Strictly Dancing takes the best dancers from different dance worlds and throws them together in a unique and challenging competition.

After an exhaustive search encompassing Australia and New Zealand, 81 couples have been selected to compete for the title over 40 weeks. These include champion Latin ballroom couples, raunchy 'Street Latin' Salsa experts and the funkiest Rn'B movers you'll ever see.

Watch what happens as they are all taken outside their comfort zones and forced to compete across styles.

Can the Latin champs loosen up enough to hit the floor in Funk? Can the Funksters turn their narrative skills to interpreting the drama of a Spanish bullfight coupled with the simmering emotion of the proud and forceful flamenco in Strictly Dancing's fusion style ‘Paso Flamenco'.

Each couple is given just four weeks to prepare for the competition. That's when they're told which six dances they will have to perform. For most couples this will probably include a number of dances they've never done before. The dancers are responsible for their own choreography and costumes.

The judging panel will award scores for technique, choreography, musicality and presentation. Apart from scores for the six dances, each couple is also awarded an all important 'X Factor' score.

The 'X Factor' is all about star quality. It is the "wow" factor, displaying charisma, engaging the audience and putting on a great show.

Popular entertainer and comedian, Paul McDermott hosts the show before a studio audience, in a nightclub setting described as "The Jetsons meets the Trocadero". Commentators, Lex Marinos and Angela Gilltrap, guide viewers through the intricate technicalities of dance in a highly amusing and accessible fashion.

Each week three new couples compete for a place in the semi finals. The winners of the semi finals will progress to the Group finals. From there the final three couples will dance off in the Grand Final for the title "Australasia's Ultimate Dancing Couple" and a share in $17,500 worth of Talent Development Awards. (Source: ABC)