So You Think You Can Dance Canada starts tomorrow, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
A few people have asked if it will follow the same format as the USA season did with all-stars and a Top 10 (well, 11).
Quite simply, no.
This is only Canada’s third season and although all the dancers are all-stars in my book, there isn’t enough to make it as successful as the USA Season 7 all-stars version was. Perhaps in a few seasons Canada will try it but for this season it will be the same with a top 20.
Starting tomorrow and over the next two weeks we will see the Cross-Canada Auditions from Toronto, Calgary, Halifax, Vancouver and Montreal.
Here is how it will work, in case you have forgotten.
Dancers will do their solo’s and one of three things will 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. [Blake Bootcamp]
“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. [like the USA “Vegas”]
Those who go to Choreo with Blake then have one of two things happen:
“It’s a no for me”: If the majority of the judges don’t think dancers are ready for the show, 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 Finals Week.
Finals Week in Toronto
Then the best dancers from each city head to “VEGAS” – – – OK, Toronto (same idea)
Here is what happens there:
Competitors are taught routines in several different styles by prominent choreographers.
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).
Then judges choose the Top 20 — ten male and ten female finalists — to participate in the live show.
As a reminder here is the schedule for the first two weeks:
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
Monday, August 23 at 9 p.m. ET (two hours) – Top 20 Performance
Tuesday, August 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET (half hour) – Top 20 Results
[Source: CTV]