The Competition Heats Up On DANCING WITH THE STARS 4/26-27

This week on "Dancing with the Stars," the competition heats up as the remaining couples will take on a new challenge with the Samba or Argentine Tango, and all seven teams will hit the dance floor together in a swing dance marathon. In another twist on this week's competition show, each celebrity will design the costumes for his/her team's number, MONDAY, APRIL 26 (8:00-9:32 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

On following night, the fifth couple to be eliminated this season will be sent home, on "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show," TUESDAY, APRIL 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).

Performing on Tuesday will be Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge. Accompanied on the dance floor by Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo, she will sing the massive hit "Come to my Window" from her six-time platinum album "Yes I Am," which spent two and a half years on the album chart and earned her a second Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy. Etheridge will also perform the first single, "Fearless Love," from her triumphant new album of the same title, which arrives April 27 on Island Records. The single has already hit Top 25 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart and has risen to #10 on the Triple A chart. Series dance pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower and Tony Dovolani will accompany this performance.

Also this week, world class Nuevo Flamenco/Spanish guitarist Benise will perform "Salsa Salsa" from his Emmy winning multi-cultural stage show. Benise's new special, "The Spanish Guitar," will be airing on PBS in June with a nationwide tour this Fall. "The Spanish Guitar" was filmed over three years and across 10 countries. Benise, armed with his Spanish guitar, takes us on a spectacular journey of music and dance through Spanish Flamenco, Cuban Salsa, African Rhythms, Argentinean Tango and Brazilian Samba. Backed by a stage full of musicians, an orchestra and 12 elaborately choreographed dancers, the show captures world music at its best. Special guests include Dave Koz, Kimberly Locke, Giorgia Fumanti and "Dancing with The Stars" pro couple Nick and Lena Kosovich. Benise has produced, arranged and released eight albums on his own independent record label, Rosanegra Music, plus three DVDs on Rosanegra Films.

Among the seven couples remaining in the competition, one of the following teams will be sent home on Tuesday:

- Pamela Anderson (actress and model) and partner DAMIan WhiteWOOD.

- ERIN ANDREWS (ESPN host) and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

-  Evan Lysacek (Olympic figure skating champion) and partner ANNA TREBUNSKAYA.

- Niecy Nash (comedienne and host) and partner Louis van Amstel.

- Chad Ochocinco (NFL star) and partner Cheryl Burke.

- Jake Pavelka ("The Bachelor" star) and partner Chelsie Hightower.

- Nicole Scherzinger (pop star) and partner Derek Hough.

Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 30 minutes after the "Dancing with the Stars" performance shows. AT&T customers may also text message their votes by texting the word "VOTE" and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). Viewers may also vote online at www.abc.com starting from the opening of each episode on the East Coast.

Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Brooke Burke ("Dancing with the Stars" Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade is co-executive producer. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline.

About BBC Worldwide Productions:
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In the U.S., BBC Worldwide Productions, one of BBC Worldwide's seven core businesses, is based in Los Angeles and New York. It is responsible for the smash hit "Dancing with the Stars" and develops scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks.

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