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The Best Episodes of So You Think You Can Dance

Every episode of So You Think You Can Dance ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of So You Think You Can Dance!

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Dancers selected in open auditions across America take part in a rigorous competition designed to best display their talents, training and personalities to a panel of judges and viewers as they strive to win votes

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 Episode 3 - Hollywood: 50 Compete
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Hollywood: 50 Compete

    S1:E3

    The dancers are divided into 5 groups to attend class with each choreographer. Alex's salsa class, Brian's hip-hop class, Dan's hip-hop class, Mia's contemporary class and Mary's ballroom class. As the week draws to a close the choreographers meet with Nigel to decide who will be cut out. The choices are made and announced to cut the group down to 24.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 1 - Auditions: Brooklyn and Denver
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Auditions: Brooklyn and Denver

    S5:E1

    Dancers audition in Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Tenn., Miami, New York and Seattle.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 1 - Auditions: Day One
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Auditions: Day One

    S18:E1

    The first round of auditions begins.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 2 - Auditions: Day Two
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - Auditions: Day Two

    S18:E2

    Dancers vie for a spot in the top 10.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 4 - The Final Audition: Top Ten Revealed
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - The Final Audition: Top Ten Revealed

    S18:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 5 - Challenge #1: Music Videos
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Challenge #1: Music Videos

    S18:E5

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of So You Think You Can Dance

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  8. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 7 - Challenge #3: Movies
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Challenge #3: Movies

    S18:E7

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 9 - Challenge #5: Brand Challenge
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Challenge #5: Brand Challenge

    S18:E9

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 10 - The Finale
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - The Finale

    S18:E10

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 Episode 1 - Los Angeles Auditions
    7.8/10(2 votes)

    #10 - Los Angeles Auditions

    S4:E1

    The fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" kicked off Thursday night with a two-hour audition show from Los Angeles. Host Cat Deeley and regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe were joined by Mia Michaels as they came face to face with the best and, of course, the worst that the dancing world had to offer. Dancers got one minute in front of the judges, and those with overwhelming "yes" votes moved on to the next round in Las Vegas, absolute "no" votes went home, and in-between dancers would be brought back at the end for a second chance in a group choreography routine. The first real joker of the evening was the man they call "Sex," who was making his third audition show appearance and, once again, making a fool of himself. Nigel lambasted the guy, telling him he "must just enjoy watching himself look stupid on television." And Nigel refused to call him "Sex" anymore, either. A visually impaired girl named Laura tried her best, but the judges didn't think her choreography was strong enough to remain in the competition. Mia, though, got very emotional and called the girl an inspiration because she had a close friend who lost their eyesight.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 Episode 1 - Auditions #1 and #2: New York and Chicago
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Auditions #1 and #2: New York and Chicago

    S1:E1

    In this two-hour episode, we watched the first and second auditions in both New York and Chicago. We saw the good, the bad, and the ugly. In the first stage of auditions, the three producers from American Idol screened the contestants fairly leniently because the second audition was far more "telling." In the second audition, a choreographer gave them two pieces: one set as a solo and one set on a male/female duo. If they couldn't keep up they were sent home. Those that made it through will go to Hollywood. Throughout the premiere episode, they also gave small video vignettes of a few of the contestants at their homes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 Episode 2 - Auditions #3: Los Angeles
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Auditions #3: Los Angeles

    S1:E2

    In this special 90 minute episode, the auditions take place over 2-days in Los Angeles, CA. The dancers perform a number, solo or with a partner, for the producers in order to move on to the next round. The producers let several creative, attention-getting dancers through regardless of how well they can actually dance, but heavily weighted on their "likeability" for a TV show. In the next round, the dancers are given choreography to perform in smaller groups for more talent-related judging. They are to learn a solo routine as well as a partner routine, but the first day of LA auditions put so few people through that they skip the solo routine. Several dancers are put through to Hollywood, and a few husband/wife teams are broken apart as one part of the team makes it through and the other doesn't.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 Episode 2 - Salt Lake City and Dallas
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Salt Lake City and Dallas

