WHY ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT BALLROOM DANCING?

How Everyone from Elementary School Kids to British Cab Drivers are Part of the Latest Dance Craze, On ABC News� �Primetime,� Thursday, February 2

Remember when ballroom dancing meant stepping on someone�s toes at a cousin�s wedding? Times have changed, with shows like "Dancing with the Stars� bringing newfound interest in the fancy footwork and new life to celebrities reviewers tend to call �B list.� Take John O�Hurley � the winner of last season � who just became a lead on Broadway. But the ballroom dancing phenomenon isn�t just for Hollywood. These days everyone from college kids to average Joes want nothing more than to finesse their foxtrot and polish their polonaise. This week �Primetime� goes across the world to find out what is behind all the ballroom buzz � going to Buenos Aries to see how some find the meaning of life through the tango, then to London where putting on the Ritz can evolve into a love story, and to New York city where inner city children are transformed by learning to dance. �Primetime� airs THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

First: A visit to Buenos Aires � capital of Argentina � and tango capital of the world. Today tourists come from around the world to see the routinely packed tango shows but some find a lot more than a new dance step. People who really want to experience the sensual dance go to �milongas� � neighborhood dance parties. John Quinones reports on three Americans who discover how addicting and life changing the tango can be. Whether being a spiritual experience, a dating vehicle or a connection to other and yourself --- the impact of the tango is unpredictable.

Then: Putting on the Ritz with the Brits. Nestled in the English countryside is a place where soldiers use to cut the rug with local girls. Today couples come from all walks of life to dance and compete in the very same ballroom. They are a cleaning lady and a cab driver, a doctor and teacher by day -- Fred and Ginger by night. Jay Schadler follows the couples through a night of both heated and loving competition.

And: Playing Frank Sinatra to a room full of elementary school kids is seemingly the most uncool thing, unless you are part of the dozens of 4th and 5th graders from public schools across New York City competing for what may seem like an unusual prize: a ballroom dance trophy. Kids who had been listening to hip-hop and playing video games have been transformed by the strict art of ballroom dance, which requires them to touch their partners and look them in the eye. The ballroom dance craze has spread to 120 New York City public schools, thanks to the popular 2005 documentary, "Mad Hot Ballroom." Chris Cuomo follows several of the schools in this winter's competition, watching as typical 10 and 11-year-olds from varied background are transformed by the power of music many of their parents danced to.

DIANE SAWYER, CHRIS CUOMO, CYNTHIA McFADDEN and JOHN QUINONES are the anchors of �Primetime.� DAVID SLOAN is the executive producer.