By sheer chance, a friend emailed me the other day with a link and the line "this is the gayest thing ever (in a good way)"; mere minutes later, a pineapple wearing a tutu was left at my doorstep with a preview disc of what is now my new favourite show.

Coincidence? No, they both had to do with the greatest party for my eyes that television has provided in some time.

Come on down, Pineapple Dance Studios!

Described by some as "docusoap" (LOLOL) but in reality an observational doco in eight-part format, it follows the ins and outs of a variety of 'personalities' involved in Pineapple Dance Studios, a dance complex in the UK that in addition to training some of the UK's (some would say world's) best dancers, is used as a casting and rehearsal space for megabucks tours and musicals.

It's Fame meets Flash Dance meets Center Stage meets Sparky Polastri (with an English accent).

Evidently Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Scissor Sisters and Posh Spice are all huge fans, in case you needed a little further convincing.

Airing here on FOX8 every Monday at 8.30pm (and we're only two episodes in, so you haven't missed much), the show is a welcome treat for those (i.e. me) who have been weeping into their Swarovski crystals with the news that Ten has canned So You Think You Can Dance.

Originally on the UK's Sky1, the show's tagline is the too-good-to-be-true "Pineapple Dance Studios: Where careers are made, dreams are broken, bitching is an Olympic sport and everyone is fabulous!"

Don't believe me? Meet Pineapple's artistic director Louie Spence:



In what should be news to absolutely no one I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM!!!

Whether he's high-kicking or reminiscing about the time "someone missed the toilet twice and done it on the doorstep, and I'm not lying, that is no joke", Spence is one of television's greatest discoveries (it's no surprise that he's staring down the barrel of his own show now that Pineapple's run has completed in the UK).

And for those who'd rather watch lithe bodies doing things we can only dream of, it naturally features loads and loads of great dancing:



Much like our dearly departed SYTYCD, the show is clearly enjoyable because of the personalities and personal dramas involved (nailpolish-wearing pop star wannabe Andrew Stone's ego - "It's not about the 'X' factor, it's about the 'it' factor, and I've got it" - can be seen from space), but what's also glorious is that it overflows with brilliant music.

Less than five minutes into the first episode I'm So Excited, Boogie Wonderland and I Want To Dance With Somebody had already sent me into a deep trance of joyousness.

If there's a downside to Pineapple it's that we only have six episodes to go, so do your warm-ups, pull on legwarmers, and clear the diary every Monday night at 8.30pm.

You won't regret it.