So You Think You Can Dance Canada (a TV show on CBC) - by Anne Shier (a.k.a. "Annie")

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_You_Think_You_Can_Dance_Canada

So You Think You Can Dance Canada is a dance competition and reality show that airs on CTV.

Based on the original American TV show So You Think You Can Dance, the Canadian series showcases the best in Canadian dancing talent. Each season, the show holds auditions in major cities across the country, scouring the nation for the top dancers in Canada. Competitors of all genres and styles try to wow the judges in the hopes of making the Top 20, which gives them the opportunity to perform on national television.

During each week's Performance Show, couples compete for the votes of the viewing public; the three couples receiving the fewest number of votes are forced to 'dance for their lives' during the Results Show in an attempt to prove to the judges that they deserve to stay. However, each week, the judges must eliminate one man and one woman from the competition (for the first five weeks, the judges themselves choose who stays and who goes, but starting in 'Top 10' week, the voters alone decide which dancers will continue on in the competition). Ultimately, one dancer will prevail. During the Season Finale, this person is crowned 'Canada's Favourite Dancer', and receives a prize of CDN $100,000 and a new car. In Seasons 2 and 3, the runner-up also received a new car.

The show is hosted by ETalk correspondent and former MuchMusic VJ Leah Miller. The judging panel features two permanent judges, Jean-Marc Généreux and Tré Armstrong, and two rotating guest judge spots. Over the years, guest judges have included Karen Kain and Rex Harrington from the National Ballet of Canada, High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, well-known Broadway choreographer Sergio Trujillo, and Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty, who are both veteran judges on the US version of the show.

During its run, the show has featured many well-known Canadian choreographers, including Luther Brown, Blake McGrath, Stacey Tookey, Sean Cheesman, Melissa Williams, Sabrina Matthews and Paul Becker. In addition, many choreographers from the US version of the show have also done work for So You Think You Can Dance Canada including Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin, Benji Schwimmer, Lil' C and Tyce Diorio.

The show also fosters an encouraging atmosphere for its own alumni: Season 1 competitors Francis Lafrenière, Natalli Reznik, Danny Arbour and winner Nico Archambault have all returned as choreographers in subsequent seasons.

copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.