Singapore free-TV Malay channel Suria premieres its first reality dance competition, Dansa Mania, on Monday, 4 February, in a prime-time 8.30pm slot.

The two-hour double bill finale will air on 25 March 2019 on both Suria and on Singapore streaming platform Toggle.

Open to Singaporeans and permanent residents between the ages of 13 and 40 years old, Dansa Mania kicks off with 11 groups chosen from the 100 selected during auditions in October last year. Groups are between three and 10 dancers. Every week one group is eliminated. The winner receives S$10,000/US$7,358 cash.

The reality series is hosted by local radio DJ and TV host, Dalina Jaapar, with resident judges entertainer Najip Ali, free-style dancer Alif Aircho and performer/choreographer Gani Karim.

Dansa Mania is produced by local shop Mediamorphosis for Suria, which is one of seven television channels operated by Singapore broadcaster Mediacorp.

The production budget, which comes out of Mediacorp’s government-funded public service broadcasting obligation, has not been disclosed. Mediacorp receives about S$250 million/US$183 million a year from the government’s Public Service Broadcasting fund.

Suria programmers said Dansa Mania taps the popularity of dance within the youth demo.

This is the second time in a year Suria has experimented with reality competitions. Last year this time, the channel premiered its first kids reality singing competition, Juara Mic Junior!, in the same Monday prime time slot.

Suria’s linear schedule is a mix of in-house production and acquisition of Bahasa Malay and Bahasa Indonesia originals from Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia.

Dansa Mania replaces Reka, a DIY decorating competition show.

Article appeared in ContentAsia's eNewsletter on 21 January 2019