So You Think You Can Dance

[DaysFanJean]

http://www.realitytvmagazine.com:80/blog/2...u_think_yo.html

May 10, 2007

So You Think You Can Dance Returns May 24

Last summer’s hottest show, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, begins its third season in search of America’s favorite dancer. The series again promises to keep America moving to a different beat, as dancers skilled in everything from the “street” styles of hip-hop, krumping and popping to salsa, quickstep and jive compete to be named America’s favorite. Cat Deeley returns as host of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which premieres with auditions from New York Thursday, May 24 (8:00-9:25 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

The following week, auditions continue in Los Angeles and Chicago Wednesday, May 30 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Atlanta Thursday, May 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), as SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE moves to its regular time period.

Talented dancers who spark the judges’ interest during auditions are invited to call-backs in Las Vegas, where they work with top choreographers. During the call-back week, the judges choose the Top 20 dancers who will continue in the competition. The Las Vegas Round will air Wednesday, June 6 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, June 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), when the top 20 finalists – 10 males and 10 females – will be announced.

Then it will be up to America to help decide who stays in the competition. The first performance show featuring the Top 20 dancers will air Wednesday, June 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The following night, Thursday, June 14 (9:00-10:00 PM, live ET/PT tape-delayed), the first LIVE results show revealing America’s vote will air, and one male and one female performer will be sent home.

The second season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE finished Summer 2006 as the No. 1 show of the summer among Adults 18-49. The series became a hit in Season Two, in which Benji Schwimmer was voted America’s Favorite Dancer and received $100,000, a new car and a contract to appear in Celine Dion's “A New Day” show at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Following the season finale, the Top 10 dancers completed a sold-out, cross-country performance tour.

This season, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe will be permanent judges and the third judging spot will rotate among several choreographers weekly.

Judges:

Nigel Lythgoe serves as executive producer of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, as well as one of its choreographer/judges. Lythgoe, president of 19 Television, joined 19 as chief executive in 2001 from London World Television (LWT), where he was controller of entertainment and comedy. At LWT, Lythgoe attracted award-winning programming, including “Ice Warriors,” “Live By Request with Phil Collins,” “Michael Barrymore’s My Kind of Music,” “Don’t Try This At Home,” “Friday Night’s All Wright,” “TV Nightmares,” “Kids Say the Funniest Things,” “Animals Do the Funniest Things,” “Guinness World Records” and “Hidden Talents of the Rich and Famous.”

One of the UK's most respected TV talents, Lythgoe began his career at the age of ten as a dancer. Later, he switched to choreography for The Young Generation dance group and went on to choreograph over 500 television shows around the world, including those for Engelbert Humperdinck, The Muppets and five Royal Variety Performances. Lythgoe became a household name as a tough judge on the UK series “Popstars,” leading him to be dubbed "Nasty Nigel" by viewers. He has produced multiple shows, including "Gladiator," "Pop Idol" and the British version of "Survivor,” which he also directed. Lythgoe also teamed up with Ken Warwick to create and star in their own reality series, “Corkscrewed,” which aired on Fox Reality Channel in 2006.

Along with “So You Think You Can Dance” and “All American Girl,” Lythgoe’s executive producer credits include all seasons of FOX’s #1 “American Idol,” including the first-ever charity show, “Idol Gives Back,” that to date has raised over $70 million for CPEF (Charity Projects Entertainment Fund). CPEF is a U.S. charitable organization established to raise money and awareness to help combat extreme poverty in the United States and throughout the world, particularly in Africa. CPEF aims to use the power of entertainment to deliver social benefits to some of the poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable people in the world.

Mary Murphy is an in-demand film and television choreographer. The long list of stars she has coached includes Julia Roberts, Mary Steenburgen, Donnie Wahlberg and Dennis Quaid. Murphy's immediate future will include acting. She recently signed on for a featured role in the upcoming thriller "Dead of Night," directed by Jeff Fisher. Beyond her work in Hollywood, she continues to be one of the hardest-working women in dance. Murphy serves as a judge at major dance competitions across the U.S. and is a world-class technical dance instructor.

