Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mia Michaels and director-choreographer Adam Shankman are returning to "So You Think You Can Dance" as resident judges on the Fox series when it launches its seventh season on Thursday, May 27.
Michaels, who has been a guest judge and choreographer on the Fox reality series, and Shankman join the show’s executive producer and co-creator, Nigel Lythgoe, on the three-judge panel. Cat Deeley hosts the series.
“I am extremely happy that Mia and Adam have returned and agreed to be resident judges,” Lythgoe said in a statement. “Mia’s outspoken approach combined with Adam’s passion will definitely add a fresh new chemistry to the panel.”
Kicking off with a two-hour season premiere, the dance series will offer some new twists, including 10 finalists competing and only one dancer eliminated per week.
Also, competitors will change partners each week, dancing with a different "SYTYCD" All-Star dancer – former series finalists who are skilled in various styles of dance.
The All-Stars include Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Comfort Fedoke, Courtney Galiano, Anya Garnis, Lauren Gottlieb, Neil Haskell, Allison Holker, Mark Kanemura, Pasha Kovalev, Kathryn McCormick, Ade Obayomi and Dominic “D-trix” Sandoval.
Michaels’ credits include Cirque du Soleil’s “Delirium" and Céline Dion’s “A New Day.” She joined "SYTYCD" in 2005 as a guest judge and contributing choreographer. She won an Emmy Award for choreography on a TV series in 2007 for Celine Dion’s “Calling You” and again in 2009 for “Mercy.”
Shankman most recently co-produced "The 81st Academy Awards" with Bill Mechanic. As a director and choreographer, his credits include “The Last Song” starring Miley Cyrus; “17 Again” starring Zac Efron; “Hairspray,” the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical; and “The Wedding Planner” starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey.
"SYTYCD" was created by Simon Fuller and Lythgoe and comes from 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions.
