FOX's So You Think You Can Dance is nearing the end of its nationwide search for potential contestants.  Today, the show will be dropping by Los Angeles, where a casting call is scheduled to take place at The Orpheum Theater.

“You never know what will walk through that door,” senior producer Jeff Thacker, who has auditioned the likes of belly dancers and sword swallowers, told the Los Angeles Times via phone interview.  “We open our doors to everyone.”

Last year, 1, 200 came out to audition for the third season of So You Think You Can Dance, all hoping for a chance to get on the show and compete for the $250,000 cash prize.  Thacker said that the turn-out was so huge that “it took me thirteen hours to see everybody.”

While the show encourages dancers from different kinds of backgrounds to try out, Thacker said that there are still some things show hopefuls can do in order to increase their chances of catching the casting team's attention.

“Dress to impress,” Thacker said, “[and] make yourself memorable…  We don't look for America's best dancer.  We're looking for America's Favorite Dancer.”

So far, three dancers have already been deemed “America's Favorite Dancer:”  Nick Lazzarani from season 1, Benji Schwimmer from season 2, and Sabra Johnson from season 3.  All three were able to capture the hearts -- and votes -- of viewers during their respective seasons, which drew in impressive ratings for the network.  They also won the approval of the judges, who are, at times, brutally honest with their assessments.

“We are constructive, not destructive,”  Thacker stressed, saying that he and So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe know what the contestants are going through because they were once dancers and choreographers themselves.

After today's casting call in Los Angeles, the show is heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to hold the final auditions for the new season.  The auditions will be held at the Milwaukee Theater on Thursday, March 20.

So You Think You Can Dance 4 premieres on May 22.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Los Angeles Times
(Image Courtesy of FOX)