York resident dances into Top 20 in competition.
Shavar Blackwood is one of the Top 20 dancers on CTV's, 'So You Think You Can Dance Canada'.
Photo/ANDREW MACNAUGHTAN
Third time was a charm for a young York dancer who finally cracked the Top 20 on this year's So You Think You Can Dance Canada competition.
Shavar Blackwood didn't make it far the first time he auditioned for the hit television show. He improved last year as a Top 40 contestant and this year, the 25-year-old hip-hop dancer made the elusive Top 20.
"The first year, I tried out for experience," Blackwood said. "I wasn't sure where I stood as a dancer. The second time I told myself I had to make finals week. I never expected I'd make the Top 40. This year my goal was the Top 20, I couldn't get cut in the Top 40, I had to make Top 20."
The Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue resident took up dancing four years ago while on a self-discovery quest, he said, adding his repertoire now includes krump, popping and house.
"In high school I helped with the dance team, took more dance classes and it snowballed from there," Blackwood said. "Being around people who were better (dancers) than me was the way to go. Dancing makes me happy, so why not? When I was younger I told my mom I wanted to be a doctor. Then I wanted to be an architect, then a computer programmer. I realized I wanted to do things that help, design and create and with dance I can do all of that."
Though fairly new to the dance scene, he had the opportunity to train with choreographer Sho-Tyme and work with another choreographer, Blake McGrath, on the So You Think You Can Dance Canada season one promo.
Now Blackwood, who teaches at City Dance Corps downtown and Academy of Ballet and Jazz in Thornhill, is spending his days in rehearsals, which can wrap up in the very early morning hours, he said.
"Now that I'm here, I can enjoy the fact I can try different (dance) styles," he said. "I like to look at it as a challenge. It's an exciting thing."
It's up to viewers to crown Canada's favourite dancer, who will also pocket $100,000 along with the title. New this year, the winner, runner up and one viewer will also win a Mazda2.