As a competitive ballroom dancer, she has won many awards, including the prestigious United States Ballroom Championships and the Austrian National Standard and Ten Dance Championships. In 2007, Murphy received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Heritage Dance Classic.

Audition Judges/Las Vegas Choreographers:

Dan Karaty made his Broadway debut in “Footloose” during his junior year at NYU. By his senior year, he was touring with Britney Spears and had appeared on the “MTV Awards” and “The Billboard Music Awards.” Karaty and his friend Wade Robson collaborated on Spears’ first Pepsi commercial and the *NSYNC World Tour.

Karaty went on to choreograph videos and tours for Jessica Simpson, Kylie Minogue,*NSYNC and Spears, and most recently choreographed the feature film "Music & Lyrics" with Hugh Grant.

Mia Michaels’ choreographic genius and passionate dance moves currently grace the stage of Cirque du Soleil’s live music concert tour, “Delirium,” and also in the long-running Las Vegas theatrical production of “Celine Dion: A New Day” at Caesars Palace. The televised opening night of Celine’s show earned Michaels an Emmy nomination for “Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live.” Michaels has also worked with such stars as Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Prince.

Michaels recently choreographed Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “Hello, Dolly!” and continues to direct music extravaganzas for Greek superstar Anna Vissi throughout Europe. She is the founder, artistic director and choreographer for RAW, the acclaimed New York-based dance company; and she has been commissioned to create works for Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Jazz Dance Chicago and Oslo Dance Ensemble. Michaels is also the Artistic Director of The Pulse dance conventions, and has held faculty positions with such prestigious dance institutions as Alvin Ailey and The Joffrey Ballet. She continues to teach master classes around the world.

Wade Robson is a major creative force with 19 years of experience in only 24 years of life. He has choreographed and directed music videos, commercials, award shows and world tours for recording artists such as Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Usher, Mya and Pink. He created, produced and starred in the cable series “The Wade Robson Project.” Since then he has written, choreographed and directed commercials for Sirius Satellite Radio and Power Shoes (which makes his own line of dance footwear), award-winning short films and groundbreaking choreography for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

Select credits include co-choreographing and directing Britney Spears’ “A Dream Within a Dream World Tour” and the special, *NSYNC’s PopOdyssey World Tour; co-choreographing Spears’s sultry “I’m A Slave 4 U” music video and Pepsi commercials; and choreographing *NSYNC's “Pop” music video.

Robson has also written and produced music for Spears, *NSYNC (including the Grammy-nominated single “Gone”), Justin Guarini, James Ingram, Backstreet Boys and Carly Simon. He recently released an album of his dance music, entitled “Wade Robson’s Project – Dance Beats, Vol. 1.”

Shane Sparks has worked with artists such as Lindsay Lohan for the 2004 “MTV Movie Awards,” Marques Houston, Omarion and Corbin Bleu, as well as on the films “You Got Served” and the sequel “Back Down.” Shane played a major role in artist development for O'Ryan, N2U and Aksent (the 18-year-old beauty who toured with Chris Brown). He was also the choreographer for *NSYNC’s 2004 “Challenge for the Children” Celebrity Basketball Game at the Office Depot Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Sparks was a judge for the 2004 World Hip-Hop Championship, and a choreographer for the Wade Robson Convention held in Miami. Recently he has been in demand to teach master classes and workshops from Florida to Japan. His face can be spotted on many dance publications and websites across the globe. He has choreographed promos for ESPN as well as Nationwide Urban Jams Dance Convention, and “The Steve Harvey Big Time Show.” He has also made a guest appearance on the urban youth show “Hip Hop Harry.”

[DaysFanJean]

I loved this show last year. To me, it was much better than DWTS and so I'm really excited to begin.