Erik Solbakken*, the popular Norwegian TV host, and co-host at the 2010  Eurovision Song Contest in Norway, will host the newly revamped prime-time show for Europe’s most talented young dancers at the Eurovision Young Dancers.

“I’m really looking forward to the show, but also to meet our 10 talented dancers from all across Europe.  I think it will be quite a memorable week for our competitors, with a mix of hard work and social time together. And hopefully it all ends with a magnificent show,” comments Erik Solbakken.

The Young Dancers are in Oslo this week in preparation for the big show on Friday evening, 24 June.  Organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)** and hosted by the public broadcaster NRK, it will staged in Oslo’s renovated Dansens Hus.  Dancers from 10 European countries will take part.  The participating broadcasters are:  NRK (Norway), WDR (Germany), SVT (Sweden), NPS (The Netherlands), HRT (Croatia), ERT (Greece), RTVSLO (Slovenia) , RTP (Portugal), TVP (Poland), RTK (Kosovo).

Eurovision Young Dancers has been running biennially for over 30 years and had a recent four-year break.  It has come back with an event that embraces all forms of dance from hip hop to ballet to street dance.  What sets it apart is that the dancers already attend dance schools in Europe and are looking for a springboard into an international career.

Link to Eurovision Young Dancers trailer

“The new format is fun and entertaining so please tune in to your respective countries’ channels to watch the show,” says Erik Solbakken.

The show will be broadcast on the night of the show in most countries and during the week that follows for others.  For full details of broadcasting times please go to the Eurovision Young Dancers website.

Further information: Eurovision Young Dancers website:  www.youngdancers.tv
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Executive Supervisor of Eurovision Young Dancers 2011:  Vladislav Yakovlev, mobile +41 79 7044049, [email protected]

Press contact:
Karen Mazzoli, EBU Media Officer, Tel: +41 22 717 2415, Mobile: +41 79 752 4549, [email protected]

Note to Editors:
**About the EBU
The EBU serves 86 national media organizations in 56 countries in and around Europe. It represents its Members and promotes the values and distinctiveness of public service media in Europe and around the world. The Eurovision and Euroradio networks deliver news, sports, events and music to EBU Members and other media organizations. Services to Members range from legal advice, technical standardization and development to coproduction and exchange of quality European content. For more information about the EBU: www.ebu.ch

Erik Solbakken
Erik Solbakken (born on 17 November, 1984) is a Norwegian TV host and writer. He studied journalism at the Volda University College and has been with NRK since 2005.

Erik is presently one of the most popular television personalities amongst the young Norwegian audience, and is a familiar face with children and teens alike.  He co-hosted Europe's favourite TV show, the Eurovision Song Contest from the Telenor Arena in Oslo in May 2010, watched by over 100 million viewers around the world.  He has hosted the popular children shows Barne-tv, Julemorgen and Superkviss, in addition to Barnetimen for de minste on NRK Radio 2. Erik hosted the launch of NRK’s new TV channel for children and young adults, NRK Super, when it went on air in 2007.

Since 2009, Erik has delivered humour to the whole family, hosting the show Krem Nasjonal, along with 12 year-old Magnus and Signe. During the Nordic Children’s  TV festival in 2009, Erik won the prize for the best host for his show Utfordringen.

Erik is a self-confessed fan of Sandefjord Football, he has represented Norway in the junior World Cup in Fly Fishing, and in his little spare time he enjoys both cross country and telemark skiing, as well as playing football and volleyball. Erik is married, and lives in Oslo.