You Can Dance: Po prostu tańcz!

Format

As with most entries in the So You Think You Can Dance franchise, dancers are chosen by expert judges who pick an initial pool of talent from open auditions. In the polish iteration, these dancers (usually numbering 36) then travel to advanced multidisciplinary workshops in countries abroad (equivalent to the 'Vegas Week' or 'Boot Camp' portions of other So You Think You Can Dance shows). Over successive waves of choreography rounds, the judges ultimately select 16 (seasons 1-4) or 14 (seasons 5-present) contestants to compete in the live competition shows. In the live portion of the competition, the Top 16 or 14 dancers compete as couples in duets and in group routines, competing for home viewer votes, with a bottom three couples picked by judges most nights and the male and female dancers garnering the least votes being eliminated. Each Season ends with a Top 3 or Top 2 finale.

Open auditions

The open auditions, the first stage in determining a season's finalists, take place in 5–6 major Polish cities each season and are typically open to anyone aged 16–30 at the time of their audition. The cities where auditions are held change from season to season but some, such as Warszawa and Gdańsk, Wrocław have featured in most seasons. This stage is divided into two parts: first is the pre-casting phase, in which dancers perform an improvised routine to the music given by pre-casting judges (usually choreographers). Dancers chosen to advance to the next round receive a blue wristband. During this next stage, dancers perform their routine (typically a solo, but duet and group routines are allowed as well) before a panel of show judges. This panel then decides on-the-spot whether the dancer demonstrated enough ability and performance value to proceed further. If the dancer exhibited exceptional ability in their performance, judges award a "ticket" to the next round, (the workshops), which are held each season in a city outside of Poland. Alternatively, if judges are on the fence about the dancer, they will ask the contestant to wait until the end of that day's auditions to participate in a short test of their ability to pick up professional choreography.

Workshops

The second stage of the selection process is a seven-day-long process in which the remaining dancers are tested for overall well-rounded dance ability, stamina, and their ability to perform under pressure. The dancers are put through a lseries of dance styles that are later prominent in the competition phase, such as hip-hop, jazz, ballroom and contemporary. Judges eliminate dancers during certain lessons by giving them yellow and red cards. After approximately three days, dancers perform in front of the judges and there are cuts after every genre. Remaining dancers advance to the final choreography round which features a special guest choreographer (often these are choreographers connected to original U.S. version of the show: Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, Brian Friedman). At the end of the workshops, usually less than 30 competitors remain in a pool that final contestants are chosen from. Most seasons have featured 16 top finalists for the competition portion of the show, but from season 5 through the most recent seasons, a Top 14 has been selected

Finalist selection

Finalists are selected during the final session at the end of workshops week. Dancers perform their final choreographed routine (usually in groups of 5 or 6) in front of the judges panel and the guest choreographer. After all groups have performed, the judges panel addresses each remaining contestant individually and reveals whether they will remain in the competition for the live shows, though sometimes they may ask for one last solo before making this determination.

Top 16/Top 14 to Top 10

Following the finalist selection process, the show transitions into its regular competition phase, which lasts the rest of the season. The competition stage is divided into 7–9 weeks, with two contestants eliminated per week (or in the case of semi-finals in seasons 1-3, one contestant). Dancers are paired up in some seasons at random, and in others by judges into male-female couples that will stay paired until the last 2 or 3 weeks of the competition if neither is eliminated. These couples perform every week in randomly selected styles. These duets, as with all non-solo performances at this stage in the competition, are choreographed by professional choreographers, who are often noteworthy names in their own genres. Prior to most duet performances, a video packet of clips of the couple preparing to perform the routine is shown; these packets are intended not only to demonstrate the couple's efforts to master the routine, but also to give glimpses of the personalities of the dancers as well as to allow the choreographer to give insight as to the thematic, narrative, and artistic intentions of the piece. Following each duet performance, the panel of judges gives critical feedback.

After every performance episode, the judges pick a bottom three couples. Each of these six dancers are then in danger of elimination and must perform a solo as their last effort to impress and stay in the competition. It is at this point that viewers can vote for their favorite dancers. The eliminated dancers are then announced and given a brief send-off via a video montage.

