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Dancers leap at the chance to find fame on TV talent show
Miranda Bryant7 Oct 2009
Hundreds of dancers queued in Covent Garden today to audition for a new TV talent show.
The 300 hopefuls want to take part in a BBC series, So You Think You Can Dance. Starting in January, it is set to rival Strictly Come Dancing.
The new series, which will be presented by Cat Deeley and judged by Nigel Lythgoe, Arlene Phillips and a third panellist, who will change, is in its fifth season in America.
Contestants will be tested on their ability to dance to different styles each week for the opportunity to win £100,000 and to perform live on the US version of the show. Deeley said: “So You Think You Can Dance has been a phenomenon in the US and I have been incredibly proud to be part of it. I cannot wait to bring this show to the UK.”
Dancers auditioning today said they were excited about the prospect of a TV show especially for dancers.
Kayla Janssen, 22, a freelance dancer from Shepherd's Bush, said: “You already have X Factor and Britain's Got Talent for singers. “Strictly is specifically for a certain type of dance. It will be nice to see that there are versatile dancers out there.” Mandy Montanez, from Crystal Palace, has been following the US version and training for it coming here for more than a year.
Reader views (3)
Wow. Sounds amazing. The girl on the right is so high i can't believe its real! Can't wait to see her dance!!
- J Jones, london, uk, 07/10/2009 23:32
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Fantastic news, another quality programme with quality talent for the whole family to watch together.
It's a good thing the rest of the reality shows have left me a few brain cells to understand the plot to this new show.
Clearly the 'mass labotomy' is the way forward.
- Max, Richmond, London, 07/10/2009 18:42
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This is fantastic news. Any alternative to the BBC's latest fiasco will be refreshing - and it will be wonderful to see a "qualified" judge on the panel rather than an uneducated, inarticulate amateur who is not just unqualified to judge, but whose vocabulary is extremely limited and command of the English language appalling. Well done ITV.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 07/10/2009 15:49
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