Q&A with Mary Murphy

If there's one word to describe Mary Murphy, it would be "loud," although she would probably rather we go with "enthusiastic." The So You Think You Can Dance judge has become known for the high-pitched scream she emits when she's impressed with a dance performance - and she's often impressed.
Still, as a championship ballroom dancer, Murphy knows what it takes to really succeed in the business, which is why she's currently in Toronto to serve as a guest judge on this week's episode of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. She took a few minutes to tell us how Canadian dancers differ from American dancers, what it will take to win the competition and why she thinks the show is such a hit.

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Q: In your opinion, what moves a dance routine beyond good to making you yell, "WOO!"
A: [Laughs] Well, I think most of the time, usually, if I scream, it usually happens with a really fired-up number; sultry and sexy and hard-hitting and very dynamic, very dramatic. That usually gets me on my feet. A lot of times I look back sometimes because I know some of the dancers would have liked a scream. Over the last few years when a number has really touched me, and it did go beyond, you know, it was absolutely perfect, the technique was fabulous - like I said, it takes you to a magical place - I was sad sometimes because I couldn't get a scream up for that because it touched me so much, it leaves me sitting there. I can barely move sometimes. It brings me to tears. But they deserve every ounce of all my enthusiasm. Most of them know that I really, really loved it and adored it, but it takes you to a different place.
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To read the rest of the interview, click here.

Credit: Kat Angus, Dose.CA