Toronto Auditions
With visions of Tara-Jean Popowich, Canada's Favourite Dancer, winning Season 2, bursting into excited tears and the image of Nico Archambault celebrating his Season 1 win amidst gold confetti, Canada's dancers were excited to audition for the third season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
With leaps and kicks in the shadow of the iconic CN Tower, Toronto dancers were nervous, anxious and excited to kick off Season 3's audition tour.
The competition was fierce as dancers strived for a place in the Top 20 and the chance to win the title of Canada's Favourite dancer, $100,000 and, for the first time ever, the winner, runner-up and one lucky viewer will win a Mazda 2.
The esteemed judging panel
When the audition tour arrived in Toronto, judges Jean Marc Genereux, Tré Armstrong, Luther Brown and Mary Murphy were ready to dish difficult truths, and witness tears, heartache and pure elation.
For the uninitiated, the audition process on SYTYCDC goes like this: Each dancer is assigned a number and given time to warm up. They then have just one minute to impress the judges with their solos.
If the judges are blown away, they receive a Boarding Pass straight to the Finals. If they're not, they're sent home.
If the judges aren't sure, the dancers are sent to Choreography with Blake McGrath to prove they can pick up the challenging routine. If they can make it through ‘Blake Boot Camp,' they still have a chance at making Season 3's Top 20.
Contemporary, breaking and hip-hop
"The beauty of dance is that we get to express ourselves and share so much with the entire world," Mary said from behind the judging desk.
The day started out on a high note as the very first dancer went straight to the Finals and it didn't stop there – the judges saw Top 20 potential in the first few auditions! The stakes were high for these anxious hopefuls as during the Season 2 auditions, 9 of the Top 20 dancers were chosen in Toronto.
The contemporary dancers were well-trained with strong technique and beautiful lines and impressed the judges with their passion and original choreography.
The contemporary dancers weren't the only dancers impressing the judges. Break dancers wowed the judges with their windmills and head spins.
Breaker Christian "Cee" Ancheta broke out of his loose pants and top to reveal the same blue unitard he wore during the Season 2 auditions. "I trained every day in this one piece just for this time," he said smiling, after receiving a Boarding Pass.
Two hip-hop dancers who were cut during Finals Week last year were advised to work on their technique and took the judges' comments to heart, trading in their sneaks for ballet shoes. The tendus paid off for both of them though and they both ended up getting Boarding Passes to Toronto.
A few missteps
Where the first Bollywood dancer of the day wasn't well trained enough to continue in the competition, Nisheeth Proshanti, 22, Toronto, a classical Indian dancer, impressed the panel with her precision and was asked to try her hand at Blake Boot Camp.
The first of two Toronto cheerleaders suffered through a dancer's worst nightmare –blanking on her choreography on stage – and didn't quite make the cut, where Raptor's cheerleader Sarah Vance, 22, Waterloo, Ont., got herself a Boarding Pass to the Finals.
"I feel the joy that you feel about your own dancing," Mary said.
But for every few solid routines, there was a serious ‘hot mess.' "It's just not for this show," Luther said judiciously after a montage of the series of disastrous dances.
Blake Boot Camp
After an extremely long and exhausting day, the remaining dancers got ready for Blake McGrath – renowned for setting some of the most difficult choreography on any SYTYCD world stage.
It was incredibly complex movement and Blake played drill sergeant, demanding intensity and precision from each and every dancer.
The dancers on stage agreed that the movement was "crazy fast," but even with the pressure mounting, everyone in the first three groups got tickets to the Finals.
There were disappointed dancers who left with broken hearts, but happy dancers replaced the tears and grateful dancers cheered and danced down the sidewalk, Boarding Passes in hand.
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