or


DANCING WITH THE STARS
Air Date: Monday, April 11, 2011
Time Slot: 8:00 PM-10:01 PM EST on ABC
Episode Title: (#1204) "Episode 1204"
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

ABC'S "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CELEBRATES ITS FIRST-EVER CLASSICAL THEMED WEEK, AS A 46-PIECE ORCHESTRA PERFORMS WITH WORLD CLASS GUEST MUSICIANS FOR A TWO-NIGHT STINT

A Third Couple is Eliminated from the Competition, and Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson, Acclaimed Rock Violinist David Garrett and Multi-platinum Opera Singer Katherine Jenkins Perform

Season's First "Macy's Stars of Dance" Number Features World Renowned Classical Ballet Dancers

"Episode 1204 & 1204A" � "Dancing with the Stars" has its first-ever classical themed week, as the show's nine couples try to outshine one another on the dance floor performing to traditional and modern classical music from world renowned musicians. Conducted by "Dancing with the Stars" band leader Harold Wheeler, a full 46-piece orchestra will be joined by multi-platinum mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins and international violin virtuoso David Garrett, MONDAY, APRIL 11 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

On "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show," TUESDAY, APRIL 12 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET), special musical guest Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson sings "Don't Look Down" and "Feeling Good," and a third couple is asked to leave the ballroom. Also, David Garrett returns to perform his rocking rendition of "Walk This Way" with the 46-piece orchestra and accompanied by the "Dancing with the Stars" Dance Troupe. This week the first "Macy's Stars of Dance" performance of the season gets underway with world renowned ballet dancers.

Arista recording artist Jennifer Hudson's sophomore album, "I Remember Me," debuted this week at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 and R&B Albums charts, according to Nielson SoundScan. Led by the album's first single, "Where You At," "I Remember Me" sold over 165,000 units and marks the Grammy and Academy Award winner's second chart-topping album entry. Hudson's eponymous debut album entered at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 and R&B Albums charts in 2008 and won a Grammy in 2009 for Best R&B Album. The songs on the album were written and produced by an all-star lineup of the biggest talents in music today, including R. Kelly (who is behind the album's first single, the hit "Where You At"), Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, Polow da Don and Salaam Remi. Harvey Mason, who has worked with singers from Aretha Franklin to Justin Timberlake and Whitney Houston, produced Hudson's vocals throughout. The album producers are the legendary Clive Davis and Larry Jackson.

David Garrett's sophomore album, "Rock Symphonies," debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Classical Crossover Chart in July 2010 and peaked at No. 1. The album continues to be a mainstay of the Top 5, thanks to its new and vibrant interpretations of Garrett's favorite rock anthems by U2, Nirvana, Metallica and Aerosmith, to name a few. He also ranked as of one of the top-selling new artists of 2009, including best-selling new classical artist, and one of the top ten new best-sellers across all genres that year. A public television superstar, his second headlining concert TV special, just released on DVD, has aired on stations all across the U.S. Audiences turned out in droves for his second U.S. concert tour this past February. At age 8, Garrett played as a soloist in front of some of the world's greatest orchestras, including the London Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Russian National Orchestra. At 13 he was signed to the most famous and prestigious classical music label,

Deutsche Grammophon. He later attended Juilliard music school and studied under the legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman, and has since gone on to gain international stardom, topping charts in Europe and selling out concert halls and arenas. Dubbed "the fastest violinist in the world," Garrett appeared in the 2010 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-ever performer of the "Flight of the Bumblebee," clocking in at a blistering 66 seconds.

Platinum-selling and critically acclaimed mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins has taken the world by storm with her powerful voice. Her U.S. debut album, "Believe," was produced by 16-time Grammy-winning star maker David Foster for 143/Warner Bros. Records and released this past year. At 30, Jenkins, a native from the Neath in the Welsh Valley, is ready to expand her horizons on a global scale. On her first day of recording in Los Angeles, Foster insisted she come with him to serenade Barbra Streisand at her birthday party.

As part of Classical Week, the season's first "Macy's Stars of Dance" performance features three of the most legendary ballet dancers in the world today, performing together on national television for the first time in a specially choreographed routine from "Swan Lake." The stars of the number, who are also three of the crowning jewels of the Cuban National Ballet, will be the famous sister duo of Lorena and Lorna Feijoo, principles for the San Francisco Ballet and Boston Ballet. Starring alongside them will be Jose Manuel Carreno, now principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.

By Tuesday evening's end, one couple will be eliminated, as determined by a combination of the judges' scores and viewers' votes for Monday's performance. Who among the nine remaining teams will leave the ballroom floor?

· KIRSTIE ALLEY, television and movie star, and MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY

· CHRIS JERICHO, WWE star, with two-time champ CHERYL BURKE

· CHELSEA KANE, Disney star, and two-time champ MARK BALLAS

· SUGAR RAY LEONARD, boxing legend, and ANNA TREBUNSKAYA

· RALPH MACCHIO, movie star, and KARINA SMIRNOFF

· PETRA NEMCOVA, supermodel, with DMITRY CHAPLIN

· ROMEO, rapper and actor, teamed with CHELSIE HIGHTOWER

· HINES WARD, Super Bowl MVP, and Season 9 champion KYM JOHNSON

· KENDRA WILKINSON, reality star, with LOUIS VAN AMSTEL

Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Brooke Burke ("Dancing with the Stars" Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 30 minutes after the "Dancing with the Stars" performance shows. AT&T customers may also text message their votes by texting the word "VOTE" and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). AT&T will also offer customers exclusive mobile video footage of weekly backstage highlights to keep fans connected to some of their favorite couples all season long. Viewers may also vote online at www.abc.com starting from the opening of each episode on the East Coast with voting closing at 8:00 a.m., PT/11:00 a.m., ET on Tuesday mornings.

"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Ashley Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are co-executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline.

About BBC Worldwide Productions:

BBC Worldwide Productions is based in Los Angeles and develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is responsible for the smash hit "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC), "Top Gear" (HISTORY), "What Not to Wear" (TLC) and "Torchwood: Miracle Day" (Starz). BBC Worldwide Productions is one of seven core businesses within BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Share |