TORONTO — Decades of experience did not prepare Rex Harrington for the So You Think You Can Dance Canada? auditions.
The acclaimed ballet star says he was stymied by one over-the-top wannabe performer, who peppered his unconventional tryout with growls, jumps and a roll on the floor.
Viewers can judge his antics for themselves when the dance competition returns Monday to CTV with a two-hour look at the Toronto auditions.
A fresh batch of hopefuls leap, gyrate, shimmy and spin their way into a fourth season with Harrington appearing on the audition panel.
“It’s so much more fun to judge because you can actually give people criticism, or say, ’It’s not for you,”’ says Harrington, who joined full-time judges Jean Marc Genereux, Tre Armstrong and guest judge Mary Murphy for the Toronto round.
“But I found that they were so prepared. People were astonishing in each sort of genre they came and tried to do.”
Dance fans will have their fill of the franchised reality show this summer as the Canadian version overlaps broadcasts with the U.S. one, resulting in prime time dance-offs four nights a week. The U.S. version just began culling its Top 20 contenders.
Harrington says that of the two, he prefers Canada’s take on the series.
“To me it doesn’t come across as cheesy as the American one sometimes, you know. I just find the American (one) is a little bit too much flash and trash sometimes,” says Harrington, artist-in-residence with the National Ballet of Canada.
“There’s something about it that I just find more human in how our dancers connect with each other.”
Harrington’s involvement with the show comes between performances with the National Ballet’s elaborate, big-budget co-production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The acclaimed spectacle completed a run June 4 to 12 and returns with a final slate of sold-out performances June 23 to 25.
Harrington alternates the roles of the Duchess and King of Hearts in the Royal Ballet co-production, based on the Lewis Carroll book and described by Harrington as “Broadway-ish” for its flair.
The dancer is also set to take an 11-week leave from the ballet to star in the Canadian premiere of Tosca Cafe at Theatre Calgary in September. The blend of ballet, modern dance, Italian opera and beat poetry moves to the Vancouver Playhouse in October.
Then there’s the wedding Harrington is planning with longtime beau, Bob Hope, for July 2012.
Initial plans to marry this summer fell apart when they failed to book a venue, says Harrington, noting they’ve now settled on an estate east of Toronto.
So You Think You Can Dance Canada returns Monday on CTV with a two-hour premiere featuring the Toronto auditions.