Jennifer Lopez‘s dance competition series “World of Dance” has filled out its judging panel.
“Dancing With the Stars” vet Derek Hough and Grammy-winning recording artist NE-YO will join executive producer Jennifer Lopez at the judging table for the 10-episode show from Universal Television Alternative Studio and Nuyorican Productions.
A two-time Emmy winner for Best Choreography, Hough is also set to co-star in NBC’s upcoming “Hairspray Live!,” following NE-YO’s role as the Tin Man in the network’s “The Wiz Live!” last December.
“Jennifer, Derek and NE-YO are three of the most accomplished dancers of their generation, and their incredible insight from the judges’ table will be both inspiring and wholly constructive to the world-class level of dancers who are competing on the show,” said Meredith Ahr, president, Universal Television Alternative Studio. “We feel so very honored that the three of them are giving back to the dance community in this way.”
Handpicked from qualifying events around the nation and thousands of online submissions, competitors are divided into three divisions: Junior (any size act under 16 years old), Upper (groups of 1-4, over 16 years) and Team (groups of 5+, over 16 years). The finale sees the winners from each division duke it out for $1 million and the title “Best in the World.”
Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina will executive produce through Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions banner. Kris Curry, Matilda Zoltowski, David Gonzalez, Matthew Everitt and Al Hassas will also executive produce. The series will be produced by Universal Television Alternative Studios in association with Nuyorican Productions.