So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 7

Judging panel

Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman stayed on as permanent judges for season seven, with Cat Deeley again hosting. Mary Murphy left the main panel but appeared as a guest judge during Las Vegas week and at the finale. Mia Michaels joined as the third permanent judge, though this was her only season in that role.

During auditions, Lythgoe was joined by various guest judges, including Shankman and Michaels. Michaels stepped down because she felt she did not suit the panel and wanted to pursue her own projects without the show’s association. In early 2011, it was announced Murphy would return as a permanent judge for the following season.

Studio Shows

Season 7 of So You Think You Can Dance brought a wave of major changes, as executive producer Nigel Lythgoe announced. Instead of the usual top 20, the show initially planned for a top 10, but ultimately accepted 11 contestants. The way dancers learned they made the cut was also different: judges either traveled to their homes or called them personally, a shift from the old corridor walk to the panel. Partnering was overhauled too—each week, contestants were randomly paired with an All-Star, a former top dancer from a past season, and performed in that All-Star’s specialty.

Voting changed as well: contestants were judged as individuals from the start, with only one eliminated per week instead of a pair, and the finale featured just three dancers instead of four. On the first live performance show, June 16, 2010, host Cat Deeley announced new voting numbers: 1-888-6BEST## replaced the old 1-888-TEMPO##, with ## representing each dancer’s order. For the first time, the performance shows aired live, matching the results shows’ format, and the season was also the first broadcast in high-definition.

Injuries forced several cancellations: Alex Wong’s foxtrot with Anya was scrapped due to his injury; Ashley Galvan’s rumba with Pasha was canceled for the same reason; and Billy Bell’s routine with Courtney was also called off because of his injury. Guest judges included Kenny Ortega, Toni Redpath, and Tyce Diorio.

All-Stars Dance Pool

For season seven, the top eleven contestants were paired each week with a rotating group of standout dancers from earlier seasons, known as the All-Stars Dance Pool. Each All-Star specialized in a single dance style and performed only that genre with their partner. They did not create the choreography but learned it alongside the contestants.

When Allison Holker’s old back injury acted up, Katee Shean from season four filled in for her. Contestant Ashley Galvan had to sit out due to a rib injury, so McCormick took her place. Similarly, Billy Bell missed performances because of a knee injury, and Boss substituted for him.

Tour

The Season 7 tour for So You Think You Can Dance hit 40 American cities from late September through November 2010, with many performances selling out. The cast included season 7 dancers Lauren Froderman, Kent Boyd, Robert Roldan, AdéChiké Torbert, Billy Bell, Jose Ruiz, and Ashley Galvan. Joining them were all-stars Allison Holker (season 2), Dominic Sandoval (season 3), Courtney Galiano (season 4), Ade Obayomi (season 5), and Kathryn McCormick (season 6). Season 6 winner Russell Ferguson also performed.

Did You Know?

• The Las Vegas callbacks were held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• During auditions, Day 1 kicks off with individual solos, Day 2 is hip-hop, Day 3 is cha-cha, Day 4 is broadway, Day 5 is group routines, Day 6 is Contemporary, and the final day is individual solos.