Paula Abdul

Abdul Teaches America to Dance

American Idol judge Paula Abdul has been tapped for a special role on Fox’s new series So You Think You Can Dance, which premieres Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 8 p.m. Abdul will travel the country and teach average Americans about dancing. Whether in factories, office buildings or shopping malls, Abdul will use her unique skills of dance and motivation to teach large groups of real people how to find their groove thing and really shake it. These video vignettes will celebrate America’s love of dance and will air during the performance episodes of So You Think You Can Dance.

Abdul is one of the most recognized choreographers in film, television, video, stage and live tours. Her celebrated work in choreography includes Emmy-winning contributions to “The Tracey Ullman Show,” Abdul’s own performance on “The American Music Awards” and her choreography for the Academy Awards, for which she earned an Emmy nomination.

Other triumphs include her award-winning work with Janet Jackson, which garnered two MTV Video Awards; and working with such musical legends as Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Luther Vandross, INXS, Heart and Prince. Abdul’s favorite memory is dancing alongside her idol, Gene Kelly, in the Diet Coke commercial that was recently inducted into the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame Museum as one of that company’s top commercial campaigns.

Abdul’s choreography contributions in feature films include the Academy Award-winning “American Beauty,” working with Cuba Gooding Jr. on his Academy Award-winning performance in “Jerry McGuire,” and transforming Val Kilmer into Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors.”

Abdul also continues to honor her roots by running dance and cheerleading camps, competitions and scholarship programs throughout the country, and has never forgotten her first break as a Los Angeles Laker Girl.

So You Think You Can Dance was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 TV Ltd. and dick clark productions. It is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Allen Shapiro.