ke Geet | Nakul Dev Mahajan |
| Top 5 male contestants | African Jazz | "Balant Funk"—Ayanda Clark and Shawn Kelly | Jeffrey Paige |
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Kayla Radomski Evan Kasprzak | Viennese Waltz | "Kiss from a Rose"—Seal | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin | Safe |
| Janette Manrara Ade Obayomi | Hip hop | "Love Sex Magic"—Ciara featuring Justin Timberlake | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Obayomi in bottom 4 |
| Jeanine Mason Jason Glover | Contemporary | "If It Kills Me" (The Casa Nova Sessions)—Jason Mraz | Travis Wall (Season 2) | Safe |
| Randi Evans Kūpono Aweau | Paso Doble | "Dies Irae"—Karl Jenkins | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin | Both eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig Brandon Bryant | Broadway | "Aquarius" from Hair | Tyce Diorio | Sandvig in bottom 4 |
* Top 10 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Brandon Bryant | Contemporary | "In Your Eyes"—Jeffrey Gaines | Safe |
| Randi Evans | Contemporary | "Dream"—Priscilla Ahn | Eliminated |
| Kupono Aweau | Jazz | "Marina Gasolina"—Bonde do Rolê | Eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig | Ballet | "Gabriel"—Lamb | Bottom 4 |
| Evan Kasprzak | Broadway | "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart"—Rufus Wainright | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "Rock Your Soul"—Elisa | Safe |
| Ade Obayomi | Contemporary | "Unchained Melody"—The Righteous Brothers | Bottom 4 |
| Jeanine Mason | Jazz | "Violento (Up Mix)"—Bailongo! | Safe |
| Jason Glover | Broadway | "Train Fare Home"—Muddy Waters | Safe |
| Janette Manrara | Salsa | "This is Miami"—Sander Kleinenberg | Safe |

#### Week 7 (July 22, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Ellen DeGeneres, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels
* Group dance: Top 8: "Let It Rock"—Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne (Pop-Jazz; Choreographer: Travis Wall)
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Janette Manrara Evan Kasprzak | Jazz | "Move" (Metronomy Remix)—CSS | Sonya Tayeh | Manrara eliminated |
| Janette Manrara Evan Kasprzak | Rumba | "Heartless"—Kris Allen | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin | Manrara eliminated |
| Jeanine Mason Brandon Bryant | Smooth Waltz | "May It Be"—Hayley Westenra | Hunter Johnson | Bryant in Bottom 4 |
| Jeanine Mason Brandon Bryant | Pop-Jazz | "Battlefield"—Jordin Sparks | Laurie Ann Gibson | Bryant in Bottom 4 |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Cha-cha | "Yeah (Como Goza Mi Morena)"—Chino Espinoza y Los Dueños Del Son | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin | Safe |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Contemporary | "This Woman's Work"—Maxwell | Tyce Diorio | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Jason Glover | Broadway | "Mr. Monotony"—Kim Criswell | Tyce Diorio | Glover eliminated Radomski in bottom 4 |
| Kayla Radomski Jason Glover | Hip-hop | "They're Everywhere"—Izza Kizza | Shane Sparks | Glover eliminated Radomski in bottom 4 |
* Top 8 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "The Moment I Said It"—Imogen Heap | Bottom 4 |
| Jason Glover | Contemporary | "...Slowdance on the Inside"—Taking Back Sunday | Eliminated |
| Janette Manrara | Rumba | "Seduces Me"—Celine Dion | Eliminated |
| Ade Obayomi | Jazz | "Hater"—Various | Safe |
| Melissa Sandvig | Ballet | "Heads Will Roll"—Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Safe |
| Evan Kasprzak | Broadway | "Old Devil Moon"—Jamie Cullum | Safe |
| Jeanine Mason | Contemporary | "Let the Drummer Kick"—Citizen Cope | Safe |
| Brandon Bryant | Jazz | "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"—Robert Randolph and the Family Band | Bottom 4 |

