Just a few days after the Season 4 So You Think You Can Dance Canada premier, fans all over the country are geared up to embark on this year’s journey to find Canada’s next favourite dancer. Following a number of young hopefuls during the ups and downs of a difficult on air dancing competition, the new season and its judges promise to be bigger and better than any season prior. As judge Tré Armstrong reveals, viewers will be treated to sexy dancing and a lot of talent as early on as the first three minutes of the season.
“I’m anxious and nervous and excited and overwhelmed at the same time to see the show tonight,” Armstrong told andPOP on Monday, a mere few hours before the premier. “[It’s the] best season yet for sure.”
However, it’s definitely not all fun and games for the contestants. As every other season, this time around each competitor who the judges are unconvinced should proceed to Finals Week in Toronto must come face to face with their worst nightmare – a little thing called “Blake Boot Camp.”
“It’s definitely the first moment where their eyes really kind of start to bulge out of their heads and say wow, okay, I didn’t know how hard this is going to be,” says Armstrong’s co-judge and choreographer, Blake McGrath. “We do that to prepare them for the shows. It’s a really gruelling process.” The experience, which McGrath titles interesting, fun, and crazy, definitely takes its toll on the contestants’ nerves. “I think people throw up this year, actually,” the judge reveals.
Almost every major broadcaster in the U.S. has it’s own reality dance show. ABC airs “Dancing with the Stars,” MTV has “America’s Best Dance Crew,” FOX shows “So You Think You Can Dance” and Paula Abdul is the star of an upcoming CBS reality dance show.
But it’s not just a mere coincidence. The reason is simple: audiences are craving them. “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” is proof of this north of the boarder. Premiering in 2008, the Canadian reality show became an instant hit. The following year it ended season two with 11 per cent more viewers and an average audience of 1.43 million viewers.
“So You Think You Can Dance Canada has discovered some amazing talent over the past two seasons,” said CTV’s Susanne Boyce. “Show alumni are performing with Janet Jackson, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Ke$ha, and Adam Lambert, among others, making a statement about Canadian dance around the world.”
The third season kicked off Sunday at 9 p.m. EST. Performer and choreographer Blake McGrath — who’s a judge on the show — thinks this will be their biggest season yet. “I think it’s gonna be a stronger season for sure all around, from the choreography to the contestants,” he shared. “I’m really excited for it.”
For dancers hoping to make it onto the show, McGrath says the first step is training. Having confidence is a close second.
The reality show kicks off with Toronto auditions. Fans can catch weekly highlights and behind the scenes footage on demand at CTV.ca.
Keep track of the season three audition episodes with the list below:
· Sunday, August 15 at 9 p.m. ET (two hour premiere) – Toronto Auditions
· Monday, August 16 at 9 p.m. ET (two hours) – Calgary and Halifax Auditions
· Tuesday, August 17 at 8 p.m. ET (one hour) – Vancouver Auditions
· Wednesday, August 18 at 9 p.m. ET (two hours) – Montreal Auditions
· Thursday, August 19 at 9 p.m. ET (two hours) – Finals Week
· Sunday, August 22 at 9 p.m. ET (one hour) – Top 20 Reveal
Eight seasons running. A cult in Canadian pop culture. Winners of the Gemini, Teen Choice and Directors Guild of Canada Awards.
And now Degrassi: The Next Generation finally boasts its first red-carpet TV movie.
But known as a “show of the people”, the season 8 finale Paradise City: Degrassi Goes Hollywood premiere last Wednesday night at Toronto’s Bloor Cinema, allowed tons of lucky special-bracelet-wearing fans bask in Degrassi glory. A free-for-all for snagging autographs and pictures from their favorite cast members, and what’s more- the opportunity to enjoy the movie side-by-side with them too.
And the word got out not only to lucky fans. Among a packed-to-the-brim theatre audience was Camp Rock 2 stars Jordan Francis and Matthew “Mdot” Finley, So You Think You Can Dance Canada winner Nico Archambault, MuchMusic VJ Devon Soltendieck and MTV Live‘s Nicole Holness.
Get your dancing shoes ready — “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” is back.
The reality competition has been given the official go-ahead for a second season on CTV.
Audition details will be announced soon.
The show, based on a U.S. series in which viewers vote for their favourite dancer, attracted about 2,500 hopefuls during the cross-country audition tour in its first season.
Montreal’s Nico Archambault eventually won the title of Canada’s favourite dancer.
The first season was considered a ratings success, averaging 1.4 million viewers per week.
The Top 10 contestants are currently in the middle of a 15-city Canadian tour that wraps up in Kingston, Ont., on Feb. 21.
Leah Miller will be the host of the new Canadian show, “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” airing on CTV later this year.
“Leah’s vibrant charm, previous hosting experience and knowledge of dance makes her an ideal host for this exciting new series. Fun, smart and quick on her feet, viewers and competitors will fall in love with her,” said Susanne Boyce, president, creative, content and Channels of CTV.
Miller is the current host of Muchmusic’s program Much on Demand.
“I cried my eyes out when I found out – I am ecstatic! I have such respect for what dancers are capable of and I am a huge fan of the format. Hosting the homegrown edition of So You Think You Can Dance is such a privilege for me,” Miller said.
Auditions for the show kick off Monday in Vancouver and continue across the country until June.
