BBC Worldwide takes 'Dancing With The Stars' on the road in the US

BBC Worldwide takes 'Dancing With The Stars' on the road in the US

BBC Worldwide

MUMBAI: US broadcaster ABC's dance based reality show Dancing With The Stars is hitting the road. The show's producer BBC Worldwide Productions, is to take thw show on the road by partnering with AEG Live partner for a tour throughout the US.

The tour is scheduled to kick-off in San Diego, California on 19 December 2006 and will take its final bow in Atlantic City, on 11 February, 2007. Attracting an average audience of more than 19 million viewers, Dancing With the Stars currently ranks among the Top 5 most-watched shows on all of US television, also qualifying as the TV's No. 1 unscripted program.

The team hitting the road includes the on air season one's Joey McIntyre & Kym Johnson, Season Two winners Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke, Lisa Rinna & Louis Van Amstel, Season Three's Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska, Willa Ford & Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Harry Hamlin and Karina Smirnoff.

The two hour show will feature a larger-than-life recreation of the TV show's actual stage with an intimate nightclub style table seating on the floor allowing fans unparalleled sightlines and access to all of the action. As with the network show there will be a live orchestra to accompany the dances with popular modern day songs that have become a much loved aspect of the program.

BBC Worldwide Programming & Production senior VP Paul Telegdy says, "The tour gives us an unprecedented opportunity to evolve the Dancing brand. As the current number one network show it is evident that our next step should be to take Dancing on the road. The production qualities of the television show are undoubtedly a key component to its success and we are confident that our partnership with AEG Live, will ensure The Tour will mirror this high standard that the public rightly associate with the brand."

Dancing with the Stars – The Tour will be choreographed by Louis Van Amstel with Carrie Ann Inaba serving as the show's creative director. The live show will feature celebrity group and solo dances along with sets from the professional dancers. In addition, the show will feature two huge video screens to the left and right of the stage that will feature never-before-scene rehearsal footage and exclusive behind the scenes interviews and outtakes as well as many surprise extras.