So You Think You Can Dance Canada: Cancelled

(Jordan Clark, the last So You Think You Can Dance Canada champion in a CTV photo.)

I had word today that So You Think You Can Dance Canada is being cancelled.

Apparently, the powers that be at CTV have decided that the show is too expensive to produce and so they have pulled the plug after the best season ever.

This makes me sad and angry all at the same time. I'm sad for all the dancers out there all across the country who will no longer have this platform to expose their talents. As I sat in the audience week after week, I'd watch some of the young kids that Josh Hellyer would bring up onstage to dance during commercial breaks and wonder if I'd see them audition in future seasons.

But nope, sorry, guess you'd better all haul your butts to L.A. and see if you can get on the American show.

I have no doubt that CTV will continue to carry the U.S. So You Think You Can Dance, along with American Idol, X Factor and so on.

And I have nothing against these show, obviously; I blog about them, too. But is it not part of a Canadian network's mandate to support made-in-Canada shows?

SYTYCD Canada has always had a special place in my heart. I love dance. I'm a bit of a frustrated dancer at heart, having started ballet lessons as a kid and dropped them months later because my parents could no longer afford the cost.

I can hardly even put into words how much I have enjoyed watching this show every season, seeing the dancers blossom, getting to talk to them and get a sneak peek at their incredible passion for their art.

Truth be told, I was afraid this might happen. The thinking when Bell Canada parent company BCE bought CTV late last year was that there'd be a house cleaning of staff and that TV shows connected to the CTV old guard would be on the chopping block. I fervently hoped this would not be the case with Dance, but looks like I was wrong.

So long So You Think You Can Dance Canada. It's been a wonderful four seasons. Thanks for the memories.

Comments

[Steph]

!!!! Not only was it a great platform for our dancers but it was a wonderful platform for our home choreographers. It will be missed.

[jane2]

Ugh...and yet they're going to produce "Canada Has Talent" which is sure to become the non-stop freak show that it is in the USA?

[Jeff K.]

There are a lot of fans of the show. Is there nothing that we can do collectively to bring back the show?

[Debra Yeo]

Yeah Jeff, I thought about the choreographers too. They don't all get to work on the U.S. show. And sure, guys like Luther are doing music videos, but it's not a national platform for his work the way SYTYCDC was.
Steph, I guess the only thing people could do is contact CTV and express their displeasure, but my guess is they won't care.

[kevin]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! Sad is all I can say..... The best year ever, a year of many first, top notice choreographers and dancers and they pull the plug.... I will use the words of Jean Marc Canada has the best Dancers and Dance has grown so much and now they make the decision to pull it...

Maybe they should look at doing a Dance Off Show Canada Top 6 vs. USA Top 6?? And let the Judges decide who wins and the winner keeps the show...

[tnosnibor]

Disappointed to read this.... It's my favourite show on television! (Or it was my favourite show on television. Oh, well.)

[Gloria]

I've watched the show in both countries and clearly Canada has the better dances, but (and this is a big BUT), the US has better production values--its HD for starters and a longer show. Perhaps that is part of the fall-off in viewers. Also, there is a certain amount of fatigue that starts with the 2 shows.

[Dance Fan]

I loved the show. However, some acts I skipped over. I got tired of watching them dress kids as little porn stars. This is family entertainment and instead they have kids dressing in frilly underwear. Some dances were divine. Others tacky and cheap like your local strip bar. Same goes for the US show. Some things they're showing on television are just TOO MUCH.

[Luigi]

If Citytv and Global were really smart about this, they should take this and add it to there list of shows. Someone please save this!

[KP]

This is so typical of Canadian TV. Cancel shows made in Canada and show some of the worst reality shows out of the USA. This is a major blow to
Dance and the yonge people who aspired to be on the show to showcase thier talent.
Maybe we should boycott CTV after all it most likely will only show American TV anyway.
Shame on you CTV.

