Everybody loves to dance, but fortunately the 20 (now 16) finalists on the new season of So You Think You Can Dance have much better moves than your Uncle Franks funky wedding routine!

Now in its third season, So You Think You Can Dance has quickly become the American Idol for dancers, as contestants jump from ballet to ballroom to hip-hop in the hopes of winning $250,000 and, of course, worldwide fame.

And this year is more competitive than ever. “The show has more credibility now with professional dancers,” says judge Mary Murphy. “So the talent is at a very high level. I almost want to see them fall down to make the decisions a little easier!”

The finalists are now being partnered up to tackle different dance genres, which will quickly separate the specialists from the master movers. But it’s not just about how well they shake their booties.

“We need to see their personalities, and they have to make the audience want to get up and vote — that’s the X factor,” says Mary, who notes that years of training and choreography can mean nothing when matched with raw talent.

“Street dancers, who couldn’t afford training, go up against classically trained dancers, and they have a chance at winning. That’s the American dream. Who doesn’t love that!” [source: Star]