J.Lo’s ‘World of Dance’ struts but stumbles
“World of Dance” has stars, style and spunk.
It’s also wildly overproduced and seems a bit out of step.
The 10episode NBC show from executive producer Jennifer Lopez ushers in the summer season of reality competitions with performers from across the globe vying for a $1 million prize.
Lopez, singer NeYo and Emmywinning choreographer and “Dancing With the Stars” veteran Derek Hough serve as judges.
That’s some stellar power at the judges’ table, but their tastes might be too much alike to allow for variety as the acts seek to move forward.
Lopez says, “There have been dance shows, but we wanted to create the Olympics of dance.”
Besides the shade tossed in the direction of Fox’s longrunning “So You Think You Can Dance” (returning June 12), Lopez is calling out the obvious — those who bring the more physical, more demanding, more stuntlike routines seem to have an edge.
Among the performers tonight, a group that performs professionally in South Carolina, a “Star Search” champion and twins who toured with Beyonce.
Some of the contestants are young, but most seem to have years of experience, if not millions of YouTube followers.
Dancers will compete in four rounds in one of three divisions — junior, for those 17 and younger; upper, for 18 and older, by themselves or in groups of up to four; and team, for groups of five or more and 18 and older.
Dancers are scored on five criteria: performance, technique, choreography, creativity and presentation.
In the final, one winner from each division will compete for the grand prize.
Breakdancing, contemporary and clogging: Can you guess which style of dance these judges might be less receptive to?
To be fair, one of the dancers tries to speak over Lopez. That must be a crime, somewhere. I hope they all got bus fare home.
For fun, move your eye past the often dazzling acrobatics and study the audience in the background. The noise at times doesn’t match the visuals. It’s sweetened with hoots and hollering more likely to be found at a Super Bowl game.
Jenna Dewan Tatum, who got her big break in the now classic 2006 dance film “Step Up,” is billed as host and dance mentor. Tonight, she’s a cheerleader, gushing over those about to take the stage.
There’s nothing in the press materials or in the screener to suggest that viewers will have a voice in the outcome.
Skipping America as a partner seems like the worst kind of snub a dance competition can make.