NEPC on new dance show
Julianne Hough, left, and Maria Menounos, right with one of the teams in the upcoming ‘Dance Battle America.’ (Courtesy ABC)
Boston Herald
September 14, 2015
Ever since she finished her stint on “Dancing with the Stars,” Medford homegal Maria Menounos has had the Boogie Fever — and the only cure was to make another TV show about dancing!
“After I left ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ where I was dancing on a daily basis, I really missed it. It was hard to detach,” Maria told the Track. “And I said to (partner) Keven (Undergaro), ‘We need to come up with something for everyone, because there’s no dance shows for everyday people.’ ”
While she was thinking those big thoughts, Maria and “DWTS” pro-turned-judge Julianne Hough had caused a social media sensation with a series of “Dance Wars” via YouTube. The videos went viral and other celebrities, including Kate Hudson and Kristi Yamaguchi, jumped onboard. And thus “Dance Battle America” was born.
“It’s not something where you have to have actual skill,” Menounos said. “I had no business challenging The Hough to a dance off. I just wanted to dance. I love to dance, good or bad.”
The special, which will air tomorrow night after “DWTS,” will have eight dance teams battling it out for the Dance Battle Trophy. The dancers, who were recruited via social media, will go through a week of dance boot camp, training with top choreographers, to create a routine for their chosen song. After four rounds, a winner will be chosen.
One of the teams, The Retired Cheerleaders, stars four former New England Patriots cheerleaders, who will do a routine to Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
“They’re very competitive and have a taste for winning after cheering in several Super Bowls for the Patriots,” the show’s publicity says. “The competition is their ‘comeback,’ so to speak.”
The special will be hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro (“America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Unwrapped 2.0”) and singer Jordin Sparks.
Menounos, arguably the hardest working gal in show biz with her E! Network gig, producing, acting and wrestling projects, said after the special airs she has another big project lined up: She might finally be ready to be a mom.
“We’re kinda working on it,” said Maria, who has been with her partner, Undergaro, for 17 years. “We’re both onboard. We’re ready. I’m 37 and I’m glad we waited but it’s time to make something happen. I hope it’s not too late!”
File Under: Battle Ready.
