Fox had a problem back in 2012. The reality TV landscape was shifting, audiences were getting a bit restless, and the grueling schedule of a twice-weekly live show was eating up budget and airtime like crazy. So, the producers did something radical. They cut the results show. Just like that, So You Think You Can Dance US Season 9 became the year the "Results Show" died, forcing Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy to deliver news to the dancers in a way that felt rushed, frantic, and—honestly—kind of heartbreaking.
It changed the DNA of the competition.
Before we got to the season 9 premiere on May 24, 2012, fans were used to the classic format: perform Wednesday, bite your nails Thursday. By moving to a once-a-week broadcast, the stakes for every single pointed toe and pirouette skyrocketed. You didn't have twenty-four hours to rally a fanbase anymore. You had to be perfect right now.
The Two-Winner Twist Nobody Saw Coming
Look, usually there’s one "America’s Favorite Dancer." That’s the rule. But Season 9 decided to throw the rulebook into the trash. For the first time in the franchise’s history, we ended up with two winners: Eliana Girard and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp.
It was a total ballet takeover.
Usually, the show favors the "street" dancers or the contemporary powerhouses because that's what looks cool in a 90-second voting window. But Eliana and Chehon were different. Eliana had this terrifyingly perfect technique mixed with a personality that just popped through the screen. Chehon? He was the "stoic" guy. Early on, the judges kept nagging him about his "lack of connection," which is basically judge-speak for "stop being so technically perfect and show us you’re a human being."
Watching him break through that wall was the real narrative arc of the season. When he finally hit that emotional peak, it wasn't just good TV; it was a masterclass in artistic growth. Having two winners felt like a bit of a cop-out to some purists, but it honestly reflected the sheer talent level of that Top 20. You couldn't choose. You just couldn't.
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The Audition Grind and the Vegas Pressure Cooker
The journey didn't start on the big stage, obviously. We went through Salt Lake City, New York, Dallas, and LA.
Vegas Week was a nightmare in 2012.
If you've ever wondered how these kids stay awake, the answer is they don't. They’re caffeinated, crying, and trying to learn a Tyce Diorio jazz routine at 3:00 AM. It’s brutal. Season 9’s Vegas Week saw some of the most heartbreaking cuts, including guys who seemed like "locks" for the Top 20 but crumbled under the weight of the ballroom round. Ballroom is always the "contender killer." If you can't lead a Cha-cha, you’re going home, no matter how many backflips you can do.
Why the Contemporary Routines This Year Felt Different
Contemporary is the bread and butter of this show. We know this. But in So You Think You Can Dance US Season 9, the choreographers seemed to be trying to outdo the "Addiction" or "Breast Cancer" routines of years past.
Mia Michaels made a brief, glorious return as a guest judge, but the real MVP of the season was arguably Travis Wall.
Think back to the "Kiss of the Spider Woman" routine or anything he did with Lindsay Arnold and Cole Horibe. Cole was an interesting case study. He was a martial artist. Not a dancer—a martial artist who danced. The way the choreographers utilized his specific "anime-hero" movement style made for some of the most visually arresting moments in the show's history.
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- The Stepping Routine: Remember the Top 20 stepping number? It was loud, percussive, and completely out of the comfort zone for the ballerinas.
- The Guest Judges: We had Zooey Deschanel, Christina Applegate, and even Jesse Tyler Ferguson. They brought a fan-girl/fan-boy energy that balanced out Nigel’s occasionally grumpy "old school" critiques.
- The 200th Episode: This season hit the 200-episode milestone. That’s insane for a show about contemporary dance.
The "All-Star" Factor
By the time we hit the Top 10, the show brought back the All-Stars. This is where the season really caught fire. There is a massive difference between a contestant dancing with another nervous contestant and a contestant dancing with Allison Holker or tWitch.
Rest in peace, Stephen "tWitch" Boss. His presence in Season 9 as an All-Star reminded everyone why the show exists. He didn't just dance; he mentored. When he stepped on stage with someone like Witney Carson, he elevated them. You could see the "lightbulb" moment happening in real-time.
Witney, by the way, is a perfect example of the SYTYCD-to-superstar pipeline. Before she was a household name on Dancing with the Stars, she was the 18-year-old ballroom girl from Utah who was constantly being told she was "too sexy" or "too pageant." Season 9 was her proving ground. She had to show she could do more than a Samba. Watching her tackle a Luther Brown hip-hop routine was like watching a completely different person.
The Controversy of the "No Results Show" Format
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. The format change sucked for the dancers.
In previous seasons, you’d perform, and then the next night you’d find out if you were safe. In Season 9, they announced the bottom three couples at the start of the show based on last week's votes.
Imagine being told you’re in the bottom and then having to immediately go out and perform a joyful, high-energy Bollywood routine. It’s a psychological gauntlet. Nigel defended it saying it kept the show "fast-paced," but you could feel the anxiety dripping off the contestants. They were dancing for their lives while the executioner was already standing in the wings.
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This change also meant the "dance for your life" solos were sometimes skipped if the judges had already made up their minds. Fans hated that. We want to see the 30-second desperation solos! That’s where the rawest talent usually hides.
The Standout Talents You Probably Forgot
Everyone remembers Eliana and Chehon. Maybe you remember Cyrus "Glitch" Spencer.
Cyrus was the ultimate underdog. He was an animator. A popper. He had zero formal training. Putting him in a contemporary piece with a pro was like putting a fish in a forest and telling it to climb a tree. But the guy wouldn't quit. He became the emotional heart of So You Think You Can Dance US Season 9 because he represented the "you" in "So You Think You Can Dance."
Then there was Tiffany Maher. She was the powerhouse that almost took it all. Her "Turning Tables" routine? Chills. Pure chills. She was the definition of "underrated" until the final weeks when she suddenly became the one to beat.
The Technical Shift in Season 9
Technically, the show looked better this year. The lighting design for the live shows in Season 9 moved toward a more cinematic feel. If you go back and watch the Season 2 or 3 clips on YouTube, they look like they were filmed in a high school gym compared to the sleek, LED-heavy production of 2012.
The music choices also took a turn toward the "indie-alternative" scene. We moved away from just using Top 40 hits and started seeing more Florence + The Machine, more obscure Icelandic tracks, and haunting covers. It gave the season a moodier, more sophisticated vibe. It felt less like a reality competition and more like a touring dance company.
Actionable Insights for SYTYCD Superfans
If you're looking to revisit this era of dance or you're a student of the craft, here is how you should digest Season 9:
- Study the "All-Star" Dynamics: If you are a dancer, watch how the Season 9 Top 10 adapt to their All-Star partners. Notice how the All-Stars "frame" the contestants to make them look better. It’s a lesson in partnership.
- The "Glitch" Method: Watch Cyrus Spencer’s journey if you’re a non-traditional dancer. He proved that "musicality" often beats "technique" in the eyes of a voting public. He stayed in the pocket of the music even when he didn't know the steps.
- Track the "DWTS" Pipeline: Watch Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold in their original habitat. It’s fascinating to see their growth from "young hopefuls" to the professional titans they are now.
- The Ballet Blueprint: If you think ballet is boring, watch Chehon’s "Le Corsaire" solo and then his contemporary work. It’s the best argument for why every dancer needs a foundation in classical movement.
So You Think You Can Dance US Season 9 wasn't just another year of TV. It was the year the show grew up, trimmed the fat, and proved that even with a weird new schedule and two winners, the talent was simply too big to be contained by a single trophy. It remains one of the most technically proficient seasons ever aired. Go back and watch the Eliana/Alex Wong "Bang Bang" routine. It still holds up today. Honestly, it might be one of the best things ever put on television. Period.