World Of Dance Stars And NYC Dance Company Headline DANCING UNDER THE STARS

Whenever co-producer Kim Delgrosso is interviewed for the annual Dancing Under The Stars at SCERA Shell Outdoor theatre, her excitement is usually evidenced by rapid-fire bursts of enthusiasm about the talent in Utah.

This year her passion for the 13th annual dance event is especially apparent as she details the performers at the Aug. 24 and 25 concerts under the stars.

"This is going to be one of our best shows," she says. "Maybe the very best."

Delgrosso is bringing in the Utah stars who have been astonishing audiences on NBC's World of Dance, including Charity Anderson and Andres Penate, a pair of Utah County teenagers who scored the show's only perfect score from judges Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough and Ne-Yo earlier this month with a self-choreographed, tour de force performance.

In addition to this junior contemporary duo, Dancing Under The Stars will highlight Jaxon Willard of American Fork, who advanced in the same televised competition with a performance that had many audience members in tears.

If that isn't enough to bring in a capacity audience, Delgrosso's professional special guest is Martha Nicols and the Martha Nichols Dance Company from New York City, as well as soulful musical guest Ryan Innes, a vocalist many might remember from NBC's The Voice.

Delgrosso is the Artistic Director of Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, which has been named National Studio of the Year, and continues to be in the national spotlight with many of its current dancers and alumni winning competitions and working professionally. Award-winning ballroom, hip hop and jazz teams from the studio will also perform at Dancing Under The Stars.

Dancing Under The Stars will begin with a 7:15 pre-show featuring area dance studios, with the main concert beginning at 8 p.m. SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre is located at 699 S. State Street in the center of Orem's SCERA Park. General admission tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older, and are available at scera.org, by calling 801-225-ARTS, at the SCERA Center for the Arts (745 S. State St.) weekdays from 10am-6pm, or at the Shell gate prior to performance. Reserved seating areas range from $20 to $35, depending on age and seating location.

"If I'm blown away with the program-and I am-I know SCERA audiences will be blown away as well. With no exaggeration, this show will be stunning. Martha is a significant dance educator, performer and choreographer who formed her own company in 2016."

Besides collaborating with some of the best choreographers in the business, Nichols has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Lifestyle Magazine, in Dance Magazine as one of 2017's top 25 to watch and on the April 2018 cover of Dance Teacher Magazine.

"You've seen her if you saw 'The Greatest Showman' and 'La La Land," Delgrosso says. "She was the Woman in Gold alongside Hugh Jackman. Martha has a very earthy style of dancing that is exciting to see, and she won the Capezio ACE Award for her original work entitled TILTED."

Nichol's deep resume includes multiple television performances, including the Oscars, Billboard Awards, MTV'S VMA's, and The American Music Awards. Other credits include Cirque du Soleil, NBA, Disney, FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance," and ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." She has toured with Madonna, Rihanna, and Kylie Minogue, and she has performed with many stars, including Christina Aguilera, Jesse J, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Neil Patrick Harris and Dick Van Dyke. Nicols has choreographed for Mariah Carrey, Madonna, Kesha and Demi Lovato.

Nichols will teach a master class at Center Stage Dance Studio in Orem Aug. 27.

"It's going to be a hot ticket," gushes Delgrosso. "And that's not just hype."