Jon M. Chu's DS2DIO Premieres 'The Arena' And Unveils Four New Original Series, Adding To The Return Of Fan Favorites For Its Fall And Early 2013 Seasons

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jon M. Chu's DS2DIO (www.youtube.com/DS2DIO) the premier Dance Lifestyle channel and brand on YouTube founded by Chu (Step Up franchise, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never) and his producing partner Hieu Ho (The LXD: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers), today announced five stunning new series including 'The Arena', set to launch this fall and in early 2013.  Featuring many of the industry's most talented and respected choreographers and dancers worldwide, DS2DIO looks to break new ground with its Hollywood-produced presentation of dance and storytelling, as it evolves the multi-billion dollar dance culture and entertainment market by leading it into the digital era.

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"There is no better time for dance than now," said Jon M. Chu. "With DS2DIO and our new program lineup, we're using the best storytelling and technology to create a one-of-a-kind place where people from all around the world can experience and be a part of the dance lifestyle."

"Movement and dance have always been a part of people's lives and our collective spirit," added Hieu Ho, President of DS2DIO. "With our partners at YouTube, we've launched a global destination for dance lifestyle entertainment that certainly embraces this passion."

The hit premium channel on YouTube, which launched in June 2012, already features a wide array of popular and engaging content. Some of the most favorited shows include: Remixed (created by Glee's Harry Shum, Jr.), S2DIO CITY, and Masterclass which collectively have more than 3.7 million total views as of September 2012.

This fall, a highly anticipated new roster of programming will include:

• The Arena (Premiering Oct. 1st, new episodes every Monday at 6pm PT)
  The world's best B-boys battle each other in a groundbreaking competition series. The Arena highlights the culture, artistry, and athleticism of breaking. The series follows eight of  the world's best B-boys as they square off against each other, proving their mastery of breaking fundamentals along with their creative style in front of judges considered to be the legends of this dance. With a unique competition format, the show features never before seen challenges, timed rounds, and online audience participation that create an incredibly exciting and intense  viewer experience.
  
  Executive Producers: Jon M. Chu, Hieu Ho, Christina Ferguson, Ryan Landels
  Directed by: Todd Grossman
  Hosted by:  Angela Sun & Ivan "Flipz" Velez
  Judges: Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon, Richard "Abstrak" Soto, Nancy "Asia One" Yu
  Featuring: Philip "Spee-D" Albuquerque, Victor "Kid Glyde" Alicea, Jose "Keebz" Chapa, Alexander "El Nino" Diaz, Morris Edward Isby III, Joshua "Floor Phantom" Lozada, Miguel "Gravity" Rosario, David "Kid David" Shreibman

• FIGHT! (Coming Fall 2012)
  Dance is not the only language of movement.
  Movement and storytelling are taken to the next level as the world of action choreography come to life in this dramatic anthology series lead by Hollywood's greatest stunt teams whose credits include Avatar, Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, The Fighter, The Grey, Treme, and Olympus Has Fallen.
  Executive Producers: Jon M. Chu, Hieu Ho, Christina Ferguson, Ryan Landels
  Directors: Ben Bray, Lin Oeding, and Garrett Warren

• Dance Fantasy (Coming Fall 2012)
  Have you ever wanted to wake up and have your life become a musical?
  From turning their life into a musical to joining a dance crew, celebrities are granted their dance fantasies in this fun and irreverent series on wish fulfillment.

• Invisible Children Dance Project (Coming Spring 2013)
  Can dance change the world?
  With this docu-series, DS2DIO and Invisible Children (KONY 2012) set off around the globe to answer this question and explore the universal language of dance and how it can be a unifying force.

• The Floor (Coming Spring 2013)
  Chase the dream.
  Gossip Girl meets Step Up. The Floor is a scripted drama revolving around the lives and aspirations of young students at a famed LA dance studio as they pursue their dreams in the industry

Previously announced programs making a comeback with a second season include: DS2DIO 360 (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10AM PST) a dance lifestyle guide featuring Stephen "tWitch" Boss and Cameron Goodman, S2DIO City (Tuesdays, 10AM PST) a mesmerizing dance series, The LXD: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (Thursdays at 10AM PST) and Masterclass (Fridays, 6PM PST) to complete the slate.

Viewers can watch DS2DIO on YouTube and subscribe to the channel by signing up at www.youtube.com/DS2DIO.  

About DS2DIO:
DS2DIO (pronounced D-Studio) is the premier Dance Lifestyle channel and brand on YouTube. Launched in June 2012, in partnership with Google, DS2DIO provides a global destination for Dance Lifestyle entertainment and has created a new, mainstream channel on YouTube that is poised to revolutionize the way that people experience dance. From reality to docu-series to scripted narrative, DS2DIO's shows are story-centered and crafted with the highest level of production value.  DS2DIO is a creative collaboration between noted writer/director Jon M. Chu (G.I. Retaliation, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, Step Up 3D) and producing partner Hieu Ho (the immensely popular The LXD: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) following their previous projects in dance. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.  For additional information, please visit www.youtube.com/DS2DIO.

Related Links:
DS2DIO Homepage on YouTube

For further information on DS2DIO and interview requests, please contact:
Jennie Kong 
Miller PR
323.761.7220
[email protected]

SOURCE DS2DIO