Ne-Yo to perform on opening night of revamped ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’

“America’s Best Dance Crew All Stars: Road to the VMAs” has already named its judges and host, and is set to premiere July 29, but has now named its opening night performer: Ne-Yo.

The relaunched MTV dance show has always used musical themes as part of the competition, but at least for this episode, crews will actually perform with the hit-making crooner -- in a routine choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo (NappyTabs) -- as he sings a medley of his current singles with all six dance crews performing on stage with him.

Back in Season 2, the remaining crews in the competition performed with Missy Elliott on stage, in one of the few times that the crews were actually able to interact with their musical inspiration.

Speaking of crews -- the competitors have also been finalized as well. Previous champions Super Cr3w, Quest Crew, We Are Heroes, IamMe and the Elektrolytes are in the competition, and a new group to the show, Kinjaz -- composed of members of the JabbaWockeez and Kaba Modern -- will be gracing the stage.

It’s appropriate that the show is also launching after this weekend’s 6th annual National Dance Day. The event was created by Nigel Lythgoe, co-creator, executive producer and judge of that other dance show, “So You Think You can Dance.” Season 9 “SYTYCD” winner Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, “Magic Mike XXL” star tWitch and choreographer Travis Wall will be attending and leading choreographed routines for the event. The routines are available at https://www.musiccenter.org/nationaldanceday.

The original “ABDC” grew out of Hip Hop International’s USA & World Hip Hop Dance Championships, which started in 2002 and will be held this year in San Diego in August.

Twitter: @storiz