FOX Asks Dancers to Prove They Can Move

Hoping to hit the same ratings beat as "American Idol," FOX's new reality show, "So You Think You Can Dance" (search), will be looking for America's best all-around movers and shakers.

Thousands of hopeful bump-and-grinders auditioned in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, representing salsa, jive, hip-hop and ballet and trying to survive the auditions and rigorous routines.

"It's obviously produced by the folks of 'American Idol,' so it's a well-oiled machine and hopefully what 'American Idol' did for singers, 'So You Think You Can Dance' can do for dancing," host Laura Sanchez (search), an L.A. entertainment reporter who had a role in the box-office hit "The Fantastic Four," told FOX News.

"Dance" debuts Wednesday night at 8 p.m. EDT on FOX.

The new show, which comes on the heels of ABC's summer smash "Dancing with the Stars (search)," pits amateur and semi-professional dancers against each other in an "American Idol"-style competition.

But don't expect too many William Hungs, warns the show's executive producer Nigel Lythgoe (search).

"In truth it is not the same as 'Idol.' You haven't got really bad people. In dancing you have to have some kind of training, or you have been in the street and worked hard to get it together," said Lythgoe, who was a well-known choreographer before devoting his career to reality TV full time.

It does, however, test a dancer's versatility.

"Just imagine Mikhail Baryshnikov having to learn how to hip-hop or Jay-Z having to learn how to ballroom dance," Sanchez said.

Like "Idol," the first two weeks of the series will feature the worst dancers who tried out for the show.

A group of finalists are sent to Hollywood where they perform before a rotating group of choreographers who act as judges. Viewers can vote for their favorites, just like "Idol."

The prize is $100,000 and a career-launching year living in a New York City apartment just steps from Broadway.

"Idol" judge Paula Abdul, a former professional dancer, is in talks with producers to appear on the show in some form of specialty role.

FOX is a division of News Corp., which also owns FOXNews.com.

FOX News' Mike Waco and The New York Post's Don Kaplan contributed to this report.