# So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 1

So You Think You Can Dance is an American television dance competition that airs on the Fox network. The first season premiered on July 20, 2005, with Lauren Sánchez in her only season as host, Nigel Lythgoe as the main judge, and Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels and Brian Friedman as most frequent guest judges. Nick Lazzarini was crowned America's Favorite Dancer on October 5, 2005, with 37.7% of the votes.

## Auditions
### Locations

The main auditions for this season were held in following cities:
| Audition Veune | City | Judges |
| Chicago Theatre | Chicago, Illinois | Nigel Lythgoe Bonnie Lythgoe Jeff Thacker |
| Manhattan Center Theatre | New York City, New York | Nigel Lythgoe Bonnie Lythgoe Jeff Thacker |
| Orpheum Theatre | Los Angeles, California | Nigel Lythgoe Bonnie Lythgoe Jeff Thacker |

### Format

Audition contestants had one minute to impress the judges. A contestant deemed to be not good enough was sent straight home, otherwise, they were sent to a choreography round. After that, the judges decided the fifty contestants that got through to the Hollywood week.
Minimum age for contestants was 18; maximum was 30.

## Hollywood week

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Alex Da Silva
Hollywood week was held in Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. 25 female contestants and 25 male contestants (each gender) were invited to participate in the callback auditions. This number was cut down to 8 female contestants and 8 male contestants, a total of 16 contestants (both gender) that came through to the live shows. Hollywood week included the following rounds, cuts were made at the end:
| Task/style | Choreographer |
| Salsa | Alex Da Silva |
| Jazz | Brian Friedman |
| Hip-Hop | Dan Karaty |
| Contemporary | Mia Michaels |
| Foxtrot | Mary Murphy |

## Finals
### Top 16 contestants
#### Female contestants

| Contestant | Age | Home Town | Dance Style | Elimination date | Placement |
| Melody Lacayanga | 22 | Los Angeles, California | Contemporary / Jazz | Runner-up | Runner-up |
| Ashlé Dawson | 21 | Long Beach Island, New Jersey | Contemporary / Jazz / African | 4th Place | 4th Place |
| Kamilah Barrett | 27 | Seattle, Washington | Hip-Hop / Jazz | September 21, 2005 | Top 6 |
| Melissa Vella | 20 | Springfield, Pennsylvania | Contemporary / Jazz | September 14, 2005 | Top 8 |
| Destini Rogers | 22 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Contemporary / Jazz | September 7, 2005 | Top 10 |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin | 25 | Siberia, Russia | Latin Ballroom / Latin Jazz | August 31, 2005 | Top 12 |
| Michelle Brooke | 27 | Brooklyn, New York | Jazz | August 24, 2005 | Top 14 |
| Sandra Colton | 27 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Tap | August 17, 2005 | Top 16 |

#### Male contestants

| Contestant | Age | Home Town | Dance Style | Elimination date | Placement |
| Nick Lazzarini | 20 | Sunnyvale, California | Jazz | Winner | Winner |
| Jamile McGee | 21 | Columbus, Ohio | Hip-Hop / Popping | 3rd Place | 3rd Place |
| Blake McGrath | 21 | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Contemporary / Jazz | September 21, 2005 | Top 6 |
| Artem Chigvintsev | 22 | Menlo Park, California (originally from Russia) | Latin Ballroom | September 14, 2005 | Top 8 |
| Ryan Conferido | 22 | Downey, California | Breakdance | September 7, 2005 | Top 10 |
| Allan Frias | 30 | San Francisco, California | Hip-Hop | August 31, 2005 | Top 12 |
| Craig DeRosa | 18 | Mount Sinai, New York | Contemporary / Jazz | August 24, 2005 | Top 14 |
| Jonathan "Jonnis" Tannis | 20 | Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada | Hip-Hop | August 17, 2005 | Top 16 |
Canadian-born McGrath has since become lead choreographer and occasional third judge for So You Think You Can Dance Canada ; he is choreographer for those contestants who are sent to choreography.

