Superstars of Dance

Did You Know?

• Damien O'Kane was replaced by Bernadette Flynn for the semi-final round.
• Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis were replaced by Pasha & Aliona Riazantsev for the semi-final round.
• In episode 4, the Australian Dance Theatre and the Irish team tied for third place with 62 points; a tiebreaking vote gave the Australian Dance Theatre five votes and the Irish one.

Background

On November 17, 2008, NBC announced the order of a new reality program originally titled Superstar Dancers of the World, featuring competitors from eight international teams. The show was produced by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, and NBC described it as part sporting event, part rock concert, and part artistic exhibition. Unlike other dance competitions, Superstars of Dance used only professional dancers, including several world champions, and contestants were chosen by their home countries rather than by producers. The winner was decided by a panel of eight judges, as producers believed phone-in votes would favor the American team. Michael Flatley compared the show to the Olympic Games.

Episode 2

The second episode aired on January 5, 2009, concluding the quarterfinals and resulting in the first eliminations. Eight soloists, two duos, and two groups were eliminated. Miriam Larici, Robert Muraine, and Sean Robinson were tied for eighth place with 57 points; a tie-breaking vote by five uninvolved countries put Muraine through to the semifinal round, while Robinson received one vote and Larici none.