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Flashback: SYTYCD Canada (and U.S.) Season 2 – Tara-Jean & Everett

Typically, I don’t have time to watch So You Think You Can Dance Canada where the primary judges were: Jean-Marc Généreux and Tré Armstrong. So once in a while a friend of mine would send me a video of another routine from another part of the world that would pique my interest some and then that was all.

So when a friend (and fellow PureSYTYCD blogger) of mine posted a video on my Facebook Timeline I wasn’t entirely too anxious to want to go and see it right away, instead I waited til I had a little bit of time before I decided to look at it.

She sent the video with the following comment:

It’s been so long since we had a really good memorable Broadway number (maybe neil & kent baseball from season 7 or robert & kathryn west side story, but I don’t have any memorable ones from last year!), I’d love to see more numbers with this kind of energy!!

Another friend commented:

I miss the old stage. And as long as Tyce is not directing, I tend to like the broadway, but not love.

So, upon reading the comments I decided to watch the video, and boy… my friend was right… it has been a long time since I have seen a Broadway routine with this much energy.

The theatre routine in question was choreographed by Sean Cheesman who just in the first two weeks of competition for SYTYCD Season 9 choreographed two routines that for some reasons the audience may not have connected well to from the get go. Now that’s interesting… Anyway when I say a “long time” I definitely mean a long time… like Season 2’s Benji Schwimmer and Donyelle Jones:

Ironically both were the second seasons of their respective series and both involve “power couples”. So that got me thinking, I already created a Dance Style Breakdown for SYTYCD U.S. edition, so how did the dancers breakdown of dance style fare in Canada? So I decided to take a look… Below is a quick dance style breakdown over the course of the four seasons that the show was on the air:

DANCE STYLE MALE FEMALE
Contemporary 20 24
Hip Hop 9 5
Ballroom / Latin / Salsa 8 8
Ballet 2 2
Tap 1 0
Jazz 1 2
Break Dancing 1 0
Krump 0 1

Granted, this is still a bit lopsided with Contemporary dancers building the bulk of the group… however, when looking at the individual seasons, two of them (Season 2 and 4) were rather decently balanced. While the other two seasons had an insane number of Contemporary dancers in comparison to everyone else.

The two dancers from SYTYCD Canada Season 2 were tap and contemporary and they did a rather good job of it. At the same time I found it kind of odd that Sean Cheesman would create such a technically challenging and high octane theatre / broadway routine. Yes, for SYTYCD U.S. Sean has only created Jazz related routines… what gives? Sure, Tyce is a decent choreographer and Spencer Liff just got an Emmy nomination for his Broadway routines… but if the above routine is any indication I would love to see him try his hand on Broadway as well. If only because it forces the high octane / technically challenging routines to also depends on characterizations for the dancers.

What do you think?

July 21, 2012 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

SYTYCD Canada Cancelled

After one of the most fantastic seasons yet, the Canadian version of SYTYCD has been cancelled by CTV.

Hours after crowning Jordan Clark the Season 4 winner, the announcement was made official, this would be the last season of SYTYCD Canada.

“I can confirm that we are not ordering a fifth season of the series,” Scott Henderson, vice-president of communications for Bell Media told CityNews.ca.

“After four seasons and 92 episodes, CTV has decided to pursue other program strategies. This decision was made after careful consideration, including viewership and economic factors. We remain extremely proud of the legacy of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, including raising the profile of dance in this country,”

Fans are outraged, and they are not alone. Judges, choreographers and dancers alike are all in shocked and disappointed at this news.

Jean-Marc Genereux tweeted:

Dear Fans @SYTYCDCanada.no regrets! you were the best fans in the WORLD..SHOW is gone! But NOT your passion for DANCE,it’s a CTV decision!
You will hear all kinds of reasons!!! But you know what!!! Canada loved his DANCE SHOW and I’m sure the fans will react!!!

@TreArmstrong tweeted:

“Wow…honestly can’t believe #SYTYCDCanada has been cancelled,” Armstrong said Tuesday. “So disappointing for Canada & our amazing talent. Best season EVER! Love You.”
“Hope that #SYTYCDCanada comes back to live once more…thank you for 4 great seasons,” Armstrong wrote Tuesday. “The network, production, crew & talent, love u all.”

Luther Brown tweeted:

Its sad that the show has ended but God is good and we were all blessed to be apart of Canada’s best show! We went out with a bang!!!

Stacey Tookey tweeted:

I’m so sad to hear about the cancellation of SYTYCDC but I am so proud to know a group of people with that much talent & heart!! Love u all!

For me this is sad news. Granted I still watch SYTYCD USA, but there was something special about our Canadian SYTYCD and I am sad to see that go.

A part of me hopes that it will somehow survive, but only time will tell. There are a number of petitions and complaints going on to try and save the show. In the past, I know when a company cancels something, it is usually a done deal, but you never know!

How do you feel about this news?

[Source]

September 13, 2011 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

SYTYCD Canada Alumni return to Choreograph and Assist Top 20

CTV posts:

SYTYCDC alumni returned to the Top 20 show to choreograph and work as choreographic assistants. They chatted about what it’s like being on the other side…

Season 1’s Natalli Reznik and Francis Lafrenière: Paso doblé choreographers

Natalli: Francis and I wanted to go a little dark and extreme with this routine. It’s a big battle about who is in control. Really, it’s all about passion.

Francis: I’m really proud of this piece. I love the opening, where the man paints on a frame and the woman reacts to it all.

Natalli: The piece is very passionate and we both wanted the dancers to understand the essence of the paso doblé and really embody their characters. It was tough in the beginning because they’re both ballet dancers, so they dance with their energy up, where in the paso, you need to get really grounded.

Francis: It was a challenge for us to figure out how to teach ballet dancers the paso as much as it was a challenge for them to learn it. Mostly, it was the posture that was difficult to master. The hips have to be over the balls of the feet – it’s hard to maintain over the course of a whole routine. You feel off balance the whole time.

Natalli: I loved performing the paso (in Season 1). Dancing with Francis is magical. He’s a very powerful dancer and I think we have the same intensity. He doesn’t scare me, he challenges me and I think I challenge him back.

Francis: You have to dance strong when you dance the paso. Strong and heavy.

Natalli: Even more than the technique and the steps, for me, paso doblé is a feeling. The dance is about struggle. It’s about overcoming and showing your passion.

Season 2’s Danny Lawn: Choreographic assistant for Stacey Tookey’s Top 20 contemporary duet

Danny: It’s so surreal being back here! I’ve missed everyone – the choreographers, the crew, everything about the show!

It’s such a relief being on the other side of things. I was watching the dry run and I could just sit and enjoy all of the dances.

Working with Stacey is totally a dream job. I wanted to work with her so badly on the show last year, but I didn’t. I got cut right before her group number – it was the worst! In rehearsals for the duet, she’d be giving notes and I’d be taking them all in, and then I’d have to remind myself that I wasn’t even going to be performing!

Being on the creative side with her is just so great. She’s so brilliant. The whole creation process is just so wonderful. She’d say things like, “I’m feeling something that moves this way and is circular, with this sort of intent behind it,” and we’d try things and she’d shape it until it was what she wanted. We were really part of the process.

The dancers are in a position that any little bit that can help and make it easier for them (we will try to give them). It feels so good to give back.

Season 2’s Natalie Lyons: Choreographic assistant for Lil’ C’s Top 20 krump duet

Natalie: It was such an honour that Lil’ C asked me to come from L.A. to work with him and so great to be back here, seeing everyone from last year. It’s been a great experience looking at it from a different perspective.

You don’t have to stress as much, which is nice and I just love watching the dancers in rehearsal and helping them out as much as I can. It’s easier to help them knowing how it feels to be in their shoes.

[Source]

September 5, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Remember Phairy on SYTYCD Canada?

I missed the Montreal Auditions because I was away and my PVR messed up… did Phairy return?

Here he is during season 2 auditions… almost as memorable as Vancouver’s Spandy Andy as far as characters go…

August 27, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

How SYTYCD Canada differs

So You Think You Can Dance Canada has a similar premise as SYTYCD USA, but some glaring differences. Executive Producer, Sandra Faire says diversity and risqué routines among differences between the American and Canadian shows.