#### Week 8 (July 29, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Lil' C
* Group dances:
| Contestants | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| Top 3 male contestants | Jazz | "True Romance"—She Wants Revenge | Sonya Tayeh |
| Top 3 female contestants | Jazz | "Kick It (Stereoheroes Remix)"—Nina Martine | Sonya Tayeh |
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Jeanine Mason Ade Obayomi | Samba | "LoveGame"—Lady Gaga | Louis van Amstel | Obayomi eliminated |
| Jeanine Mason Ade Obayomi | Hip-hop | "Move (If You Wanna)"—Mims | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Obayomi eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig Evan Kasprzak | Broadway | "Get Me to the Church on Time"—Matt Dusk | Tyce Diorio | Sandvig eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig Evan Kasprzak | Quickstep | "As Long As I'm Singin'"—Brian Setzer Orchestra | Louis van Amstel | Sandvig eliminated |
| Kayla Radomski Brandon Bryant | Contemporary | "All I Want"—Ahn Trio | Stacey Tookey | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski Brandon Bryant | Disco | "Dance (Disco Heat)"—Sylvester | Doriana Sanchez | Safe |
Top 6 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "You Found Me"—The Fray | Safe |
| Ade Obayomi | Contemporary | "18th Floor Balcony"—Blue October | Eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig | Ballet | "I Put A Spell On You"—Nina Simone | Eliminated |
| Brandon Bryant | Modern | "O Fortuna"—Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg & Kurt Pretsel | Safe |
| Jeanine Mason | Jazz | "Feedback"—Janet Jackson | Safe |
| Evan Kasprzak | Broadway | "The Lady Is a Tramp"—Sammy Davis Jr. | Safe |

#### Week 9 (August 5, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman
* Group dance: Top 4: "Boys Boys Boys"—Lady Gaga (Pop-Jazz; Choreographer: Wade Robson)
* Duo dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| Jeanine Mason Evan Kasprzak | Jazz | "Heartbreaker"—MSTRKRFT featuring John Legend | Sonya Tayeh |
| Kayla Radomski Brandon Bryant | Broadway | "Bye Bye Love" from All That Jazz | Tyce Diorio |
| Brandon Bryant Evan Kasprzak | Pop-Jazz | "Nasty"—Janet Jackson | Laurie Ann Gibson |
| Jeanine Mason Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "The Four Sections: IV (Full Orchestra)"—Steve Reich | Mia Michaels |
| Kayla Radomski Evan Kasprzak | Jive | "T.R.O.U.B.L.E."—Travis Tritt | Tony Meredith Melanie LaPatin |
| Jeanine Mason Brandon Bryant | Paso Doble | "Tetsujin" from The Matrix Revolutions | Louis van Amstel |
Top 4 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music |
| Brandon Bryant | Contemporary | "Dies Irae"—Karl Jenkins |
| Jeanine Mason | Jazz | "Por una Cabeza"—The Tango Project |
| Evan Kasprzak | Broadway | "The Best Is Yet to Come"—Michael Bublé |
| Kayla Radomski | Jazz | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"—Eurythmics |

### Results shows
#### Week 1 (June 11, 2009)

* Group dance: Top 20: "Boom Boom Pow"—The Black Eyed Peas (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Shane Sparks)
* Musical guest: "Fire Burning"—Sean Kingston
* Guest dancers: Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo: "Tangueira" from Forever Tango (Argentine Tango)
* Solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Paris Torres | Contemporary | "It Doesn't Hurt"—Katie Thompson | Eliminated |
| Tony Bellissimo | Locking | "Early in the Morning"—The Gap Band | Eliminated |
| Asuka Kondoh | Jive | "Did Ya"—BoA | Safe |
| Vitolio Jeune | Contemporary | "We Belong Together"—Gavin DeGraw | Safe |
| Karla Garcia | Contemporary | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"—Aretha Franklin | Safe |
| Jonathan Platero | Salsa | "Krazy"—Pitbull featuring Lil Jon | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Paris Torres
** Tony Bellissimo
* New Pairs:
** None

#### Week 2 (June 18, 2009)

* Group dance: Top 18: "Higher Ground"—Stevie Wonder (Contemporary; Choreographer: Mia Michaels)
* Musical guest: "Goodbye"—Kristinia DeBarge
* Guest dancer: Amrapali Ambegaokar: "Ganesh Toda Tankar"—Guru Sundarlal Gangani & Smt. Anjani Ambegoakar (Kathak)
* Solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Caitlin Kinney | Contemporary | "Make You Feel My Love"—Adele | Safe |
| Jason Glover | Contemporary | "Superman"—Robin Thicke | Safe |
| Ashley Valerio | Jazz | "By Your Side"—Coco Rosie | Eliminated |
| Kūpono Aweau | Jazz | "Many Moons"—Janelle Monáe | Safe |
| Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "Walking on Air"—Kerli | Safe |
| Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov | Jive | "Footloose"—Kenny Loggins | Eliminated |
* Eliminated:
** Ashley Valerio
** Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov
* New Pairs:
** Kayla Radomski and Kūpono Aweau

