The Indian Beat

The couple is excited about visiting India since the Bollywood Dance group number,which was introduced in the show last season,helped them score big. “It’s our first time in India ,the country where this genre comes from,” remarks Popowich,26. A popular show in the US ,So You Think You Can Dance launched the Canadian version in 2008,which became hit across the globe with 22 million viewers in the very first season.

Popowich says she was already a ballet dancer by the age of three “when I could get myself to stand straight and run”. By 15,she had trained in jazz,tap and lyrical. But her heart lay in learning hip-hop,which has been her strength since she was 18. She also runs her own dance company,Velocity,in Vancouver ,Canada. Desjardins was introduced to dance by his elder sister Audrey. “She wanted me to train in ballroom dance so that when I could dance with her when I grew older,” he says with a chuckle.

In India,the two hope to familiarise themselves with various local dances. Despite the competitive environment of the television show,Popowich and Desjardins,paired with each other for two rounds,also found love. The pretty blonde admits that she always found him cute. “He was the strongest male dancer on the show and a huge part of the reason I won. I feel lucky to get to share amazing experiences as well as passion with the person I love,” she gushes,to which Desjardins adds,“I didn’t finish with the big title but without a doubt,I got the big prize.”