The BEST episodes of So You Think You Can Dance season 9

#1 - Atlanta Auditions

Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/6/2012

The quest to find America's Favorite Dancer next came to "Hot-lanta" - Atlanta, Georgia. Last year, So You Think You Can Dance found champion Melanie Moore here. So the contestants and judges had high hopes for the Peach State's most populous city.

#2 - Meet the Top 20

Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/27/2012

They've strutted their stuff and experienced an emotional roller coaster ride to get this point. Now the 35 remaining dancers who survived Vegas Callbacks have to walk the Green Mile to find out if they've made it into this season's Top 20. It's time to find out which of your favorites are in and who's going home, as we celebrate So You Think You Can Dance's 200th episode!

#3 - Vegas Callbacks

Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/20/2012

The judges have traveled across the country in search of America's favorite dancer. Tens upon thousands of dancin' fools shook their moneymakers for the chance to join the competition. Almost 200 have made it to the next step on their journey: the Las Vegas callback round. For the next four days, these dancers would strive to survive the massive cuts in Sin City and earn a spot in Season 9's Top 20.

#4 - Dallas/New York Auditions

Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/24/2012

Now in its ninth season, the hit show So You Think You Can Dance began with auditions in New York City, one of the world's capitals of dance, then moved on to the cowboy capital of the world, Dallas, for more auditions.

#5 - L.A. Auditions

Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/30/2012

After getting off to a raucous start in New York City and Dallas, So You Think You Can Dance continued its search for America's Favorite Dancers as the show hopefuls auditioned at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.

#6 - Salt Lake City Auditions

Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/13/2012

Breathtaking beauty, raw power, and awe-inspiring are just some of the way to describe the Salt Lake City scenery - and the many hopefuls living in and around Utah who were waiting for their chance to earn that Golden Ticket to Las Vegas.

#7 - Top 20 Perform

Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/11/2012

The first official night of Season 9 competition.

#8 - Finale: The Winners are Chosen

Season 9 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/18/2012

#9 - Top 6 Perform; 2 Eliminated

Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/5/2012

The Top 6 dancers perform with All-Stars from previous seasons, and two more are eliminated. Christine Applegate is the guest judge.

#10 - Top 14 Perform

Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/15/2012

The Top 14 dancers' performances include a tribute to choreographer Mia Michaels, and four finalists are eliminated. Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, choreographers and founders of the modern dance troupe Ballet Boyz, are the guest judges.

#11 - Top 8 Perform; 2 Eliminated

Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/29/2012

The Top 8 dancers perform with All-Stars from previous seasons, and two more are eliminated. Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("Modern Family") is the guest judge.

#12 - 10 Perform; 2 Eliminated

Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/22/2012

The Top 10 dancers perform with All-Stars from previous seasons, and two more are eliminated. Also: a performance by L.A. Dance Project. "Black Swan" choreographer Benjamin Millepied is the guest judge.

#13 - Top 20 Perform Again

Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/18/2012

After competing in an electrifying first live show, the Top 20 performers of Season 9 took to the stage again to dance for their lives and your votes. By the end of the night, we'd find out which four dancers would be going home after last week's vote.

#14 - Top 4 Perform

Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/11/2012

#15 - Top 16 Perform

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/25/2012

Last week, the Top 20 dancers were whittled down to 16. On Wednesday night, those 16 competitors did their best to impress, hoping to win over fans and judges before the Top 14 and the names of the two dancers going home tonight were announced at the end of the show.