News - Live: Eurovision Dance Contest 2008 | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

You can find a link to watch the show online on eurovisiondance.tv here.

This article will be constantly updated.  

The show has started and Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman once again welcome the audience.

All couples are now called on stage in running order which offers us a look on the outifts we are going to see tonight - it is obviously going to be visually spectacular competition.

Tonight's jury is:

• Gladys Tay
• Barbara Nagode Ambroz (Slovenia)
• Michelle Ribas (France)
• Sven Traut (Germany)

1. Sweden

Dancers: Danny Saucedo & Jeanette Carlsson
Dance style: Cha-cha
Song: Hung up (Madonna)

Singer Danny and dancer Jeanette show some skin during the first performance, a Cha-cha to Madonna's Hung up. A nice opener all in purple to which is probably the best known song to be heard tonight.

Jury verdict: 8 + 8 + 8 + 7 = 31

2. Austria

Dancers: Dorian Steidl & Nicole Kuntner
Dance styles: Slowfox & Jive
Songs: Pink Panther theme/Der Kommissar (Falco)

No Vienesse Waltz for Austria this year. The couple starts with  a cloth removal and a Slowfox that changes to a Jive. 1980s classic Der Kommissar is definitely an unusal choice for a dance competition. Although it got less points from the jury, this gimmick performance might be more popular with the televoters than the Swedish one.

Jury verdict: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 28

3. Denmark

Dancers: Patrick Spiegelberg & Katja Svensson
Dance styles: Samba, Tango, Paso Doble & contemporary Jazz Dance
Songs: Twin Peaks theme/Igen og Igen (Nephew)

After two mod performances, something more artistic comes from Denmark. A slow and impressive performance by the couple, which ist loved by the jury giving it the top mark of 48 points.

Jury verdict: 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 48

4. Azerbaijan

Dancers: Eldar Dzhafarov & Anna Sazhina
Dance styles: Paso doble, Azeri folk dance, Rumba & Tango
Song: The phantom of the opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber)

The only debutants this year come up with a dramatic interpretation of the musical The phantom of the opera. The jury is very happy with this performance, too.

Jury verdict: 12 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 42

5. Ireland

Dancers: Gavin O'Fearraigh & Dearbhla Lennon
Dance style: Paso doble, Rumba & Irish Dance
Song: The Mama song (Kila)

Good old Irish dance from Ireland of course. Last year, the country finished third with a similar performance. The clunky black shoes look a bit strange with Dearbhla's blue dress, but the audience obviously enjoyed the performance. Unfortunately, the jury was not too euphoric.

Jury verdict: 7 + 7 + 8 + 7 = 29

6. Finland

Dancers: Mikko Ahti & Maria Lund
Dance style: Tango
Traditional music

In the Eurovision Song Contest, it has already been proven by Jari Sillanpää that Tango is popular in Finland. A restrained performance by last year's winning country and a more modest reaction by the audience. Nevertheless a romantic performance.

Jury verdict: 10 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 34

7. Netherlands

Dancers: Thomas Berge & Roemjana de Haan
Dance Styles: Rumba & Show Dance
Song: Angels (Robbie Williams)

Another performance in black and white with Robbie William's Angels performed by dancer Thomas Berger himself. There was a problem with Roemjana's dress and the jury gives the lowest marks so far.

Jury verdict: 8 + 7 + 7 + 6 = 28

8. Lithuania

Dancers: Saulius Skambinas & Karina Krysko
Dance styles: Rumba & Cha-cha
Song: Teka teka skaisti saule (Traditional)

Lithuania gave one of the shrillest freestyle performances in last year's EDC. This year, the country starts more modest, almost spiritual. In the second part, it changes to a Latin explosion. Excellent scores by the judges.

Jury verdict: 12 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 42

9. United Kingdom

Dancers: Vincent Simone & Louisa Lytton
Dance styles: Paso doble, Tango & Jive
Song: Paint it black (Lee Mead)

Now it's time for the home team, which has not been succesful at all last year. After a rough start, it's a devilish performance in black red to a catchy song. The UK probably has good chances to do much better this year. Of course, the audience is not happy with the jury verdict.

Jury verdict: 8 + 10 + 8 + 8 = 34

10. Russia

Dancers: Alexander Litvinenko & Tatiana Navka
Dance styles: Cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble & Russian national dance
Song: Koni priveredliviye (Vladimir Vysotsky)

It is probably almost impossible to spot the five different kinds of dance styles that are combined in this performance. A dramatic performance that seems to picture a breakup scene and it is very popular with the audience and the jury.

Jury verdict: 10 + 12 + 10 + 10 = 42

11. Greece

Dancers: Jason Roditis & Tonia Kosovich
Dance styles: Various Latin dances
Songs: Misirlou (Dick Dale)/Pump it (The Black Eyed Peas)

A performance with two completely different parts. Especially the second, more lively part, seems to be very popular with the audience. Despite another dress malfunction, the jury is very happy with the performance.

Jury verdict: 10 + 12 + 12 + 10 = 44

12. Portugal

Dancers: João Tiago & Raquel Tavares
Dance styles: Rumba & Tango
Song: Tirei a sorte (Fernando Martins)

Latin fever from Portugal. A dramatic performance that could bring Portugal another good placing in the competition. The audience loves it -  but the jury doesn't.

Jury verdict:  8 + 7 + 8 + 7 = 30

13. Poland

Dancers: Marcin Mroczek & Edyta Herbus
Danace styles: Rumba, Cha-cha & comtemporary Jazz Dance
Song: Michael Jackson medley

Black and red and white - a classic Eurovision winner combination. A lively and spectacular performance by the Polish couple.

Jury verdict: 10 + 10 + 12 + 8 = 40

14. Ukraine

Dancers: Serhij Kostetskiy & Liliya Podkopaeva
Dance styles:  Jive, Rock'n'Roll & Ukrainian national dance

The Ukrainian couple is a bit overacting in the facial expressions. Nevertheless a strong closing performance.

Jury verdict:  10 + 10 + 10 + 8 = 38

The jury scoreboard:

1. Denmark : 48 points (4x12)
2. Greece: 40 points (4x10)
3. Lithuania: 32 points (4x8)
4. Azerbaijan: 28 points (4x7)
5. Russia: 24 points (4x6)
6. Poland: 20 points (4x5)
7. Ukraine: 16 points (4x4)
8. Finland: 12 points (4x3)
9. United Kingdom: 8 points (4x2)
10. Sweden: 4 points (4x1)
11. Portugal
    Netherlands
    Ireland
    Austria

Televoting:

The first 12 points go to Finland. Denmark got 8 and is still in the lead. Austria gives 12 points to Poland, Denmark is still in the lead. Another 12 to Poland from Denmark. Everyone hat got points so far, so no zero points this year. After 10 points from Azerbaijan, Poland and Denmark are now sharing first place. 12 points from Ireland put Poland in the lead.  Poland still well in the lead.

Poland wins the EDC 2008.