DWTS's Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff Join Burn The Floor Cast

The producers of BURN THE FLOOR, the Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that's been setting stages ablaze around the globe, have announced the Broadway cast, featuring special guest stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. BURN THE FLOOR offers the rare opportunity to see Maks & Karina dance together live for the first three weeks of the 12-week Broadway engagement, kicking off the new Broadway season with previews July 25 and opening night August 2 at the Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48th St.). Tickets are available at www.telecharge.com, 212 239 6200.

In addition to being a cast member on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Maksim Chmerkovskiy is also a world renowned choreographer and dance instructor. His most recent association teamed him with famed performance and film director Franco Dragone revamping and updating the immensely popular performance show Le Reve at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Maks owns and operates Dance with Me and Rising Stars Dance Academy with locations in New Jersey and New York, and he sits on the board of the non-profit organization DanceTeamUSA, which promotes DanceSport amongst the youth of America.

Karina Smirnoff is one of the professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars. Born and raised in the Ukraine until age 14, Smirnoff embodies the discipline, elegance and consistent success that Russian-born athletes are known to possess. She is a five time U.S. National Champion and also won titles at the U.S. Open, the Asian Open and the U.K. Open. At one time she was ranked the number two dancer in the world. During her professional career as a dancer she somehow found the time to earn two degrees from Fordham University in New York, where she moved at age 14 with her parents. Recently, Karina's ebullient personality and gift for gab led the producers at E! Entertainment to hire her as a special correspondent.

Collectively holding over 100 Latin and Ballroom titles, the cast of BURN THE FLOOR is Henry Bayalikov (NBC's Superstars of Dance), Sharna Burgess (Fox's So You Think You Can Dance), Kevin Clifton (International IDSF Open Champion), Sasha Farber (three-time Junior & Youth Latin Australian Champion), Jeremy Garner (six-time Australian Amateur Latin finalist), Anya Garnis (Fox's So You Think You Can Dance), Gordana Grandosek (Italian Open Champion), Patrick Helm (Welsh Open Champion), Sarah Hives (ABC's Dancing with the Stars), Melanie Hooper (two-time Australian Professional Latin Champion), Peta Murgatroyd (ABC's Dancing with the Stars), Giselle Peacock (four-time U.S Champion), Sarah Soriano (8th in the world, British Open Championship - Youth Latin American), Damon & Rebecca Sugden (three-time Asian Pacific Ballroom Champions), Damian Whitewood (Australasian Champion), Trent Widdon (Australia's Dancing with the Stars), and Robin Windsor (Ballroom & Latin International finalist). For three weeks only, they will be joined by special guest stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, through August 16.

A breathtaking blend of Latin and Ballroom dance, BURN THE FLOOR was created, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, former World Champion Latin and Ballroom dancer and guest choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance. Helmed by producers Harley Medcalf, Jason Gilkison, and former World Champion dancer Peta Roby, BURN THE FLOOR comes to one of Broadway's most intimate venues, bringing audience members thisclose to the action and passion of the dancers.

BURN THE FLOOR is produced by Joe Watson, Richard Levi, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, and Marc Routh, in association with Dance Partner Inc/Harley Medcalf.

Playing Schedule from July 25-Aug 2: Sat July 25 at 8, Sun July 26 at 7, Tue July 28 at 8, Wed July 29 at 8, Thu July 30 at 8, Fri July 31 at 8, Sat Aug 1 at 2 & 8, Sun Aug 2 at 6:45 PM (opening night).

Playing Schedule after Aug 2: Tuesday at 7, Wed to Sat 8, Wed & Sat at 2, Sun at 3.

Price Scale: $111.50, $89.50, $ 59.50 and $ 39.50. All prices include $1.50 facilities fee. Discounts are available on groups of 10 and more.

For more information visit www.burnthefloor.com.