BWW Recap: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Crowns New Champions w/ Photos!

Amy's win was much less surprising to me, but what was surprising was that she garnered the most votes of all of the finalists. I tabbed her as the favorite from the first moment we saw her on screen, and even though I was not at all confident that she would win, I am going to cling to this fact for So You Think You Can Dance bragging rights until Season 11 (which Nigel confirmed mid-show) starts next May.

Like the men, I am positive that both Amy and Jasmine will have great careers. In fact, I would not be surprised if this isn't the most successful final four in show's history.

Now with the formalities of winners and runners-up out of the way, I am going to run through the highlights of this year's finale and give a few random, parting thoughts.

Top-20 Performance
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Ivan Koumaev
Music: "Wonderwall" by Paul Anka

It took me a minute to realize that this was not an original Paul Anka composition, but it really worked for this sexy Flapper era Broadway number. While I don't know that Paul Anka should ever be considered sexy, this was a great way to start the finale.

Paula's Performance Pick
Makenzie Dustman and Paul Karmiryan
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Music: "Edge of Glory (A Very Gaga Thanksgiving)" by Lady Gaga

This was one of the season's most beautiful routines, fueled by the incredible chemistry between Makenzie and Paul. On twitter this season, Mary Murphy has hinted that there were a number of on-stage partnerships that have turned into real-life relationships; I wonder if this might be one of them (more on this later).

Jasmine's Performance Pick
Jasmine and All-Star Marko Germar (Season Eight)
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Ray Leeper
Music: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell

In my mind, with little hints of Michael Jackson sprinkled in, this routine was the one that catapulted Jasmine to finalist status, and seeing it again only made it better. The side-step while grabbing the lapels was one of the coolest images of the entire season.

Adam's Performance Pick
Fik-shun and All-Star: tWitch (Season Four)
Choreographer: Luther Brown
Style: Hip Hop
Music: "Hello Good Morning (remix)" by Diddy-Dirty Money featuring Nicki Manaj and Rick Ross

Despite the very accurate nickname that Cat bestowed on it, the "Uncle Dance at the Wedding" is one of the most memorable visuals in the recent history of the show. While Fik-shun still has a long ways to go to reach tWitch's star power, performances like these prove that he is well on his way.

Next we were treated to a performance from the cast of the upcoming dance movie BATTLE OF THE YEAR featuring SYTYCD Season Three Alum Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval. Choreographed by Dave Scott, the number did its job... despite the nearly offensive suspension of disbelief required to watch a movie in which Josh Holloway plays a hip hop choreographer, I'm actually now interested in this movie.

Nigel's Performance Pick
The Tappers: Aaron Turner, Alexis Juliano, Curtis Holland
Choreographer: Anthony Morigerato
Style: Tap
Music: "You Really Did It (Live)" by Jason Mraz

I'm going to go ahead and say it; I love tap dancing. I don't know if it is because one of the first dancers that really impressed me was Gene Kelley, or if it's because the first Broadway show that I ever saw was BRING IN 'DA NOISE, BRING IN 'DA FUNK, but I love tap dancing, and especially tap dancing that works within the rhythms of the music, and doesn't just spastically throw in as many taps in as short amount of times as possible. This was a beautifully artistic and musical routine.

tWitch's Performance Pick
Hayley Erbert and Nico Greetham
Choreographer: John Cheesman
Style: Broadway
Music: "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" by Chita Rivera

Despite my love for nearly all things Kander and Ebb, this routine didn't do much for me the first time, nor the second, but I have to say, that straight-leg partner flip that Niko and Hayley pulled off was simply one of the most stunning tricks that the choreographers gave us all year.

Aaron's Performance Pick
Aaron and All-Star Kathryn McCormick (Season Six)
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Stacey Tookey
Music: "I'm Kissing You" by Des'ree

Aaron is a smart boy to take advantage of any opportunity to dance with the gorgeous Kathryn. When I watched this routine the first time for recapping purposes, I spent most of it watching Aaron, however, just sitting back and enjoying the number this time, I realized that the partnership and chemistry that these two performers have was extremely magnetic. The choreography and dancers provided a wonderfully elegant piece.