Sandra Faire, SYTYCD Canada's Executive Producer.

 

The Toronto Star posted this article:

So you think So You Think You Can Dance Canada is just about dance? Think again.

For executive producer Sandra Faire, the show represents Canada in all its multicultural glory.

“A lot of people ask me what makes the show different from the United States or Australia or Britain. And I can say the dancers are more diverse, you know, Cuban, Asian, East Indian, whatever . . . the genres are more diverse, but . . . I would flip it around and say this show represents who we are,” she said in an interview.

Take this season’s top 22, just revealed on Sunday night. They include a salsa dancer who recently emigrated from Cuba, a ballroom dancer born in Ukraine, a contemporary dancer born in Kuwait, a Spanish-Haitian-Canadian hip-hop dancer, a French Canadian ballroom dancer, and a competitor who’s part Métis and combines ballet with breakdancing.

But it’s not just about the origins of the dancers. The Canadian show has introduced styles not seen on other versions of So You Think You Can Dance, including dancehall and Afro-jazz.

“Dancehall is Jamaican and Caribbean. It’s huge in the Jane-Finch area and I wanted to show it because it’s exciting,” Faire said.

“Sometimes we get criticized because it’s very down and dirty, but it’s part of who we are and it’s very much a part of our culture, and we want those kinds of things on the show.”

Since Calgary choreographer Sean Cheesman was invited to SYTYCDC to do Afro-jazz, he’s been hired on the U.S. and Australian shows, and all over the world for that style of choreography, Faire said.

She also believes the Canadian program has two of the best hip-hop choreographers in the world on its team: Luther Brown, who is also a judge, and Sho-Tyme.

Hip hop is “more than a dance,” Faire said. “It’s the culture of the streets. It’s about sex, it’s about violence, it’s about a lot of things and you want to show that authentically in the dance.”

Brown, who grew up in Jane-Finch, and Sho-Tyme, from Queens, N.Y., “show it the way it is. It’s not rhythm and blues, it’s not nice, pretty hip hop, it’s the way it authentically is and I love that about what they do.

“And I know we get criticized, but I don’t want to water it down. And Canadian audiences are more accepting for the most part.”

Still, Faire is careful to air more risqué routines after 9 p.m.

A longtime dance fan who has studied ballet and is a vice-chair of the National Ballet of Canada, Faire believes Canadians are more passionate about dance than Americans. And she notes that the Canadian show has more men in the studio audience than its U.S. counterpart.

“I think the American show is terrific and I have such respect for Nigel (Lythgoe, U.S. executive producer), but it’s a different show here, it’s a very different show.”

For one thing, the U.S. SYTYCD turned the format on its head this past season — its seventh — with a top 11 instead of a top 20 and competitors partnered with all-stars from past seasons.

Faire says there’s enough talent from past Canadian shows to support that change, but “I don’t think we want to do it yet. Maybe Season 7 or 8 if we’re lucky enough to get that.”

Besides, with so many great dancers auditioning for Season 3, it would have been excruciating to get it down to a top 10 or 11. “We could have actually had a top 26,” Faire said. “It was really hard paring it down and we had to turn down some really good dancers.”

Faire’s not taking the Canadian show live, either, as the U.S. did last season. Though it may seem counterintuitive, pre-taping episodes allows for “total spontaneity,” she said.

“We got some stuff, for instance, tonight that I think is a lot of fun and I want to leave in, and we never would have had time for it if we were live,” said Faire, referring to the Saturday night taping of Monday’s performance show.

Mind you, all that fun stuff meant producers had 20 minutes more footage than they needed for a two-hour show (with commercials) and Faire was facing an all-nighter to edit it down, but she wasn’t complaining.

“It’s a treat to be able to do something that you love, that you have a passion for, that you feel is your destiny,” she said. “How often does that happen? Not very often.”

I am glad Canada’s version is not going live and I agree it is not yet ready for an “all-star” season. I appreciate the diversity and “pushing the envelope” that happens on the Canadian show “after 9pm”

If you aren’t familiar with SYTYCD Canada’s reputation for risqué routines here is a summary:

Controversy
So You Think You Can Dance Canada has been known to push the envelope in some dances, and has set itself apart as being known to some as the sexiest version of any SYTYCD series, particularly with Bad Boy choreographer Blake McGrath’s Jazz Funk routines. In the first season Blake choreographed a Jazz-Funk number, as Nico Archambault and Lisa Auguste danced to The Pussycat Dolls hit “When I Grow Up”; it featured the two dancers to pose in some sexual ways. In Season 2 Blake’s Jazz-Funk took the form of Emanuel Sandhu & Kim Gingras dancing to the song “Love Sex Magic” by Ciara, with the routine ending with Kim in a red bikini in a magicians cut box. The most controversial routine was Blake’s Top 14 Group Jazz-Funk number to the song “LoveGame” by Lady Gaga; it involved the Top 14 dressed in leather with whips and chains in a Dominatrix theme. The routine also involved some minor guy on guy dancing with two men lying on top of each other. Hip-Hop king Luther Brown’s routines have also caused some controversy. One such routine had Daniel Dory and Jayme Rae Dailey dancing to the song “Pucker Up” by Ciara. The routine caused the dancers to lie on the ground with Jayme Rae’s face in Daniel’s crotch area; at the end of the routine Daniel ended shirtless and with his belt unbuckled. Another Luther Brown piece, in which Emanuel and Kim danced to the song “Respect My Conglomerate” by Busta Rhymes, involved Kim lifting up Emanuel’s shirt and grabbing his crotch.Also, in Johnny Bryns jazz routine Corynne Barron and Austin De Lello danced to the song “Papparazzi” by Lady Gaga where Corynne walked over Austin wth high heels.

Again, I know many of you can’t get SYTYCD Canada so here are a few of the routines mentioned…

“WHen I Grow Up”:

Here is the “Love, Sex, Magic” routine:

Here is “Pucker Up”:

Here is “Paparazzi”:

Personally, I think sex is part of dancing, not neccessarily all dancing but it shouldn’t be cut-out or censored and I feel like Canadian telelvision is more accepting of those kihds of routines. I have lived in the USA and Canada and notice USA telelvision has more violence, where Canadian television has more nudity.

Regardless, I love seeing the routines get down and dirty from time to time… rawr!

Thoughts?

[Sources: The Star & Wikipedia]

August 26, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

SYTYCD Canada Twitter Round Up

I know there are frequently twitter round-up’s posted but I wanted to start by sharing the SYTYCD Canada Twitter Accounts. If you know of any other’s let us know and we will update them.

Official SYTYCD Canada Twitter.

Judges & Choreographers
Muther Brown
Tre Armstrong
Blake McGrath
Mary Murphy
Stacey Tookery

Season 1
Natalli Reznik
Miles Faber
Vincent Noiseux
Kyle Mylrea

Season 2
Melanie Mah
Cody Bonnell
Nicholas Begin.
Natalie Lyons
Everett Smith
Kim Gingras
Amy Gardner
Jayme Rae
Danny Lawn
Taylor James
Daniel Dory

Other
Blue Print Cru

Who am I missing?

See all SYTYCD Twitter Accounts here.

*Thanks Nate for updates

August 15, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Behind the Scenes – Nico and Tara-Jean in SYTYCD Canada Season 3 commercial

We’ve all seen the new commercial for So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 3 (I posted it here)

Here are some behind the scenes photos of Nico and Tara-Jean from CTV.

See More at CTV.

Check Regularily starting next week for updates on SYTYCD Canada Season 3.

August 4, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Awesome SYTYCD Canada Promo with Nico and Tara-Jean

This is amazing… I saw it on tonight’s SYTYCD commercial break and had to record it to share with everyone… I LOVE NICO!!!

So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 3 Promo with Nico and Tara-Jean.

