After a summer of amazing routines and incredibly talented dancers, season 10 went out with a bang with the reveal of America’s favorite male and female dancers.
A big finale night called for a big fancy panel of judges. Our regular judges, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and ballroom expert Mary Murphy, were joined by successful season 4 contestant Twitch, producer, director, and choreographer Adam Shankman, and dance legend and all-around nut Paula Abdul. They were all dressed in their finale finest, and it was adorable to see Twitch looking sharp in his bowtie.
Winning moments
After a night of celebrating dance, it was time for the moment we’d all been waiting for: the results. Cat said that the contestant with the most votes last week was a girl, so she would be revealing the boys’ results first.
The boys were the first to take center stage, both looking like they may possibly have a heart attack. After a beautiful montage of their time on the show, and how much it would mean to them to win, the boys held each other’s shoulders as Cat read the results: DuShaunt “Fik-shun” Stegall was America’s favorite male dancer!
Fik-shun broke down immediately, hugging Aaron and saying, “It’s been a pleasure.” He barely managed to get it together long enough to thank everyone for their support, and to say, “This means everything to me. I’m so happy, everybody!”
Then it was time for the girls’ results. Jasmine and Amy took center stage, both looking beautiful (and terrified) as we saw a montage of their greatest moments on the show. Then, as the girls held hands, Cat revealed that America’s favorite female dancer, and the contestant with the most votes overall, was Amy Yakima.
Amy was smiling ear to ear, that same expression that has earned her fans all season, as she fought back tears. She said “I can’t believe it, I never thought I’d be here! I didn’t even think I’d make it to Vegas – I’m standing here!” as her tearful parents looked on proudly.
It’s always so sad to see the runners-up whisked offstage so that the winners can have their moment in the spotlight. In a way, placing second is the worst, because you don’t get your own moment for everyone to celebrate your achievements. Aaron and Jasmine have performed amazingly throughout the entire competition, and they have a lot to be proud of. Hopefully their night was filled more with pride and celebration, rather than disappointment.
Nigel and Mary had some kind words for all four finalists before the results were read. Mary began by saying that season 10 has been the “most thrilling, enjoyable season we’ve ever been honored to witness,” and said that all four dancers before her onstage were stars. Nigel said these contestants have proven that “the best way to predict the future is to create it for yourself,” and went on to say that he feels this season is the first where people will say that they’re really happy for whoever has won the title, because they’re all so magnificent.
Finale routines
Top 20 group routine “Wonderwall”
The top 20 came together again for an awesome jazz routine choreographed by season 2’s Ivan Koumaev. It was set in a 1920s speakeasy, and the fun routine suited the top 20’s excited mood. The contestants looked great together, and were obviously thrilled to be dancing together again. Finalist Amy Yakima was grinning and laughing her way through the whole routine.
Aside from the fun cheerful mood, it was also a great routine to make use of all 20 dancers’ incredible skills. There was tapping, there were pirouettes, there was everything and more. It only made it harder to have to say goodbye to these incredible dancers.
And if you looked closely, you may have spotted season 10 contestant Jade Zuberi, who had to withdraw in the top 18 due to a knee injury, hanging out behind the bar. He’s had surgery and is on the mend, but not yet back in dancing shape. However, it was still great to see him reunited onstage with his top 20 pals for the finale.
‘Battle of the Year’ Crew
After the finalists saw a sneak preview of the new movie Battle of the Year in 3D, we were treated to a performance by the Battle of the Year crew, choreographed by SYTYCD’s own Dave Scott. Battle of the Year stars Chris Brown, Josh Peck, and Josh Holloway weren’t included, but season 3 contestant Dominic Sandoval was. The routine was incredible, and the tricks were absolutely amazing, even without the benefit of 3D glasses.
Nigel and Mary show us what they’ve got
Nigel and Mary have always had a faux-contentious relationship on the show, (They’re basically the Simon and Paula of SYTYCD) but they finally reconciled their feelings through, you guessed it, the majesty of dance. They took on a modified version of Amy and Fik-shun’s “Let’s Get It On” café routine, and didn’t do too bad of a job!
They are both still remarkably agile, and their dancing pasts are evident. Mary was outfitted in a bright pink bouffant and cat eye glasses, which is actually not the weirdest look we’ve seen on her over the years. In the end, Adam Shankman burst onstage to steal the show and close the routine, which isn’t really a big surprise to anyone.
Top 10/all-stars beach party
Nappytabs brought out the big guns for the finale, this time with a beach-themed hip-hop routine for the top 10 contestants and the all-stars. It was SYTYCD’s very own beach party to the B-52s’ “Rock Lobster,” with all the dancers in vintage bathing suits, dancing with surfboards and around a lifeguard tower. It was a really fun routine, and it’s always great to see so many talented dancers working together to do what they do best. In the end, finalists Amy, Jasmine, Aaron, and Fikshun were the last ones standing, hanging out on the lifeguard tower, looking at everyone below them.
Judges’ (and Cat’s) favorite routines
Paula’s favorite: Makenzie and Paul ‘Edge of Glory’ – Mandy Moore
First up, Paula Abdul chose Makenzie and Paul’s “Edge of Glory” routine, because its combination of great choreography by Mandy Moore, and unbelievable execution of said choreography by Makenzie and Paul, convinced her that love is the answer in this time of war and peace (Okay, Paula). Makenzie and Paul were two of season 10’s strongest dancers, and this routine reminds us why.
Adam’s favorite: Fik-shun and Twitch ‘Hello Good Morning’ – Luther Brown
Adam Shankman’s favorite routine was last week’s hip-hop routine by Fik-shun and Twitch, because he felt no other contestant has had Twitch’s level of “palpable joy and charisma” – until Fik-shun, even going so far as to say that Fik-shun is a “distilled version” of Twitch. Ever the professional, Twitch ripped off his snazzy shirt and tie at the judge’s table right next to Adam, and hopped up onstage to join Fik-shun for an encore performance. The whole routine is awesome, but that old man walk at the end is everything.
Nigel’s favorite: Aaron, Alexis, and Curtis ‘You Really Did It’ – Anthony Morigerato
Nigel’s favorite routine was not a surprising choice. A former tapper himself, and a huge supporter of tap throughout the show, he was thrilled to have three tappers in the top 20 this year. The routine he chose was Anthony Morigerato’s tap routine that introduced all three tappers in the top 20: Finalist Aaron Turner, Alexis Juliano, and Curtis Holland. Absolutely the best tap routine we had seen on SYTYCD to that point, it was matched by another Morigerato routine, Aaron’s routine with all-star Melinda Sullivan last week.
Twitch’s favorite: Hayley and Nico ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ – Sean Cheesman
Twitch’s choice for an encore performance was Hayley and Nico’s week 6 Broadway routine to “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” This routine is definitely one of the best “acted” routines of the season, as Hayley and Nico really got into their characters as an evil fortune teller and her hypnotized victim. The drama of the song added to the drama of the performance, but the way Hayley and Nico portrayed the story really bodes well for their desired careers in acting. And good Lord, that leg flip near the end is by far the most jaw-dropping stunt we saw all season, and possibly ever.
Cat’s favorite: Jasmine and Comfort ‘Run the World (Girls)’ – Napolean and Tabitha D’umo
Since all the other SYTYCD regulars got to pick a favorite season 10 routine, it’s only fair that host Cat got to pick one too. And unsurprisingly, she chose the girl-power-liest routine of them all: finalist Jasmine and all-star Comfort’s Nappytabs hip-hop routine from last week. Dancing to Beyonce’s “Run The World (Girls),” both Jasmine and Comfort unleashed their inner Sasha Fierce to tear through the powerful dance, the first all-girl hip-hop routine in SYTYCD history, and hopefully convinced little girls around the country sign up for a hip-hop class.
Mary’s favorite: Tucker and Robert ‘Medicine’ – Travis Wall
Mary Murphy is unquestionably the biggest crier of the SYTYCD crew (narrowly beating out Adam Shankman), so it’s not surprising that she chose season 10’s most emotional routine as her favorite. Travis Wall choreographed a beautiful routine, dedicated to his brother, season 3 contestant Danny Tidwell, about brothers supporting each other through the most difficult of times. Contestant Tucker Knox and season 7 all-star Robert Roldan have both come back from life-threatening accidents of their own, and to be able to express their triumph through dance was an emotional moment for both of them. Mary chose the dance because it “reminds us to have hope in life,” and that it’s possible to triumph over tragedy. Both men danced the routine beautifully, and after this encore performance, there were smiles on their faces instead of tears.
Contestants’ favorite routines
Jasmine’s favorite: ‘Blurred Lines’ – Ray Leeper
Jasmine chose the Ray Leeper “Blurred Lines” routine, alongside all-star Marko Germar, because it challenged her the most. While they still weren’t perfectly synced, it is such a fun and exciting routine, and you can’t help but dance along at home. After their routine, host Cat Deeley remarked, “Where did I put that giant foam finger and latex underwear?” — obviously a reference to Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus’ VMA performance. As Cat said, this routine was a much better performance to associate with that song.
Aaron’s favorite: ‘Kissing You’ – Stacey Tookey
Aaron chose his Stacey Tookey contemporary routine to Des’ree’s “Kissing You” with all-star Kathryn for his favorite performance. It truly was a stunning performance, and tonight’s encore was no different. This routine demonstrates one of Aaron’s biggest strengths: his partnering. There was such trust between both dancers, and Kathryn seemed to melt in his arms. Aaron and Kathryn had such amazing chemistry that maybe they’ve been taking the song’s title literally.
Amy’s and Fik-shun’s favorite: ‘After Party’ – Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo
Amy and Fik-shun were an unstoppable partnership all season, so it’s no surprise that they both chose the same routine as their favorite: the Nappytabs bellhop hip-hop routine from the top 20. The routine perfectly epitomizes just what we’ll be missing about both Amy and Fik-shun: the light-hearted charisma and fun they brought to the stage. You can’t help but smile as you watch them having so much fun together onstage.
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