It has been a very slow month for great dance TV but all this is about to change. For the first time ever, Canadians are getting a treat because So You Think You Can Dance is coming to Canada! The show premieres Thursday September 11th on CTV and here are the details of the show as found on CTV.ca.
“So How Does ‘So You Think You Can Dance Canada’ Work?
Updated Tue. Sep. 9 2008 10:41 AM ET
Lindsay Zier-Vogel, CTV.ca
The show’s about to hit the nation but before Thursday’s premiere, let’s figure out how the show works…
Cross-Canada Auditions
Our cross-Canada audition shows feature the best of the best! So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s stellar roster of judges traveled from Vancouver to Halifax, searching for Canada’s top dancers.
How Does the Audition Process Work?
Before they even have a chance to get on stage the dancers lined up in wee hours of the morning, braving rain and wind and humidity. They nap, eat, bust a move and practice their solos while they wait, greeting old friends and meeting new ones.
The crowds erupt when host Leah Miller calls them into the theatre, and after the initial rush, there are forms to fill out, music to register, dance clothes to slip on and muscles to stretch. Before long, the dancers are finally up on stage, doing what they do best — dancing.
Solos:
After each dancer performs his or her solo for the panel of judges (in his/her own style to his/her own music), three things can happen:
* “It’s a no for me”: If the majority of the judges don’t think dancers can hold their own, they are homeward bound.
* “It’s a yes for choreography”: If the judges aren’t sure about the potential of a dancer, or just want to make sure he/she is versatile and capable of picking up choreography, the judges send him/her on to “Choreography” with Blake McGrath to learn a challenging multi-genre routine.
* “It’s a yes for me!: If the majority of the judges see great potential in a dancer, he/she will receive a “Boarding Pass” to Toronto and head straight to the Finals.
Choreography:
Dancers who are sent on to choreography perform Blake’s routine in front of the judges in small groups. After this performance, two things can happen:
* “It’s a no for me”: If the majority of the judges don’t think dancers can hold their own, their So You Think You Can Dance Canada journey ends for this year.
* “It’s a yes for me”: The strongest, most versatile dancers receive Boarding Passes to the finals.
Finalist Week in Toronto
The top dancers from each city travel to Toronto to compete for a spot in the Live Show’s Top 20.
Competitors are taught routines in several different styles by the two permanent judges, Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux, and third alternating judges, Luther Brown and Blake McGrath.
* At each stage, the judges vote on whether or not to keep the dancers in the competition.
* If the judges are split, contestants must “Dance for Their Lives” (i.e. perform a solo in their own style).
* After a grueling week, judges choose the Top 20 — ten male and ten female finalists — to participate in the live show.
Top 20 to Canada’s Favourite Dancer
With the Top 20 dancers ready and rarin’ to show Canada what they’ve got, it’s up to Canadians to decide who stays and who goes.
Each week, competitors are assigned different partners and dance styles to perform. From hip-hop, krump and pop-and-lock to salsa, quickstep, ballroom, and jive, the dancers perform group numbers, solos and duets every week.
Leah Miller hosts the evening and there will be three judges each week:
Two permanent judges: Tré Armstrong (a contemporary/funk dancer, choreographer and star of the MTV/Paramount dance film ‘How She Move’) and Jean Marc Genereux (international ballroom champion and guest judge/choreographer on the U.S. version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’).
The third judge will alternate between a series of guest judges: Paul Becker, Luther Brown, Sean Cheesman, Rex Harrington, Blake McGrath, Mary Murphy and Melissa Williams.
Top 20: The First Five Weeks
The Top 20 Contestants try to impress both the judges and the voting public so they can remain in the competition.
Performance Night:
* Dancers perform duets created by the show’s choreographers in specific styles –contemporary, hip hop, ballroom and jazz, among others.
* The judges offer their take on the couples’ performances and provide feedback.
After Performance Show:
* Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite couple(s).
Results Show:
Dancers open the show with a group number.
* The three couples that received the least number of votes are revealed.
* Dance For Your Life: These bottom six performers are given one last chance to prove themselves as dancers as they each perform a self-choreographed solo in his/her own style.
* One male and one female contestant are removed each week based on the judges’ final decision.
TOP 10: The Remaining Weeks
Once our dancers are narrowed down to the Top 10, it’s up to the public’s votes send one female and one male home each week — ending their dream of becoming Canada’s favourite dancer.
Performance Night:
* Dancers perform duets created by the show’s choreographers in specific styles –contemporary, hip hop, ballroom and jazz, among others.
* Dancers also perform their own solos
* Judges offer their take on the couples’ performances.
After Performance Show:
* Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite couple(s).
Results Show:
The remaining dancers open the show with a group number. Special guest performers will also perform for the live audience
* The male and female with lowest number of votes are revealed and eliminated.
* In this part of the competition, the judges do not have any direct control of the elimination process, and the fate of the dancers is left entirely to the viewers at home.
Season Finale:
After the tough, exhausting months-long competition, one dancer is voted number one and heads home with the highly coveted $100,000 grand prize and the title of Canada’s Favourite Dancer!”
Can’t wait to see what they have done with the show – I’ll keep you updated but feel free to send me your thoughts especially about the salsa routines!