August 15 SYTYCD Canada starts, and I will be posting regularily here for those of you unable to watch via Much Music or CTV. (Don’t worry I fast forward through Jean-Marc too… and sometimes Leah Miller, though she is fun to make fun of…)

July 29, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

America's Best Dance Crew features SYTYCDC Alumni

Montreal-based Blueprint Cru, featuring So you Think You Can Dance Canada alumni Vincent Noiseux (Season 1 Top 8) and Nicolas Bégin (Season 2 Top 16) have made it to the Top 4 on America’s Best Dance Crew after beating out the jump-rope dance cre Saltare last week.

Original BluPrint Cru member and Top 8 SYTYCDC dancer Kim Gingras is hoping for the win.

“Top 4 is insane,” Kim says. “At first, it was just about auditioning, and then it was about making it past Regionals and getting onto the show. Top 4 seemed so far away, and all of a sudden, we’re here.

“It’s a hard competition. All of the teams are really good!”

I have watched ABDC since the beginning and this season has been quite interesting. I am, of course rooting for BluPrint Cru, however, I think their #1 Competition is the very awesome Poreotix.

Tune in to watch the final 4 battle it out – Check local listing, Canadians will find it on Much Music, American’swill find it on MTV.

Source]

March 30, 2010 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

What is Tara-Jean up to?

What is Tara-Jean up to since her win?

CTV caught up with her to see….

The reality of being Canada’s Favourite Dancer still hasn’t sunk in for Tara-Jean Popowich. “It’s been amazing, everything’s been amazing, but it still totally catches me by surprise!” she laughs.

It might not have sunk in for Tara-Jean, but it certainly has for her hometown of Lethbridge, Alta. This week, in a special ceremony, Tara-Jean was given the key to her hometown, but not before Mayor Robert Tarleck waltzed with Tara-Jean around City Hall.

“He’s a really good partner. He was leading me really well,” Tara-Jean laughs.

“The weirdest part is seeing my face everywhere and my name,” she says, adding she’s seen her photograph on billboards and on the front lawns of schools. “Even on a McDonald’s sign,” she laughs.

“Lethbridge people are so excited for me!” she says. “After Halloween, I got a whole bunch of messages about kids dressing up as Tara-Jean for Halloween! They were wearing blonde wigs and were wearing hats with dance outfits. It’s so crazy!”

Family time: Perogies and cabbage rolls

After her exciting win at the end of October, Tara-Jean headed home to spend some time with her family. “It was pretty late when I got in, but all my family surprised me. We ended up staying up until 3 o’clock in the morning,” she says.

After what she calls “the best sleep I’ve had in the last four months,” Tara-Jean indulged in a feast of her favourite foods.

“We’re such a Ukrainian family and I really missed having perogies and cabbage rolls, so that was the first thing my mom cooked for me,” she says.

Busy, busy, busy

Tara-Jean hasn’t had too much time to relax since her win, but she’s not complaining. She gets her 2010 Mazda 3 Sport next week and this week, she walked the red carpet at Flare magazine’s 30th anniversary.

“I brought three different dresses, but until the very last minute, I hadn’t picked which one I wanted to wear,” she giggles.

Though she still hasn’t figured out exactly how she’s going to spend all of her $100,000 prize money, she is helping her mom pay off the rest of her mortgage and also helping her brother with his education. With the rest of the funds, she hopes to start her own dance company and produce her own show.

Motivational speeches

Tara-Jean believes in giving back to the community that supported her throughout her SYTYCDC journey, and has been visiting Lethbridge schools to chat with excited students.

“It was kind of overwhelming at first, because all the kids just run up to you and want to take pictures and get autographs, but it’s so amazing,” she says, reveling in the position of role model.

At many of the schools, there were boxes of woodchips that said ‘Knock on wood for Tara-Jean.’ “How cute is that?” Tara-Jean beams.

“‘If I achieved something, so can you,’ she tells the students. “‘I was exactly like you, I was an average student, I didn’t come from a lot of money, just a small-town girl from Lethbridge.’

“It’s really nice to see kids really have faith in themselves,” she adds. “I love that the message is out there that you can do whatever you want no matter where you’re from. It makes me so happy.

“I was sitting in those exact same desks and look where I’ve gone. It’s a lot of hard work, but they can do it.”

Source

November 15, 2009 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com