#### Elimination chart

| Week: | 8/17 | 8/24 | 8/31 | 9/7 | 9/14 | 9/21 | 10/5 |
| Contestant | Results | Results | Results | Results | Results | Results | Results |
| Nick Lazzarini | | Btm 3 | | | | | Winner |
| Melody Lacayanga | | Btm 3 | Btm 2 | Btm 2 | | | Runner-Up |
| Jamile McGee | | Btm 3 | | Btm 2 | Btm 2 | | 3rd Place |
| Ashlé Dawson | | | | | Btm 2 | | 4th Place |
| Blake McGrath | | | | | | Elim | |
| Kamilah Barrett | | | | | | Elim | |
| Artem Chigvintsev | Btm 3 | | | | Elim | | |
| Melissa Vella | | | | | Elim | | |
| Ryan Conferido | | | Btm 2 | Elim | | | |
| Destini Rogers | | | | Elim | | | |
| Allan Frias | Btm 3 | | Elim | | | | |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin | Btm 3 | Btm 3 | Elim | | | | |
| Craig DeRosa | | Elim | | | | | |
| Michelle Brooke | Btm 3 | Elim | | | | | |
| Jonathan "Jonnis" Tannis | Elim | | | | | | |
| Sandra Colton | Elim | | | | | | |

### Performance nights
#### Week 1 (August 17, 2005)

Judges: Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Nigel Lythgoe and Dan Karaty
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Hip-Hop | "Touch"—Omarion | Blake Anthony/Marty Kudelka | Safe |
| Michelle Brooke Jonathan "Jonnis" Tannis | Mambo | "Caravan"—Eddie Torres and his Mambo Kings | Alex DaSilva | Jonathan "Jonnis" Tannis eliminated |
| Sandra Colton Artem Chigvintsev | Lyrical | "Nora"—Blessid Union of Souls | Alex Magno | Sandra Colton eliminated |
| Ashlé Dawson Jamile McGee | Jive | "Jim Dandy"—LaVern Baker | Mary Murphy | Safe |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin Allan Frias | Hip-Hop | "Touch"—Omarion | Blake Anthony/Marty Kudelka | Bottom 3 |
| Melissa Vella Ryan Conferido | Mambo | "Caravan"—Eddie Torres and his Mambo Kings | Alex DaSilva | Safe |
| Destini Rogers Blake McGrath | Lyrical | "Nora"—Blessid Union of Souls | Alex Magno | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Craig DeRosa | Jive | "Jim Dandy"—LaVern Baker | Mary Murphy | Safe |
* Bottom 3 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Michelle Brooke | Hip-Hop | "Dum Diddly"—The Black Eyed Peas | Safe |
| Jonathan "Jonnis" Tannis | Hip-Hop | "Bebot"—The Black Eyed Peas | Eliminated |
| Sandra Colton | Tap | "Hollaback Girl"—Gwen Stefani | Eliminated |
| Artem Chigvintsev | Rumba | "Let Me Love You"—Mario | Safe |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin | Samba | "Din Daa Daa"—George Kranz | Safe |
| Allan Frias | Lyrical Hip-Hop | "Take You Out"—Luther Vandross | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Sandra Colton
** Jonathan "Jonnis" Tannis

