Calgary and Halifax Auditions
From the mountains to the Atlantic ocean: Calgary and Halifax dancers impress
After a strong showing by Toronto's dancers, the Season 3 auditions headed west to Calgary and east to Halifax.
Dancers in both cities were bundled up in the early morning line up but neither the cold, nor the early hours could keep them from spinning, twirling, head spinning and jumping.
There's a lot at stake for these Season 3 hopefuls – not only do they have their eyes set on making it to the Top 20, they also are gunning for the title of Canada's Favourite Dancer, and $100,000. For the first time ever, the winner, runner-up and one lucky viewer will win brand new Mazda 2s.
Each dancer is assigned a number and given time to warm up for their solos. If the judges are blown away by their performances, the dancers receive Boarding Passes straight to the Finals. If the judges aren't impressed, the dancers are sent home.
If the judges aren't sure of the dancers' potential, the judges send them on to the choreography round with Blake McGrath. If they can make it through the notoriously challenging ‘Blake Boot Camp,' they still have a chance at making Season 3's Top 20.
Calgary dances
Albertan dancers braved the early morning chill by line dancing and while they taught host Leah Miller some moves, judges Jean Marc Genereux, Tré Armstrong, Luther Brown and guest judge and Alberta-born Stacey Tookey were ready to see what Cow-town had in store.
The first dancer of the auditions was Calgary's own self-defined "triple-threat," Steven Morton who kicked off the auditions with an emotional solo. "You were definitely in your own zone," Luther said.
"It was a little more passion than performance," Stacey added, and though his singing was impressive, it wasn't enough to secure him a Boarding Pass.
Next up was a hip-hop solo on pointe shoes by Edmonton's Jo Roy. The solo was a quirky, popping solo to a song from The Nutcracker that completely astounded the judges. "You're charming, you're clever," Jean Marc said, impressed. Jo was ecstatic to be the first dancer leaving with a Boarding Pass.
Erik Pipestem, 19, from Tss u'ina Nation, Alta., performed a colourful, rhythmic hoop dance, and impressed the judges enough to earn himself a spot in Blake Boot Camp.
The contemporary dancers dominated the auditions, with strong technique and inventive solos, but the hip-hop dancers made sure they hit it as hard as they could.
After a strong showing from a Latin ballroom couple, there was a stretch of solos that left the judges disappointed. "The technique just really wasn't there," Luther said graciously after one lackluster performance.
Boot Camp in Cow-town
The dancers were exhausted by the time they hit the stage for Blake Boot Camp. Blake hurt his back lifting weights, so Calgary's own Joey Matt from Season 1 got on stage to help teach Blake's challenging routine.
The dancers had a hard time picking up on the right time and the precision of Blake's choreography. The dancers deemed the experience "intense," "hectic," "crazy," "tough" and "difficult," but a stretch of thrilled dancers left with Boarding Passes and for them, the dream of making it to the Top 20 became even closer.
Halifax steps up
Last season, Canada's Favourite Dance, Tara-Jean Popowich flew to the East Coast to audition and judges Jean Marc, Tré, Luther and guest judge Dan Karaty settled into their seats behind the judging table, hoping for similar greatness.
One ballroom dancer received her permanent Canadian residency just two days before the Halifax auditions, and she and her partner kicked off the Halifax auditions with a fast paced jive that impressed the judges and scored them both Boarding Passes.
After battling back from knee surgery, ballerina Meaghan Dietrich, 23, from Bridgeport, Ont., showed off both her positive attitude and her sparkly black tutu. Dan appreciated the effortlessness of her technique and the strength of her training and off she went to the Finals.
After an exceptionally "cheesy" tap routine by a returning East Coast dancer, 18-year-old Janaye Upshaw, from Oshawa, Ont., blew the judges away with a lightening fast and joyful tap routine that earned her a Boarding Pass. "That was amazing," Tré enthused.
East Coast Boot Camp
The dancers weren't alone on stage as host Leah Miller tested out her dance skills in Blake Boot Camp.
"For the last three seasons, I've been telling Canada how tough Blake Boot Camp is. Well today, I'm going to attempt it," she said.
It was hot under the lights and the choreography was demanding, but Leah's background in dance served her well. "I really wanted to make Blake proud even though he was picking on me," she said.
A few dancers left disappointed, and one collapsed with severe muscle cramps and dehydration, but the dancers who walked away with Boarding Passes cheered and danced and showed off their moves one last time for the camera.
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