Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

Dance TV comes to Worcester on October 29 when EdgeTV premiers on Greater Media Cable Channel 3. "It's similar to MTV's The Grind," says coproducer Ami Heart, who previously produced Dance Jam, which aired from 1987 through 1990 on Channel 27. The new show will air Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and will feature dancing, fashion, and lifestyle segments. The show will be filmed every Friday night at the Palladium between 6:30 and 11 p.m.

More than 200 people turned out on October 12 to audition for positions as the program's hosts and spotlight dancers, while more than 500 participants were on hand for the first filming last Friday.

Palladium general manager Mike Barrasso is the program's executive producer, along with Heart and MAG Corporation cohort Gregg Beckett. A familiar face at the nightspot has been chosen to host the program. "Tabatha" (Heart says they prefer to use only first names) has worked as both general office manager and bartender at the Main Street club. She hadn't planned on trying out for the position until Heart encouraged her to give it a shot. "She has that all-American appeal," says Heart, who is a talent scout for the Elite Model Agency in New York City. "She had that Sassy and Jane, two of the hottest teen lifestyle magazines, look -- sweet, sexy, and sassy. I was looking for something similar to a Spice Girl, kind of a teen with a message. She had that."

Heart says the music aired on EdgeTV will be "today's hottest music. No rap. R&B, dance, Top 40 -- similar to Kiss 108 with mixed alternative. Music with mass appeal. Techno's part of it, even reggae."

The producers have talked to a number of record companies about getting some of their artists who live in the region to make appearances on the program. They also hope to use the Worcester Centrum Centre to film backstage segments with major recording acts who don't have the time to make it over to the Palladium.

"We're looking for local participants to dance and give a straight-edge message each week," says Heart. "The kids will be on-camera, telling what's cool and what's not. They'll be roundtable discussions." If you're interested in giving an on-air message, contact the Palladium at 797-9696.

"They'll be some spots by Students Against Drunk Driving and D.A.R.E. We want to make it comfortable to have parents send their kids to the club. It's a place to dance with no alcohol. The doors close at 10:30 p.m., and their parents can pick them up." Afterwards, the 21+ crowd is let in and a fashion segment is filmed. Sponsors will come from the local region. The opening show features clothing from Max Studio at the Worcester Fashion Outlets. Unlike rock and roll, where the mix of fashion and music is usually frowned upon, the way one looks is almost as important as the way one dances. You can fake the moves, but not the threads.

Although the cameras are focused on the dancers, the venue may be the program's biggest star. "The Palladium is such eye candy, having been an E.M. Loew's theater," Heart says enthusiastically. "It's such a beautiful club and has such character."

Although EdgeTV's premier can be seen only in Worcester, the producers plan to have it aired in other markets shortly. "We're working to move the program to all local cable stations across the board," she says. "Hopefully we'll be moving it within 30 days to other regional markets."