On Saturday night (1 November) 27-year old Capetonian
Elizma Wildschutte was officially crowned Mzansi's Favourite dancer in the Grand Finale of
So You Think You Can Dance SA held at the Standard Bank Arena, Jozi.
As predicted by TVSA readers in last weeks poll, Elizma danced the title away from her three fellow contenders
Kim McCusker,
Thabiso Lebuka and
Ashley Searle and sped off in a Cherry car, R190 000 richer.
“I am so ecstatic!" Elizma said after the lights went down on the show. "I’d like to thank South Africa for rooting for me; for voting for me, and for making me the winner tonight.”
The hour-and-a-half live finale began with the ultimate
Haroldism when the thesaurising head judge told the four finalists they had to dance with such passion they needed to do die in the process.
The four then tried to please him as they performed various partner numbers, as well one solo routine each. Elizma, Kim and Thabiso chose contemporary while Ash opted for his favourite style: theatrical.
In between their sweat and tears the judges were asked to choose their favourite performance from the Top 20 so they could be re-performed.
Harold chose Megan and Bathembu’s contemporary,
David Matamela chose Megan and Darren’s pantsula,
Didi Moses chose Marise and thin-looking Blaze’s krumping,
Debbie Rakusin chose Thabiso and Elizma’s kwaito and
Adele Blank chose Kim and Ash’s tango.
The Top 20 also made a comeback to dance as a group to Loyiso's Take Me Back and Loyiso himself performed his track Dali Wami, just before crunch time that came down to Thabiso and Elizma.
Kim was eliminated first in fourth place, then Ash in third position before the final showdown between Elizma and Thabiso.
Both shared their last words before the results were revealed. "I'd like to thank all South Africans for supporting the show," said Thabiso. "It's given dancers a great platform and I think we're going to use it."
"We are going to be the pioneers of dance and are going to take this SO much further," Elizma extended.
The audience screamed, the lights dimmed, the music went heart-beat,
Sade Giliberti opened the finale envelope and Elizma's win exploded as the Top 20 flew onto the stage to surround her in victory.
And so it is the first South African season of So You Think you Can Dance has come to an end.
Will there be a second? We'll put our head on a block there will be!