This article was updated on April 21 to include the new promo and a few updates due to COVID-19.
It's hard to believe it's been over a year since World of Dance aired. That's because NBC switched the show back to a summer series in 2020. Season 4 was renewed on May 11, 2019, but audiences have waited a long time for the show to return.
Here's what we know so far about Season 4 of World of Dance.
1. Production dates:
Get ready, the show is about to go back into the studio. They last filmed the series in the fall of 2018 and it aired in the winter and spring of 2019.
This year, World of Dance begins filming on Friday, Feb. 21. The first round is The Qualifiers, which usually takes a few weeks to film because there are so many contestants.
The other filming dates currently listed on the show's ticketing service, 1iota, are Monday, Feb. 24, Tuesday, March 10 and Saturday, March 14. (Due to COVID-19, the finale was filmed on Friday, March 13 instead of Saturday, March 14, so the cast and crew could get home safely to quarantine as quickly as possible.)
2. Premiere date: The premiere date has yet to be announced, but it is returning this summer. In prior summer seasons, World of Dance premiered in May, however, sources say the premiere date is fluid right now. It could be May or June because COVID-19 has thrown Hollywood TV schedules off.
3. Cast: All three judges are back — Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough and Ne-Yo — for Season 4. Season 3 host Scott Evans is back as well.
4. Disruptions: Production was held up this year because JLo was preparing for the Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira and she was campaigning for an Oscar nomination for Hustlers. Even though she didn't get an Oscar nod, her big NFL day is Sunday, Feb. 2.
Don't forget it's an Olympics year, which means the show will get interrupted for two weeks during the Summer Games in Tokyo. The Olympics run from Friday, July 24 through Sunday, Aug. 9.
5. Format changes: Derek revealed that there will be format changes for Season 4 "from the grassroots." He explained to PopCulture.com that the process for the judges would begin with the auditions and the rehearsals.
"Usually, we're just in that big room, and they're right on the show straight away," he explained. "But we want to actually be a little bit more of the process, and it's been really, really cool! It's been really exciting so far. We're excited to share it with the audience."
Derek emphasizes that the show is about encouraging talent and giving them the confidence to keep going in the industry.
"But one thing I will say that I pride, I'm proud to be part of the show [because it focuses] on what's good. It's not a tear you down show," he said. "Even if you don't make it through, it's like, 'Hey, you're incredible, come back!' We've see that. We've seen acts go home in the first season and they come back and win the whole million dollars the second season."
Derek went on to explain even more on his Instagram stories to clarify that the dancers have to battle it out in a warehouse to make it to the main stage. It's not going to be an easy season for the contestants.
5. Secrets of the show: While it is well known that the winner receives $1 million, it's a mystery why World of Dance doesn't share that the Divisional winners get $50,000 each. It's a nice runner-up prize for the other contestants.
6. Emmys: World of Dance dominated the Outstanding Choreography category for Variety/Reality Programming with a total of four nominations for Seasons 2 and 3. Choreographer Tessandra Chavez went home with the win for her work with Zack & Ashley and Unity LA. The qualification dates for Emmys consideration run from June 1, 2019-May 31, 2020. Season 4 will fall under both the 2019-2020 and the 2020-2021 television season. It could make for another interesting Emmys race this year and next year.
Don't miss this week's episode of To The Pointe:
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