▁before ▁the ▁premi ere ▁of ▁So ▁You ▁Think ▁You ▁Can ▁Dance , ▁but ▁usually ▁in ▁the ▁form ▁of ▁all - around ▁talent ▁searches ▁( such ▁as ▁Star ▁Search , ▁Soul ▁Train , ▁or ▁Show time ▁at ▁the ▁Apol lo ). ▁ ▁However , ▁ ▁a ▁season - long ▁American ▁Id ol - like ▁talent - search ▁show ▁with ▁a ▁sole ▁focus ▁on ▁dance ▁had ▁never ▁been ▁broadcast ▁on ▁American ▁network ▁television . ▁ ▁Produ cers ▁and ▁jud ges ▁associated ▁with ▁the ▁show ▁have ▁stated ▁on ▁numerous ▁occasions , ▁both ▁within ▁broadcast s ▁of ▁the ▁show ▁and ▁in ▁inter views , ▁that ▁the ▁series ▁was ▁meant ▁to ▁re ju ven ate ▁the ▁visibility ▁and ▁appreci ation ▁of ▁dance ▁as ▁an ▁art ▁form ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁and ▁to ▁give ▁expos ure ▁to ▁struggling ▁d anc ers . ▁ ▁Series ▁judge ▁Mary ▁Mur phy ▁says , ▁for ▁example , ▁" Of ▁course ▁you ▁hope ▁you ▁can ▁make ▁a ▁living ▁at ▁it , ▁because ▁you ▁don ' t ▁want ▁to ▁give ▁up ▁on ▁something ▁that ▁you ▁do , ▁but ▁the ▁honest ▁truth ▁is ▁most ▁d anc ers ▁have ▁to ▁carry ▁one ▁or ▁two ▁jobs ▁and ▁dance ▁as ▁much ▁as ▁they ▁can ▁on ▁the ▁side ▁-- ▁it ' s ▁a ▁very ▁luck y ▁dan cer ▁who ▁gets ▁a ▁full ▁scholar ship ." ▁ ▁A ▁number ▁of ▁dance - th emed ▁competition ▁shows ▁have ▁been ▁produced ▁for ▁American ▁television ▁since ▁the ▁premi ere ▁of ▁So ▁You ▁Think ▁You ▁Can ▁Dance , ▁including ▁America ' s ▁Best