| So You Think You Can Dance Australia | |
|---|---|
So You Think You Can Dance Australia logo |
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| Genre | Interactive reality game show |
| Created by | Simon Fuller Nigel Lythgoe |
| Presented by | Natalie Bassingthwaighte |
| Judges | Future Josh Horner (2012-) Former Jason Coleman Matt Lee Bonnie Lythgoe |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 75 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | FremantleMedia Australia |
| Location(s) | Sydney |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | FremantleMedia Australia |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Network Ten |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audio format | Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| Original run | 3 February 2008 – 21 April 2010 |
So You Think You Can Dance Australia was an Australian version of the American reality dance-off series So You Think You Can Dance.[1] The show is hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, with Jason Coleman, Matt Lee and Bonnie Lythgoe acting as the judges.
The first season began airing on Sunday, 3 February 2008 at 7.30 pm and continued on Sundays and Mondays until the final on 27 April 2008.[2] The program's second season began airing on Sunday, 1 February 2009 and continued on Sundays and Mondays until the final on 26 April 2009. The third season began on 31 January 2010 and continued on Wednesdays and Thursdays until 21 April 2010.
Through telephone and SMS text voting, viewers have chosen nineteen year old Broadway dancer Jack Chambers (Entertainer), eighteen year old Ballet dancer Talia Fowler and eighteen year old Contemporary dancer Robbie Kmetoni as Australia's Favourite Dancer. The eligible age-range for contestants is currently 18–35 years old.
In July 2010 it was announced Network Ten had cancelled So You Think You Can Dance Australia in favour of a new musical/dancing format for 2011. However, Network Ten says they are in continual discussions with production company FremantleMedia Australia regarding the format's future.[3]
In October 2011, Ten began airing ads for So You Think You Can Dance Australia implying it would be returning soon, but Ten were yet to release details on when.
Contents |
| Male contestant | Female contestant |
| Season | Year(s) | Winner | Runner-Up | 3rd Place | 4th Place | Host | Judge(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2008 | Jack Chambers1 (Jazz/Funk/Hip Hop) |
Rhys Bobridge1 (Contemporary/Jazz) |
Kate Wormald (Commercial Jazz) |
Demi Sorono1 (Hip-Hop) |
Natalie Bassingthwaighte | Bonnie Lythgoe Jason Coleman Matt Lee |
| Season 2 | 2009 | Talia Fowler (Ballet) |
Charlie Bartley1 (Hip-Hop) |
Amy Campbell (Contemporary) |
Ben Veitch (Jazz) |
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| Season 3 | 2010 | Robbie Kmetoni (Contemporary) |
Jessie Hesketh (Contemporary) |
Ivy Heeney (Jazz/Ballet) |
Phillipe Witana (Hip-Hop) |
1 These contestants are the only ones to have never been in the bottom three couples or the bottom four dancers throughout the entire season.
Auditions for the first season were held during July and August 2008 in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. After being selected, through either an impressive initial audition or after a choreography workshop, the top 100 finalists spent a week in Sydney for more auditions, ultimately forming a Top 20. Auditions began on 9 October 2007 in Brisbane, Queensland and ended in Sydney, New South Wales on 6 November 2007. A 600 seat arena was constructed in Sydney for the finals. Jack Chambers was announced as the winner on 26 April 2008. Chambers won $200,000 prize money and the title of Australia's Favourite Dancer, while Demi Sorono came 4th place, then Kate Wormald came 3rd place, while lastly Rhys Bobridge was named runner-up
Several finalists later performed during the 2008 Australian Idol grand final, as well as Ten's New Year's Eve broadcast.[4]
Auditions for the second season were held during September and November 2008. Dancers auditioning were requested to bring pre-approved copyright music CDs because of music licensing issues. Judges hoped that season 2 would see more industry dancers auditioning after the favourable response to the first season of the show. Repeats of the performance and results show aired a week later on MuchMusic. Talia Fowler was announced the winner on 27 April 2009. Fowler received $200,000 prize money, the title of Australia's Favourite Dancer and the opportunity to perform at the finale of America's version of So You Think You Can Dance (Season 5), while Ben Veitch came 4th place, then Amy Campbell came 3rd place, while lastly Charlie Bartley was named runner-up.[5]
Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy made separate appearances in this season as guest judges.
