Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, ink major TV production deals
Both Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez have struck major TV production deals in the United States.
Azalea will produce original content for Universal NBC. The deal was done through her newly-launched production company Azalea Street, named after the NSW street she grew up in, and which inspired Amethyst Kelly to use as part of her stage name.
The 26-year-old announced on Instagram, with a photo of the signed contract: “Wanted to share with everyone that my production company Azalea Street has just signed on to create original content for Universal NBC!
“So guys, I’m an Executive Producer for at least a few years to come! Hopefully many! Lots of scripted series in the works! Lots of interesting ideas! I’ve been working on this for a long time now and can’t wait to share more info with you soon.”
Azalea wrapped up filming auditions for X Factor Australia alongside fellow-judges Adam Lambert and Guy Sebastian and returns to Australia for the live shows shortly. The show is reported to be back on the small screen after the Olympics.
Jennifer Lopez, meanwhile, is extending her deal with NBC (she’s a cast member on its cop drama Shades Of Blue) for a dance competition series called World Of Dance. The network has green-lighted 10 episodes of the dance show.
The series, in partnership with the global brand World of Dance, will see elite dancers compete for a US$1 million winner’s prize and Best In The World title. It features battles of artistry, precision and athleticism. Solo dancers go up against duos and crews in a wide range of dance styles, including hip-hop, krumping, popping, locking, tap, ballet, break dancing, ballroom, clogging and stomping. The judging panel is yet to be announced
The contestants will be picked from qualifying events around the US and thousands of online submissions through worldofdancecasting.com. They are divided into three sections: junior (any size act under 16 years old), upper (groups of 1-4, over 16 years of age) and team (groups of five or more, over 16 years).
Lopez, who got her start as a dancer on Fox’s In Living Color, will serve as Executive Producer alongside Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Kris Curry, Matilda Zoltowski, David Gonzalez, Matthew Everitt and Al Hassas.
Universal Television Alternative Studios will co-produce with Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions banner. It won’t be decided until later if Lopez has an on-screen role as well.
Emmy-winning choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo, who did the dance moves on Lopez’s Las Vegas show All I Have, are also involved. They previously worked with Madonna, and on Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour.
“This will be a fierce talent-heavy dance competition that embraces the raw emotion and excitement that dance represents,” Lopez said in a statement. “I am excited to work with World of Dance, an organization that has had an immeasurable impact on the dance community, to give all dancers an enormous platform where their dreams can be realised.”
Universal Television Alternative Studios President Meredith Ahr added: “Dance rivals any sport for its ability to produce world-class athletes and powerful performances that entertain, inspire and unite people from all walks of life.
“The unmatched credibility that the World of Dance organization has achieved so quickly speaks to the high standard they have set for their community, which is based on authentic expression, diversity and innovation. Those core values, paired with one of dance’s greatest success stories and role models, Jennifer Lopez, are sure to give viewers a front row seat as dance is taken to the next level.”
The Lopez project is NBC’s second dance competition show. In March it signed for six episodes of a “fresh take on the dance competition genre” developed by Channing Tatum and dancer wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum. The latter will also serve as a judge and mentor.
The couple met in 2005 on the set of the dance movie Step Up, in which they had the lead roles. The two are also executive-producing a TV version for the movie YouTube Red, a “heart-pounding, sexy, music-filled drama about dancers in a contemporary performing arts school.”
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