A New Twist for "SYTYCD"

April 13, 2016

SYTYCD is focusing on young contestants for Season 13.

A young dancer auditions in Los Angeles. Photo by Adam Rose, Courtesy Fox.

It’s been more than 10 years since “So You Think You Can Dance” began plucking young talents from the masses and asking viewers to crown “America’s favorite dancer.” For its 13th season, beginning May 30 on Fox, “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation” will concentrate on contestants ages 8–13, across various styles of dance. Instead of the usual Las Vegas week, selected dancers will enter “The Academy,” from which a top 10 will be chosen. Then, each contestant will be paired with an All-Star dancer from a previous season. Is this the slow demise of the “So You Think” brand? At its peak, the show aired twice weekly and auditioned in six cities; this season, it will hold auditions in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo will return, with the help of a new judge, Maddie Ziegler.