27-year-old Capetonian, Elizma Wildschutte, has been crowned season one of So You Think You Can Dance’s favourite dancer.

Beating Thabiso, Ash and Kim to earn the votes of thousands of South Africans, Elizma is now the proud owner of a Chery QQ car courtesy of Twist, and R190 000 in cash, courtesy of Broadway Sweets.

“I am so ecstatic! I’d like to thank South Africa for rooting for me; for voting for me; and for making me the winner tonight”, an overwhelmed Elizma said in the closing moments of the dance reality show on Saturday night.

The hour-and-a-half live finale had been filled with drama, tears and almost unbearable excitement as the search for the country’s favourite dancer entered its final moments. While head judge Harold Van Buuren, along with David Matamela, Debbie Rakusin, Adele Blank and Didi Moses, played a key role in narrowing down the thousands who entered the show to the top four, in the end it was the South African public who chose Elizma as their favourite dancer through SMS voting.

SABC1 viewers were treated to a spectacular live entertainment show on the night, with host Sade Gilliberti ensuring the pace never let up. Brilliant dancing ignited the finale with Elizma and Ash turning in a superb Afro Fusion number; Kim and Thabiso demonstrating why the Pantsula remains one of South Africa’s best-loved dance styles; Kim and Ash dishing out a scintillating Township Jive; and Elizma and Thabiso proving that Hip Hop really can compete with the classic dance styles.

For the first time, viewers were treated to solo performances by each of the four finalists – Kim, Thabiso and Elizma chose contemporary, while Ash opted for his favourite style: theatrical.

Performances by R&B star, Loyiso, and South African B-Boy champions, Duane and Jed Lawrence, added to the show. Loyiso’s performance came just before crunch time when just Thabiso and Elizma were left in the running with Kim and Ash having being eliminated minutes earlier. This added to the tension that filled the Standard Bank Arena.

A highlight of the evening was a performance by the top twenty finalists – including Blaze, who was forced to leave the competition due to illness. Viewers at home got to see all their favourites in action all over again, in a number that left no room for doubt that South African dancers are worldclass.

The judges were given a chance to select their favourite performance from the top twenty shows. Kudos were given to Megan and Bathembu’s Contemporary by Van Buuren; Megan and Darren’s Pantsula by Matamela; Marise and Blaze’s Krumping by Moses; Thabiso and Elizma’s Kwaito by Rakusin; and Kim and Ash’s Tango by Blank.

Season one of So You Think You Can Dance has proven to be a spectacular success with viewers having become one of the highest rated shows on SABC1. Over 21 episodes, South Africans had been glued to their television sets on Saturday evenings, throwing their weight behind the dancers by voting in numbers and following the drama, fun and tears - and especially, the worldclass dancing during the show’s run.

In the end, only one winner was crowned – now it is up to Elizma to take this ultimate honour into her professional career.