#### Week 2 (August 24, 2005)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty and Brian Friedman
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin Jamile McGee | Quickstep | "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing)"—Geoff Love and his Orchestra | Glenn Weiss | Bottom 3 |
| Destini Rogers Blake McGrath | Lyrical Jazz | "A Song for You"—Donny Hathaway | Mia Michaels | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Craig DeRosa | Hip-Hop | "Tipsy"—J-Kwon | Shane Sparks | Craig DeRosa eliminated |
| Michelle Brooke Nick Lazzarini | Quickstep | "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing)"—Geoff Love and his Orchestra | Glenn Weiss | Michelle Brooke eliminated |
| Ashlé Dawson Artem Chigvintsev | Lyrical Jazz | "A Song for You"—Donny Hathaway | Mia Michaels | Safe |
| Kamilah Barrett Allan Frias | Hip-Hop | "Tipsy"—J-Kwon | Shane Sparks | Safe |
| Melissa Vella Ryan Conferido | Salsa | "Cubanjam"—Orquesta la Palabra | Alex Da Silva | Safe |
* Bottom 3 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin | Cha-Cha | "And She Said"—Lucas Prata | Safe |
| Jamile McGee | Popping | "I Can Make You Dance"—Zapp | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga | Jazz | "You Can Leave Your Hat On"—Etta James | Safe |
| Craig DeRosa | Contemporary | "Everything"—Lifehouse | Eliminated |
| Michelle Brooke | Hip-Hop | "Disco Club"—The Black Eyed Peas | Eliminated |
| Nick Lazzarini | Contemporary | "Storm"—Lifehouse | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Michelle Brooke
** Craig DeRosa

#### Week 3 (August 31, 2005)

Judges: Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Rock'n'Roll | "Hound Dog"—Elvis Presley | Travis Payne | Safe |
| Melissa Vella Artem Chigvintsev | Paso Doble | "España cañí"—Boston Pops Orchestra | Ron Montez | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Allan Frias | Lyrical | "Rocket Man"—Elton John | Keith Young | Allan Frias eliminated |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin Ryan Conferido | Hip-Hop | "Pon de Replay"—Rihanna | Dan Karaty | Snejana "Snow" Urbin eliminated |
| Destini Rogers Jamile McGee | Viennese Waltz | "The Blue Danube"—Manhattan Pops Orchestra | Ron Montez | Safe |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Disco | "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"—Sylvester James | Doriana Sánchez | Safe |
* Bottom 2 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Melody Lacayanga | Contemporary | "Seduces Me"—Celine Dion | Safe |
| Allan Frias | Hip-Hop | "Feel the Girl"—Ms. Jade | Eliminated |
| Snejana "Snow" Urbin | Cha-Cha | "Ma Ya Hi"—Lucas Prata | Eliminated |
| Ryan Conferido | Breakdance | "Poison"—Bell Biv DeVoe | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Snejana "Snow" Urbin
** Allan Frias

#### Week 4 (September 7, 2005)

Judges: Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Nigel Lythgoe and Dan Karaty
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Melissa Vella Artem Chigvintsev | Pop | "Don't Cha"—The Pussycat Dolls | Doriana Sánchez | Safe |
| Melissa Vella Artem Chigvintsev | Quickstep | "Big Swing Face"—Buddy Rich | Glenn Weiss | Safe |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Tango | "Tanguedia"—Prandi Sound Dance Orchestra | Mary Murphy | Safe |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Pop | "I Drove All Night"—Celine Dion | Doriana Sánchez | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Ryan Conferido | Lyrical | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"—Jeffrey Gaines | Tovaris Wilson | Ryan Conferido eliminated |
| Melody Lacayanga Ryan Conferido | Foxtrot | "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"—Renee Olstead | Glenn Weiss | Ryan Conferido eliminated |
| Destini Rogers Jamile McGee | Quickstep | "Sing, Sing, Sing"—Benny Goodman | Glenn Weiss | Destini Rogers eliminated |
| Destini Rogers Jamile McGee | Hip-Hop | "Shake"—Ying Yang Twins feat. Pitbull | Shane Sparks | Destini Rogers eliminated |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Samba | "Jazz Machine"—Black Machine | Mary Murphy | Safe |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Lyrical | "Right Here Waiting"—Richard Marx | Tovaris Wilson | Safe |
* Bottom 2 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Melody Lacayanga | Jazz | "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"—En Vogue | Safe |
| Ryan Conferido | Breakdance | "Know the Ledge"—Erik B. & Rakim | Eliminated |
| Destini Rogers | Jazz | "Bring on the Men"—Linda Eder | Eliminated |
| Jamile McGee | Popping | "Give It to Me, Baby"—Rick James | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Destini Rogers
** Ryan Conferido

