So You Think You Can Dance crowned Ricky Ubeda its eleventh-season champion during Wednesday night's live finale broadcast of the Fox reality dance competition.

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Ricky, an 18-year-old male contemporary dancer from Miami, FL, was declared the winner of So You Think You Can Dance and "America's favorite dancer" based on the combination of home viewer votes cast following the last two weeks of performance shows.

"Well, there's so many things I would like to say, but I've dreamed of this exact moment for so long, and the fact that just now it became a reality was so unreal. I'm never going to forget this experience and the bond that I've made with these 20 dancers and all the choreographers. This is such a unique experience and I just can't believe this is happening right now," an emotional Ricky said after host Cat Deeley revealed the results.

For winning the show, Ricky will receive a cover of Dance Spirit magazine, a part in the Broadway show On the Town, and $250,000.

Valerie Rockey, a 20-year-old Tap dancer from Indianapolis, IN, finished in second place.

"Hopefully other people can see me tapping and enjoy what I'm doing. Ricky, you're such a beautiful dancer and I've learned so much from you. I don't know what I'm going to do without my partner," said Valerie, who had been paired up with Ricky for half the season.

Likewise, Ricky had told the eleventh-season runner-up, "Thank you for being the best partner I ever could have asked for. I'm going to miss you so much."

Third place went to Jessica Richens, an 18-year-old Jazz dancer from Yorba Linda, CA.

"This journey has pushed me past my limits. Not in my wildest dreams did I expect to be here, and I'm just really, really grateful that I've gotten to do this," Jessica noted, adding that she would've missed out on a lot had she not auditioned for the season.

"I think I would've missed out on meeting this group of people, the whole So You Think You Can Dance family. I have never loved a group of people as much as I've loved them. We share this passion for dance and we get to share it with the world, and I never would have been able to share it with everyone, so I'm so grateful."

Zack Everhart Jr., a 20-year-old Tap dancer from Kennesaw, GA, landed in fourth place.

"It's been so inspiring to be here. I don't know how anybody could go through this and not be changed for the better... This show has given me everything. It's completely rekindled my passion for dance and I can't wait to see what comes next," Zack told Cat.

Wednesday night's finale broadcast featured a variety of performances for regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy as well as guest judges Tara Lipinski, Adam Shankman, Jenna Dewan Tatum, and Debbie Allen. Memorable dances were reprised and the Top 4 finalists were able to perform their favorite routine again.

Last week's final performance show had featured the Top 4 finalists performing a solo, a routine with one another and also a number with a So You Think You Can Dance all-star for Nigel, Mary and guest judge Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The week prior, the Top 6 finalists performed for home viewer votes.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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