#### Week 3 (June 25, 2009)

* Group dance: Top 16: "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"—Pitbull (Hip-hop/Samba; Choreographers: Dmitry Chaplin, Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo)
* Musical guest: "Take Me on the Floor"—The Veronicas
* Guest dancers: The Rage Boyz Crew: "Feel It"—Colby O'Donis & Mauli-b (Hip-Hop; Choreographer: Tiffany Burton)
* Solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Asuka Kondoh | Cha-cha | "Don't Trust Me"—3OH!3 | Eliminated |
| Vitolio Jeune | Contemporary | "Viva La Vida"—Coldplay | Safe |
| Karla Garcia | Jazz | "15 Step"—Radiohead | Safe |
| Jonathan Platero | Salsa | "The Hunted"—Kodo | Eliminated |
| Caitlin Kinney | Contemporary | "Que Sera Sera"—Jennifer Terran | Safe |
| Jason Glover | Contemporary | "New American Classic"—Taking Back Sunday | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Asuka Kondoh
** Jonathan Platero
* New Pairs:
** Karla Garcia and Vitolio Jeune

#### Week 4 (July 2, 2009)

* Group dance: Top 14: "A Brand New Day" from The Wiz (Broadway; Choreographer: Tyce Diorio)
* Musical guest: "I Do Not Hook Up"—Kelly Clarkson
* Guest dancers: Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey: "Caprice in E Minor, Op. 1 No 3"—Midori (Contemporary Ballet; Choreographers: Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson)
* Solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Karla Garcia | Contemporary | "Blackbird"—Dionne Farris | Eliminated |
| Vitolio Jeune | Contemporary | "Here Comes Goodbye"—Rascal Flatts | Eliminated |
| Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "Stupid"—Sarah McLachlan | Safe |
| Kūpono Aweau | Jazz | "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"—Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | Safe |
| Jeanine Mason | Contemporary | "Moonlight Sonata"—Smart Sleep With Classical | Safe |
| Phillip Chbeeb | Popping | "You'll Find A Way (Switch & Greame Sinden Remix)"—Santigold | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Karla Garcia
** Vitolio Jeune
* New Pairs:
** None

#### Week 5 (July 9, 2009)

* Group dance: Top 12: "Seven Nation Army"—The White Stripes (Hip-hop; Choreographers: Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo)
* Musical guests: "When Love Takes Over"—David Guetta and Kelly Rowland
* Solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Caitlin Kinney | Contemporary | "Stand By Me"—Playing for Change | Eliminated |
| Jason Glover | Contemporary | "Calm Touching"—Evaline | Safe |
| Jeanine Mason | Contemporary | "Baby's Romance"—Chris Garneau | Safe |
| Phillip Chbeeb | Popping | "The Diva Dance" from The Fifth Element—Sarah Brightman | Eliminated |
| Melissa Sandvig | Ballet | "Kashira"—Kodo | Safe |
| Ade Obayomi | Jazz | "Windowdipper"—Jib Kidder | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Caitlin Kinney
** Phillip Chbeeb
* New Pairs:
   * None. Now that only ten contestants remaining, new pairs are randomly assigned each week. They'll also be voted individually.

#### Week 6 (July 16, 2009)

Judges: only Debbie Allen and Mary Murphy
* Note: This season contestants are performing the same solos at the results shows as in the performance show
* Group dance: Top 10: "So Much Betta"—Janet Jackson (Jazz; Choreographers: Wade and Amanda Robson)
* Musical guest: "I Gotta Feeling"—The Black Eyed Peas
* Bottom 4:
** Kūpono Aweau
** Randi Evans
** Ade Obayomi
** Melissa Sandvig
* Eliminated:
   * Randi Evans
   * Kūpono Aweau