Top 6 to Finale

Around the time that the show enters its 'Top Six' competitor phase, there are typically several format changes that take place. The judges give up their power to save dancers at this point, and eliminations are determined exclusively by viewer votes, with judges serving in only an advisory capacity. Each season undergoes one final format shake-up in its last week, which typically takes place when the show reaches a Top 2 (in seasons 1-3 - Top 3). In the final show, the remaining dancers typically each dance duets with all of their remaining fellow finalists as well as perform solos and participate in group numbers. The season finale episode is often the most elaborately produced show of a season and features the last performances of the competitors, guest dancers, additional group numbers and multiple video packets chronicling the course of the season's events, all culminating in the announcement of the winner of the competition.

Judge's panel

The judges panel has been consistently composed of three permanent judges, with only rare guest judges supplementing this number. In season 2 Izabella Miko joined the panel as additional judge. Agustin Egurolla serves as the executive judge of the panel and can overrule majority decisions, and has done so on two occasions. In season 5 Weronika Marczuk-Pazura left the show and was replaced by Anna Mucha, who in turn left the panel in season 6 and was replaced by the show's former host, Kinga Rusin.

Differences from the original So You Think You Can Dance

While basically similar in format to the American version of the show it is based upon, the Polish version of the show is different in a few respects. For example, Po prostu tańcz! has never featured a results show that is separate from the main weekly performance show, as the U.S. version did in seasons 2-8 and as such the Polish show has not featured musical guests and only rarely presents guest or returning dancers. Po prostu tańcz! also features a smaller overall cast—the callbacks have been limited to a mere 36 to 50 dancers (depending on the season), as compared to numbers regularly over a hundred and even approaching two hundred in the U.S. "Vegas Week" and the number of finalists in the Polish show are numbered 14 or 16, as opposed to the U.S. version's typical Top 20. Lastly, Po prostu tańcz! employs a judge's panel made up entirely of permanent members and has featured only one guest judge (Izabela Miko) on one occasion.

Dance Styles and Choreographers

Over the course of its seven seasons, You Can Dance - Po Prostu Tańcz! has featured dozens of distinct dance styles in its choreographed routines. Most of these styles fall into four categories that are regularly showcased and can be found in almost every performance episode: western contemporary/classical styles, ballroom styles, hip-hop/street styles, and Jazz and its related styles. Various other forms of dance that do not especially fall into these broad categories are seen as well, but not as regularly. The following styles have all been seen in a choreographed duet or group routine; styles featured only in auditions or solos are not listed.

Classical Styles

Routines from the classically derived style of contemporary dance are the most common dances seen on the show, being seen in every performance episode of the series. While contemporary, lyrical, and modern dance are typically considered three separate (if overlapping) styles, has been to refer to all routines in this area as "contemporary". Ballet routines have occurred much more rarely, being seen only in seasons 2 and 3.

Street and Club Styles

Hip-hop routines are also present in every performance episode.

Ballroom Styles

Ballroom styles are also seen usually in every performance episode until the Top 6.

Jazz, Broadway, and Musical Theater Styles

Jazz is featured in nearly all performance episodes. While these routines are typically labelled simply "Jazz", the genre is notable as being one of the most fusional featured on the show and various style combinations and sub-categories have been referenced.

Regional/Traditional Styles

In addition to the broad categories above, many more styles that are less common in the Poland are sometimes featured.

Season 1

The first season premiered September 5, 2007. Auditions were held in Bytom, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Warsaw. 50 of these Contestants were then sent to "Choreography Camp" in Paris, France, the last round of which featured special guest choreographer Wade Robson who taught the remaining finalists a pop-jazz routine from the third season of So You Think You Can Dance entitled "Cabaret Hoover," originally from "Les Triplettes de Belleville." From these dancers, a top 16 was selected and in the collowing weeks, during the main competition, two dancers (one guy and one girl) were voted off each week until the semifinals, which eliminated only one dancer. Maciej "Gleba" Florek was announced winner during the December 2, 2007 finale.

Season 2

The second season premiered March 5, 2008. Auditions were held in: Bytom, Kraków, Gdańsk and Warszawa. 36 Contestants were advanced to the Choreography Camp stage (held this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina). The special guest choreographer for season two was Marty Kudelka. Artur Ciecórski was announced as winner during the June 5, 2008 finale.

