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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

Power Rankings – So You Think You Can Dance Canada – Top 18

I always get nervous doing these power rankings, especially so early on when we haven’t seen enough of the dancers to really predict or forecast… however, I enjoy watching and will base my Power Rankings on what I saw, heard and felt about each couple’s routine.

1. Amy & Vincent
Contemporary with Blake McGrath
“When You Say My Name” – Mario Spinetti

I had goosebumps. Yes, I think Blake is a God. Yes, I am biased because of that. It was dark but this routine was beautifully choreographed and beautifully danced and it was memorable. People will vote for this!!! It was my favourite tonight!!!

2. Melanie M & Cody
Crump with Lil C
“Buck N Roll” – Tha J Squad

I love that Melanie is so versatile and even though I think Cody has the “Evan Syndrome” (Of being too cute to be “nasty” or “crump”) the two of them worked well together and they are both favourites of mine so I am thrilled they are paired together. They are likable and they rocked it so not only are they not bottom 3 I think they would be top 3 if they announced those results!

3. Emanuel & Kim
Theatre with Sean Cheeseman
“Maybe This Time” – Connie Fisher

I think Theatre can get too “Cheesey” with “Cheeseman” (heh heh!) but this was well done and the facial expressions and emotion was perfectly done. Emanuel (as someone noted in a previous comment) is very well-known in Canada for his figure skating, so I think people will continue to vote for him as he already has a huge fan-base.

4. Jayme & Daniel
Dance Hall with JaeBlaze
“So Fine” – Sean Paul

I don’t know this “Dance Hall” style, the choreo *seemed* simple (or maybe they just mastered it) but it was entertaining and I think people will vote for things that entertain them, especially when they aren’t dance instructors or specialists, bottom line is entertaining or not.. this was.

5. Tara-Jean & Everett
Salsa with Tony Meredith & Melanie LePatin
“Ana Pa’ Mi Tambor” – La Excelencia

I thought there were some awkward transitions but overall it was sexy and hot. She’s a looker and he is pretty adorable also. The routine was good enough to get calls I hope.

6. Danny & Natalie
Jazz with Melissa Williams
“Please Don’t Leave Me” – Pink

The boy underwear was distracting and awkward but the dancing was good. I am a huge fan of Natalie but tonight I felt she was a bit frantic, though her “character” was supposed to be a bit crazed… It was an average routine, with the exception of the spins which I loved.

——————- BOTTOM 3 PREDICTIONS ——————-

7. Nicholas & Jenna
Hip Hop with Show Tyme
“Blast Off” – P. Diddy & Fam

It wasn’t as hard-hitting as it could have been and though I agree he did a better job than she did, I think the judges were too rough on Jenna. This could bring in some sympathy votes on her behalf, but mostly I think it was an average performance with a mismatched couple who will be in the bottom 3.

8. Anthony & Corynne
Paso Doble with Tony & Melanie
“Fuego” – Bond

This seemed like difficult choreo and style for week 2. There was the fall, and though I don’t think it phased them enough to be a strike against them necessarily, I also don’t find Paso Doble very exciting typically… I have seen some very powerful routines that I enjoyed but this one was just average for me personally, not enough to make me want to vote sadly, I really do like Corynne (and her giggles)

9. Austin & Melanie B
Smooth Waltz with Danny Quillman
“Nights in White Satin” – Il Divo

I am not a ballroom expert, so when it comes to these routines I usually watch the feet unless something else is exceptionally interesting to captivate my attention. This routine didn’t have anything to captivate me and while watching their feet I noticed a lot of off-beat steps and awkward footing. It was pretty, but not entertaining for me. Add that they are a new couple because of being bottom 3 last week… I predict they will find themselves there once more this week. I am a bit biased, I don’t really like Austin, I mean he seems like a great dancer (his solo last week was fantastic) but his personality rubs me the wrong way ever since the group routines during audition finales… meh!

Feel free to comment what do you think?

September 1, 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