So You Think You Can Dance? is a reality show on FOX that capitalizes on the popularity of reality show dancing. It first premiered in July of 2005 and showcased a format similar to that of the innovative American Idols. America was glued to discover who the next breakout dance star would be and ratings were solid. Despite the abundance of reality shows and even dancing themed shows, So You Think You Can Dance? was the #1 rated show in the year 2006 for younger prime demographic viewers.
The show is produced by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe as well as 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions. What’s interesting about this show is that the contestants can be anybody, from unknown street dancers to even national championship dancers. All contestants will have to answer to the same challenges and finish a demanding audition process. They will have to perform different dance styles and with different partners every week in order to test their dancing talent and versatility.
There are auditions held in every major city across the country and the talent scouts check for all sorts of dancing backgrounds, including ballroom, salsa, street dance, jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary. The grand prizes are generous to say the least and in the past have included cash prizes of $250,000 or even a new SUV vehicle.
