Tara-Jean Popowich may now be Canada's Favourite Dancer, but in the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, she, like so many other dancers, was cut before the Top 20.

If she had given up then, she would never have had the chance to earn the coveted title.

"When I was auditioning for the first season, I wanted it, but wasn't fully comfortable with my dancing," she admits, but she took Blake's advice to get into the studio and work really hard. "I worked the hardest I've ever worked in my entire life. I took class like crazy," she says.

And she came back to audition for Season 2 and wowed everyone from the moment she stepped on stage.

"I asked myself, 'Do you really want this?' and the first year, the answer would have been, 'Yah, I think so, but I don't know if I can,' but this year, the answer was 'Yes, I have to do this. I have to make Top 20.'"

Tara-Jean says this confidence and drive is essential when walking into the audition process. "You have to be true to yourself and you have to be confident with who you are," she tells Season 3 hopefuls.

"You have to stay confident from when you get in line to when you get on stage."

TJ's audition bag

Where some dancers bring fold out camping chairs and sleeping bags to stay warm, Tara-Jean bundled up in a warm coat and carried the rest of her supplies in a zebra print suitcase and in it, she packed:

• A change of clothes just in case she wanted to change her outfit.
• An overflowing makeup bag.
• Boots to keep her feet warm before she danced.
• Lots of water to keep hydrated.
• Carrot juice. "That's my thing, carrot juice! I love it!" she laughs.
• Lots of food. "Because it can be a long day," she says.
• And, of course, a piece of wood that the ever-superstitious Tara-Jean could knock on before heading up on stage.

"You have to have fun in line, especially in front of the cameras. You want to show your personality," she says. "Besides, it's probably freezing, so you might as well move!"

Solo tips

Tara-Jean knows how difficult it can be to choreograph a solo when you know that every move counts. "You want to do things you think other people will like, but you have to do what you feel comfortable doing," she insists.

Remember, you don't have very long to wow the judges, so Tara-Jean suggests you do the style that you're most confident in.

If you're a turner, show off those pirouettes. If you've got crazy stalls, your solo is the time to bust them out. If you're a jumper, throw in those fabulous jumps. "I did a big double attitude jump," Tara-Jean says, remembering her solo.

The other suggestion Tara-Jean has from her audition was making sure to connect with the judges. "It's just so important to always connect with your audience," she says.

Confidence is key

The days are long and it's important to stay motivated and not let your energy drop. "What worked for me was I closed my eyes and tried to get into the zone before I got on stage. I would picture what I was going to do and tell myself, 'Stay confident.'"

Above all, Tara-Jean believes confidence is what will get you through the long audition process and help carry you into the Top 20. "You've got to keep grounded and stay true to yourself. I can't stress that enough," she says.

And though standing in front of the panel of judges can be a nerve-wracking experience, Tara-Jean reminds dancers to take in their advice as positive feedback. "You have to remember that the judges are there to help you become a stronger and better dancer."

Getting through Blake Boot Camp

Though Tara-Jean got sent straight through to the Finals, Boarding Pass in hand, she worked with Boot Camp sergeant, Blake McGrath on the show and picked up a few tips for getting through the notoriously difficult and intricate choreography round.

"You can't psych yourself out," she says. "As soon as you psych yourself out, you're done."

She suggests dancers think of it like a class. "Have fun and think about it just as a combo, just another piece of choreography," she says. "As soon as you get intimidated or nervous, then it's really difficult. Just stay confident and you'll be fine!"

Final words of wisdom

"You're obviously there because you love dancing," Tara-Jean says, smiling. "Try to forget that it's a competition and remember that it's all for the love of dance."