#### Week 5 (September 14, 2005)

Judges: Dan Karaty, Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Brian Friedman
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Mambo | "Mambo Cool"—Ernesto Marquez and his Orchestra | Alex Da Silva | Safe |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Contemporary | "King of Pain"—The Police | Mia Michaels | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Blake McGrath | Lyrical | "Heaven"—DJ Sammy & Yanou feat. Do | Tovaris Wilson | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Blake McGrath | Disco | "You Should Be Dancing"—The Bee Gees | Doriana Sánchez | Safe |
| Ashlé Dawson Artem Chigvintsev | Foxtrot | "Fever"—Michael Bublé | Heather Smith | Artem Chigvintsev eliminated |
| Ashlé Dawson Artem Chigvintsev | Cha-Cha | "El Sabroso Son"—La Palabra | Alex Da Silva | Artem Chigvintsev eliminated |
| Melissa Vella Jamile McGee | Hip-Hop | "Can't Stop, Won't Stop"—Young Gunz feat. Chingy | Shane Sparks | Melissa Vella eliminated |
| Melissa Vella Jamile McGee | Paso Doble | "Spanish Gipsy Dance"—Tony Evans | Mark Weiss | Melissa Vella eliminated |
* Bottom 2 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Ashlé Dawson | African Jazz | "La Corrida"—De La Guarda | Safe |
| Artem Chigvintsev | Cha-Cha | "Don't Phunk with My Heart"—The Black Eyed Peas | Eliminated |
| Melissa Vella | Contemporary | "Gone"—Kelly Clarkson | Eliminated |
| Jamile McGee | Popping | "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"—The Gap Band | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Melisa Vella
** Artem Chigvintsev

#### Week 6 (September 21, 2005)

Judges: Mia Michaels, Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty
* Couple dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Result |
| Kamilah Barrett Jamile McGee | Hip-Hop | "Toma"—Pitbull | Brian Friedman | Kamilah Barrett eliminated |
| Kamilah Barrett Jamile McGee | Jive | "Jump, Jive and Wail"—Louis Prima | Glenn Weiss | Kamilah Barrett eliminated |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Smooth Waltz | "Rilassamento"—Gianni Pavesi | Michael Mead | Blake McGrath eliminated |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Argentine Tango | "Santa María (Del Buèn Ayré)"—Gotan Project | Alex Da Silva | Blake McGrath eliminated |
| Melody Lacayanga Nick Lazzarini | Broadway | "All That Jazz" from Chicago | Tyce Diorio | Safe |
| Melody Lacayanga Nick Lazzarini | Disco | "Knock on Wood"—Amii Stewart | Brian Friedman | Safe |
* Top 6 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music | Result |
| Kamilah Barrett | Jazz | "Maniac"—Michael Sembello | Eliminated |
| Jamile McGee | Popping | "Atomic Dog"—George Clinton | Safe |
| Ashlé Dawson | Cha-Cha | "I Like It Like That"—Tito Nieves | Safe |
| Blake McGrath | Jazz | "Body Language"—Queen | Eliminated |
| Melody Lacayanga | Jazz | "Brave and Crazy"—Melissa Etheridge | Safe |
| Nick Lazzarini | Contemporary | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"—Jeffrey Gaines | Safe |
* Eliminated:
** Kamilah Barrett
** Blake McGrath

