Disney Orders New Comedy Series

BURBANK: This fall, Disney Channel is set to premiere a new live-action buddy comedy series about best friends who are part of a teen dance show.

Created by Chris Thompson and executive-produced by Thompson and Rob Lotterstein, the series begins production in California in July for a fall premiere. It stars 12-year-old Bella Thorne and 13-year-old Zendaya as best friends CeCe Jones and Raquel "Rocky" Blue, whose dreams of becoming professional dancers are realized when they become background dancers on the most popular teen dance show, Shake it Up, Chicago.

"Newcomers Bella Thorne and Zendaya make for one of the most likable and engaging BFF duos we’ve ever seen," said Gary Marsh, president of entertainment and chief creative officer at Disney Channels Worldwide. "And while buddy comedies have been around since the start of television, what makes Shake It Up unique is that this is the first time anyone has incorporated dancing into the underlying premise of a sitcom."