Strictly’s going hip hop in bid to woo young viewers
STRICTLY is introducing “street dance” for the first time in a move to attract younger viewers.
A Couple’s Choice category will let contestants choose from three modern dance styles. After the first few episodes, one couple will perform a contemporary, street/ commercial or theatre/jazz routine each week.
The change could see burlesque, urban dance and ballet elements brought to the ballroom alongside the BBC show’s usual waltz, foxtrot and quickstep routines. It is the first time a new category has been seen on Strictly Come Dancing since the Charleston was added nine years ago.
A show spokesman said: “This will give our celebrities and professional dancers an even greater opportunity to showcase their skills and for the show to celebrate even more styles of dance.”
An insider said: “Audiences have loved it when new dance styles have been introduced and bosses wanted to give more options to the team so they can continue to create the most spectacular show on TV.”
However, the fans’ reaction was mixed, with some unhappy about the shift from traditional ballroom. One viewer tweeted: “I’ve watched every single episode of Strictly and love it but it’s getting too Americanised.
“Stop the whooping, stop the cringey VTs [video tapes] and get back to ‘proper’ dance, not street/ hip hop nonsense.”
Another said: “Think this is a brilliant idea! Some folk on here are so afraid of change. Embrace it. More beautiful dancing.”
Some of this year’s contestants are also thought to have been selected with a younger audience in mind.
Capital FM breakfast show host Vicki Hope is popular with young listeners while YouTube star Joe Sugg has more than five million Twitter followers.
Other famous faces in this year’s line-up include BBC newsreader Kate Silverton, Red Dwarf actor Danny John-Jules and singer Lee Ryan.
The new series will kick off with a launch show on BBC One tomorrow at 7.35pm.