Strictly adds a dash of street cred to win over young viewers
THE BBC’S Strictly Come Dancing is to introduce “street dance” for the first time, in a bid to attract younger audiences.
This year’s competitors will take part in a Couple’s Choice category, which will allow them to choose from one of three styles – contemporary, street and jazz – to showcase their skills.
After the initial weeks of the series, viewers will see at least one celebrity contestant a week asked to perform a modern-day dance alongside a more traditional waltz, cha-cha-cha or salsa.
Street dancing will be the first new style to be performed under the glitterball for nine years and the move aims to ensure this season is a hit with young viewers.
While street dance is not associated with traditional ballroom dancing, sources at the BBC have revealed that, with more couples and a significantly longer run, the broadcaster felt it needed to add another dance style to boost the show’s appeal.
A source speaking to The Mirror 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. There will be more lifts, more style and even more variety.”
Many viewers have expressed their excitement at the prospect of different genres of dance being performed on the show, however some have shown dismay at the eschewing of the traditional for the modern.
One Twitter user wrote: “I’ve watched every single episode of Strictly and love it but it’s getting too Americanised. Stop the whooping, stop the cringey VTS and get back to ‘proper’ dance not street/hip hop nonsense.”
Len Goodman, the former Strictly judge, was keen to maintain the traditions of ballroom while he was on the show and viewers may be left wondering what he would have thought of the show’s new direction.
This year’s contestants will also help to capture elusive 18- to 34-year-old viewers.
Vick Hope, host of Capital FM’S breakfast show, has a strong presence on social media and may potentially boost the programme’s young audience.
Vlogger Joe Sugg, who has more than five million followers on Twitter and is the brother of Youtube-star Zoella, could make this year’s show one of the most successful in terms of bringing in a fresh-faced viewership.
A BBC spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “This series of Strictly we are introducing a brand-new dance category, Couple’s Choice. 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.”
Other famous faces completing this year’s line up include Ashley Roberts, the former Pussycat Doll, BBC News anchor Kate Silverton and Graeme Swann, the former cricketer.
Head judge Shirley Ballas is set to return along with Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horword and Dame Darcey Bussell. Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will continue as hosts.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing begins on Sept 16 on BBC One.