Chance To Dance

Ovation's captivating reality series, Chance To Dance, aired in 2012, revolving around the cutthroat world of dance competitions. The show's premise is simple yet highly captivating, lending itself to countless dramatic and emotional moments that firmly hold its viewers' interest.

In Chance To Dance, two well-regarded choreographers, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, are given the herculean task of assembling a dance company in just 28 days. They are not only required to select the dancers, but also design the choreography, organize the rehearsals, and ultimately put on a thrilling performance that meets high artistic standards. The pressure intensifies when you learn that the newly formed dance company's inaugural performance will occur at the illustrious Daphne Theatre.

To create their team, Nunn and Trevitt travel throughout the United States, attending various dance auditions and scrutinizing hundreds of dance aspirants from varying backgrounds and disciplines. The auditions are both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, considering the spectrum of talented candidates ranging across different dance genres like ballet, jazz, contemporary, and street dance. The duo's task is to identify not only the dancers with the best technique but also those who could adapt to their unique choreography and embody the vision they have for their dance company.

The dancers, on the other hand, display distinct and compelling narratives, hailing from diverse backgrounds and life situations. Some are fresh and enthusiastic, while others carry a wealth of previous dance experience; some are struggling dancers aiming to make it big, while others are seasoned experts striving to keep their passions alive in a ruthless industry.

Chance to Dance expertly draws in its viewers by skillfully blending the raw intensity of auditions, the riveting preparation process, the dancers' personal stories, and the beautiful artistry of dance. Viewers not only get a behind-the-scenes look at the grueling rehearsal process but also bear witness to the emotional turmoil and personal struggles of the dancers. They experience moments of triumph, turmoil, passion, and desolation as these aspiring performers strive to secure their places in the dance company and eventually deliver a performance that justifies their selection.

Watching the choreographers work – be it their fiery disagreements or their mutual understanding in creating beautiful art – forms another intriguing layer of the show. Nunn and Trevitt, both former Royal Ballet dancers, ingeniously present dance as a medium of storytelling, pushing the boundaries of traditional dance forms and challenging dancers to immerse themselves into an unfamiliar dance style. Their expectation of resilience, adaptability, and nuanced performances from the dancers makes for captivating viewing.

Chance To Dance brilliantly shows the rigorous and often perilous journey to secure a spot in a professional dance company. It brilliantly captures the struggles, joys, triumphs, and despairs in the world of dance, underscored by the relentless ticking of the clock, emphasizing the enormity of the task at hand. With its portrayal of the physical demands of dance and the psychological toll it takes on ambitious dancers, the series poses a pressing question: will these dancers overcome their fears and vulnerabilities to seize their chance to shine on the ultimate stage?

Chance to Dance is not just a reality show but a powerful testament to the passion, dedication, and resilience it takes to enter and excel in the demanding dance industry. While the exciting competition and the tension of selection remain the hooks of the show, the heart of Chance to Dance lies in its depiction of the beautiful yet often overlooked world of dance. As Nunn and Trevitt race against time to create a dance company from scratch, the suspense, drama, and triumphs encountered en route culminate in a captivating reality series that leaves viewers eagerly on the edge of their seats, awaiting the final dance spectacle.