Step Squad

**Step Squad** is a hybrid challenge of musical intelligence and physical intelligence on *Canada's Smartest Person*.

## Description

*Retrieved from CBC.ca*

The competitors will have a few minutes to learn a choreographed dance routine. Then they need to perform the routine while being judged on their every move. To make things more challenging, competitors are given the opportunity to express themselves physically and musically with a freestyle solo.

Unlike other types of movement we do in our daily lives, dance requires musicality and an ability process rhythm instantaneously through the body.

## Episode 104

Step Squad was the sole hybrid challenge, representing musical intelligence and physical intelligence, and the fifth challenge overall. Jeff Douglas explained to the viewers the instructions and how they could play along with the contestants on the Canada's Smartest Person app. Jessi Cruickshank explained to the contestants that the contestant in 1st place would earn 10 overall points, the contestant in 2nd place would earn 6, the contestant in 3rd place would earn 4, and the contestant in last place would earn 2. Sean Cheesman served as the guest judge for this challenge.

Sean gave the contestants a rundown of what dance routine he wanted them to perform. Midway through the challenge, contestants would have to perform an improvised solo one by one. So, first, the contestants performed Sean's dance routine, then, in the following order, Victoria Leenders-Cheng, Yahaya Baruwa, Mary Rose, and George Millar performed their solos, and, finally, the contestants repeated Sean's dance routine.

After the contestants finished, Jessi revealed that Sean would rank each of their performances from weakest to strongest. Sean gave his final comments to the contestants and ranked Mary in 1st place, Victoria in 2nd place, Yahaya in 3rd place, and George in last place. Therefore, Mary was awarded 10 overall points for finishing in 1st place, Victoria was awarded 6 for finishing in 2nd place, Yahaya was awarded 4 for finishing in 3rd place, and George was awarded 2 for finishing in last place.

### Summary of Results

 **1st** | **Mary Rose** | 1st
 **2nd** | **Victoria Leenders-Cheng** | 2nd
 **3rd** | **Yahaya Baruwa** | 3rd
 **4th** | **George Millar** | 4th
 Maximum Possible

## Episode 204

Step Squad was the sole hybrid challenge, representing musical intelligence and physical intelligence, and the fifth challenge overall. Jessi Cruickshank explained to the contestants that the contestant in 1st place would earn 5 overall points, the contestant in 2nd place would earn 3, the contestant in 3rd place would earn 2, and the contestant in last place would earn 1. She then explained to the viewers the instructions and how they could play along with the contestants on the Canada's Smartest Person app. Sean Cheesman served as the guest judge for this challenge.

Sean gave the contestants a rundown of what dance routine he wanted them to perform, which involved a chair. Midway through the challenge, contestants would have to perform an improvised solo one by one. So, first, the contestants performed Sean's dance routine, then, in the following order, Katy Warren, Andrew Hall, Neila Scott, and Petros Kusmu performed their solos, and, finally, the contestants repeated Sean's dance routine.

After the contestants finished, Jessi revealed that Sean would rank each of their performances from weakest to strongest. Sean gave his final comments to the contestants and ranked Petros in 1st place, Katy in 2nd place, Andrew in 3rd place, and Neila in last place. Therefore, Petros was awarded 10 overall points for finishing in 1st place, Katy was awarded 6 for finishing in 2nd place, Andrew was awarded 4 for finishing in 3rd place, and Neila was awarded 2 for finishing in last place.

### Summary of Results

 **1st** | **Petros Kusmu** | 1st
 **2nd** | **Katy Warren** | 2nd
 **3rd** | **Andrew Hall** | 3rd
 **4th** | **Neila Scott** | 4th
 Maximum Possible

## References

1. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/smartestperson/blog/testing-intelligences-episode-4
2. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2563740096 (28:47)