The third season premiered on 31 January 2010. Robbie Kmetoni was announced the winner on 21 April 2010. Kmetoni received $200,000 prize money and the title of Australia's Favourite Dancer. Furthermore, he will have the opportunity to choose from three exclusive dance contracts (including Australian Dance Theatre, Hairspray and Burn the Floor) to perform throughout Australia and overseas, While Phillipe Witana came 4th place, then Ivy Heeney came 3rd place, while lastly Robbie Kmetoni's secondary college friend Jessie Hesketh was named runner-up.
The 3 February 2008 premiere of So You Think You Can Dance Australia attracted a peak audience of 2.15 million viewers. The show was the night’s top-rating program, averaging 1.83 million viewers over its timeslot.[6] The following two audition episodes also put up respectable figures, peaking at 2.04 million and 1.94 million viewers respectively. The Sunday night Top 100 show averaged 1.6 million viewers to become the most watched program of the night.[7][8]
After its debut, the weekly performance show averaged around 1.5 million viewers. The series one finale averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.2 million viewers nationwide. Over 50 per cent of Ten's key 18–49 age demographic had tuned into the show.[9]
As of season three, ratings have slumped to a below million average.
Jason Coleman has been questioned over his position as judge on the show, with members of the dance community accusing him of being under qualified, and using incorrect jargon on the show, calling a pivot a promenade. Eliminated contestant Marko Panzic also accused Coleman of playing favourites.[10] Critics also cite a possible conflict of interest due to Coleman's external business relationship with choreographer Kelly Aykers.
Coleman has responded to these criticisms, saying: "Mate, this is just nit-picking. With this show a pivot is the same thing as a promenade. In my world it's called a promenade, in the ballroom dancing world it's called a pivot. I'm aware of the differences but I don't have time in my minute-and-a-half speech to explain that." In response to the Aykers issue, he said: "Kelly Aykers has delivered three great routines. I would never put myself in a position where I would compliment a person's work because they are my friend. If the work deserves a compliment it will receive it, if it does not, it will not."[11]
The show has also received criticism from the Australian dance community and mainstream media over the representation of the art of dance on the show. In one example, commentator Valerie Lawson observes that "So You Think You Can Dance Australia goes further. Its very success ... is compromising dance as a performance art. The audience is led to believe that the most obvious effort, the most athletic of tricks, and the most vulgar of moves, represent dance at its best. As hips swivel, the studio audience cheers. When a guy lifts a girl with as much finesse as a forklift truck the audience roars its approval."[12]
On two occasions the show has accidentally broadcast profanities during the PG-rated live show. On the first occasion, Ten issued an apology for a "indistinct and muffled" profanity uttered during the first elimination show, and promised that "efforts [have been] redoubled to prevent such an incident happening again."[13] Nonetheless, when Sermsah Bin Saad was making his speech after being eliminated, he accidentally swore on national television, saying, "You guys are so fucking awesome!". At that time, Sermsah didn't realise that it was on live and apologised after finding out his mistake. In this case the profane word was censored during broadcast.[14]
In July 2010, it was announced Network Ten would not recommission So You Think You Can Dance Australia for a 2011 season. It follows media speculation the show had been cancelled, and talks Ten had a new “shiny floor” format to reveal. Ten advised FremantleMedia Australia that it would opt out of format, but didn't rule out a future return.[15]
Instead Ten was to develop a local version of British talent show Don't Stop Believing,[16] inspired by the success of Glee. Don't Stop Believing was instead to be produced by Shine Australia, which is headed by former FremantleMedia Australia executives. Plans were halted late 2010, with the show cancelled before starting.[17] Host Natalie Bassingthwaighte and series Judges are believed to be off contract with Ten.[18]
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