CTV Announces the Final Three Judges for So You Think You Can Dance Canada

Updated Wed. Sep. 10 2008 4:35 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

For Immediate Release (April 21, 2008)

-- Melissa Williams and Sean Cheesman to serve as special guest judges and choreographers -

-- So You Think You Can Dance judge and choreographer Dan Karaty joins the audition tour in Halifax as special guest judge --

-- CTV announces venue change in Halifax and date change in Toronto --

Toronto, ON (April 21, 2008) - CTV announced today the additional So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges set to spark dance fever across the country. Making their debut at the Halifax auditions on Monday, May 5 is star choreographer Melissa Williams from Windsor, ON, who has worked with such artists as Prince and Bryan Adams, and special guest judge Dan Karaty from the hit U.S. series So You Think You Can Dance. Calgary native Sean Cheesman, the current host and lead judge of the U.K. dance competition Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life, will make his debut as a special guest judge in Calgary on Monday, May 12.

Williams, Cheesman and Karaty join the seven previously announced So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges, including permanent judges Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux; alternating third judges Luther Brown and Blake McGrath, who is also the audition tour choreographer; and special guest judges Rex Harrington, Paul Becker and Mary Murphy. The cast is completed by series host Leah Miller.

** Media Note ** - Download photography of So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges at ctvmedia.ca

"From Prince to Tina Turner, Melissa, Sean and Dan have worked with some of the world's most electrifying artists," said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. "Canada's dance talent will surely benefit from having these mentors participate in the series."

The So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges will continue on the audition tour at the following cities on the dates listed below (subject to change):

City	Judges	Date/Location
Halifax, NS	Tré Armstrong Melissa Williams Dan Karaty	Monday, May 5 Cunard Centre (NOTE UPDATED LOCATION) 961 Marginal Rd.
Calgary, AB	Tré Armstrong Jean Marc Genereux Sean Cheesman	Monday, May 12 MacEwan Conference & Event Centre, 2500 University Drive N.W.
Montreal, QC	Tré Armstrong Jean Marc Genereux Dan Karaty	Tuesday, May 27 Théâtre St-Denis 1594 St-Denis Street
Toronto, ON	Tré Armstrong Luther Brown Mary Murphy	Monday, June 9 (NOTE DATE CHANGE) Metro Toronto Convention Centre John Bassett Theatre 255 Front Street West

Below is a list of biographies for the additional So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges

About Melissa Williams

Windsor native Melissa Williams is one of the most innovative choreographer/directors working in the entertainment industry today. Recognized for her versatility, musicality and keen eye for the stage, Williams is also known for her sexy, edgy, athletic, "rock-n-roll meets theatre" choreography. It began in 1993, when Williams embarked on a four-year experience with Prince. In 1997, Prince and Mayte called upon Williams to choreograph a three-act dance concert featuring the music of Prince and the NPG, called Around The World In A Day. After spending months choreographing, rehearsing and helping to develop the New Power Generation Dance Company, Williams found her love for live theatre. Williams has since worked with some of the most established artists in the industry, including George Michael, Bryan Adams, Michael Caine, Randy Quaid, Catherine McCormack, Carmen Electra, David LaChapelle, McG, Paul Verhoeven and Joseph Kahn. Over the past two years, Williams and her company, DM Creative, have choreographed and staged live musical productions around the world including Grease The Musical, HAIR The Musical, Generations, Piano Man and Undercover.

About Sean Cheesman

Calgary's Sean Cheesman is an internationally-renowned dancer/choreographer who has worked with some of the world's top entertainers, including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, TLC, Prince, Vanessa Williams, Carmen Electra, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Cher and Britney Spears. From his Canadian beginnings as a figure skater and dancer, Cheesman went on to study at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. In the years that followed, Cheesman toured with Janet Jackson as a choreographer and dancer. He subsequently choreographed the Diamonds and Pearls tour for Prince as well as tours for Faith Hill and No Angels. As a performer, Cheesman appeared in the film The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston. His television works include The Ride Divine, Guys Next Door, MTV, the Soul Train Music Awards and Janet Jackson's performance on Saturday Night Live. Cheesman teaches dance workshops on three continents and has written, directed and choreographed large-scale musicals in Russia and Japan. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including two MTV awards for choreography, and was also nominated for a Bob Fosse choreography award. Cheesman is currently the host and lead judge of the U.K television series Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life.

About Dan Karaty

Dan Karaty is currently a judge and choreographer on the American version of So You Think You Can Dance. 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.

For a complete list of bios for all the So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges, please visit dance.ctv.ca.

So You Think You Can Dance Canada was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced in association with CTV by Danse TV Productions. Sandra Faire and Trisa Dayot are Executive Producers. Ed Robinson is Executive Vice-President, Programming, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

About Danse TV Productions

Sandra Faire, one of Canada's leading variety producers, is also a Vice-Chair of the National Ballet of Canada and cabinet member of Grand Jeté (National Ballet School). Ms. Faire, along with Trisa Dayot and senior producers Bronwyn Warren and Millan Curry-Sharples, will helm So You Think You Can Dance Canada. The team's impressive array of Canadian award-winning programs seen include Amanda Marshall for SONY, Rita MacNeil's Celtic Celebration (CTV/PBS) and Rita MacNeil's Christmas (CTV/PBS). Both MacNeil shows were CTV's #1 Canadian specials for the year with over 1.6 million and 1.75 million viewers respectively. Their recent variety special, The Rankin Family Reunion, airs later this year (CTV). Ms. Faire still holds the record for the highest rated variety special in Canadian television, Anne Murray's Family Christmas (CBC) with a 43% share and 4.2 million viewers. Janet Lavack joins the team as producer.

About 19 Entertainment

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment (of CKX, Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ National Market® under the ticker symbol "CKXE") is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful music based entertainment, or "entertainment brands". The company has attracted a unique collection of expertise in people who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording, artist / writer and producer management, sponsorship and promotion. Simon Fuller is the most successful British music manager of all time having sold over 116 million CDs in North America alone, and is known as the creator of American Idol, the most valuable TV format in the world with an estimated value in excess of $2.5 billion.

About Dick Clark Productions, Inc.

Founded in 1957, Dick Clark Productions, Inc. ("DCP") is a leading independent producer of television programming. DCP produces perennial hits such as the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the Academy of Country Music Awards. DCP also produces popular weekly television programming, including So You Think You Can Dance, and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of American Bandstand, among other things. For additional information, please visit www.dickclarkproductions.com.

About CTV Inc.

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

 

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