By Kelly Wiley

Flashy costumes and sophisticated dancing will be par for the course when Dancing With the Stars: The Tour comes to Rupp Arena tonight at 7:30.

“I believe that people love to see dancing live,” said Eddie Clemens, marketing coordinator for AEG Live. “Also people have seen most of the stars in other things and are excited to see them doing something new and exciting.”

“Dancing With the Stars” is a TV show where celebrities are paired with professional dancers. The pairs compete against each other to receive high scores from the judges and popularity amongst viewers. Each week a pair is eliminated from the show until there is only one pair remaining. Tonight’s performance in Lexington includes Joey Lawrence, Marie Osmond and Wayne Newton.

Clemens said this event draws a large crowd. He said ticket sales have been great so far this season, and some even sell out on the day of the event.

“Not an easy task to run a tour like this,” Clemens said. “It is very involved.”

He said one of the more demanding parts of the tour is unloading the equipment, assembling everything and then loading it all back up. Clemens said he feels all the hard work pays off because the crowd enjoys the effect all the hard work has on the show.

Cathy Derr, the senior manager and arena events coordinator at Rupp Arena, said it is more than just a dance show involving celebrities. Arthur Murray Dance Studio will hold a local dance competition at the beginning of the evening.

Derr said VIP ticket holders receive a floor seat with a great view of the dancers and a small gift bag.

Clemens said he has seen the show a few times and thought it was “very entertaining.”

“It moves very smoothly and has a good variety of types of dance,” Clemens said. “It’s impressive to see the talent a lot of these people have. I think anyone that goes to this show will enjoy it.”

Tickets range anywhere from $50 to $165. For more information contact the Lexington Center Ticket Office at 233-3535.