-Five months ago... -♪ I'm a survivor ♪
♪ I'm not gon' give up ♪
-...the journey began. -♪ I'm not gon' stop ♪
-My name is Anthony Curley.
-...Dakayla Wilson... -...Madison Alvarado...
-The future's in front of you, and it's incredible.
-Five epic challenges.
-Welcome to the theater. -They're feeling the pressure.
-It's music video week. -It is insane production value.
-This is movie level.
-If anyone is off timing, it's not gonna work.
-T-Pain. We're working with T-Pain.
That's insane. -We're all going delirious.
-Got to fight through it. -...testing strength,
willpower... -Ohh!
-...and endurance. -Careful, careful.
-If we're on that set and any of y'all pull that?
Not gonna be hot. -There were tears...
-I really don't want to go home. -...and triumphs.
-You're a star. [ Cheers and applause ]
-Now, Anthony...
[ Cheers and applause ] ...Dakayla...
[ Cheers and applause ] ...Madison.
-Only one will rise above the rest.
-♪ I'm a survivor ♪
♪ I'm not gon' give up ♪ -You are a superstar.
-Three outstanding duets. -Hey!
-Two impossible eliminations. -I'm just so shocked!
-One incredible winner.
It's the finale... -Woo!
-...of "So You Think You Can Dance."
[ Cheers and applause ] [ Mid-tempo music plays ]
♪♪♪
-Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
♪ Now, have you ever been with a player? ♪
♪ Take you downtown where they treat me like the mayor ♪
♪ Take you to the crib, we can take it upstairs ♪
-What's upstairs? -I'mma show you later.
♪ Don't need a spatula, everything catered ♪
♪ Extra flavor, go ahead ♪
♪ Sprinkle some truffle on your mashed potatoes ♪
♪ I'm tryin' to love ♪
♪ Is you gonna love me back? ♪
♪ You only get what you give ♪
♪ Ain't you heard of that? ♪
Look here. -♪ I don't ask for much ♪
-You know what I want.
-♪ I just want what's fair ♪
♪ I'll bring that fire and desire, baby ♪
-♪ All you gotta do is meet me halfway there ♪
-♪ I deserve to be ♪
♪ With somebody as fly as me ♪
♪ Somebody this fly ♪
♪ And you deserve to be seen ♪
♪ With somebody as fly as me ♪
♪ Somebody this fly ♪
-Oh, don't let 'em trick you with the jibb talk.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪ If you don't know what we talkin' 'bout ♪
♪ I'm'a have the whole band help me spell it out ♪
♪ Yeah, if you don't know what we talkin' 'bout ♪
♪ Class in session, here's your lesson, help me spell it out ♪
♪ F ♪ -♪ F ♪
-♪ L ♪ -♪ L ♪
-♪ Y ♪ -♪ Y ♪
-♪ You ain't never seen nobody this fly ♪
And I'm gone! Unh!
-♪ I deserve to be ♪
♪ With somebody as fly as me ♪
♪ Somebody this fly ♪
♪ And you deserve to be seen ♪
♪ With somebody as fly as me ♪
♪ Somebody this fly ♪
-Oh! In the back!
-♪ Somebody this fly ♪
-Yeah, and I'm looking for somebody this...
-♪ Fly ♪
-I can't help it. I want it all.
♪ Silk Sonic, let me get the three-piece and a biscuit ♪
[ Music ends ] [ Cheers and applause ]
-Yeah!
-Oh! Lovely to see you!
Hello, everybody!
I'm Cat Deeley, and welcome to the season finale
of "So You Think You Can Dance"!
[ Cheers and applause ]
Give it up for Luther Brown,
who did that amazing routine. -Woo! Thank you.
-Thousands applied.
The panel chose their Top 10.
And of those, only three remain --
Madison, Anthony, and Dakayla. [ Cheers and applause ]
And it all comes down to this.
Tonight, our top three will dance a duet
with an eliminated dancer of their choice.
Then the panel will narrow it down to the final two.
-So hard. -Whew.
-The finalists will each perform one last solo for the judges
to prove why they deserve to be crowned the winner
of "So You Think You Can Dance."
[ Cheers and applause ]
Well, I know that each of you got to stop in
with one of our finalists
as they prepared for their duets this week.
It's time to see how those dances turned out.
We're gonna begin with Madison,
who will dance a jazz-funk routine
by choreographers Kayla Radomski and Tucker Barkley.
But who will she partner with? Take a look.
-Madison! -[ Laughs ]
-I chose Braylon because I love a dancer who gives 150% energy.
Tucker, Kayla, and I are perfectionists,
and I'm very excited to work with them.
-Madison is a performer.
She is a full-force-all-the-time dancer.
-[ Screams ] -Are you okay?
-The lift that we're trying is really tricky.
There's a lot of weight dynamics,
and if you give too much at any point, it falls.
-[ Laughs ]
-Do you got a -- -[ Screams ]
-Sorry. -[ Laughs ]
♪♪♪
-You alright? -Are you okay?
-I feel extremely stressed.
Right now, my hip is like -- I have kind of an injury.
Like, it's very sore.
I'm praying that my hip does not get aggravated.
♪♪♪
-One, two, three, four...
five, six.
-Hey! -Hello!
How's it goin'?!
-You guys want to show her what we were doing?
-Oh, yeah. -I want to play.
-Whoa! [ Indistinct shouting ]
-JoJo walked in, and I think I just, like,
stressed myself out.
I want this to be perfect.
-Okay. Here we go!
♪♪♪
-Oh, I want to throw in my two cents.
The one thing that I've been craving all season
is someone to, like, have eye contact with us three,
going crazy.
Whatever you have in your tank, use it all.
It is the last time that you will be on this stage.
♪♪♪
Yeah-ow!
Oh, my gosh, you two.
Wow! You did it!
-I'm not gonna let my hip affect me in any way.
I cannot give less than 100, especially on show day.
Trust that.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Mid-tempo music plays ]
♪♪♪
-♪ I feel like I'm on one ♪
♪ Bangin' on to someone ♪
♪ Before it comes undone ♪
♪ I'm gonna eat my cake ♪
♪ You look like a tortoise ♪
♪ Your issues are enormous ♪
♪ In my eyes you're flawless ♪
♪ I'm gonna share my cake ♪ -Woo!
-♪ I'm gonna ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]
♪ I'm gonna ♪
♪ Turn the radio on ♪
♪ Drop a Long Kong song ♪
♪ When the lights come on, we slay the beast and we eat ♪
♪ I said I'll hit the mark on the head ♪
♪ I said I'll bring you back from the dead ♪
♪ I did all that while you were in bed ♪
♪ And still had time to set the next trend ♪
♪ It's not about you ♪ Shut up!
♪ It's not about me either ♪
♪ I am my sister's keeper ♪ Chill!
♪ It's not about you ♪ Shut up!
♪ It's not about me either ♪
♪ It's us versus the Grim Reaper ♪
Chill. -Chill. Chill.
♪♪♪
-♪ We make your world bang ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
♪ What's hap-- What's hap-- What's happenin'? ♪
-Shut up!
♪♪♪
♪ It's not about ♪
♪♪♪
♪ It's not about ♪
♪♪♪
♪ It's not about you ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-Come on down here. [ Laughs ]
Down with them.
And thank you to Kayla Radomski and Tucker Barkley,
the choreographers for that routine.
Okay, panel, let's come over to you. JoJo.
-Madison, the versatility that you have shown
from your elegance and poise and softness
in Movie Week to this.
I feel like this got to take all of you
and put it into one masterpiece.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-It was the knee slide for me, honey.
The knee slide was everything. -Maks, what do you think?
-Madison, you are a femme fatale.
You're amazing.
You, my friend, are ready for any job, any opportunity,
and every spotlight. [ Cheers and applause ]
-Allison, what did you think?
-You have been our most consistent dancer,
and you've never been in the bottom, and you just showed why.
You always show up and show out, and that was an amazing routine.
So, so proud of you. [ Cheers and applause ]
I'm so happy you brought Braylon back,
'cause it's so nice to you on the stage.
-Let's hear it for Madison and Braylon!
Do a little thing. [ Cheers and applause ]
Well done, my babe. There she goes!
[ Cheers and applause continue ]
-There was a moment in Madison's dance
when she went down with her eyes.
Like, she came all the way at me.
We had eye contact, and she went like this.
-You know what I also want to know about Madison's choice?
She's so versatile.
-I love that it was jazz funk.
She thrived in it. She succeeded.
-I smiled the whole time. Was it competitive enough?
-Mm. -Yes.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Coming up, which eliminated dancer
did Anthony and Dakayla choose for their final duets?
And later, Natasha Bedingfield is here to thrill us
with an incredible all-star performance.
♪♪♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-Can we go up and give them hugs before they do their routines?
I don't know why I'm like --
Oh, I'm definitely gonna be crying tonight.
-Absolutely. I swear on my life.
Right there with you.
-Yeah. -Alright. Here we go.
This is picture. [ Cheers and applause ]
-Welcome back to the season finale
of "So You Think You Can Dance."
Next up, Anthony worked with choreographers Ivan Koumaev
and Diana Matos.
Which Top 10 dancer did he chose to take on such a challenge?
Let's find out.
♪♪♪
-Seven and a-eight and a-one.
Two and a-three.
-I'm really glad I brought 'Riyah back,
because she's literally the queen of movement.
I think a fun challenge for you will be
to not let her outdance you. -Yep.
-'Cause she's the killer. -Uh-huh.
-You know this. -Yeah.
-I'm really excited
that I get to experience this with Ivan and Diana.
It feels so full circle to me.
Like, we were just watching Ivan's season the other day.
-One, two.
-The piece that we're doing,
me and 'Riyah are kind of these, like, Western bandits,
and we just robbed a bank.
The song kind of says, like, I went out with a bang.
This is, like, it's my last hurrah moment,
and I got to make it really special.
-You feel victorious if you accomplish it.
You know what I mean? So, like, push, push, push, push.
Rotate, rotate, rotate.
Uh-huh. Okay.
We lost a lot of the notes that we just talked about.
It just became a survival game. -Yeah.
-It cannot be survival. -Yeah.
-I've been more quiet today because I have to turn off
my personality for a second and really just, like, focus.
-Seven, eight. And let's continue the --
-Yes! Don't mind me. -Yerr.
-I'm definitely making a surprise visit.
-Hello. How are you? -How are you? Nice to see you.
Remember, the connection is gonna be just as important
as the physicality right after.
-Bonnie and Clyde, you ready? -Yes.
-Yeah. -Great.
♪♪♪
-I come from a two-people thing,
and nothing I ever did was a solo.
For me, it was important that there's a relationship.
-Yes. Yes. -You got it.
-The timing!
Yeah!
-It's your show.
I want to see that Bonnie and Clyde go viral,
like, "Yo, did you see that couple do that thing?"
Make everybody proud. Make you proud.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Thud, glass breaking ]
-Hey!
[ Alarm blaring ]
[ Down-tempo introduction plays ]
♪♪♪
♪ I went out like a Q-Dawg or a cue ball ♪
♪ Bumping up against the eight-ball in a pool hall ♪
♪ As it heads to the corner pocket, finalizing game ♪
♪ Barely had any idle time ♪
♪ I vitalized the name that my ancestors left me ♪
♪ Kept these demons off my... ♪
♪ Bet these hating...be salty like the Dead Sea ♪
♪ If we never let 'em ride our wave like a Jet Ski, ooh ♪
♪♪♪
[ Audience cheering ]
♪♪♪
♪ Oh, when they ask about me ♪
♪ Say I went out with a bang ♪ [ Audience cheering ]
♪ Oh, when they ask about me ♪
♪ Say I went out with a bang ♪
-Hey! [ Cheers and applause ]
-Wow!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
You brought the house down!
Well done! Wow.
And thanks to Diana Matos and Ivan Koumaev.
-Wow. -Maks.
-Anthony, your emotional connection with Mariyah
was incredible.
You've delivered every single time.
You're a true dance warrior.
You're ready to get hired right now.
-JoJo.
-There was so much in this routine.
Flips. That's not easy at the end of that routine.
But you did it. [ Cheers and applause ]
-Allison. -Working with Ivan and Diana,
they really put you into something
that is so up your alley.
Man, you are someone that people are gonna fall in love with.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Is there anyone in the audience this evening
who'd be giving you a standing O, do you think,
for the first time, maybe?
♪♪♪
-Doing this whole experience without my mom
has been difficult.
You've been my anchor, my rock for my whole life,
and the fact that I get to end this journey out,
regardless of what happens, to see you
and tell you that we made it -- it's special.
And I love you so, so, so much.
[ Cheers and applause ] -Yes!
[ Cheers and applause ] -I love you.
-And let's hear it for them one more time!
Mariyah and Anthony!
Well done, guys.
Okay, one more duet to go, and it will come from Dakayla,
who will be dancing a contemporary piece.
Dakayla worked with choreographer Talia Favia.
But who did she trust with this all-important performance?
You heartbreaker. Take a look.
-You're going to swing, Easton, and take her down.
You're gonna put the left leg on the ground here,
and the right leg will pitch over.
-In the audition round, Easton was my partner.
And since this is my last, I wanted to end it with him.
-You want me to try it with Easton first?
-Yes. -Okay.
-Doing a contemporary piece with Talia
has been my number one dream.
I'm just really, like,
overwhelmed and overjoyed that I get to work with her.
-That...I think so, too. Okay.
So then I think we need to -- [ Chuckles ]
The queen. -Hi, hi, hi.
-Oh, my goodness. Oh.
-I'm so excited. Can I see it?
-Oh, my gosh. Yes.
♪♪♪
-Slow down,
and almost not hold onto so much strength in your arms,
but make sure that you're letting Easton
sometimes move you.
♪♪♪
Oh, gosh, that's a beautiful piece of work.
-Thank you.
-What is the story of this routine?
-Change.
There's a lot happening in my life
where everything's changing.
I'm also changing as a person,
and learning to not hold a wall in front of myself,
and just, like, really letting go.
[ Voice breaking ] Ooh, God. -So beautiful.
-I am experiencing change.
My father coming in,
me meeting somebody who could possibly be in my future.
Overall, I want to show them that
out of everything that's happening,
there's still a confident and brave
and powerful girl
who is willing to show them every single side of me.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-♪ There's something in the wind ♪
♪ I can feel it blowin' in ♪
♪ Lately, I've been thinkin' ♪
♪ It's just someone else's job to care ♪
♪ 'Cause who am I to wanna try? But ♪
♪ Change is a powerful thing ♪
♪ People are powerful beings ♪
♪ Tryin' to find the power in me to be faithful ♪
♪ Change is a powerful thing ♪
♪ I feel it comin' in me ♪
♪ Maybe by the time summer's done, I'll be able ♪
♪ To be honest ♪
♪ Capable ♪
♪ Of holding you in my arms without lettin' you fall ♪
♪ When I don't feel beautiful or stable ♪
♪ Maybe it's enough to just be where we are, because ♪
♪ There's a change gonna come ♪
♪ I don't know where or when ♪
♪ But whenever it does, we'll be here for it ♪
♪ Whenever it does, we'll be here for it ♪
♪♪♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-Wow. Dakayla and Easton!
Magical. Simply magical.
They're standing up over there.
They're crying over there.
So good. Allison?
-I am so in awe of you right now.
There's something about being a good dancer
and then someone that can make people feel something at home,
and you always deliver on that.
-She did.
-[ Laughs ]
-She's really not saying anything.
This is really happening. -I'm really trying.
I'm gonna -- I'm gonna find it.
I don't know the moment you looked in the mirror
and we're like, "Yo, I'm Dakayla."
But whatever that moment was, we saw it.
I am so insanely proud of you.
-Maks? -Dakayla, you came in,
you said, my high card is, I'm strong,
I'm athletic, and I'm physical.
I think your high card is passionate, soft, and emotional.
You've exposed yourself, and I think it looks amazing on you.
-Let's hear it one more time for Dakayla and Easton!
[ Cheers and applause ]
When we return,
the rest of the Top 10 are taking the stage
with none other than Natasha Bedingfield.
And joining them,
"So You Think You Can Dance" favorites
Alex Wong, Jasmine Harper, Bailey Munoz,
and Season 17 winner Alexis Warr.
Stay with us. They're off! You stay.
♪♪♪
-♪ So you think you can dance ♪
-Welcome back to the season finale of
"So You Think You Can Dance."
Dakayla, Madison, and Anthony
have completed the first round of the competition,
and we'll soon find out who makes the Final Two.
But all the season's Top 10 are already members
of the "So You Think You Can Dance" family.
And last week, Olivia, Avery, Jaylin, and Roman
met up with our incredible past season all-stars.
Let's take a look.
-Oh, yes! -[ Cheering ]
-The all-stars are all so amazing.
I'm so excited to work with them.
We're doing this piece to the song "Unwritten,"
with Natasha herself.
I'm just super excited to get that opportunity
to dance on stage again.
-Hi, guys.
It's so exciting to have you all in a room together,
our all-stars.
-Oh, my gosh.
I look back on it, past years,
and I'm just so grateful for the lessons learned
and being the first B-boy to ever win.
-Bailey!
-Me and my parents,
we still replay all these memories,
because it wasn't just myself through that journey.
It was past mentors and my family.
-To be part of the "So You Think You Can Dance" family
is something that you always have,
and I keep in touch with kind of everyone on my season.
-"So You Think" was the most magical thing
to have happened to me in my life.
-Alexis.
-To be able to win my season was something
that I never saw coming.
The versatility of this show
has impacted my appreciation for all styles.
It just feels so grateful
and just feels so emotional to be back.
-If I think back 11 years ago,
and to just reminisce on everything
that I was able to do simply by taking that leap of faith
and auditioning for the show -- it changed my life completely.
-You guys are now a part of
the "So You Think You Can Dance" community.
-One, two, three. [ Cheering ]
-Please put your hands together
for the "So You Think You Can Dance" alumni
and Natasha Bedingfield!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-♪ I am unwritten ♪
♪ Can't read my mind ♪
♪ I'm undefined ♪
♪ I'm just beginning ♪
♪ The pen's in my hand ♪
♪ Ending unplanned ♪
♪ Staring at the blank page before you ♪
♪ Open up the dirty window ♪
♪ Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find ♪
♪ Reaching for something in the distance ♪
♪ So close you can almost taste it ♪
♪ Release your inhibitions ♪
♪ Feel the rain on your skin ♪
♪ No one else can feel it for you ♪
♪ Only you can let it in ♪
♪ No one else, no one else ♪
♪ Can speak the words on your lips ♪
♪ Drench yourself in words unspoken ♪
♪ Live your life with arms wide open ♪
♪ Today is where your book begins ♪
♪ The rest is still unwritten ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Staring at the blank page before you ♪
♪ Open up the dirty window ♪
♪ Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find ♪
♪ Reaching for something in the distance ♪
♪ So close you can almost taste it ♪
♪ Release your inhibitions ♪
♪ Yeahh ♪
♪ Feel the rain on your skin ♪
♪ No one else can feel it for you ♪
♪ Only you can let it in ♪
♪ No one else, no one else ♪
♪ Can speak the words on your lips ♪
♪ Drench yourself in words unspoken ♪
♪ Live your life with arms wide open ♪
♪ Today is where your book begins ♪
♪ The rest is still unwritten ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Let's hear it for Natasha Bedingfield,
and the "So You Think You Can Dance" alumni!
To hear that song again --
I mean, it's on all my playlists.
Everybody knew all the words.
Everybody's singing, and I think we kind need that right now.
-Anthems, you know? -Yeah.
-And as a songwriter,
I was always trying to write anthems.
It was like, can people sing it?
-Well, you succeeded, my friend. -Thank you.
-Let's hear it one more time for Natasha Bedingfield!
When we return, who stays and who goes?
We reveal the Final Two, next.
-We have such a hard choice after this.
-A tough choice after this. Can I just stay here?
Can you guys just tell me what you come up with?
You're go make us do the hard job?
-I don't want to do the hard job.
♪♪♪
-♪ So you think you can dance ♪
-Welcome back.
We're moments away from finding out who
our two finalists are.
-I've had the time of my life.
I really felt like I was going to be at the bottom every week,
and I wasn't at the bottom, and I believe in myself
and trust myself more than I ever have.
-I've never pushed myself harder.
I want this so incredibly badly.
-All season's come down to this!
-Dakayla is my competitor, but I'm excited for her,
that we got to ride that out to the end together.
♪♪♪
-Panel, it's time for you to make a tough decision.
The Top 3 stand before you,
but for one of them, the journey will end here.
Allison, over to you.
-First, I want to start by saying your performances
were some of the best dancing and best routines
that we've ever seen on the show, ever.
[ Cheering ]
Madison, there's a really good reason
why you haven't been in the bottom.
You always put on such a great performance.
-Anthony, you've been asked for a lot of this competition.
You've delivered every single time.
-Dakayla, in the beginning of the season,
you weren't in the top, but you weren't in the bottom.
You were just kind of getting through.
And then something happened.
You've had a journey. Great job all around.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-You truly are all winners,
but only two dancers can move forward.
The dancer finishing in third place is...
♪♪♪
...Madison.
-Congratulations to Anthony and Dakayla.
Madison, come here. Give me a squeeze.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
Let's take a look at your journey.
-♪ 'Cause magic takes time ♪
-Looking back to audition day,
I did not think that I would make Top 3.
I'm not someone who expects to get something,
so I truly gave my all in this competition.
-You have been one of my top picks,
but you haven't had a moment yet
where we've seen you struggle and had to show us growth.
-You're an amazing worker,
but I think you get lost in your work
and you don't let the performer out.
♪♪♪
-I just want my character to come off very authentic.
-With this project, you showed the biggest jump.
You definitely got a huge smile out of me.
-I don't think I've ever been in so much pain,
but I feel like I have shown how strong and powerful I am.
I'm very grateful that I have made it this far
to be able to show that.
-Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for Madison!
[ Cheers and applause ]
And we have our finalists.
Never before on "So You Think You Can Dance"
has a couple gone head to head for the title.
Let's take a look at their journey, starting with Anthony.
-If you told me audition week
that I would make it in the finale,
I'd probably laugh in your face.
-Damn.
You're the Lebron James of dance.
-This has been the most eye opening experience of my life.
-Do you think she's cute? -Yes.
-[ Screams ]
-Just having these challenges and working with choreographers
week after week after week after week.
-That boy can dance his butt off.
-I've worked so hard to get to this moment.
-I had to look for you on this stage.
You got to perform for the back row.
-Being in the bottom was scary.
-Anthony,
you are moving forward to the next round.
-I'm not done. I'm not done. -You're not done.
-I can't believe I'm competing against
the love of my life right now.
That is absolutely surreal.
Not having my mom here was difficult.
I'm just very blessed she pushed me to do this show.
Winning would give me the opportunity
to finally give back to my mom.
Like, I'm taking her on vacation.
Yeah, I'm very excited to dance one last time on that stage,
and just leave it all out there.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-♪ Don't ever call me again ♪
♪ How dare you think we'll still be friends? ♪
♪ I'll suffer, I know that I will ♪
♪ But what's another heartbreak? ♪
♪ What's left of my heart to break? ♪
♪ It's been years, I'm just tryna let go ♪
♪ I'm broken 'cause I've always known ♪
♪ I don't know how I ended up here ♪
♪ But I was just better alone ♪
♪ I was just better alone, ooh ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-You asked him to do a solo. Lordy, lordy.
I'm coming to you, JoJo.
-Wow. You are so special.
You have the potential to be the best of the best.
I am honored to have gotten to witness that
with my own two eyes.
-Allison. -I think one of
my favorite things about you
is every single solo has been hands down so different.
I just feel like you were floating out there --
powerful and animalistic and in control.
And honestly, that was a professional routine.
Thank you. -Maks.
-I think you're the most honest performer
that I've seen on this stage.
10 years from now, I'm going to say I was here
when I saw this kid come into his own.
The future is in front of you, and it's incredible.
-Ladies and gentlemen,
one more time for Anthony, everybody!
Let's hear it for him.
When we return,
Dakayla will be performing her solo.
Then, it's the moment of truth.
Who will be crowned the winner
of "So You Think You Can Dance"?
We don't know You're gonna have to stay tuned!
-Look at the floor. He's bleeding.
-Huh? -Blood, sweat, and tears.
-I mean, he's bleeding -bleeding.
-That burns. That burns a lot.
♪♪♪
-♪ So you think you can dance ♪
-Welcome back to the season finale
of "So You Think You Can Dance."
It's now time for Dakayla to dance her solo for the panel.
Let's see how she made it to this moment.
♪♪♪
-If you talked to me a year ago,
I would think that none of this would be happening.
Hi. -Hi.
-Welcome.
-Coming into this competition,
I was the only one who really had no experience.
♪♪♪
But...I got a lot up my sleeve.
My biggest struggle with this process has been confidence.
-One of you was off,
and I knew instantly that it was you
because of what was on your face.
-I went through so much change the season.
I met my dad.
I started dating an incredible boy.
♪♪♪
This is the end,
and I did not think it was going to be
competing against my boyfriend,
but secretly, I would love to win.
That'd be incredible.
[ Laughs ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
♪ Desde el día en el que naci ♪
♪ Traigo la estrella que llevo ♪
♪ Sé que a nadie se la debo ♪
♪ Y solo me protege a mi ♪
♪ Solo me protege a mi ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Mírame los ojos a las millas ♪
♪ Mírame esta roca cómo brilla ♪
♪ Muerde si tienes que morder, eh ♪
♪ Muerde si tienes que morder ♪
♪ A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-Wow.
Here's looking at you, kid.
♪♪♪
Okay, who should I start with?
Maks?
-I'll let them figure this out,
but you came into this competition,
you didn't know what you had.
But that journey that you've shown us,
you really found confidence.
I've never seen somebody go through
a 10-week transformation such as this.
I thank God I was here to witness that.
-We're still standing right now. We'll sit.
-I don't want to sit!
-Honestly, this room got so hot from you.
Like, what? That was crazy. I love the energy change.
That was so good. It was so good.
-Don't forget the eye thing, too.
You got to do the... -Yeah.
-Dakayla I --
I'm just so shocked from how far you've come from day one.
You had so many classic, technical dance moments.
You had the split rolls.
You had the surprise leap.
There was so many, like, old school jazz vibes in it,
and I am so stoked to have another job to hire dancers for.
Like, don't even bother coming to the audition.
You have the gig.
Let's get Anthony out here.
Where is Anthony?
Ah, he's here, Anthony!
Our two finalists.
When we return, we crown the winner
of "So You Think You Can Dance."
Do not go anywhere.
-Wow, wow, wow.
For sure, one of the best routines
I've ever seen on the show.
-She delivered. -She looks like a winner.
She looks like someone that's like, I can do this.
-I think we have to take from week one to now
into consideration.
-But Anthony. -That felt like a finale piece.
-It did. -Yes, it did. Exactly.
-He's showing the growth. -Yes.
-It doesn't sway my choice.
-I mean, the fact that we don't agree
shows just how close it is.
This decision feels impossible. Pbbt.
-Wow.
-What are we supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?
-I don't know. -Draw sticks?
♪♪♪
♪ So you think you can dance ♪
-I didn't think that the last two spots
would be me and Anthony.
I want it so incredibly badly.
That would mean a lot to my mom and my dad.
-Performers, take your marks, please.
-Oh, my God.
-I'm this close and one spot away from $100,000
and the title of "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 18.
And I hope it's me,
but at the end of the day, if Dakayla wins,
I'm happy, too.
Competition aside,
my mom has made sacrifices for me her whole life,
and winning this money would literally give me that
final chance to give back to her and then just really show her
how thankful I really, really am.
-Alright, everybody. Let's go. -Ahh!
-Alright.
-Welcome back to the finale of "So You Think You Can Dance."
What a great show it's been, guys.
Hasn't it been amazing?
You guys have rocked it, Dakayla,
did you ever think you would be standing here?
-No. -Anthony,
how are you doing?
-I'm ecstatic.
I'm feeling every emotion in one, I think.
-Did you ever think you'd make it this far?
-No. Absolutely, no.
-Well, judges, any final words?
-Dakayla, Anthony, it has been truly an honor
watching you guys this whole season.
You guys are brilliant, breathtaking dancers.
It's made our jobs so hard tonight,
but you've also made us extremely proud.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Well, I have some results. Are you ready for them?
-Yeah. -Okay, let's do it.
♪♪♪
Good luck, guys.
♪♪♪
Thousands applied, over 100 auditioned,
and tonight, it comes down to you two incredible dancers.
I can tell you that your amazing solos split the panel.
It's the closest result we have ever had in the history of
"So You Think You Can Dance."
♪♪♪
-The winner of "So You Think You Can Dance
Season 18 is...
♪♪♪
...Anthony.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
You did it! How do you feel?
-What? -You did it!
-Here's Alexis, our Season 17 winner
to give you your trophy.
♪♪♪
Please put your hands together one more time
for the Season 18 winner, 2024,
Anthony!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪♪
-You've got a long career to go.
-Thank you. -For a long time.
It's gonna be big.
-Congratulations to Anthony and Dakayla,
and to all the dancers for making this a remarkable season.
I'm Cat Deeley. Thank you for watching.
We'll see you next time on "So You Think You Can Dance"!
Good night!
♪♪♪