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Press Releases
Taking the floor – Eurovision Dance Contest
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Fifty two years after the launch of the Eurovision Song Contest, a brand new Euro-show is set to sashay onto 91Èȱ¬ One this autumn – take your partners for the sequinned splendour of the very first Eurovision Dance Contest.
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The 91Èȱ¬ will be the host for the event at 91Èȱ¬ Television Centre, London and the viewing public will be the judges for the spectacular competition, featuring dancing couples from 16 countries across Europe – Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Ukraine and, of course, the UK.
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The two and a quarter hour special, to be shown in September, will be a major 91Èȱ¬ One Saturday night event, presented by Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman.
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Following her successful run hosting Strictly Come Dancing's sister show It Takes Two, Claudia Winkleman was the perfect choice to host the glitzy event alongside Graham.
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Claudia said: "I'm so excited about doing this show, I actually feel sick. I love Graham and I can't believe I'm going to get to stand next to him all night long. The dancing promises to be fantastic. I'm secretly hoping for clogs."
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Fresh from their stint as judges on Strictly Come Dancing and fast becoming a double act themselves, top choreographer Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman (a former dancer himself) will be on hand as expert commentators to dissect the performances and artistic content.
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Viewers will be asked to vote on the overall performance: dancing, choreography, costume and choice of music.
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Eurovision Dance Contest will see professional and amateur dancers compete for the international crown. They will perform two dances – one a choice of traditional Latin or Ballroom, the other one a freestyle dance reflecting their National culture.
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Like the Eurovision Song Contest, the show will be live, unpredictable, with a scoreboard, foreign hosts – and, who knows, perhaps an infamous, "nul points".
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Peter Fincham, Controller, 91Èȱ¬ One, said: "The Eurovision Song Contest has been a remarkable, long standing success on 91Èȱ¬ One. Eurovision Dance Contest is its natural partner.
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"I'm looking forward to an evening full of stars and sequins, and glitz and glamour – a great night of family entertainment on 91Èȱ¬ One."
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Eurovision Dance Contest is a co-production between Splash Media and Sunset + Vine with assistance from the International DanceSport Federation and in association with the European Broadcasting Union.
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Jane Lush and Fenia Vardanis of Splash Media were the two main creators of the 91Èȱ¬'s highly-successful format Strictly Come Dancing.
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Sunset + Vine is the UK's leading independent sports production company specialising in live events. Ìý
Eurovision Dance Contest is commissioned by Elaine Bedell, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning, and Peter Fincham.
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Jane Lush said: "We are in the midst of a dancing obsession in the UK and the Eurovision Dance Contest takes this to an international level. Surely we can hope to get more than nul points!"
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Fenia Vardanis said: "The competition will be intense ... but and perhaps, just maybe, this is one competition we actually stand a chance of winning!"
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Notes to Editors
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At present there is no more information available on Eurovision Dance Contest.
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Press accreditation is not finalised as yet, and will not open until nearer the time of broadcast.
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