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

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.
| Result show date: | 6/15 | 6/22 | 6/29 | 7/13 | 7/20 | 7/27 | 8/3 | 8/10 |
| Contestant | Results | Results | Results | Results | Results | Results | Results | 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 | | | Elim | | |
| Ralyn Johnson | | | | Btm 4 | Btm 3 | Elim | | |
| Anna Miller | | | | Elim | | | | |
| Waverly Fredericks | | Btm 4 | | Elim | | | | |
| Jordan Betscher | | Btm 4 | Elim | | | | | |
| Thiago Pacheco | Btm 4 | | Elim | | | | | |
| James "Lord Finn" Thomas | | Elim | | | | | | |
| Virginia Crouse | Btm 4 | Elim | | | | | | |

## 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 Male 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 Pair. This is the 300th episode of the show. No elimination took place this week.
| Couple | 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 | Hip Hop | "Drop It Like It's Hot" — Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams | Luther Brown | Safe |
| Jordan Betscher | Contemporary | "Bob in the Rain and the Lizard of Hope" — Tom Rosenthal | Mandy Korpinen & Elizabeth Petrin | Safe |
| Waverly Fredericks | Contemporary | "Bob in the Rain and the Lizard of Hope" — Tom Rosenthal | Mandy Korpinen & Elizabeth Petrin | Safe |
| Anna Miller | Broadway | "Dancing in the Dark" — Frank Sinatra | Al Blackstone | Safe |
| Beau Harmon | Broadway | "Dancing in the Dark" — Frank Sinatra | Al Blackstone | Safe |
| Essence Wilmington | Contemporary | "No More 'I Love You's'" — Annie Lennox | Tessandra Chavez | Bottom 4 |
| Thiago Pacheco | Contemporary | "No More 'I Love You's'" — Annie Lennox | Tessandra Chavez | Bottom 4 |
| Ralyn Johnson | Jive | "I'm Still Standing" — Elton John | Alan Bersten | Safe |
| Carter Williams | Jive | "I'm Still Standing" — Elton John | Alan Bersten | Bottom 4 |
| Alexis Warr | Contemporary | "Rome" — Dermot Kennedy | Talia Favia | Safe |
| Keaton Kermode | Contemporary | "Rome" — Dermot Kennedy | Talia Favia | Safe |

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

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

This week, the Top 10 contestants were assigned new pairs & danced styles originating from different countries around the world
| Couple | 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 | Salsa | Havana, Cuba | "Don't Go Yet" — Camila Cabello | Jonathan & Oksana Platero | Bottom 4 |
| Essence Wilmington | Bollywood | Mumbai, India | "Chikni Chameli" — Agneepath (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Achinta S. McDaniel | Safe |
| Waverly Fredericks | Bollywood | Mumbai, India | "Chikni Chameli" — Agneepath (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Achinta S. McDaniel | Safe |
| Jordan Betscher | Viennese Waltz | Vienna, Austria | "Fall On Me" — Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli | Sasha Farber & Emma Slater | Eliminated |
| Beau Harmon | Viennese Waltz | Vienna, Austria | "Fall On Me" — Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli | Sasha Farber & Emma Slater | Safe |
| Ralyn Johnson | African Jazz | Nairobi, Kenya | "Into The Light" — District 78 & Sean Cheesman | Sean Cheesman | Safe |
| Keaton Kermode | African Jazz | Nairobi, Kenya | "Into The Light" — District 78 & Sean Cheesman | Sean Cheesman | Safe |
| Alexis Warr | Broadway | New York City, United States | "City Lights" — Liza Minelli | Al Blackstone | Bottom 4 |
| Thiago Pacheco | Broadway | New York City, United States | "City Lights" — Liza Minelli | Al Blackstone | Eliminated |

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

The top eight contestants were once again given new pairs & performed a routine inspired by a previous decade, as well as a solo in their own style

#### Duet

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

#### Top 8 contestant's solos

| Contestant | Style | Music |
| Waverly Fredericks | Contemporary | "Throne" — ASADI |
| Anna Miller | Contemporary | "Me and Bobbie McGee" — Janis Joplin |
| Carter Williams | Latin Ballroom | "Bailar" — Deorro ft. Elvis Crespo |
| Alexis Warr | Latin Ballroom | "Sax" — Fleur East |
| Beau Harmon | Musical Theater | "Big Spender" — Shirley Bassey |
| Ralyn Johnson | Contemporary | "Nicest Thing" — Kate Nash |
| Keaton Kermode | Contemporary | "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 Part 1 – 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.
| Couples | 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 – Quarter-Finals - Head 2 Head (July 27, 2022)

* Trios:
** Top 3 Female Contestants: "Woman" – Doja Cat (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Mel Charlot)
** Top 3 Male Contestants: "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

| Contestants | 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

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

##### Round 3

| Contestants | 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 – Semi-Finals – The Final Cut (August 3, 2022)

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

### The Season 17 Finale (August 10, 2022)

Each of the grand-finalists performed four times: a duet with a fellow Top 12 contestant 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)
| Contestant | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Results |
| Alexis Warr | Samba (w/ Carter Williams) | Samba — Gloria Estefan | Sasha Farber & Emma Slater | Winner |
| Alexis Warr | Contemporary (w/ Jason Glover) | "The End." — November Ultra | Robert Roldan | Winner |
| Alexis Warr | Jazz (w/ Keaton Kermode) | "Snake" — Rony Rex feat. Nani Castle | Brian Friedman | Winner |
| Keaton Kermode | Contemporary (w/ Anna Miller) | "Stayaway (Recorded at Electric Lady Studios NYC)" — MUNA | Talia Favia | Runner-Up |
| Keaton Kermode | Hip Hop (w/ Lex Ishimoto) | "Going Bad" — Meek Mill feat. Drake | Nika Kljun | Runner-Up |
| Keaton Kermode | Jazz (w/ Alexis Warr) | "Snake" — Rony Rex feat. Nani Castle | Brian Friedman | Runner-Up |

### Solos

| Contestant | 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 |