Angelina Ballerina Twirling with Nigel Lythgoe, Larry King for Heart Health

LARRY KING AND “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, NIGEL LYTHGOE, STRUT THEIR STUFF IN AN INSPIRING PSA

WITH ANGELINA BALLERINA™ TO PROMOTE DANCE

AS A HEART-HEALTHY ACTIVITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES

Legendary talk show host, Larry King, has put on his dancing shoes to boogie down with Angelina Ballerina™ and Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “American Idol,” in a new PSA that debuts in July celebrating the health benefits of dance. The PSA was produced by HIT Entertainment, one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers, and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a national organization founded by Lythgoe, director/producer Adam Shankman, “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and actress Katie Holmes, among others.  The Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow PSA will be part of the overall Dance 4 Your Life!, a new national health campaign that was recently launched by the Larry King Cardiac Foundation and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, and asks Americans to dance their way toward an active and healthy lifestyle.  

 

“I had an incredible time talking with my friends Nigel Lythgoe and Angelina Ballerina about dancing your way to good health,” said Larry King.  “It is extremely important to spread the message of taking care of your heart.  And what better way than to encourage people of all ages to have fun, get up and dance your way to a healthier life!" 

The PSA spotlights dancing as a heart-healthy form of exercise and features Lythgoe and King being interviewed by Angelina Ballerina (sporting Larry’s signature suspenders and eyeglasses) about the benefits of dance at any age. After the interview, King and Lythgoe join Angelina in a rousing dance number. The PSA will be featured in an online campaign and social media campaign that will encompass kid-targeted websites, including the official Angelina Ballerina website, www.angelinaballerina.com.

King is the founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, which provides funding for life-saving cardiac procedures for individuals who, due to limited means and no insurance, would be otherwise unable to receive life saving treatment.

“The Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow program has been instrumental in encouraging young people to pursue their love of dance,” said Nigel Lythgoe. “Partnering with HIT Entertainment and Larry King, the Dizzy Feet Foundation continues to achieve its goal of promoting dance as a wonderful, healthy activity for people of all ages.” 

In addition to the recently produced PSA, HIT’s Angelina Ballerina™ Stars of Tomorrow Program (AB Stars), in partnership with the Dizzy Feet Foundation, recently awarded scholarships to three dancers in the AB Stars program who have shown exceptional promise. From AB Stars dance programs hosted at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in New York City and the Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta, three young dancers each received a $2500 scholarship this past spring to continue their dance education. 

“Through our PSAs and scholarship programs, the Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow program and the Dizzy Feet Foundation are reaching more and more youngsters who are embracing the power of dance,” said EJ Minor, Vice President, Marketing, HIT Entertainment. “We welcome Larry King as our newest ambassador to promote dance as a healthy form of exercise.”

The AB Stars program was inspired by Angelina Ballerina, a beloved publishing property created by Katherine Holabird and Helen Craig about a little mouse who works hard to reach her goals.  Kicking off last year, the AB Stars program helps raise awareness for the benefits of dance by providing classes to children.  Goals of the AB Stars program include helping to build confidence, inspiring creativity and promoting physical health, while making dance accessible to all children. To learn more about the Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow Program, visit www.angelinaballerina.com.