When the new season of So You Think You Can Dance premieres on March 4, there will be a series of changes happening both behind the scenes and behind the scenes. The first thing that comes to many people’s mind is the absence of late “tWitch” owner Stephen “tWitch” who was on the jury last season after becoming a beloved competitor and All-Star, People Speculation is widespread that his death was a factor in the tournament. Season 17 judge Jojo Siwa is joined by new but familiar Season 18 judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy, of Dancing with the Stars fame and returning for the show. (Siva replaced Nigel Lythgoe on the panel after the executive producer quit the show amid sexual assault allegations made by Paula Abdul and others .
Juries are nothing new. After auditions, the 10 dancers will compete in challenges designed to reflect a freelance commercial dance career, such as performing in a music video, football halftime show or Broadway show, as opposed to dancing in a studio in short routines in a rotating style , the show’s signature. Instead of viewers voting for their favorite dancers live (filming is reportedly starting in Atlanta, rather than in Los Angeles in early December as in previous years), eliminations will be decided entirely by the judges.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the show’s new format: While in previous seasons each show was introduced with brief behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage and interviews, this season “viewers will get a documentary-style An inside look at the players’ dynamics, tracking their personal and competitive journeys throughout the game, including daily struggles, new relationships, personality clashes and more,” according to a press release. What does the seemingly more “reality TV” angle mean for the dancers on the show? Fans will have to tune into Fox (or Hulu the next day) to find out.
