'World of Dance' adds Jenna Dewan Tatum as host and mentor, producer Jennifer Lopez "thrilled" to have her

World of Dance has added another big star to its team, Jenna Dewan Tatum, as host and mentor.


NBC has announced Tatum, an accomplished actress and famed dancer, will host the new reality dancing competition series as well as mentor its batch of first-season contestants.

Tatum has joined World of Dance's impressive lineup of previously announced judges: Executive producer Jennifer Lopez, six-time Dancing with the Stars mirrorball trophy champion Derek Hough, and Grammy Award-winning singer and dancer Ne-Yo. 

"World of Dance is a show by dancers for dancers," Lopez said in a statement. "Jenna is the perfect addition to join Ne-Yo, Derek and me in our World of Dance family. We are thrilled to have her."

In addition to her hosting responsibilities, Tatum will share her expertise, experience and unique point of view with both the dancers and the audience. She'll give viewers insight into technical elements of dance as they relate to the story of the competition.


"Jenna's background as a dancer, entertainer and actress make her the perfect choice to host and work alongside our three incredibly talented judges," NBC president Meredith Ahr said of the Step Up star. "We can't wait to get started and give these four superstars a chance to both articulate and demonstrate how transformational dance can be."

Emmy Award-winning choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, best known as Nappytabs, will also be onboard. They have choreographed memorable routines on both So You Think You Can Dance and America's Best Dance Crew. The pair recently choreographed Lopez's Las Vegas residency "All I Have."

In partnership with the global dance brand World of Dance, as previously revealed, the 10-episode series will bring the world's elite dancers together to compete in "epic battles of artistry, precision and athleticism" for a $1 million grand prize, according to the network.

Handpicked acts from qualifying events around the nation and thousands of online submissions will range from solo artists to duos and crews who may perform hip-hop, krumping, popping, locking, tap, ballet, break dancing, ballroom, clogging, stomping and more.

The competitors will be divided into three divisions: Junior (any size act under 16-years-old), Upper (groups from 1-4 people over 16 years) and Team (groups of 5 people or more over 16 years).


Following the show's initial auditions, divisions will face off in duels until only one act in each division is left standing. Lopez, Hough and Ne-Yo will score each act using a point system developed by World of Dance. The judging criteria will be routine, execution, presentation, and crowd appeal.

In the finale, the winners from each division will duke it out for $1 million and the title of "Best in the World."






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski