Step It Up and Dance is Bravo's latest reality TV offering that blends elements of
So You Think You Can Dance and
Project Runway. It follows a similar format to the aforementioned shows, combining elimination competitions with behind-the-scenes footage of what it takes to make it in the cutthroat professional dance industry.
12 talented men and women will compete weekly against one another in a variety of dance styles on
Step It Up and Dance. The dancers will be put through a series of challenges that will have them auditioning for various roles, such as a music video or a Las Vegas stage show. After the end of the competition, one contestant will emerge as the winner of the $100,000 grand prize.
Step It Up and Dance's 12 participants will be mentored by director and choreographer
Jerry Mitchell, who received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for his choreography in the 2005 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of
La Cage Aux Folles. Mitchell has also received an Emmy-nomination for choreographing
The Drew Carey Show, and is credited for
Hairspray and
Legally Blonde, just to name a few.
Hosting the series is actress
Elizabeth Berkley, who first catapulted to prominence as Jesse Spano on the hit NBC series
Saved by the Bell. Her other film credits include the critically acclaimed
Roger Dodger, Woody Allen's
Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Oliver Stone's
Any Given Sunday, The First Wives Club, and
Showgirls, among others.
On the other hand, world-renowned director
Vincent Paterson (Madonna's "Blond Ambition" Tour,
Michael Jackson's "Bad" Tour) and choreographer
Nancy O'Meara (Hannah Montana,
High School Musical Tour), will serve as judges for the competition.
Created by Gunnar Wetterberg,
Step It Up and Dance is produced by Magical Elves' producers Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth, the same duo behind Bravo's
Project Runway and
Top Chef reality series.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Bravo
(Image courtesy of Bravo)