Top-10 Guys Performance
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Music: "Sand" by Nathan Lanier feat. Karen Whipple

I have no comments for this awesome routine, instead, I will leave it to Broadway star Ryann Redmond:

Cat's Performance Pick
Jasmine Turner and All-Star Comfort Fedoke (Season Four)
Choreographer: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo
Style: Hip Hop
Music: "Run the World (Girls) (Nappytabs Remix)" by Beyonce

I have previously said that I thought the only reason that Comfort was an All-Star was because there were very few female hip hoppers in the SYTYCD stable. That being said, Jasmine could definitely fill that role going forward. However, I have a feeling that she is going to be far too busy touring and filming music videos for a while to come back home to SYTYCD.

Right at the end of this routine we were subjected to one of the worst editing jobs in network broadcasting history. They knew the President's speech was coming, so would it really have been so difficult to stagger the performances around the scheduled interruption? I often wonder why SYTYCD seems to get so many of the logistical issues wrong; i.e. clearly explaining voting and eliminations.

After the President's Syrian speech:

Mary's Performance Pick
Tucker Knox and All-Star Robert Roland (Season Seven)
Choreographer: Broadway vet Travis Wall
Style: Contemporary
Music: "Medicine" by Daughter

This routine seems to have struck a chord with many people across the country; I am just not one of them

Season's Most Memorable Moment
Top-20 and Special Guests
Choreographer: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo
Style: Hip Hop
Music: "Puttin' On the Ritz" by Herb Alpert featuring Lani Hall

I am really glad that they re-aired the season's first routine. Watching this one-shot Lip Dub reminded me what an incredible performance event it was. Complete with cameos by the legendary Herb Alpart, many of our favorite choreographers, and Nigel trying to animate, this was one of the most impressive moments in show history.

Jenna Johnson and All-Star/Choreographer Mark Kanemura (Season 4)

Style: Jazz, Bollywood, GaGa, Crizaziness
Music: "I Am the Best" by 2NE1

While I never got on board the Jenna bandwagon, this was HEAD AND SHOULDERS my favorite number of the season. It was so weird, so bizarre, and so perfect. From now on, I am refusing to call Mark Kanemura by his given, legal name. I will only refer to him only as Lord Gaga.

Amy and Fik-shun's Performance Pick
Amy and Fik-shun
Choreographer: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo
Style: Hip Hop
Music: "After Party" by Dorrough Music

First let me say, this was an incredibly fun and sexy routine, but what I want to talk about here is that I think that Fik-shun and Cat were both giving us clues that Fik-shun and Amy are an off-screen item. Fik-shun said something to the effect of, "I think our connection will continue for a long time," and Cat referenced that fact that the pair reminded her of tWitch and his wife, fellow All-Star Allison Holker (Season 2). Not that it really matters to anyone other than the gossip hounds and fangirls, but I'm not saying, I'm just saying. If I am reading between the lines correctly, it is going to be one heck of a night for these two!

Weird GREASE-ish Performance
While I am not sure if I would call this a dance routine, perhaps a clownish performance art number, it was fun to see Nigel and Broadway vet Mary Murphy actually doing some dancing. Despite Mary's Frenchie wig, the pair looked pretty good, but they were totally upstaged by Adam Shankman.

Audience Vote Performance
Amy Yakima and All-Star/Choreographer Broadway veteran Travis Wall (Season 2)
Style: Contemporary
Music: "Wicked Game (Live at Killkenny Arts Festival, Ireland 2011)" by James Vincent McMorrow

As I said when they danced originally, this routine is what I think proved that Amy had an incredible emotional depth as a performer. Despite the bubble gum personality she had been given in her previous routines, she showed an unbelievable ability to communicate genuine pain through her dance. This might be the moment that won her this year's title.

Top-10 and All-Star Performance
Choreographer: I didn't hear them say, did any of you hear who did this number?
Style: Hip Hop
Music: "Rock Lobster (District 78 Remix)" by B52s

This was a very fun and upbeat number, but honestly, I more than anything just enjoyed seeing some of my favorites in bikinis!

After this number, Cat announced Fik-shun and Amy as this season's champions. I thoroughly enjoyed this entire season, but I felt that the last few weeks were some of the best in show history, and I am really sad to see the season end.

If you are already going through SYTYCD withdraws, comment your thoughts below, or send me your ruminations on Twitter @BWWMatt. Enjoy the So You Think You Can Dance off-season, and let's make a point to talk again, starting next May.

Photo Credit: Adam Rose/FOX