Exclusive: MY Entertainment takes format rights to "Dancefloor Date"

New York-based prodco MY Entertainment has acquired the format rights to Dancefloor Date from Newen Distribution, the distribution arm of Newen Group.Producer, director and former dancer Nigel Lythgoe (pictured) has signed on as showrunner and executive producer of the dance competition-cum-dating series. His credits include So You Think You Can Dance, Pop Idol and American Idol.Dancefloor Date sees singles going on blind dates. Taking turns, they dance for their potential partner from behind a screen. All that remains visible is the dancer’s silhouette as they move. Contestants are eliminated based on nothing more than their dance moves.The format was developed by French prodco Newen. The deal was made at the MIPTV market in Cannes earlier this month.“In Dancefloor Date, we don’t just let them go off on a dancing date alone, we film every aspect of the date and their private emotions and invite them back to view the footage and their off the cuff remarks and participate in an honest discussion,” said Lythgoe in a statement. “That’s where my favorite part of the format begins. Did they dance beautifully around the floor like Fred and Ginger or did they tread on each other’s toes. The brutal truth comes out about a date of desire or disaster.”“This project continues our efforts in expanding our ongoing international strategy, and while we have been in the forefront of paper formats for some time, which are now coming back in fashion, we wouldn’t invest our time and expertise in something that wasn’t extremely special,” added MY Entertainment founder and CEO Michael Yudin. “Dancefloor Date certainly ticks that box — as does Nigel. His expertise, experience and track record in talent and dating shows is unequaled, and he also has an almost sixth sense of what will sell internationally.”