As of July 2026, So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 aired in 2005 with 12 episodes. Full episode guide and where to watch below.
So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 poster
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So You Think You Can Dance Season 1

2005 12 Episodes Reality ⭐ 7/10

If you want reality entertainment that actually understands its own format, So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 is available on streaming right now. Across 1 season, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. 78 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Cat Deeley is a big part of why it works, but the format itself is the real star. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 earns its spot. The production behind So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 knows exactly which moments to let breathe. Season one features Lauren Sánchez as host, Nigel Lythgoe as the main judge, and Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels and Brian Friedman as most frequent guest judges. Cat Deeley and Nigel Lythgoe lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2005. The format has been replicated endlessly since So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 first appeared, which is its own form of tribute. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Best watched with company, So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 generates takes from everyone in the room. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. The production understands its own premise and executes on it without apology. If you have enjoyed similar formats before, this is one of the stronger examples of what the genre can do.

📡 Where to Watch So You Think You Can Dance Season 1

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🎬 So You Think You Can Dance Season 1 — Episode Guide

E1
Auditions #1 and #2: New York and Chicago
2005-07-20
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 "tell...
E2
Auditions #3: Los Angeles
2005-07-27
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 th...
E3
Hollywood: 50 Compete
2005-08-03
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 choic...
E4
Hollywood: 50 Cut to 16
2005-08-10
The 26 remaining dancers enter the "judging" room one-by-one as the choreographers tell them whether they have made it to the top 16 or not. As each dancer approaches the table, a small recap of their experiences on the show is played.
E5
Top 16
2005-08-17
Several of the choreographers are now judges. This includes Mia, Brian and Dan. Joining them to make an even four is Producer Nigel. During the first round, each of the 16 dancers will dance in pairs. The pairs are chosen by the male dancer pulling the name of a female dancer out of a hat. The p...
E6
Top 14
2005-08-24
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 females pick the partner and the males pick the style. This week, Mia is replaced by Mary as a judge (Mia has the chance to choreograph instead). N...
E7
Top 12
2005-08-31
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...
E8
Top 10
2005-09-07
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 this week reveals a new twist; when the females pick their partner, the males pick two dance styles. Each pair will dance twice, each time to a differe...
E9
Top 8
2005-09-14
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 this week reveals a new twist; when the females pick their partner, the males pick two dance styles. Each pair will dance twice, each time to a differen...
E10
Top 6
2005-09-21
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, the females pick their partner, the males pick two dance styles. Each pair will dance twice, each time to a different style, but this week they go back to the ...
E11
Top 4
2005-09-28
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, only they don’t show the actual “picking” process, and the dancers pair up differently each time allowing them all to dance together once. This week, Brian, Mi...
E12
And The Winner Is...
2005-10-05
The final 16 return for a dance together, and a 'hip-hop chorus line' called Groovaloo perform. Other than that, the episode is made up of clips from previous episodes. Throughout, the cuts are made one by one to reveal a winner.

🎭 Cast of So You Think You Can Dance Season 1

Cat Deeley
Cat Deeley
Self - Host
Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe
Self - Judge
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Self - Host
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss
Self
Matthew Morrison
Matthew Morrison
Self
Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Self
Allison Holker
Allison Holker
Self - Judge

📋 All Seasons of So You Think You Can Dance

Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9

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