“THE DANCE SCENE” – PREMIERES APRIL 10 ON E!

Laurieann Gibson, The Creative Genius Behind Many Of Music’s Top Stars, Takes Center Stage With The Debut Of “The Dance Scene” On April 10 On E!

Series Airs Immediately Following Series Premiere of “Khloe & Lamar” Sunday at 10:30pm ET/PT

(Los Angeles, CA, March 29, 2011) – When the curtain rises and the lights shine on some of music’s biggest stars, she’s the one woman you don’t see in the spotlight. Yet Laurieann Gibson’s blood, sweat and tears are obvious everywhere on stage. This acclaimed choreographer and creative director has worked with A-listers from Lady Gaga to P. Diddy to Alicia Keys, making her one of the most powerful women in music today. Helmed by Ryan Seacrest Productions, “The Dance Scene” follows the lives of Gibson and her team of aspiring dancers and choreographers, (aka Team Boomkack), as they tear up the dance floor preparing for a variety of A-list performances around the world. Whether it’s dancing with Katy Perry at a USO event, or performing in Keri Hilson’s latest music video, Gibson demands perfection from her performers, her team and herself. Grab your backstage pass for a look inside this exclusive and high energy world of dance and witness what it really takes to survive on stage…and in Laurieann’s studio when she challenges her crew to “dance for your lives, muffins!” The new E! series, “The Dance Scene,” premieres on April 10 at 10:30 PM only on E!

Inside Laurieann’s inner circle are: Richy – Gibson’s rock and right hand man who she discovered at a P. Diddy audition nine years ago; Sarah, Gibson’s assistant choreographer who is struggling with her on-again, off-again relationship with Paul, another of Laurieann’s star dancers; Kherington, the newest member of the team who Laurieann pushes to the brink to try and unleash her star power; Paula, Kherington’s childhood friend and roommate, and fellow Boomkack dancer; and Lacee, Gibson’s overworked assistant who is dying to get her chance to perform with the crew. Audiences are also introduced to Laurieann’s longtime boyfriend Joe Wilson, a hot shot music supervisor, and Marcia, her outspoken Jamaican mother. With Laurieann in the center ring of the circus that is her life there is never a dull moment for her and her “squirrels.”

Viewers will get to witness the back-breaking work that goes into the eye-popping performances Laurieann creates. From the first rehearsal to the big night, Laurieann works her team “till their knuckles bleed” so there are no mistakes. A few of this season’s featured performances include the “Divas Salute the Troops” featuring Katy Perry, Keri Hilson and Jennifer Nettles, and a pre-Golden Globes performance by up-and-coming artists Paris and Destinee. Plus, Laurieann makes her directorial debut and directs the bold and controversial new Keri Hilson music video.

As the season opens we see Gibson holding intense auditions for the upcoming “Divas Salute The Troops” performance. Hundreds of dancers line up to audition for the opportunity to be one of the select few chosen by Laurieann, as she narrows the field one-by-one. One young cast-off, Kherington, catches the dance diva’s eye, and she is invited to join Team Boomkack as an assistant. However, Laurieann believes Kherington must pay her dues, and earn her right to “dance on a great stage.” Laurieann will repeatedly test Kherington’s resolve; off-stage she sends her to buy hair extensions, makes her run for coffee and even asks Kherington to wash her dogs. On-stage Laurieann pushes their strained relationship to the brink, demanding perfection and total dedication in every dance step. Will Kherington be able to stand the heat in the studio, or will she crack under fire from BoomKack’s leader?

Throughout the series we also see glimpses of Team Boomkack’s complicated personal lives. After four years of dating in secret, Laurieann struggles about whether or not to finally go public with her main man/business partner, and for the first time begins to think seriously about whether motherhood is an option for her. Is it possible that she’s finally ready? Sarah has major drama two ex-boyfriends, and begins to wonder if her strained relationship with her father is the cause of all of her issues with men. Even Kherington begins a flirtation with a talented young singer/dancer that Laurieann has been mentoring. Adding to the drama is the underlying competition between all of her employees as they all must audition against each other to be cast by Laurieann for performances. The stakes are high for this group of dancers where one false move could cost them the job…and their reputation.

With additional special appearances by Faith Evans, JoJo, Perez Hilton, Rick Ross, Dawn Richard, Six-D and Missy Modell, “The Dance Scene” is a fast paced, never-before-seen, VIP look at what it takes to make it in the toughest, most coveted dance studio in town. Can you take the heat?

“The Dance Scene” is produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions. Ryan Seacrest serves as Executive Producer for RSP while Amber Mazzola also serves as Executive Producer.

About E!

E! is television’s top destination for all things entertainment and celebrity. E! is currently available to 98 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S. and the E! Everywhere initiative underscores the company’s dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere from online to broadband video to wireless to radio to VOD. Popular programming includes E! core franchises, “E! News,” “The Soup,” “Chelsea Lately” and “Fashion Police” as well as the network’s hit series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, “Kourtney and Kim Take New York,” “Kendra” and “Holly’s World.” Additionally, E!’s “Live from the Red Carpet” signature events keep fans connected to their favorite stars on Hollywood’s biggest nights. E! is a network of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

About Ryan Seacrest Productions

Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP) is a leading television production company. RSP produces the Emmy Award-winning ABC reality series “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.” RSP also produces the hit series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” the highest-rated show on the E! network and the spin-offs “Khloe and Lamar,” “Kourtney and Khloe Take New York” and “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami.” RSP will debut two new series in April including a new reality series for E! centering on the life and work of acclaimed choreographer and creative director Laurieann Gibson, “The Dance Scene,” and a new candid kid series on TLC, “I Kid,” hosted by Brad Garrett, of “Everybody Loves Raymond” fame.