What is the purpose of dance competition reality shows? (Other than just to showcase dancing)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Like "So You Think You Can Dance?"

I mean, with "American Idol", you have a competition to find the "best" singer, and at the end, the "best" singer is found, they are given a recording contract, and supposedly they will go on to sell millions of records, go on concert tours, etc.

But with the dance shows? So they have a competition to find who is the best dancer, and after they found him/her....then what? Do they win a cookie or something? I don't know what the next step would be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it is nice to watch if you are a fan of good dancing, but unless you are talking ballet or tap dance it is hard to make a name for yourself for just dancing. (And even those two catagories you are talking about rather niche audiences.)

Do they get to dance in the videos of whoever wins American Idol?