Eurovision Dance Contest 2008

Infobox Eurovision
name = Eurovision Dance Contest 2008


final = 6 September, 2008
presenters = Graham Norton
Claudia Winkleman cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/07_july/07/dance.shtml|title=The Eurovision Dance Contest Glides Into Glasgow|publisher=BBC Press office]
host = flagicon|UK BBC Scotland
venue = SECCcite web |url=http://esckaz.com/edc/2008/|title=Eurovision Dance Contest 2008 information page|publisher=ESCKaz.com] , Glasgow, United Kingdom
windance = flag|Poland
Edyta Herbuś & Marcin Mroczek
vote = Each country awards 1-8, 10, and 12 points to their 10 favourite acts, plus additional panel of experts awards maximum of 48 points to their favourites.
entries = 14
debut = flag|Azerbaijan
return = None
withdraw = flag|Germany
flag|Switzerland
flag|Spain
null =
interval = Lesley Garrett and "Carousel" cast, performing medley of "June Is Busting Out All Over" and "You'll Never Walk Alone"
con = Eurovision Dance Contest
pre = ◄2007
nex = 2009►

The Eurovision Dance Contest 2008 was the second Eurovision Dance Contest and was held in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, hosted by BBC Scotland on 6 September. [ [http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news/belgrade-2008?id=1082 Eurovision... So much more!] ]

In a change to the rules, professional couples were no longer eligible to enter the contest. At least one dancer from each couple had to be a local celebrity, not professionally trained to dance. A further change was that each couple only performed once. In 2007 each couple performed a ballroom or Latin routine followed by a freestyle dance incorporating national flavour; in the 2008 contest, couples only performed the latter. In 2008 a panel of experts was introduced with an approximate weight of 23% of the total outcome and the rest 77% determined through televoting. The highest possible points from the jury were 48 while the televoting cast a maximum of 156 points.

Participants

According to the 2007 rules Section 2.2 [http://www.eurovisiondance.tv/rules.pdf] on the official website, all entrants in the Eurovision Dance Contest 2007 agreed to take part in 2008 when signing up for the first contest. However, Switzerland and Germany announced their withdrawals from 2008 edition of the contest due to low ratings and poor results in 2007.

The Spanish broadcaster announced its withdrawal on August 20, just days before the contest took place. In July they held a national selection show Quiero Bailar and named singer Rosa López and dancer Nieto as their representatives in the contest. According to the draw they were supposed to be 15th couple to perform. cite web|url=http://esckaz.com/edc/2008/spa.htm|title=Spain at Eurovision Dance Contest 2008|publisher=ESCKaz.com]

As the number of dances was reduced, with each couple performing once instead of twice, new countries were allowed to enter the competition, but the only new country to enter the contest was Azerbaijan.

Among the countries that broadcasted the event without sending representatives were: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Israel, Malta and Spain.

Participating countries

Results without the jury

* "1st" flag|Poland - 134
* "2nd" flag|Ukraine - 103
* "3rd" flag|Russia - 97
* "4th" flag|Azerbaijan - 78
* "4th" flag|Lithuania - 78
* "6th" flag|Portugal - 61
* "7th" flag|Denmark - 54
* "8th" flag|Ireland- 40
* "9th" flag|United Kingdom - 39
* "10th" flag|Sweden - 34
* "11th" flag|Finland - 32
* "11th" flag|Greece - 32
* "13th" flag|Austria - 29
* "14th" flag|Netherlands - 1

Controversy

Azerbaijan and Greece announced professional dance couples as their representatives at the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008. According to the regulations of the contest [ [http://www.eurovisiondance.tv/page/glasgow2008/rules Rules | Eurovision Dance Contest - Glasgow 2008 ] ] , professional couples were not allowed to take part in the competition. The EBU specified that the couple had to be composed of one professional (defined as a dancer who earns his or her living through dance and dance-related activities), and one non-professional known in a field other than dance. The non-professional was not required to be a celebrity, as long as he or she was known in his field, and it was also not a requirement that the non-professional had no dance experience. Since the representatives for Azerbaijan and Greece both consisted of two professional dancers, however, it is not clear why their entries were considered valid.

See also

*Eurovision Network

References

External links

* [http://www.eurovisiondance.tv/ Official Website]
* [http://www.esckaz.com/edc/2008/ ESCKaz]