#### Week 7 (September 28, 2005)

Judges: Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty
* Duo dances:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) |
| Melody Lacayanga Nick Lazzarini | Paso Doble | "España cañí"—Boston Pops Orchestra | Mary Murphy |
| Ashlé Dawson Jamile McGee | Salsa | "Oh Mayi"—La Sonora Poncena | Alex Da Silva |
| Nick Lazzarini Jamile McGee | Hip-Hop | "(Holla Back) Young'n"—Fabolous | Dan Karaty |
| Ashlé Dawson Melody Lacayanga | Contemporary | "Message in a Bottle"—The Police | Mia Michaels |
| Melody Lacayanga Jamile McGee | Jazz | "Cold Hearted"—Paula Abdul | Brian Friedman |
| Ashlé Dawson Nick Lazzarini | Hip-Hop | "Feel the Girl"—Ms. Jade | Shane Sparks |
* Top 4 contestant's solos:
| Contestant | Style | Music |
| Melody Lacayanga | Contemporary | "Listen to Your Heart"—Roxette |
| Ashlé Dawson | Jazz | "Endangered Species"—Dianne Reeves |
| Jamile McGee | Popping | "Early in the Morning"—The Gap Band |
| Nick Lazzarini | Contemporary Jazz | "Pardon Me"—Incubus |
* Freestyle round: Top 4: "Music"—John Miles

#### Week 8 (Finale) (October 5, 2005)

Judges: Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty
* Group dance: Top 16: "Pump It"—The Black Eyed Peas (Hip-Hop; Choreographer: Shane Sparks)
* Guest dancers:
| Dancer(s) | Style | Music |
| Alex Da Silva Lauren Sánchez | Mambo | "Caravan"—Eddie Torres and his Mambo Kings |
| The Groovaloos | Breakdance | "It's Just Begun (Groovaloo Mix)"—Jimmy Castor Bunch |
| Anthony Bryant | Contemporary | "Love with My Eyes Closed"—Michael Bolton |
* Top 4's favorite routines:
| Couple | Style | Music | Choreographer(s) | Chosen by |
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Disco | "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"—Sylvester James | Doriana Sánchez | Nick Lazzarini |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Samba | "Jazz Machine"—Black Machine | Mary Murphy | Ashlé Dawson |
| Destini Rogers Jamile McGee | Hip-Hop | "Shake"—Ying Yang Twins feat. Pitbull | Shane Sparks | Jamile McGee |
| Melody Lacayanga Nick Lazzarini | Broadway | "All That Jazz" from Chicago | Tyce Diorio | Melody Lacayanga |
* Places:
| Place | Contestant | % of the votes |
| 4th | Ashlé Dawson | 8.8% |
| 3rd | Jamile McGee | 24.9% |
| 2nd (Runner-up) | Melody Lacayanga | 28.6% |
| 1st (Winner) | Nick Lazzarini | 37.7% |

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

| Show | Episode | First Air Date | Rating (18–49) | Share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | Rank (timeslot) | Rank (night) |
| 1 | Episode 101/102 | July 20, 2005 | 6.4 | 11 | 10.3 | 1 | 1 (tied) |
| 2 | Episode 103 | July 27, 2005 | 5.2 | 9 | 8.0 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Hollywood: 50 Compete | August 3, 2005 | 4.4 | 8 | 7.0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Hollywood: 50 Cut to Top 16 | August 10, 2005 | 4.2 | 7 | 6.3 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Episode 106/107 | August 17, 2005 | 5.0 | 8 | 7.4 | 1 | 2 (tied) |
| 6 | Episode 108 | August 24, 2005 | 4.9 | 9 | 7.5 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Episode 109 | August 31, 2005 | 4.4 | 8 | 6.9 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Episode 110 | September 7, 2005 | 5.1 | 8 | 7.7 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Episode 111 | September 14, 2005 | 5.4 | 9 | 8.1 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Episode 112 | September 21, 2005 | 3.9 | 6 | 6.1 | 4 | 10 |
| 11 | Episode 113 | September 28, 2005 | 4.7 | 8 | 7.3 | 3 | 10 |
| 12 | Episode 114 | October 5, 2005 | 5.1 | 8 | 8.2 | 3 | 8 |