So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia was an entry in the international So You Think You Can Dance franchise of dance competition television shows which represented Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Prior to the launch of the show, Denmark and Norway each had their own individual So You Think You Can Dance shows (Kan Du Danse? and Dansefeber, respectively) which aired on channels Kanal 5 of Denmark and TVNorge of Norway. Both networks belonged to media conglomerate ProSiebenSat.1 Media and, following a run of two seasons for both shows, a decision was made to combine them into one series that would be broadcast in (and allow contestants from) both countries as well as Sweden. Swedish station Kanal 5 (also owned by ProSiebenSat.1) took on the bulk of the production for the new show and aired it in Sweden with TVNorge and Kanal 5 (of Denmark) continuing as the broadcasters in their regions. This combined series was discontinued after one season, ending the run of So You Think You Can Dance in Scandinavia.
The first and only winner of So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia was Mona Berntsen. She was a dancer who had fared well in Dansefeber in 2007, progressing to that show's top 12 before an injury forced her to withdraw. Berntsen was told that she could audition for next season of Dansefeber, and when that show was combined to make So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia, she was extended an invitation to participate. As the winner of the new series, she won 500.000 NOK and the title "Scandinavia's Favourite Dancer". First runner-up was Martin Gæbe, 3rd place-finalist was Daniel Koivunen, and Mynte Lagoni took 4th place.
Hosts Henriette Lien (Norway) Vicki Jo (Denmark) Kicki Berg (Sweden)
Judges Merete Lingjærde (Norway) Niclas Bendixen (Denmark) Fredrik "Benke" Rydman (Sweden) Mary Murphy (guest judge, US)
Auditions The minimum age for audition was 16 years, and those who got through would advance to the show's main headquarters in Oslo. Contestants must use music from the industry's Big Four labels – Universal Music Group, EMI, Warner Music Group or Sony BMG. The auditions were held in Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Stockholm (Sweden).
Workshop After the auditions in Norway, Denmark and Sweden the show had a big workshop in Oslo.
There they found 8 dancers from each country. 4 males and 4 females each. The workshop included (with eliminations after each performance): ChallengeMusicChoreographer(s)Hip-Hop"Say Goodbye to Love"—Kenna feat. Lupe FiascoFilmon MichaelSamba"Sway"—The Pussycat DollsBjørn Holthe (Dansefeber season 2)Anette Stokke (Dansefeber season 2)Contemporary Jazz"Sorry"—MadonnaKnut Arild FlatnerKarl-Erik Nedregaard
Finals
Format The finals began with 24 contestants, 4 males and 4 females from each country. After partners are assigned, couples pick a dance style out of a hat, have a rehearsal with a choreographer, and perform their routine. Following the airing performances, home viewers vote for their favorite couple. The bottom three couples (six dancers overall) are then liable for elimination by the judges on the result shows an hour later. All six dancers perform a solo, after which the judges eliminate one male and one female contestant (the first two shows they eliminate four dancers). If the eliminated dancers are not from the same couple, their respective partners form a new pair for the following week's performances. Once the field of dancers is narrowed down to the top 12, permanent partnerships dissolve and contestants draw their new partners and two dance styles from a hat each week. The judges no longer have any say in the elimination process; viewers call in to vote for their favorite individual dancer, and the male and the female with the lowest votes are eliminated each week.
