Fox Movies to premiere new dance show

Yalla Nor’os, the Arabic version of dance show So You Think You Can Dance is premiering on Fox Movies on September 28. The launch of the show – which will be bringing together a diverse talent pool of Arab dancers – reflects Fox Movies’ new strategic direction, designed to drive further growth in the local programming category.

The premiere’s announcement comes following an agreement signed between independent media station MTV Lebanon and Fox International Channels Middle East. The partnership grants the channel exclusive rights to televise the show for GCC audiences. The 11-episode show – scheduled to air every Sunday at 8:30pm KSA/9:30pm UAE – will be hosted by prominent Lebanese actress Rita Hayek. A repeat of the episode will also air every Saturday at 2:30pm KSA/1:30pm UAE only on Fox Movies.

Yalla Nor’os will feature an esteemed judging panel comprising Egyptian actress, ballerina and model Nelly Karim; Founder, Owner and Artistic Director of Makriss Dance Ministry, Charles Makriss; Rogina, the diversely talented Egyptian actress; and, acclaimed ballroom dancer and instructor Pierre Dulaine. Together, the renowned, outspoken judges form a critical element of the show and help steer public opinion with their approving or disapproving reviews of the performers’ routines.

The Yalla Nor’os contestants will be battling it out for the votes of the viewing audience. Viewers  can vote via sms for their favorite individual dancers. The voting numbers, combined with the input of the judges, will then determine who will be crowned the Arab world’s favorite dancer and win a generous $100,000 cash prize.

The show will follow Arab talents – aged 18-38 – from a variety of styles as they enter a grueling open audition to demonstrate their moves on the dance floor. Based on the contestants’ initial performance, the judges will decide on-the-spot which dancer should be eliminated and who can go through to the next round. The remaining hopefuls will then be tested on their overall dance abilities and capacity to perform under pressure. At the end of this process, the top participants with the most impressive skills will be whittled down to less than 40.

At the end of the third episode, the judges will select the top 20 finalists that have made it through to the competition’s main phase; these lucky dancers will get to perform duet and group dance numbers – across categories – on the Yalla Nor’os stage, in front of a live audience.

At this point, the show will transition into its regular competition phase for the next eight weeks, with contestants eliminated each week. In addition, dancers will be paired up into male-female couples for the rest of the contest, if neither is sent home; these couples will be expected to perform one or two duets a week in randomly selected styles choreographed by professionals. Once a couple is split up, new pairings are formed.

“Airing for the first time ever on TV in the region, Yalla Nor’os, the highly-anticipated Arab version of the So You Think You Can Dance television franchise is sure to prove a big hit amongst dance enthusiasts across the Middle East, many of whom have been devotedly following the US show since its inception,” said Sanjay Raina, General Manager, Fox International Channels Middle East. “The adrenaline-fueled series provides an exciting platform for Middle Eastern talent; its exclusive premiere on Fox Movies strengthens the channel’s steadfast commitment to local programming and content.”

He also added, “Yalla Nor’os is yet another strong addition to the channel’s powerful roster of shows, which deliver diverse, high-quality entertainment content that caters to all audiences.”

The US version of So You Think You Can Dance first premiered on Fox in 2005 with over 10 million viewers; today, it is considered America’s number one summer show on television. The captivating series has, over the years, won a total of 10 Emmy Awards spanning various categories including Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Lighting, and Outstanding Wardrobe.