Q&A with So You Think You Can Dance Canada winner Tara-Jean

Kat Angus
October 26, 2009

Tara-Jean Popowich of Lethbridge, Alta., won the second season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. (CTV)

Last night, Tara-Jean Popowich became the second winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and somehow, the bubbly 20-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta. was the only one who didn't see it coming. Throughout the nine weeks of competition, Popowich was never in the group of dancers with the least votes, and the contemporary dancer charmed judges and viewers alike despite only performing one dance routine in her genre. Still, Popowich was shocked when host Leah Miller announced her as the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, almost unable to speak through her tears. Here, Popowich reflects on her time in the competition, what she'll do with her $100,000 prize and what she plans to do next.

Congratulations!
Thank you so much!

You were freaking out when you found out you'd won.
I wasn't expecting it at all. The whole day, I was like, "Oh, Vincent is going to take it and I'm so proud of him!" The whole day, that's what my gut feeling was, so when Leah Miller was like, "It's Tara-Jean!" I was like, "Uh, pardon me?" It was the craziest ever. I was in such shock.

But you were never in the bottom. You had to have some idea that you could win.
I'd forgotten about that until the wrap party! People were like, "You should have known!" And I'd say,
"What do you mean, I didn't dance for my life?" And they'd say, "No, you never danced for your life." Oh. Oh! That's right!

Why did you think Vincent was going to win?
He's the nicest person; honestly, the nicest person I've never met. Just watching him on camera and going through the shows – he's so talented. Everyone's talented but everyone seemed to really love him. I was so happy for him and I thought he was going to take it!

What were you feeling after the show ended?
It was a roller coaster, with mixed emotions. It's the last show and you're sad because it's your last time dancing on the stage, but I couldn't believe how happy I was and it was the best moment of my life. As you can tell, I'm still in such shock right now.

You auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance Canada in Season 1 but were eliminated before the Top 20. What changed from last year that enabled you to win the whole show this time around?
My mentality. I was probably one of the most unconfident dancers. I loved what I did so much, but in an audition, I never had too much confidence in myself. This year, I just realized that it doesn't matter if I'm good, because I love what I'm doing, so why am I holding myself back? I worked my butt off for an entire year, I gained more confidence and I came back with a fire this year. And somehow I won the whole thing!

How are your ribs? They were causing you problems before the finale.
They're getting better. They're at least staying inside; they haven't popped out.

More than one rib?!
Yeah, there are quite a few and it turns out that they've been twisting. But I'll get them fixed up before the tour.

How do you dance through that?
It's what dancers do! You have to ignore the pain.

Other than winning, what was your favourite moment from the season?
Definitely, dancing my contemporary routine with Vincent. It was just such an amazing piece to do, and it was so difficult because you had to fit into this character. Vincent and I put our heart and soul into that piece and getting a standing ovation for it last night, honestly, made my life.

You said you planned to pay off your mom's mortgage and send your brother to school with your prize money. Do you have any other plans?
I'd just really love to put on my own show – book the venue, choreograph the routines, find the dancers, pay the dancers. Just put everything on myself. Even if it's only a two-day show, I'd love to do that.

Do you plan to keep the car you also won?
Yes! I definitely am. My little Sunfire broke down just before the show, so it's lovely to have a new car.

Of the eliminated dancers, who do you think should have gone further in the competition?
Oh, my goodness. I can't even... I don't even know. The way it worked out, I wasn't expecting it at all. Danny, his technique, he's just such a beautiful dancer. And, truthfully, I thought Kim was going to win the entire thing, so there were a couple of shocker ones. Danny's such a phenomenal dancer and Kim just had it all; she's an amazing dancer and an amazing person, so right from the start, I thought she'd be the one to take it.

Which routines do you want to take on the tour?
My contemporary, obviously. I would love to do my rumba, just because it's such a feel-good dance. My salsa, because I love the lift so much, even though it hurts. My house routine with Everett, because it's just so much fun. Oh, my goodness. What else? Oh, my tap routine! It was the first tap routine ever done on a So You Think You Can Dance stage ever. Oh, my goodness, I just loved all my numbers.

When do you find out which routines you'll get to do?
November 12.

Which is when rehearsals for the tour start?
Yeah, in Vancouver. I get to be back in Vancouver for a bit.

How long do rehearsals last?
I think only two weeks.

I hope your ribs are OK by then.
Oh, they'll be fine! I'll just tape them up and keep popping them back in.

How long will the tour last?
That's a good question! They don't tell us too much; I know it's about two months and we're visiting 18 cities.

Which city are you most excited for?
Lethbridge, obviously!

The tour is going right to your hometown?
Yes, and I screamed and almost had a heart attack when I found out. I cried with happiness for about two hours! So exciting. I can't believe I'm going to be performing for my flipping city! It's so crazy!

What are you going to do between now and Nov. 12?
I'm going home tomorrow, back to Lethbridge. I can't wait! I'm going to probably have a bath for two days straight, just get my body back to normal and just sleep.