(L-R) Executive producer Matilda Zoltowski, Judge Ne-Yo, Executive producer/judge Jennifer Lopez, Judge Derek Hough, Host Jenna Dewan Tatum, Executive producers Benny Medina and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas of ‘World Of Dance’ speak onstage during the 2017 NBCUniversal Summer Press Day at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 20, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images/AFP
Television talent contests have launched many careers into the spotlight, and in Jennifer Lopez’ new reality dance competition, enthusiasts of the art form can expect no less than the “best dancers in the world.”
With judges and mentors like singer-songwriter NE-YO, Derek Hough from “Dancing with the Stars,” dancer-actress Jenna Dewan Tatum and, of course, superstar Jennifer Lopez, “World of Dance” is set to give dancers the best platform to display their talent and a chance to win a grand prize of $1 million.
What sets “World of Dance” apart from other TV dance competitions where the style or genre of dance is selected for the contestants every week is the fact that these dancers perform their own choreography of their own chosen dance style.
The show’s premise of “any age, any style” casts a wide net for dancers with competitors handpicked from qualifiers around the United States and from thousands of online submissions. “It’s the biggest dance competition in the world,” boasts Lopez, who is also the producer of the show.
Dancers will be divided into three divisions: Junior (any size act, 17 years old and under), Upper (groups of 1-4, 18 and older) and Team (groups of 5+, 18 and older), and they will be scored by their performance, technique, choreography, creativity and presentation. They will compete within their divisions in the first four rounds, and in the final round, each division winner will face off (or dance off, rather) for the grand prize and the title of “Best in the World.”
“World of Dance” will premiere on Wednesday at 9 p.m. on TLC.