Mitchell, Berkley, Paterson and O'Meara Set for Bravo's "Step It Up & Dance"

By Adam Hetrick
06 Mar 2008

Jerry Mitchell
Jerry Mitchell
Photo by Mitch Haaseth

Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell will mentor young dancers in the forthcoming Bravo Television reality program "Step It Up & Dance," which is set to premiere April 3.

The new series will be hosted by actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley (Sly Fox, "Showgirls") and boasts judges Vincent Paterson, who has choreographed Broadway's Kiss of the Spider Woman, Madonna's "Blond Ambition" tour and Michael Jackson's "Bad" tour; and Nancy O'Meara, currently enjoying success with 'tween sensations "Hannah Montana" and the High School Musical tours.

"Step It Up & Dance" brings together dancers from around the country, challenging them to master dance styles from ballet and ballroom, to Broadway and burlesque. Press notes state, "Whether it's a music video one week or a Vegas spectacular the next, Bravo's new dance series will feature challenges in which the dancers audition for a range of parts, designed to showcase their versatility and moves. As the competition gets fierce and contestants are eliminated, only one person will get the final 'call back' and the chance to perform, with the ultimate dancer winning a cash prize."

Twelve dancers, with varying ranges of dance training and experience, were selected from a nationwide casting call. Two from the Broadway community, including Cody Green (Movin' Out, Grease, Mamma Mia!) and Michelle Aguilar Camaya (The Lion King, Swing! "Enchanted"), will also compete to be the last dancer standing.

Created by Gunnar Wetterberg, "Step It Up" is produced by Dan Cutforth (Emmy-nominated "Project Runway" and "Top Chef") and Jane Lipsitz, who said in a statement, "We believe there is an emotional, dramatic and visually exciting side of the dance world that has yet to be explored. We are very excited to take the same organic and passionate approach to dance, as we do to cooking in 'Top Chef' and fashion in 'Runway.'"

Jerry Mitchell made his Broadway directorial debut in 2007 with the musical Legally Blonde, which he also choreographed. Mitchell is a 2005 Tony Award winner for Best Choreography for La Cage aux Folles. That same year the prolific choreographer was nominated for Best Choreography for his work on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. He has received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for choreographing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, The Full Monty and Never Gonna Dance. His film work includes "In & Out," "Camp," "Drop Dead Gorgeous" and "Scent of a Woman." For Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Mitchell conceived and often directs and choreographs the annual "Broadway Bares" fundraiser. This year Mitchell earned Olivier Award nominations for the London production of Hairspray and is currently at work on the upcoming musical Catch Me If You Can, as well as a stage adaptation of the film "Mad Hot Ballroom."

"Step It Up & Dance" will premiere on Bravo April 3 at 11 PM ET/PT. For further information visit www.bravotv.com.