Top 24 finalists
Male contestants FinalistAgeHome CountryDance StyleElimination dateMartin Gæbe18DenmarkHip-HopRunner-UpDaniel Kouvinen22SwedenContemporary / Jazz3rd PlaceSérgio Júnior18SwedenContemporary / JazzMay 29, 2008Ronni Morgenstjerne21DenmarkHip-HopMay 22, 2008Robin Peters22SwedenContemporary / JazzMay 15, 2008Egor Filipenko20NorwayLatin BallroomMay 8, 2008Marvin Spahi22DenmarkHip-HopMay 1, 2008Daniel Sarr16NorwayHip-HopApril 24, 2008Phillip Jenkins27DenmarkContemporary / JazzApril 17, 2008Geir Gundersen30NorwayLatin BallroomApril 17, 2008Mario Amigo22SwedenHip-HopApril 10, 2008Yngvar Halvorsen20NorwayBreakdanceApril 10, 2008
Female contestants FinalistAgeHome CountryDance StyleElimination dateMona Berntsen18NorwayHip-HopWinnerMynte Lagoni19DenmarkContemporary4th PlaceEmma Hedlund24SwedenContemporary / JazzMay 29, 2008Siv Gaustad33NorwayContemporary / JazzMay 22, 2008Trinh Nguyen22NorwayContemporaryMay 15, 2008Huyen Huynh26NorwayHip-HopMay 8, 2008Marie Sol Sandberg24DenmarkContemporary / JazzMay 1, 2008Sandra Vather27SwedenContemporary / JazzApril 24, 2008Anete Jensen18DenmarkHip-HopApril 17, 2008Suzi Asovic22SwedenContemporary / JazzApril 17, 2008Andrea Schirmer17SwedenLatin BallroomApril 10, 2008Stinna Shaktiva28DenmarkContemporary / JazzApril 10, 2008
Elimination chart Contestants are in chronogical order of elimination. FemaleMaleDid not performBottom 3 couplesBottom 6 contestantsEliminated
Week:4/104/174/245/15/85/155/225/29ContestantResultWinnerMona BerntsenDNPBtm 3WinnerRunner-upMartin GæbeDNPBtm 6Runner-UpTop 4Daniel KouvinenDNPElimMynte LagoniDNPBtm 6Btm 6Top 6Sergio JuniorDNPBtm 3Btm 6Btm 6Emma HedlundDNPBtm 6Top 8Ronni MorgenstjerneDNPBtm 3Btm 6Btm 6ElimSiv GaustadDNPBtm 3Btm 6Btm 6Top 10Robin PetersDNPBtm 3Btm 6ElimTrinh NguyenDNPBtm 6Top 12Egor FilipenkoDNPElimHuyen HuynhBtm 3DNPBtm 3Btm 3Top 14Marvin SpahiBtm 3DNPBtm 3ElimMarie Sol SandbergDNPTop 16Daniel SarrDNPBtm 3ElimSandra VatherDNPBtm 3Top 24Phillip JenkinsDNPElimGeir GundersenDNPAnete JensenDNPSuzi AsovicDNPMario AmigoElimYngvar HalvorsenAndrea SchirmerStinna Shaktiva
Performances
Week 1 (10 April 2008) Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultHuyen HuynhMario AmigoHip-Hop"Ching-A-Ling"—Missy ElliottThomas BentsemAmigo eliminatedAndrea SchirmerMarvin SpahiSalsa"Everything I Can't Have"—Robin ThickeJazzySchirmer eliminatedTrinh NguyenMartin GæbeLyrical Jazz"Beautiful"—Me'Shell NdegéOcelloSabina DalfjällSafeStinna ShaktivaYngvar HalvorsenHip-Hop"Señorita"—Justin TimberlakeThomas BentsemBoth eliminatedMynte LagoniDaniel KoivunenContemporary Jazz"Tea"—Øivind Andersen SjøvollTine AspaasSafeEmma HedlundEgor FilipenkoCha-Cha"Get the Party Started"—Shirley BasseyBjørn HoltheSafe Group dance: Contestants next show (week 2): "Freakshow"—Britney Spears (Jazz; Choreographer: Tine Aspaas) Bottom 3's solos: DancerStyleMusicResultMario AmigoHip-Hop"Rubber Bullet Kiss"—Motocross MadnessEliminatedHuyen HuynhLyrical Hip-Hop"What Love Is"—Mary J. BligeSafeYngvar HalvorsenBreakdance"Right Here, Right Now"—Fatboy SlimEliminatedStinna ShaktivaContemporary"Footballer's Wife"—Amy MacDonaldEliminatedMarvin SpahiHip-Hop"We Gonna Win"—Miri Ben-AriSafeAndrea SchirmerRumba"Stickwitu"—The Pussycat DollsEliminated Eliminated: Stinna Shaktiva Andrea Schirmer Yngvar Halvorsen Mario Amigo New partners: Huyen Huynh and Marvin Spahi