    S4:E2

    It was freezing cold outside in Salt Lake City, site of the first set of auditions in Tuesday's two-hour episode of "So You Think You Can Dance?" Would the dancers heat things up inside? Guest judge Mandy Moore joined judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy for two days in Utah as they came away with 42 dancers who moved on to the Las Vegas audition. As usual, the dancers each had one minute to dance for the judges, after which they'd either get a ticket to Las Vegas for the next round, be sent home, or be asked to join the group choreography routine at the end of the day for a second chance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 Episode 6 - The Top 20 Perform
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - The Top 20 Perform

    S4:E6

    After five two-hour audition shows, it was down to the final 20 performers who will vie for the title and $250,000 on the fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance?" After a topsy-turvy intro in which each of the finalists got a few seconds to show off their moves (Dramamine, anyone?), host Cat Deeley laid out the process: the top 20 will be split into 10 couples and each week they'll pick their dance styles randomly out of a hat. They'll perform and the voters pick their favorites. On Thursdays, the three lowest vote-getting couples will be announced and those six dancers will perform solos before the judges decide which guy and which girl is going home. Guest judge Dan Karaty joined Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe for the first episode. And we're off!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 2 - Auditions: Miami and Memphis
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Auditions: Miami and Memphis

    S5:E2

    Season five's second installment features auditions from Miami and Memphis.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 Episode 1 - Auditions 1 and 2: Atlanta and the Bay Area
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Auditions 1 and 2: Atlanta and the Bay Area

    S8:E1

    Dancers audition for the judges.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 Episode 4 - Las Vegas Callbacks
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Las Vegas Callbacks

    S8:E4

    The call-backs for Las Vegas

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 3 - Auditions: Day Three
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Auditions: Day Three

    S18:E3

    Dancers vie for a spot in the top 10.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 6 - Challenge #2: Broadway
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Challenge #2: Broadway

    S18:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. So You Think You Can Dance Season 18 Episode 8 - Challenge #4: On Tour
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Challenge #4: On Tour

    S18:E8

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 Episode 7 - Top 12
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Top 12

    S1:E7

    At the beginning of the episode, 2 dancers from last week are cut. At that point, the competition continues in the same format as last week, except the males pick the partner and the females pick the style. This week, Mia, Brian, Mary and Nigel are the judges. Dan will take part in the choreography. The 12 dancers complete round 1 in the following pairs: Blake and Ashle (Rock 'n Roll), Artem and Melissa (Paso Doble), Allan and Melody (Lyrical), Ryan and Snow (Hip Hop), Jamille and Destini (Viennese Waltz), and Nick and Kamilah (Disco). This week, only 2 couples are put up for elimination instead of 3. In round 2, the couples put up for elimination danced as individuals and the audience voting was opened.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 Episode 8 - Top 18
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Top 18

    S2:E8

    The episode opened with clips of the judge's favorite moments followed by a performance by the Six Step Crew. Then, Cat introduced this episode's judges: Nigel Lithgoe, Mia Michels and Shane Sparks. This week's pairs danced together: Travis and Martha, Jamyz and Jessica, Ivan and Allison, Dmitry and Joy, Natalie and Musa, Heidi and Ryan, Ashley and Ben, Jason and Aleksandra and Benji and Donyelle. Afterwards, voting was opened up to the audience.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 Episode 19 - Top 8 Results
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Top 8 Results

    S2:E19

    The remaining 8 dancers performed an opening number choreographed by Tyce Di Orio and set to "Cell Block Tango." Then, Cat showed a recap of last week's dances and backstage clips from last week. Next, Cat revealed the bottom 2 male and female dancers. For the females, Natalie and Allison were in the bottom 2. And, for the males Ryan and Travis were in the bottom 2. Each dancer in the bottom 2 performed a solo and then Busta Rhymes performed live. Cat announced which dancers were sent home and those 2 dancers each performed another solo.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 Episode 11 - 1 of 9 Voted Off
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - 1 of 9 Voted Off

    S7:E11

    One of the Top 9 dancers is eliminated.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  26. So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 Episode 15 - 1 of 7 Voted Off
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - 1 of 7 Voted Off

    S7:E15

    One of the Top 7 dancers is eliminated.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Hollywood: 50 Compete" is the best rated episode of "So You Think You Can Dance". It scored 8/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/3/2005. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Auditions: Brooklyn and Denver".