So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 4

So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season four premiered on May 22, 2008, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host. Joshua Allen was announced as the winner on August 7, 2008, the first hip-hop contestant to win the title coming first place. Allen and fellow grand finalist Katee Shean, who were paired as a couple from the first performance episode, became the seventh contestants in the show's run never to face elimination from being among the bottom six or bottom four contestants, became the fifth contestants to be in the grand finale, and became the second pair in the show's run never to face elimination from being among the bottom six or bottom four contestants in the grand finale.

Auditions Open auditions for this season were expanded to the following six cities: Audition VenueCityDateGuest Judges(s)McFarlin Memorial Auditorium Dallas, Texas January 17–19, 2008 Adam ShankmanCharleston Music Hall Charleston, South Carolina January 31–February 2, 2008 Tyce DiorioCapitol Theatre Salt Lake City, Utah February 4–7, 2008 Mandy MooreAtlas Performing Arts Center Washington, D.C. February 21–23, 2008 Dan KaratyOrpheum Theatre Los Angeles, California March 6–8, 2008 Mia MichaelsThe Milwaukee Theatre Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 20–22, 2008 Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo

For the first time, New York City was not a stop on the audition tour. To be able to audition, contestants had to be between the ages of 18 and 30 and able to be legally employed in the United States. Partner auditions were allowed.

Las Vegas week Contestant(s)Thing/styleMusicChoreographer(s)AllHip-hop"Shawty Get Loose"—Lil Mama featuring T-Pain and Chris BrownTabitha D'umoNapoleon D'umoAllBroadway"This Joint is Jumping" from Ain't Misbehavin'Tyce DiorioAllFoxtrot"Call Me Irresponsible"—Michael BubléJean-Marc GénéreuxFrance MousseauAll (in groups)Group choreographyIndividual songs picked by the groupThe groupAllContemporary"Mic Check"—Imogen HeapMia MichaelsAll (individual)SoloIndividual songs chosen by contestantThe contestant Over 200 contestants who impressed the judges in the initial auditions each received a plane ticket to a challenging week of callback auditions at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The week consisted of multiple rounds of choreography, with dancers cut from the competition every round. This season, the rounds included a hip-hop routine with Napoleon D'umo and Tabitha D'umo, a Broadway number with Tyce Diorio, the foxtrot with Jean-Marc Généreux, group choreography, contemporary choreography with Mia Michaels, and a final solo for the remaining contestants. Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy were part of the judging panel for the week, along with Debbie Allen, Mia Michaels, Napoleon D'umo and Tabitha D'umo.

Studio Shows

Format As in seasons 2 and 3, the studio shows began with 20 contestants, ten female and ten male. After pairs are assigned, couples pick a dance style out of a hat, are rehearsed by a choreographer, and perform their routine. Following the airing of the performances, home viewers vote for their favorite couple. The bottom three couples (six contestants overall) are then liable for elimination by the judges on the live, or broadcast on Broadcast delay in the western United States, results show. All six contestants perform a solo, after which the judges eliminate one female contestant and one male contestant. If the eliminated contestants are not from the same couple, their respective pairs form a new pair for the following week's performances. Once the field of contestants is narrowed down to the top 10, permanent partnerships dissolve and contestants draw their new partners from a hat each week. The judges no longer have any say in the elimination process; viewers call in to vote for their favorite individual contestant, and the female contestant and the male contestant with the lowest number of votes are eliminated each week.

Because of the inclusion of performer William Wingfield into the top 20 contestants, Debbie Allen was ruled ineligible to perform duties as a Guest Judge during the Live Shows phase, as long as Wingfield remained in the competition. Wingfield is a Contemporary contestant from Nashville, Tennessee who trained under Allen at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. He was sent home from the competition on July 24, 2008. Because of Wingfield being eliminated, Debbie Allen was technically able to guest judge for the top six episode semi-finals, but Adam Shankman was the guest judge instead.

Top 20 Contestants

Female Contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacement Katee Shean 19 San Jose, California Contemporary August 7, 2008 3rd Place Courtney Galiano 19 Commack, New York Contemporary August 7, 2008 4th Place Chelsie Hightower 18 Pleasant Grove, Utah Latin Ballroom July 31, 2008 Top 6 Comfort Fedoke 19 Dallas, Texas Hip Hop July 24, 2008 Top 8 Kherington Payne 18 Placentia, California Contemporary July 17, 2008 Top 10 Jessica King 24 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Contemporary July 10, 2008 (Withdrew Due To Injury) Top 12 Kourtni Lind 18 Forest Lake, Minnesota Contemporary July 3, 2008 Top 14 Chelsea Traille 23 Baytown, Texas Contemporary June 26, 2008 Top 16 Susie Garcia 24 Miami, Florida Salsa June 20, 2008 Top 18 Rayven Armijo 28 Los Angeles, California Ballet June 12, 2008 Top 20

Male Contestants ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacement Joshua Allen † 18 Fort Worth, Texas Hip Hop August 7, 2008 Winner Stephen "tWitch" Boss † 25 Montgomery, Alabama Popping/Locking August 7, 2008 Runner Up Mark Kanemura 24 Honolulu, Hawaii Jazz July 31, 2008 Top 6 Will Wingfield 21 Nashville, Tennessee Contemporary July 24, 2008 Top 8 Gevorg "Gev" Manoukian 22 Salt Lake City, Utah Breakdance July 17, 2008 Top 10 Thayne Jasperson 27 Provo, Utah Contemporary July 10, 2008 Top 12 Matt Dorame 24 Glendale, Arizona Contemporary July 3, 2008 Top 14 Chris Jarosz 22 Galestown, Maryland Contemporary June 26, 2008 Top 16 Marquis Cunningham 18 Ocala, Florida Contemporary June 20, 2008 Top 18 Jamie Bayard 22 Palmdale, California Swing June 12, 2008 Top 20

Elimination chart The song played for the females and males varied throughout the season. Every week, a different song was played. Contestants are in alphabetical order by last name, then in reverse chronological order of elimination.

+ Legend Female Male Bottom 3 couples Bottom 4 contestants Week:6/126/196/267/037/107/177/247/318/07ContestantResult Joshua Allen Winner Stephen "tWitch" Boss Btm 3 Btm 4 Runner-Up Katee Shean 3rd Place Courtney Galiano Btm 3 Btm 4 4th Place Mark Kanemura Btm 4Elim Chelsie Hightower William Wingfield Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Comfort Fedoke Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 3Elim* Btm 4 Gev Manoukian Btm 3 Elim Kherington Payne Btm 3 Jessica King Btm 3Btm 3 WD Thayne Jasperson Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Matt Dorame Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim Kourtni Lind Btm 3 Btm 3 Chris Jarosz Btm 3 Elim Chelsea Traille Btm 3 Marquis Cunningham Elim Susie Garcia Jamie Bayard Elim Rayven Armijo

Jessica King suffered an injury that resulted in her being unable to continue in the competition. She was medically withdrawn, and Comfort Fedoke replaced her as she was the most recent female competitor eliminated. Katee Shean was awarded $50,000 for being America's favorite female contestant.

Performances

Week 1 (June 11, 2008) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Result(s) Rayven ArmijoJamie Bayard Hip-Hop "American Boy"—Estelle feat. Kanye West Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Both eliminated Susie GarciaMarquis Cunningham Waltz "Dark Waltz"—Hayley Westenra Hunter Johnson Safe Kourtni LindMatt Dorame Jazz "Tainted Love"—Soft Cell Mandy Moore Bottom 3 Chelsea TrailleThayne Jasperson Cha-cha "Oye Como Va (Latin/Trance Mix)"—Celia Cruz Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatin assisting Safe Chelsie HightowerMark Kanemura Contemporary "Beautiful"—Meshell Ndegeocello Mia Michaels Safe Kherington PayneStephen "tWitch" Boss Broadway "Too Darn Hot" from Kiss Me, Kate Tyce Diorio Safe Comfort FedokeChris Jarosz Jive "Boom Boom"—Big Head Todd and the Monsters Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatin assisting Safe Katee SheanJoshua Allen Lyrical hip-hop "No Air"—Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Safe Jessica KingWilliam Wingfield Tango "Tango"—Cirque du Soleil Hunter Johnson Bottom 3 Courtney GalianoGev Manoukian Disco "Boogie Wonderland"—Earth, Wind & Fire feat. The Emotions Doriana Sanchez Safe

Week 2 (June 18, 2008) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Result(s) Chelsea TrailleThayne Jasperson Jazz "Untouched"—The Veronicas Mandy Moore Bottom 3 Chelsie HightowerMark Kanemura Argentine Tango "Mi Confesión"—Gotan Project Alex Da Silva Safe Jessica KingWilliam Wingfield Hip-Hop "Whatever U Like"—Nicole Scherzinger Olisa ThompsonCicely Bradley Safe Kourtni LindMatt Dorame Foxtrot "A Foggy Day (In London Town)"—Michael Bublé Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance Mousseau assisting Safe Courtney GalianoGev Manoukian Contemporary "Lost"—Anouk Mandy Moore Safe Katee SheanJoshua Allen Broadway "All for the Best" from Godspell Tyce Diorio Safe Susie GarciaMarquis Cunningham Salsa "Aguanilé"—Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe Alex Da Silva Both eliminated Kherington PayneStephen "tWitch" Boss Viennese Waltz "A New Day Has Come"—Celine Dion Jean-Marc GénéreuxFrance Mousseau assisting Safe Comfort FedokeChris Jarosz Krump "Come and Get Me" —Timbaland featuring 50 Cent & Tony Yayo Lil' C Bottom 3

Week 3 (June 25, 2008) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Result(s) Kherington PayneStephen "tWitch" Boss Hip-Hop "Don't Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em)"—Busta Rhymes Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Safe Courtney GalianoGev Manoukian Rumba "Wishing on a Star"—Rose Royce Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatin assisting Safe Comfort FedokeChris Jarosz Afro Jazz "The Beautiful People"—Marilyn Manson Tyce Diorio Jarosz eliminated Jessica KingWilliam Wingfield Disco "Heaven Must Have Sent You"—Bonnie Pointer Doriana Sanchez Safe Kourtni LindMatt Dorame Contemporary "Wrestlers (Sticky, Dirty Pop Mix)"—Hot Chip Sonya Tayeh Bottom 3 Chelsea TrailleThayne Jasperson Quickstep "You Can't Hurry Love"—Phil Collins Heather Smith Traille eliminated Chelsie HightowerMark Kanemura Lyrical hip-hop "Bleeding Love"—Leona Lewis Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Safe Katee SheanJoshua Allen Samba "Baila, Baila"—Angela Via Tony MeredithMelanie LaPatin assisting Safe

Week 4 (July 2, 2008) Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Couple dances: