Nineteen-year-old Anthony Curley from Phoenix, Arizona, has been crowned the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 18. Curley, a contemporary dance specialist, took home the $100,000 prize after beating fellow finalists Easton Magliarditi and Dakayla Wilson.
The two-hour finale, which aired on FOX last night, featured performances by the top six contestants, including a duet by Magliarditi and Wilson, who finished as runners-up.
British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield performed her hit single “Unwritten,” adding a special touch to the finale.
The judging panel for this season consisted of Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Allison Holker, and JoJo Siwa, who replaced longtime judge Nigel Lythgoe following sexual assault allegations against him.
Season 18 introduced a new format, reflecting the challenges of a freelance commercial dance career. Contestants competed in a range of performance challenges, including music videos, football halftime shows, and Broadway-style numbers. This shift aimed to provide dancers with a more diverse set of skills and experiences.
Another significant change this season was the judges’ control over eliminations, rather than leaving it to audience votes. This shift aimed to prioritize dance skill and technical ability in the competition.
Curley impressed the judges and audiences throughout the season with his emotional and technically brilliant performances. His win marks a new chapter in his dancing career, and he joins a prestigious list of So You Think You Can Dance alumni.
The So You Think You Can Dance Finale aired on FOX, Monday May 20, 2024.
