LOS ANGELES, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids will rock 'n rule -- and hip
hop, too -- in Nickelodeon's new dynamic Dance on Sunset series, hosted by
Quddus Philippe (MTV's TRL), kicking off on the heels of Nickelodeon's 2008
Kids' Choice Awards, Saturday, March 29 (9:30 p.m. ET/PT). The dance/variety
show with a tween twist will feature a mix of today's hottest musical acts,
free-style dance competitions and a troupe of young dancers to teach kids the
latest moves, while viewers at-home can get in step each week in front of the
tube and on a new, complementary website: www.danceonsunset.com. Produced by
Emmy-nominated Magical Elves (Project Runway, Top Chef), and created by top
talent agents Bryan Leder and Frederick Levy, the series will roll out with 12
new original half-hour episodes that teach kids how to freestyle like Justin,
shake it like Shakira and get down like Fergie. Post-premiere, Dance on
Sunset will move to its regular timeslot, Sundays at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080311/NYTU094 )
"We know that music and dance are a big part of our viewers' lives so, in
true Nickelodeon tradition, we're giving them their very own destination
offering musical performances, dance competitions and their favorite
celebrities" said Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Original
Programming and Development, Nickelodeon. "In addition to serving up great
entertainment, we are also offering our audience the unique opportunity to
participate in this show at home."
Stars slated to perform include Ashlee Simpson, Sean Kingston, Akon with
Colbie and Menudo. Among the guest-stars on tap are Janet Jackson, Omarion
and Nickelodeon's own Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) and The Naked Brothers Band.
The series will feature the "Nick 6," a newly formed troupe of young
dancers from around the country who will perform and teach the latest moves
and routines to a live audience, led by ace choreographer Tony Testa (Janet
Jackson, Aaron Carter). Dance on Sunset will also tap into its live studio
audience for contestants to compete weekly for the "Sunset VIP" title through
a series of freestyle dance competitions. Viewers at home will be able to
participate and learn a new dance in a segment titled, "Fresh Squeezed Dance."
Nickelodeon will also offer home viewers an additional way to participate
in Dance on Sunset through a complimentary website, www.danceonsunset.com.
Kids can visit the site to learn and practice the week's "Fresh Squeezed" on-
air dance segment, including an exclusive, "advanced" version. Viewers may
also submit videos online of their own "Fresh Squeezed Dance," check out
"Backstage Pass" video highlights featuring guest performances, read weekly
blogs, ask questions, post comments, participate in polls and play games.
Throughout the series, the "Nick 6" will take viewers behind the scenes,
illustrating what it takes to be a member of the dance group. Members of the
"Nick 6" include: Karen Chuang (Los Altos, CA), Johnny Erasme (Miami, FL),
Ashley Galvan (Visalia, CA), Shane Harper (Irvine, CA), Aubree Storm (Elburn,
IL), and Hefa Tuita (Spanish Fork, UT).
Host Quddus Philippe has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the
worlds of music, TV, and film as one of the top VJs of MTV's popular Total
Request Live (TRL). In addition, TV Guide named him one of the "Hottest New
Stars" in 2005; USA Today included him among their "Sizzling Young Hunks" in
2004 and Teen People called him one of the "50 Sexiest Guys Ever." He's been
a part of MTV's biggest events including the annual Video Music Awards (VMAs),
New Year's Eve Bash and Fashionably Loud, and he hosted a range of other shows
including MTV Hits, Morning After and his own show MTV Soul. Quddus hosts the
nationally syndicated radio show TRL Weekend Countdown. He is featured on The
Fairly OddParents DVD "School's Out: The Musical."
Famed choreographer Tony Testa recently relocated to Los Angeles from his
hometown of Fort Collins, Colo. He started dancing at the age of eight and
later toured with the original cast of TapKids and nationally with Aaron
Carter on his Jukebox World Tour. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has
choreographed for Sony's Las Vegas consumer show, danced with Beyonce in
"Dreamgirls," danced with Britney Spears for the VMA's, and choreographed and
danced for Janet Jackson throughout her "20 Y.O." project.
About MAGICAL ELVES INC.
Since its formation in the summer of 2001, Magical Elves has developed and
produced shows for NBC, ABC, Bravo, USA and HBO. After a successful
collaboration on the Emmy-nominated reality show Bands on the Run, Jane
Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth formed Magical Elves to exploit their diverse
backgrounds and varied experience. This partnership has gone on to create
some of the most talked about shows on television, including the Emmy-
nominated Project Runway, Top Chef and Project Greenlight for Bravo, as well
as Last Comic Standing and Treasure Hunters for NBC. Magical Elves has
constantly been on the cutting edge of entertainment, embracing new
technologies and pushing the boundaries of reality television.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for
kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in
everything it does. The company includes television programming and production
in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online,
recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television
network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-
one-rated basic cable network for more than 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon
and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc.
(NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).