Dance on Sunset
| Dance on Sunset | |
|---|---|
 Cast (right to left) Johnny Erasme, Shane Harper, Aubree Storm, Ashley Galvan Karen Chuang, Tony Testa, Quddus, Hefa Tuita | |
| Genre | Reality |
| Created by | Bryan Leder and Frederick Levy |
| Developed by | Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz |
| Directed by | Don Weiner |
| Starring | Quddus, Tony Testa and The Nick 6:
|
| Opening theme | Move by Menudo |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Cinematography |
|
| Editors | LaRonda Morris and J.D. Grimes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nickelodeon |
| Release | March 29, 2008 – present |
Dance on Sunset is a reality television show hosted by Quddus (Benjamin Quddus Philippe) on Nickelodeon that features dance routines, called the "Fresh-Squeezed Dance," designed to be performed by its pre-teen and teen-age viewers. Choreographer Tony Testa and the show's dance troupe, the Nick 6, demonstrate each routine slowly, repeating it several times during the episode. An "advanced" version of each routine is featured on the show's website. Episodes feature musical guests, who have included Akon, Natasha Bedingfield, Miranda Cosgrove, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, Janet Jackson, Sean Kingston, Lil' Mama, Jesse McCartney, Menudo, Milli Vanilli, Omarion, Panic at the Disco and Ashlee Simpson, as well as dancing by a studio audience. The show premiered March 29, 2008, immediately after the 2008 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards.[1]
Dancers
Members of the show's dance troupe, at the time of the show's debut, ranged in age from 15 to 22. They are directed by fromer Janet Jackson choreographer, Tony Testa. The group consists of Karen Chuang, Johnny Erasme, Ashley Galvan, Shane Harper, Aubree Storm and Hefa Tuita. All of these people are very different and diverse but all share the same passion for dance.
Karen Chuang
Chuang was born March 26, 1990, in San Jose, California and grew up in Los Altos, California. She started dancing at 5 and has trained in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern and tap. She has worked with Dance Attack, the Teen Dance Company and the Dance Company of San Francisco. Her awards have included National Performer of the Year, Dance/Choreography Division Winner, National Female Dancer of the Year, National Best Choreography Nominee, Best Choreography and Ms. Dance. She has appeared in television commercials for Direct TV and GameWave and has modeled for Verizon Wireless and Seagate Technology.
Johnny Erasme
Erasme was born May 11, 1989, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A former member of The JammX Kids, he appeared in the JCPenney commercial "Control Freak." His family moved from New Orleans, Louisiana, to California after Hurricane Katrina. He raps and plays guitar and has released a CD titled "Johnny E.".
Ashley Galvan
Ashley Galvan, a high-school senior at the debut of "Dance on Sunset," is from from Visalia, California. She started dancing at 3 and is schooled in jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical and modern. She received the 2007 Cover Girl Award 2007 for “Spotlight Dance Cup Comp.” She has appeared in a Keke Palmer dance video, in the dancing competition "Dance Revolution" and in commercials.
Shane Harper
Harper was born February 14, 1993, in La Jolla, California. He was a principal dancer in the Disney Channel's High School Musical 2 and an extra in Nickelodeon's Zoey 101, where he had the line, "Hey Zoey, message." He appeared in a music video for Samantha Jade's "Step Up." Harper dances hip-hop, ballet, jazz, club/freestyle, ballroom, modern and tap. Harper is adding musician and singer to his list of credits. He has already covered the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol and has also covered Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T's and I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. They are available on his Music Myspace.
Aubree Storm
Storm, 22 at the debut of "Dance on Sunset," is a St. Charles, Illinois, native who trained in ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance at St. Charles School of Dance and the Lou Conte Dance Studio of Chicago. She was a dancer in Disney's "High School Musical" concert tour and was a backup dancer for Ashley Tisdale in appearances on "Good Morning America" and "Live with Regis and Kelly." She has hosted "Disney 365" and appears in the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly movie "Step Brothers."
Hefa Tuita
Tuita was born June 18, 1991, in Spanish Fork, Utah. He was a dancer in the Disney Channel's High School Musical 2, appearing in various parts of the movie. He is trained in Latin and salsa dancing as well as hip-hop, ballroom international and funk. He appeared in the movie Unaccompanied Minors, danced in two Taylor Vai videos and for Rihanna. He sings with his two younger brothers in a YouTube video of "With You" by Chris Brown.
Episode List
Episodes broadcast have included the following. Each features a playlist of five songs and usually includes at least one special guest. Each also features a new "Fresh-Squeezed Dance."
Season 1: 2008-present
International Distribution
- Premiered In Australia April 13th, 2008 on Nickelodeon Australia
- Premiered in Canada on YTV on May 18, 2008 at 8:00pm ET after the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
References
- ^ "Nick Tries Dancing to New Tune". www.tvweek.com. Retrieved 2008-03-21.