So You Think You Can Dance has been one of the most exciting and toe-tapping places to be over the summer with its fifteenth season. Season 15 has seen the show go through a number of incredibly talented performers until the whole group could be narrowed down to only four. Prior to the finale, it was difficult to guess which of the four would emerge the winner. They were all very different in some ways while bearing notable similarities in others, and it felt like anybody's game until almost the very last minute. Well, the very last minute has aired, and we finally know who won: Hannahlei Cabanilla.
Before the big announcement, it was revealed that the difference in total votes for Hannahlei Cabanilla and Jensen Arnold was the closest in So You Think You Can Dance history, so the runner up can at least take solace in the fact that she very nearly won. Nevertheless, Hannahlei came out on top. The 18-year-old Anaheim Hills, CA native can now call herself "America's favorite dancer," and she won $250,000, a magazine cover, and a role in Fox's upcoming Rent. Congrats, Hannahlei!
Hannahlei Cabanilla emerged the winner after a massive two-hour finale that featured the return of some of the season's most memorable dances and dancers. There were explosive group numbers designed to hook viewers into checking out the So You Think You Can Dance Live! 2018 tour. The final four competitors were Hannahlei Cabanilla, Slavik Pustovoytov, Genessy Castillo. Jensen Arnold.
The first of the final four to be eliminated from taking the top prize was Slavik Pustovoytov. The 19-year-old from Poltova, Ukraine got the bad news about 20 minutes before the end of the finale, and not before getting to show off his hip hop and more moves. Clearly (and understandably) upset by the news, Slavik recovered quickly enough to say that he'd be back in his sparkly dance outfits for tour. Way to see the sunny side, Slavik!
The second to get the news that victory would not be theirs was Genessy Castillo. Only 18 years old, the Jamaica, NY native took the news of her third-place finish with grace and poise, despite some tears. Her performances in the finale guaranteed that she went out with a bang, and it's clear that she's nowhere near done with dance yet.
Jensen Arnold had to wait almost the full two hour before she found out that she was the runner up. The 20-year-old native of Provo, UT can still be proud of her accomplishments during the fifteenth season of So You Think You Can Dance, and it was a very close race between her and Hannahlei Cabanilla.
So You Think You Can Dance has not yet been renewed, but fans probably don't have to worry too much that it won't be back for another season. The show has become a staple in Fox's summer programming, and it provides something new to watch during months when many other series are on hiatus. Summer is the time for reality shows to rise up, and So You Think You Can Dance has done that time and time again. The odds are that the show will be back for at least one more season. For the time being, the fall TV lineup with worth thinking about.
