BWW TV: Broadway Beat's Burn The Floor Press Preview

BURN THE FLOOR, the electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular, opened this weekend at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48 Street). BURN THE FLOOR has thrilled audiences in over 30 countries, and will be the first show of the new Broadway season, playing a limited 12-week engagement. Broadway Beat and BroadwayWorld were on hand before Opening Night and caught the cast in rehearsals!

Burn the Floor runs through October 18. Joining the company for three weeks only will be special guest stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

BURN THE FLOOR offers the rare opportunity to see 'Maks & Karina' make their Broadway debuts together.

BURN THE FLOOR is created, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, former World Champion Latin and Ballroom dancer, and guest choreographer on the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance. BURN THE FLOOR's 18 award-winning international dancers hail from around the globe - Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, Australia, Sweden, The Philippines and the U.S. - and include Australian Ballroom and World Latin American champions. The dancers, who collectively hold more than 100 dance titles, move to the vision of artistic director and choreographer Jason Gilkison. The cast is composed of Henry Byalikov (NBC's Superstars of Dance), Sharna Burgess (Fox's So You Think You Can Dance), Kevin Clifton (International IDSF Open Champion), Sasha Farber (three-time Junior & Youth Latin Australian Champion), Jeremy Garner (six-time Australian Amateur Latin finalist), Gordana Grandosek (Italian Open Champion), Patrick Helm (Welsh Open Champion), Sarah Hives (ABC's Dancing with the Stars), Melanie Hooper (two-time Australian Professional Latin Champion), Peta Murgatroyd (ABC's Dancing with the Stars), Giselle Peacock (four-time U.S Champion), Nuria Santalucia (two-time Australian Latin Champion), Sarah Soriano (8th in the world, British Open Championship - Youth Latin American), Damon & Rebecca Sugden (three-time Asian Pacific Ballroom Champions), Trent Whiddon (Australia's Dancing with the Stars), Damian Whitewood (Australasian Champion), and Robin Windsor (Ballroom & Latin International finalist). Joining them on stage are vocalists Ricky Rojas (The Buddy Holly Story) and Rebecca Tapia (The Boy from Oz), and musicians Henry Soriano, Roger Squitero, David Mann and Earl Maneein.

BURN THE FLOOR is produced by Harley Medcalf, Joe Watson, Richard Levi, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Raise the Roof One, Toppall/Stevens/Mills, Benigno/Klein, Caldwell/Allen, Carrpailet/Danzansky, Bud Martin, The Production Studio, Schaffert/Schnuck, and Carrie Ann Inaba by special arrangement with Dance Partner Inc.

Carrie Ann Inaba has enjoyed a long career in television and film, however, this will mark her first association with a Broadway show. She is the only American Judge on ABC's smash hit, "Dancing with the Stars" and enjoys a varied career as a choreographer, director, actress and television host. . She said "After over 20 years of experience with many talented artists in television and film, I'm thrilled to get my feet wet on Broadway with this wonderful production. I've been a fan of BURN THE FLOOR since its inception, and I am honored to be a part of the creative team that is bringing this wonderful show to Broadway - where audiences from around the world can feel the passion that is Ballroom Dancing up close."

Price Scale: $111.50, $89.50 and $59.50. All prices include $1.50 facilities fee. Discounts are available on groups of 10 and more. www.burnthefloor.com.