A Bermudian dancer has won two tickets to the taping of the finale of the Emmy-award winning series, 'So You Think You Can Dance'.

Melanie Mendonca beat out two other finalists to win the grand prize in the National Dance Foundation's online dance competition air tickets to Los Angeles, California, hotel accommodation and tickets to Thursday's live performance.

Dancers were invited to perform a routine by husband and wife team Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo, choreographers for the popular television show,

Judges whittled eight applicants down to three.

Fifteen-year-old Melanie received 1568 votes from residents in the four-day competition; Malachi Simmons, 17, received 1447 votes and Makeda Simmons, 15, earned 168.

Runner-up Malachi received a consolation prize from two donors who were impressed with his performance $500 for study at the dance school of his choice.

Dame Jennifer Smith, chairman of the judging panel said: "We were delighted with the way the community supported this contest. Voting was intense, and the competition between Melanie and Malachi at times see-sawed back and forth.

"We congratulate them, and Makeda, for their excellent entries, and thank them all for the time they took to enter the contest."

Foundation chairman Don Kramer said: "We are indeed grateful to 'So You Think You Can Dance' co-creator and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe for arranging to have two season finale tickets donated to the National Dance Foundation

"Nigel has become a good friend of the Foundation and a great supporter of the development of dance in Bermuda."