Season 3

Season 3 premiered September 10, 2008. Auditions were being held in: Szczecin, Kraków, Wrocław and Warszawa. Choreography Camp in Barcelona, Spain, again with 36 contestant and featuring special guest choreographer Brian Friedman. Wioletta Fiuk was announced as winner during a December 2, 2008 finale.

Season 4

Season 4 premiered 4 March 2009. Auditions were held in: Wrocław, Kraków, Gdańsk, Białystok and Warszawa. 36 advanced to Choreography Camp in Lisbon, Portugal with guest choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson. Anna Kapera was announced as winner during the June 5, 2009 finale

Season 5

Season 5 premiered March 3, 2010. Auditions were held in: Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Kraków and Warszawa. 36 contestants advanced to Choreography Camp in Tel Aviv, Israel with special guest choreographer was Travis Payne.

Season 6

Season 6 premiered on March 2, 2011. Auditions were held in: Gdańsk, Lublin, Wrocław, Kraków and Warszawa in December 2010 and January 2011. 36 Contestants advanced to Choreography Camp in Casablanca, Morocco. This season featured a Top 14, rather than the Top 16 of all previous seasons. After 8 weeks of competition, Dominik Olechowski was announced winner and was awarded a prize of a 3-month scholarship at Broadway Dance Centre and 100.000 PLN.

Season 7

Season 7 was announced November 25, 2011. Auditions took place in December 2011 and January 2012 in Kraków, Lublin, Szczecin, Gdańsk and Warszawa. The season premiered in March 2012.

Season 8

On 12 November 2014, it was announced that You Can Dance - Po Prostu Tańcz! would return to TVN for its eighth series in 2015.

Season 9

On 27 November 2015 it was announced You Can Dance - Po Prostu Tańcz! will return for its ninth series in 2016.

You Can Dance 4fun

You Can Dance 4fun is a companion show that is broadcast on music channel 4fun.tv on Wednesdays at 21:00, before the main show on TVN. It features behind-the-scenes footage of You Can Dance - Po Prostu Tańcz! and the preparations for the show. It is presented by Jacek Januszko, auditionee of series 5 of the show, who now works as a presenter on 4fun.tv.

You Can Dance Mix

You Can Dance Mix is another spin-off show that features the contestants of You Can Dance - Po Prostu Tańcz!. It aires on 4fun.tv at 23:10, after the main TVN show. The contestants who were eliminated last week are back to set their own music charts. Viewers can also ask them questions by sending an SMS.

Po prostu taniec - Just Dance

On 9 December 2007 TVN aired a special episode of Po Prostu taniec - So You Think You Can Dance and Taniec z Gwiazdami. 4 stars with 6th season Taniec z Gwiazdami and 4 dancer with 1st season So You Think You Can Dance have danced. Judges: Michał Piróg (from You Can Dance), Augustin Egurolla (from You Can Dance), Iwona Pavlowicz (from Dancing with the stars), Piotr Galiński (from Dancing with the stars). Show was presented by Kinga Rusin (winner 4th edition Dancing with the stars, You Can Dance presenter), Piotr Gąsowski (Dancing with the Stars presenter) and Katarzyna Skrzynecka (Dancing with the Stars presenter).

Audience voting results

Po Prostu Bitwa! (Just Battle!) (5 June 2010)

This episode was live from Białystok. There were two teams - Male and Female. Male team leader was Michał Piróg and Female team Anna Mucha. From 7 to 12 April on You Can Dance - Po Prostu Tańcz website was uploaded short movies. Later on 12 May 2010 Judges Picked 72 Dancers. Then on 15 May Judges Picked 48 Dancers. Then short films was uploaded and internauts voted. They picked 24 dancers (12 Male and 12 Female). 29.05 - 4.06 on these days were rehearsals to performance. On this episode this season top 14 performed twice. There was also Dancemob. It was danced by every person on audience. The movie with Pop choreography was published on official YCD website around month before event

Taniec kontra Dance (Dance vs. Dance!) (11 June 2011)

This episode was live from Białystok. There were two teams - professional dancers from Dancing With The Stars (Taniec z Gwiazdam) and You Can Dance: Po prostu tańcz! dancers. DWTS team leader was Rafał Maserak (DWTS dancer) and YCD team Patricia Kazadi (YCD presenter). Piotr Gąsowski (DWTS presenter) was the presenter this show.

1st place: Dancing with the Stars team 2nd place: You Can Dance team