PRESS RELEASE
Network Ten is thrilled to announce that international music and television star Paula Abdul and Carrie Bickmore, co-host of The Project, will head the all-new cast for the return of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
So You Think You Can Dance Australia, to be produced by Shine Australia, is a multi-Emmy® Award winning, global television smash hit that danced its way into the heart of Australians for three successful years.
Now the Logie Award-winning local series is set to return in 2014 with Paula Abdul as judge and Carrie Bickmore as host.
A multi-platinum recording artist with sales exceeding over 60 million worldwide, Paula Abdul has won two Emmy® Awards for her choreography, in addition to a Grammy, seven MTV Video Awards, two People’s Choice Awards and three American Music Awards.
A ground-breaking choreographer, dancer, songwriter, performer, designer, actor and business woman, Paula Abdul will be joined on the judging panel by some of Australia’s most respected and high profile dance identities: world-acclaimed choreographer Jason Gilkison, and renowned
choreographers and performers, Aaron Cash and Shannon Holtzapffel.
Paula Abdul said: “I just can’t wait to start work on So You Think You Can Dance Australia. I am thrilled to be a part of this great show and to experience first-hand the skill, passion and athleticism of these dancers.
“Aussie dancers are without a doubt some of the best in the world, and it is an honour for me to be a part of finding Australia’s best dancer.”
Carrie Bickmore said: “I am so excited to be involved in So You Think You Can Dance Australia. I have loved dancing since I was a little girl.
“I remember thinking when I first watched the show years ago that it was a production I would have loved to be involved with. It’s fun, high energy and you can’t help but be awestruck by the talent of the dancers.”
Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “We are thrilled that Carrie, Paula, Jason, Aaron and Shannon have agreed to be part of what will be one of the big entertainment television events of 2014.
“Paula is a global entertainment industry legend: singer, dancer, choreographer, songwriter, actor and star of blockbuster television shows such as American Idol. She knows dance better than anyone else and is the perfect judge for So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
“Paula is the perfect complement to Jason, Shannon and Aaron, three Australians who have built impressive international reputations as dancers and choreographers, here and overseas,” she said.
“Carrie is one of the most popular people on Australian television. Few people know she is also trained in ballet. Carrie will bring to the show warmth, humour and a keen sense of what the dancers are experiencing.”
A So You Think Can Dance veteran, Jason Gilkison has appeared as judge and choreographer on countless episodes of the series both in Australia and the US, and is the creator of worldwide ballroom dance sensation Burn the Floor.
Aaron Cash is one of the original Tap Dogs, was Cher’s lead dancer for more than a decade and toured with ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov. Shannon Holtzapffel was a dancer for Michael Jackson, and currently tours with Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera.
The US version of So You Think You Can Dance is moving into its 11th successful season for the Fox network and continues to achieve strong ratings for Network Ten’s ELEVEN here.
Globally, So You Think You Can Dance has been seen in over 160 countries and territories worldwide. Paula Abdul has also frequently guest judged on the US version.
So You Think You Can Dance was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is from 19 Entertainment, a division of Core Media Group, and dick clark productions, inc.
It is distributed internationally by Zodiak.
So You Think You Can Dance Australia. Coming to TEN in 2014.