Week 2 (17 April 2008) Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsSuzi AsovicGeir GundersenJive"Hit Me Up"—Gia FarrellGunn MyhrengenBoth eliminatedSiv GaustadRonni MorgenstjerneLyrical Jazz"Dust in the Wind"—Sarah BrightmanKristine MelbySafeMarie Sol SandbergRobin PetersSalsa"Nadie Como Ella"—Marc AnthonyMarina PradaSafeSandra VatherPhillip JenkinsContemporary Jazz"Corners"—LALKristine MelbyJenkins eliminatedAnete JensenDaniel SarrHip-Hop"Lick Shots"—Missy ElliottGigi TorresJensen eliminatedMona BerntsenSergio JuniorAfrocuban Rumba"Echa Pa'Lante"—ThalíaIbiroqai RegueriaSafe Group dance: Contestants past show that got thru: "So Much Betta"—Janet Jackson feat. Daft Punk (Hip-Hop; Choreographer: Belinda Braza) Bottom 3's solos: DancerStyleMusicResultPhillip JenkinsContemporary"Personal Jesus"—Depeche ModeEliminatedSandra VatherContemporary"Isaac"—MadonnaSafeGeir GundersenSamba"On the Run"—YelloEliminatedSuzi AsovicJazz"Rubber Bullet Kiss"—Motocross MadnessEliminatedDaniel SarrHip-Hop"We Don't Need No Water (When I Need a Man)"—Tweet feat. Missy ElliottSafeAnete JensenHip-Hop"Get Ya Hands Up"—FergieEliminated Eliminated: Suzi Asovic Anete Jensen Geir Gundersen Phillip Jenkins New partners: Sandra Vather and Daniel Sarr
Week 3 (24 April 2008) Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsEmma HedlundEgor FilipenkoQuickstep"Spider-Man theme song"—Michael BubléBjørn HoltheSafeSandra VatherDaniel SarrJazz"Have You Met Miss Jones"—Robbie WilliamsRoine SöderlundhBoth eliminatedSiv GaustadRonni MorgenstjerneHouse"What Else Is There? (Trentemøller Remix)"—RöyksoppTine SallingBottom 3Marie Sol SandbergRobin PetersLyrical Jazz"Weeds"—Jann ArdenToni FerrazSafeMona BerntsenSergio JuniorShowdance"Hit & Run Holiday"—My Life with the Thrill Kill KultRoine SöderlundhSafeHuyen HuynhMarvin SpahiPaso Doble"España Cañi"—André RieuBjørn HoltheBottom 3Trinh NguyenMartin GæbeContemporary"Swarms"Sølvi EdvardsenSafeMynte LagoniDaniel KoivunenLocking"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"—Daft PunkTine SallingSafe Group dance: Top 16: "Big Spender"—Shirley Bassey (Broadway; Choreographer: Roine Söderlundh) Bottom 3's solos: DancerStyleMusicResultDaniel SarrDancehall"Breakout"—Sean PaulEliminatedSandra VatherContemporary"Non Me Lo So Spiegare"—Tiziano FerroEliminatedMarvin SpahiFunk"Tears Dry On Their Own"—Amy WinehouseSafeHuyen HuynhJazz"Scratch Bass"—LambSafeRonni MorgenstjerneHip-Hop"Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Instrumental)"—Kanye WestSafeSiv GaustadContemporary"Overcome"—TrickySafe Eliminated: Sandra Vather Daniel Sarr New partners: None
Week 4 (1 May 2008) Couple dances: CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)ResultsMona BerntsenSergio JuniorSalsa"Meñique Mañigua (Remix)"—DJ DusteJazzyBottom 3Huyen HuynhMarvin SpahiHouse"It's Yours (Tiefschwarfz Remix)"—Dimitri From ParisSabina DalfjällSpahi eliminatedMarie Sol SandbergRobin PetersWaltz"Dark Waltz"—Hayley WestenraBjørn HoltheSandberg eliminatedTrinh NguyenMartin GæbeNew Style"Marathon"—KelisToniah PedersenSafeMynte LagoniDaniel KoivunenContemporary"At the Heart of It All"—Nine Inch NailsMasja AbrahamsenSafeEmma HedlundEgor FilipenkoFunk"She Wants to Move"—N.E.R.DToniah PedersenSafeSiv GaustadRonni MorgenstjerneLyrical Jazz"With Every Heartbeat"—Robyn feat. KleerupSabina DalfjällSafe Group dance: Top 14: "Charlie Big Potato"—Skunk Anansie (Jazz; Choreographer: Kristine Melby) Bottom 3's solos: DancerStyleMusicResultMarvin SpahiHip-Hop"Just a Thought"—Gnarls BarkleyEliminatedHuyen HuynhFunk"Poison"—Bel Biv DeVoeSafeRobin PetersJazz"Spanish Joint"—D'AngeloSafeMarie Sol SandbergContemporary"It Tango"—Laurie AndersonEliminatedSergio JuniorContemporary"This Year's Love"—David GraySafeMona BerntsenHip-Hop"Fall Out"—Method ManSafe Eliminated: Marie Sol Sandberg Marvin Spahi New partners: Every couple. Now that only the top 12 remain, new partners are randomly assigned each week.
Week 5 (8 May 2008) Couple dances: