Has SYTYCD Canada gone too far?
Do dancers need to be in skimpy outfits and dance provocatively to entertain Canadians? If you were to look at Luther Brown’s choreography on SYTYCD Canada you would have answer ‘yes’. Through 5 seasons of SYTYCD (USA), they have had huge and continued growing success by choreographing respectable dances that showcase the dancers’ strengths and tell the audience a story; choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Tabitha and Napoleon, Tyce Diorio, and Travis Wall have all proved that when dancers are encouraged to express themselves through character, audiences will become truly captivated. Conversely, SYTYCD Canada seems to be attempting to push the envelope through private-part grabs, provocative positioning, and skimpy outfits. What does this say about Canadian dancers? What does this teach our young dancers?
In addition, we are growing tired of the comments from the judges that provide feedback to dancers about their looks. Jean-Marc’s googled eyes and judges’ comments such as “you are so hot” or “you are such a gorgeous girl” not only take away from the choreography and the dancer’s talents but give the impression that you must be a “hottie” to be a good dancer in Canada. Giving feedback based on someone’s looks is just like saying, “Congratulations, you have great DNA!” Feedback should be used to help dancers continue to do what they are doing or work on certain aspects of their movements; how are dancers supposed to improve their looks or body type? It is well-known that dancers often struggle with body image; by continually making comments about the attractiveness of certain body types, is this not reinforcing this image to our young dancers? I, as a dance teacher, work tirelessly to promote healthy bodies, passion, and hard work in my dancers; if the judges’ comments focus on body image, this can negate all that I have worked for with my dancers because they soon realize that if you want to be on this show and noticed by the judges, you have to have a certain physique. Having said this, I also believe there is nothing wrong with female dancers trying to look attractive and feminine – but this must be done in a tasteful manner that does not portray women’s bodies as tools to get people to watch a TV show. Judges need to stick to providing feedback on movements and character representation as this is something that can be improved; if they cannot find something to say other than about the ‘looks’ of the dancers, why are they a judge on a dance show?
The So You Think You Can Dance series has done amazing things to promote the world of dance to people around the globe. Now that the show is on such a big national stage, it must be careful of the image it portrays. Dance is an art form that takes years of hard work and dedication; this should not be minimized by comments about dancer’s bodies or choreography that features dancers in provocative situations. Also, what are these dancers giving up? Are they trading their morals and ethics for fame? Are they willing to do anything for choreographers such as Luther Brown? Maybe it is time for dancers to stand up for themselves and state that they are not willing to sacrifice their beliefs for 2 minutes of distasteful choreography.
SYTYCD Canada should be a TV show that can be watched by families. I work hard to try and promote dance as a way that people can express themselves, stay healthy, work together as a team, and find their passions; I do NOT want parents thinking that if they encourage dance for their children, they will end up being pressured to dance provocatively in skimpy outfits on stage. So has SYTYCD Canada gone too far? The fact that some parents are not allowing their children to watch the show should answer this question. For now, maybe tune in to the American version where the focus seems to be more about dance.