#### Week 7 (July 23, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels
* Note: This was the 100th episode of SYTYCD
* Group dance: Top 8: "One" from A Chorus Line (Contemporary; Choreographer: Mia Michaels)
* Musical guest: "Get Happy"—Katie Holmes
** The performance was not performed on stage but pre-taped for promoting Dizzy Feet Foundation.
* Guest dancers:
   * The three winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography were reenacted by their respective original dancers:
| Year won | Former contestants | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| 2008 | Jaimie Goodwin Hokuto Konishi | Jazz | "The Chairman's Waltz" from Memoirs of a Geisha | Wade Robson |
| 2007 | Heidi Groskreutz Travis Wall | Contemporary | "Calling You"—Celine Dion | Mia Michaels |
| 2007 | Top 10 Wade Robson | Pop-Jazz group dance | "Ramalama (Bang Bang)"—Róisín Murphy | Wade Robson |
* Bottom 4:
** Brandon Bryant
** Jason Glover
** Janette Manrara
** Kayla Radomski
* Eliminated:
   * Janette Manrara
   * Jason Glover
^1 Natalie Fotopoulos and Ryan Rankine were absent, however, the season two top ten contestants were joined by their choreographers, Wade Robson.

#### Week 8 (July 30, 2009)

* Group dance: Top 6: "Send in the Clowns"—Judy Collins (Broadway; Choreographer: Tyce Diorio)
* Musical guest: "So Fine"—Sean Paul
* Guest dancers:
   * JabbaWockeeZ: "Freak-A-Zoid"—Midnight Star (Hip-Hop)
   * The four nominees for the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography were reenacted by their respective original dancers:
| Season 4 contestants | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Jessica King William Wingfield | Contemporary | "Silence" from Unfaithful | Tyce Diorio | Won |
| Katee Shean Stephen "Twitch" Boss | Contemporary | "Mercy"—Duffy | Mia Michaels | Nominated |
| Chelsie Hightower Joshua Allen | Argentine Tango | "A Los Amigos" from Forever Tango | Dmitry Chaplin | Nominated |
| Chelsie Hightower Mark Kanemura | Lyrical hip-hop | "Bleeding Love"—Leona Lewis | Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo | Nominated |
* Contestants that performed a solo again for the top 4 votes:
** Evan Kasprzak
** Ade Obayomi
** Kayla Radomski
** Melissa Sandvig
* Eliminated:
   * Melissa Sandvig
   * Ade Obayomi

#### Week 9 (Finale) (August 6, 2009)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Tyce Diorio, Lil' C, Mia Michaels
* Group dances:
| Contestants | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| Top 20 | Broadway | "Brand New Day" from The Wiz | Tyce Diorio |
| Top 20 | Hip-Hop/Samba | "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"—Pitbull | Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Dmitry Chaplin |
| Top 8 All judges this episode except Lil' C | Contemporary | "One" from A Chorus Line | Mia Michaels |
* Guest dancers:
| Dancer(s) | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| Talia Fowler | Jazz | "Shot You Down"—Audio Bullys | Sonya Tayeh |
| The Rage Boyz Crew | Hip-Hop | "Feel It"—Colby O'Donis & Mauli-b | Tiffany Burton |
^1 The routine was originally performed by the top 14 contestants ^2 The routine was originally performed by the top 16 contestants. ^3 Talia Fowler is the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Australia's second season, and this performance comprised a portion of his prize package.

##### Judges' picks

| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Chosen by |
| Jeanine Mason Phillip Chbeeb | Lyrical hip-hop | "Mad"—Ne-Yo | Tabitha D'umo Napoleon D'umo | Adam Shankman |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Argentine tango | "Libertango" from Forever Tango | Miriam Larici Leonardo Barrionuevo | Nigel Lythgoe |
| Asuka Kondoh Vitolio Jeune | Waltz | "Dreams Are More Precious"—Enya | Louis van Amstel | Debbie Allen |
| Jeanine Mason Jason Glover | Contemporary | "If It Kills Me" (The Casa Nova Sessions)—Jason Mraz | Travis Wall | Mary Murphy |
| Kayla Radomski Maksim "Max" Kapitannikov | Samba | "Jum Buh Day"—House of Gypsies | Louis van Amstel | Mia Michaels |
| Caitlin Kinney Jason Glover | Bollywood | "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire | Nakul Dev Mahajan | Lil' C |
| Randi Evans Evan Kasprzak | Contemporary | "Koop Island Blues"—Koop featuring Ane Brun | Mia Michaels | Adam Shankman |
| Jeanine Mason Brandon Bryant | Paso Doble | "Tetsujin" from The Matrix Revolutions | Louis van Amstel | Mary Murphy |
| Kayla Radomski Küpono Aweau | Contemporary | "Gravity"—Sara Bareilles | Mia Michaels | Nigel Lythgoe |
| Janette Manrara Brandon Bryant | Disco | "Loving Is Really My Game"—Brainstorm | Doriana Sanchez | Tyce Diorio |
| Melissa Sandvig Ade Obayomi | Contemporary | "This Woman's Work"—Maxwell | Tyce Diorio | Mia Michaels |
* 4th Place
   * Kayla Radomski
* 3rd Place
   * Evan Kasprzak
* Runner-Up:
   * Brandon Bryant
* Winner
   * Jeanine Mason

