Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 2008 to 2011
Broadcast Medium: Television
CTV’s ratings success with the U.S. series So You Think You Can Dance prompted the network to secure the rights to produce a Canadian version, and auditions began in February 2008, ending in Toronto on June 9th.
The host for the series was Leah Miller. Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereaux were named as permanent judges. Alternating judges were Luther Brown and Blake McGrath, and special guest judges included Rex Harrington, Paul Becker, Sean Cheesman, Melissa Williams, Dan Karaty. Mary Murphy and Jeff Thacker.
So You Think You Can Dance Canada debuted with a two-hour episode on Thursday September 11th 2008 at 8:00pm, with a repeat the following Sunday on MuchMusic.
So You Think You Can Dance Canada began a new season on August 11th 2009. So You Think You Can Dance Canada was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, and was produced in association with CTV by Danse TV Productions, with executive producers Sandra Faire and Trisa Dayot.
Airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays on CTV, the series again featured permanent judges Jean Marc Genereux and Tré Armstrong, plus returning guest judge Luther Brown, from the set of “So You Think You Can Dance” Mary Murphy, and Blake McGrath, who put the competitors through the paces during his much anticipated and feared boot camp.
In September, 2009 Karen Kain, former principal dancer with the National Ballet, joined Jean Marc Geenereux and Tré Armstrong, along with guest judge Dan Karaty, to judge the top 14 dancers. The series ended its second season on October 25th 2009.
So You Think You Can Dance Canada returned for a third season on August 15th 2010. The six-episode series concluded on October 24th 2010.
On May 9th 2011, CTV announced that season four of the series would commence on Monday June 20th. Following the conclusion of the fourth season on September 12th, it was announced that the series would not be returning on CTV.
In a statement, CTV said :”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.
“The producers of So You Think You Can Dance Canada created four seasons of groundbreaking, high-quality television, delivering on a creative level everything you could ask for as broadcaster, and ending on a creative high note.”
Written by Pip Wedge – May, 2011