At 'So You Think You Dance' Auditions, Cat Deeley Reveals Surprise Projects

It may only be April, but 'So You Think You Can Dance' is already warming up for its seventh season. The dance competition show, which aired its first-ever fall season in 2009, doesn't premiere until May 27 (8PM ET on Fox). But nationwide auditions just wrapped up after producers and judges spent weeks culling talent from New York to Los Angeles, and multiple cities in between.

'SYTYCD' made its final stop in L.A. last weekend, attracting a crowd of hopefuls that stretched almost completely around a city block before the doors even opened. Amidst throngs of dancers and a gaggle of cameramen, co-executive producer Jeff Thacker was fired up for the day, despite having completed three US editions of the show in 18 months.It may only be April, but 'So You Think You Can Dance' is already warming up for its seventh season. The dance competition show, which aired its first-ever fall season in 2009, doesn't premiere until May 27 (8PM ET on Fox). But nationwide auditions just wrapped up after producers and judges spent weeks culling talent from New York to Los Angeles, and multiple cities in between.

'SYTYCD' made its final stop in L.A. last weekend, attracting a crowd of hopefuls that stretched almost completely around a city block before the doors even opened. Amidst throngs of dancers and a gaggle of cameramen, co-executive producer Jeff Thacker was fired up for the day, despite having completed three US editions of the show in 18 months.

When asked how he was managing with yet another season, he told AOL TV, "You mean, apart from having lots of gray hair, sleepless nights...? Well, it's great fun. Also, myself, [host] Cat [Deeley] and [judge and co-executive producer] Nigel [Lythgoe] were in the U.K. for two months, because they did their first season of 'So You Think You Can Dance.' So we've done actually four seasons. .... But it's always nice to come back where it started."



Thacker hinted at changes for season 7 that promise to keep it fresh for both the viewers and the producers. "We've decided that we need to ... look and see what we can do refresh it and bring some excitement," he said. "I can only tell you what I've read on Twitter. One is that only one dancer will leave each week, not two [as in previous seasons]. The other one is that they will change partners every week. ... It will bring different dynamics to the show." Since the auditions, Lythgoe revealed the rest of the changes, including news that the show's top 10 dancers will be paired with all-star dancers from previous seasons.

Deeley also talked up new formatting, noting the fine line between sticking with a successful formula and keeping 'Dance' fresh. "At [any point] you can become complacent," she told AOL TV. "We've got a hit, and people love the show and they're very passionate about it, and I think we constantly have to be able to keep surprising, delighting and entertaining people to keep the show moving. I don't think anybody wants the show to go anywhere."

The fresh crops of dancers are the lifeblood of 'Dance' which, like reality competitions across genres, thrives on raw talent with hard-luck backstories, inspiring backgrounds and sometimes, just straight-up charisma. "The dancers seem very aware now that they have to bring their personalities to it," she said. "I was talking before [about that fact that in] L.A. and New York, we have the best of the best ... because it's where all the jobs are. So they're very media-savvy ... they're used to being surrounded by cameras, so they're very forthcoming. You don't have to cajole much out of them.

"But then again," she added, "we go someplace like Memphis or Nashville ... and there are these little diamonds in the rough that shine through, that are -- you could almost say naïve to the industry. They might not be the most competent [technically], but they have this gorgeous quality to them that shines. And then, the very essence of them comes out, and it's something that people can identify with and fall in love with, and that's what we're looking for."

While Deeley has been attentively taking in all the pre-season 'Dance' action, she's also been busy outside of her hosting duties. "I'm just trying to make it to June!" she laughed. Her easy-going demeanor, however, can't belie the enormous slate of inter-season projects that rivals that of Ryan Seacrest for over-achievement. Between the L.A. auditions and 'Dance''s May premiere, she revealed a diverse range of plans that include a few surprises, such as a QVC meeting about her vintage jewelry line, a trip to Madagascar to shoot a documentary with UNICEF and a jaunt to Cannes to talk up her idea for a TV show with former Eurythmics member David Stewart. "I love doing this show," Deeley gushed. Still, she added, "I don't want to feel like I'm in a box. Otherwise I'd go a bit mental ... but I'm mental anyway."

As for Thacker, 'Dance''s talent keeps him going, even during auditions at the crack of dawn, week after week. "This will sound strange," he said, "but when dancers talk about their passion [screams erupt from the crowd of hopefuls] -- like that -- if you have passion inside you and you love what you, then, you know the old saying: If you enjoy your job, you never do a day's work in your life -- and it's true."

Deeley concurred. "The most essential thing is, I love what I do. ... So what? I get on a plane and I go and do something I love. I'm very, very lucky. ... I just show up for the craft service -- just don't tell Fox. Otherwise they'll stop my paycheck."