[Cindy Leavitt]

I for one love this show and have not missed an episode if at all possible. I am very sad that they are willing to cancel something that gives Canadian's so much in return. In my opinion, the talent that is showcased on this show is equivalent or exceeds that of our American neighbours. It will be a loss to those that have given so much of themselves as well as the fans who, for a moment, get to imagine what it would be like to be so blessed with talent of that magnitude! It's a sad, sad day :(

[Michelle]

Had they had a better host, more people would have watched. It was fraught with controversy since early last year and they made little effort to improve the judging decisions and Leah, though nice, was not the right fit for the show. It could have been saved if they listened to the fans!

[Daniel]

Yes Jeff, there is most definitely something we can do to try and bring the show back. Here's what I'm doing.

I'm NOT using Bell for my cellphone, my cable, and my internet access. And I won't consider using their services as long as they do stupid things like canceling my favorite TV show.

They think the show is expensive to produce? See how expensive it would be for them to lose 10,000 monthly customers!

[Dee]

I'm so disappointed to hear this, but I have to admit I was thinking it might happen when I wasn't seeing any advertisement of upcoming audition dates for the next season. Now we won't get to see Moses (I've noticed him in auditions in previous years and was floored that he made it, only to be heartbroken when he got injured before the first show) or Adam A (who was kind of shortchanged, being brought in at the last minute and then eliminated right away).

This year's season was such a celebration, with so much fantastic dancing every week. It's a real shame that a show that does so much to promote and support the arts and Canadian artists is getting cancelled. I guess we can only hope that some of the great Canadian choreographers have gotten enough attention to be featured on the US show in the future.

[Stephanie]

I noticed that only less than a million votes were being counted each week, and that is nothing for a huge show such as this; especially when compared to the U.S.  That could also be a big reason for the cancellation...

I am also very sad for all the extremely talented dancers and choreographers, many of whom I truly find are more gifted than of those in other countries, including our downstairs neighbour.  

Another thing that bothers me, a lot, is where else are we going to see the gritty, raw, sensual and sometimes sexually charged dance routines that we get on this show?  Canada is not afraid to take on this material and the viewers and dancers alike love it.  OTHER countries have much stricter censorship laws and won't allow 'real' entertainment.

And no, I am not a male.  I am a normal, 44 year old married woman with 2 teenage kids who adores this show and EVERYTHING about it and wouldn't change a thing.  Is there not any way you could start a petition to bring it back, with your connections to SYTYCDC and CTV?

Many thanks for listening...

[K]

If you could take Canada's dancers and judges and put American Choreographers in with the Canadian, you'd have a show that would be unstoppable. I loved watching SYTYCD Canada. I hope that the amazing Canadian dancers come down to the US side and sneak into the auditions :) I was only able to watch this season and am sorely disappointed that CTV would cancel the show. Luthor and ShowTyme along with Nappy-Taps would have the Hip Hop killin every week. Mia and Stacy, with Sonya Taye... just .. wow.. Gustav should handle the Latin flavor alone, that man is incredible...

[Debra Yeo]

Thanks for all the comments. No doubt, there were things that could have been improved on the show, but overall I think it's a big loss. I really feel for both Adam and Moses. I remember how excited Adam A. was when I interviewed him way back in June about the fact he would be back next season. And now there is no next season. I'm not sure what kind of agreement CTV has as far as the SYTYCD name and trademark, but I would love to see another Canadian network have some kind of a dance competition show. It would be great to see some Canadian dancers on the U.S. show, but it's not the same as having a show that is for and about Canadian dancers. And on a human level, I will miss seeing Jean Marc and Luther and Tre and Blake and all the staff almost every week when the show was on. And I will miss talking to the dancers so much.

[V.]

It's a really Sad day in Canada in Deed. For the last 2 seasons people have been gushing that Canada has the best dancers in the world and I agree with them and now they will not have a platform to showcase that talent. It's not fair to the dancers, the choreographers and to Canada in general. I might get deleted for saying this but i'm going to say it anyway because right now it's what's in my heart. CTV SUCKS!!!! They should have known better then to broadcast at the same time as the US version, they should have known better then to broadcast during the summer months when people are on vacation and doing other things then watching tv. They should know better then to endorse American made Crap before Canadian made shows. This is complete BS. I hope City TV or Global picks it up because it's much too important Canadian Content to be cast to the wayside. BAD CTV BAD

[Brett]

Haha sorry, but SYTYCD hasn't been watchable in years, and the Canadian version was only ever a place for Blake McGrath to get his face on TV again. The judges (especially Mary) have become caricatures of themselves - relying on catchphrase...s and screaming to distract from the fact that they don't have anything meaningful to add to the conversation.