## Controversy

On May 21, 2009, SYTYCD aired two males performing ballroom dance together for the first time, with dancers Misha and Mitchel performing a Samba. The dance couple's introduction on the show, and the judges' subsequent comments, have been criticized as homophobic. The two men were introduced with The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" played in the background. After the couple performed, judge Nigel Lythgoe said, "I think you'd probably alienate a lot of our audience. We've always had the guys dance together on the show but they've never really done it in each other's arms before. I'm really one of those people that like to see guys be guys and girls be girls on stage. I don't think I liked it, to be frank." He later went on to say that he'd like each man to dance with women and that: "You never know, you might enjoy that, too." The segment closed, and the song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" is played in the background, which contains the lyrics: "This is a man's world, but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl." Cat Deeley went on to say that the pair were "out."
Lythgoe issued a formal apology letter later that week, stating that he regretted "poor word choices" and that he realized how his comments could be "misconstrued." He went on to say that he "believe[s] the sexual orientation of an auditioner or contestant is irrelevant... the fact that I have unintentionally upset people is distressing to me... I have made mistakes that I must learn from."

## Tour

So You Think You Can Dance went on tour through 40 cities across the US and 1 city in Canada, Toronto. Nigel had also announced that Caitlin Kinney and Phillip Chbeeb would also be going on the tour as swing contestants since they made it to the top 12 before being cut.

## Ratings
### U.S. Nielsen ratings

| Show | Episode | First Air Date | Rating (18–49) | Share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | Rank (timeslot) | Rank (night) |
| 1 | Season Premiere, Part 1 | May 21, 2009 | 5.3 | 9 | 8.8 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Season Premiere, Part 2 | May 27, 2009 | 5.3 | 9 | 8.7 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Episode 505/506 | May 28, 2009 | 5.5 | 9 | 9.2 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Vegas Callbacks #1 | June 3, 2009 | 5.4 | 9 | 8.9 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Vegas Callbacks #2 (Top 20 Chosen) | June 4, 2009 | 5.1 | 9 | 8.2 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | Top 20 Perform | June 10, 2009 | 5.3 | 9 | 8.7 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 of 20 Voted Off | June 11, 2009 | 5.3 | 9 | 8.6 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Top 18 Perform | June 17, 2009 | 5.3 | 9 | 8.5 | 1 | 1 (tied) |
| 9 | 2 of 18 Voted Off | June 18, 2009 | 4.9 | 9 | 8.0 | 2 | 4 |
| 10 | Top 16 Perform | June 24, 2009 | 4.7 | 8 | 7.6 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | 2 of 16 Voted Off | June 25, 2009 | 4.2 | 7 | 6.9 | 2 | 5 |
| 12 | Top 14 Perform | July 1, 2009 | 4.6 | 8 | 7.7 | 1 | 4 |
| 13 | 2 of 14 Voted Off | July 2, 2009 | 4.4 | 8 | 7.2 | 2 | 3 |
| 14 | Top 12 Perform | July 8, 2009 | 4.7 | 8 | 7.6 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | 2 of 12 Voted Off | July 9, 2009 | 4.9 | 8 | 7.9 | 2 | 3 |
| 16 | Top 10 Perform | July 15, 2009 | 4.4 | 8 | 7.0 | 1 | 4 |
| 17 | 2 of 10 Voted Off | July 16, 2009 | 4.6 | 8 | 7.2 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Top 8 Perform | July 22, 2009 | N/A | N/A | 7.4 | N/A | N/A |
| 19 | 2 of 8 Voted Off | July 23, 2009 | 5.1 | 9 | 8.4 | 1 | 2 |
| 20 | Top 6 Perform | July 29, 2009 | 4.7 | 8 | N/A | 1 | 2 |
| 21 | 2 of 6 Voted Off | July 30, 2009 | 4.7 | 8 | N/A | 2 | 3 |
| 22 | Top 4 Perform | August 5, 2009 | 4.8 | 9 | 7.8 | 1 | 3 |
| 23 | Winner Announced | August 6, 2009 | 5.7 | 10 | 9.6 | 1 | 1 |