The routines are given such a short amount of time on stage that they don't have any time to breathe - a minute and a half?? I mean, seriously...a 1.5/2 hour long show about dancing features less than 15 minutes of actual dancing - that's just hilarious. On top of that the choreographers have to explain the story of the piece before it happens to make sure everyone understands so no one feels alienated/uneducated. This means the people who already understand aren't allowed the opportunity to develop their own interpretation of what they've seen. Then if the routines aren't full of tricks and stunts they don't receive the votes...and a good tumbler/gymnast is not always a good dancer.

The way they categorize the dance styles and the dancers themselves is misleading to the viewers who don't know any better - especially when they say things like "wow - and you're not even a trained dancer" to hip hop dancers/breakers...as if suddenly one day that person woke up and said "I think I might audition for SYTYCD today." Maybe they're not classically trained, but they've trained so hard in their own way. It's disrespectful, I think. It makes their hard work seem less important. The dancers are treated so poorly - limited food and water, for example - to make their emotions run high so that drama will occur and it will make better TV. It was never really about the dancing at all. It was about who has the best tearjerking story or the best abs.

[Susan G]

I know of several people that stopped watching because of the judges and the host (especially the host). I was waffling on whether to keep watching next season or not. I guess I no longer have to waffle.

[ndb]

Have to agree with the people who aren't weeping about it. The sycophantic judges and the creepy presenter were just too much. We don't need to patronize our dancers and pretend they can't take constructive criticism. We have great talent in this country and it should be given the respect it deserves.
Please note how, now, all the Canadian judges are throwing in the towel and behaving as though there will never be another dance programme in Canada again. Or that there never has been one before. Ever hear of the National Ballet? or the Royal Winnipeg?
Go out and create your own showcase and then be honest enough to treat the dancers with respect. They can take it. Dancers want to be the best they can be.
And I know there are Canadian writers out there who can write better shows than the now cancelled Hiccups and Dan (who?) for Mayor.

[Diane L.]

All I read from people is that they are sad,or it's a shame that the show got cancelled.I AM ANGRY,VERY ANGRY.Typical canadian to destroy everything good their talented citizens have to offer(just look at Céline Dion).I have watched EVERY episode of EVERY season.I have laughed with them,I have cried with them and I have cheered with them.These dancers put their hearts and their souls on that dance floor and now the dream is gone...But it's our dream too.All of us who journeyed with them week after week until the next season...that will never...come$$$

[Debra Yeo]

Sorry I didn't read the comments earlier today, a busy day at the office. I didn't always like everything the judges had to say, but I was watching for the dancers not the judges. My sadness and anger at the cancellation is focused on them.

[Russell M]

I live in the US and have watched every season of both shows. Frankly, I have always felt the dancers in the Candian version of the show were much better than the US version. It also felt like they had so many more great dancers to choose from during the auditions.

I will say one thing that did annoy me this season was Luther's constant "grunts" during people's auditions...

[Sherry]

Have never posted a comment on these blogs before but wanted to say 'shame on you CTV'. Aren't you supposed to support Canada and Canadians? SYTYCD Canada was way better than the US version. I only started watching last year and enjoyed the Canadian version better both years. I even started voting on the Canadian version which I've never done before.This was a show that was entertaining, good for Canadian talent and encouraged you to get up and move all in one. Shouldn't that be what you strive for CTV.?
If your real challenge is that it cost to much to produce then look at the format to reduce costs rather than cancelling this truly amazing show. As a non-dancer I have learned more about dance by watching this show than I could have any other way. Don't have the ability or time to take dance lessons or go to the ballet.
Oh, and by the way, next year don't overlap it with SYTYCD US version.