NATURE’S GREATEST DANCERS

Steve Backshall, wildlife expert and star of STRICTLY COME DANCING, explores the ways animals move on NATURE’S GREATEST DANCERS.

Episode 1 “The Dance For Love” airs Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, March 1 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Steve Backshall looks at the moves animals make in pursuit of romance. From soliciting that first amorous glance to seeing off the competition, and of course the final act of seduction.

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Pair of western Grebes perform their courtship display in perfect synchrony.

© Robert L Kothenbeutel/Shutterstock 2015

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Two flamingo pair up to form a strong bond.

Courtey of © Jurra8/Shutterstock

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The marriage dance of the blue-footed boobies.

Courtesy of © Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstok

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Greater sage grouse perform a mating display on the lek.

Courtesy of © Tom Reichner/Shutterstock

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A mudskipper amphibious fish leaps to catch a potential partner’s eye.

Courtesy of © Boonchuay Promjiam/Shutterstock

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Bearded dragon uses head bobs to see off the competition.

Courtesy of © Elina Litovkina/Shutterstock

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Ring-tailed lemurs huddle together.

Courtesy of © Roland I Jdema/Shutterstock

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A male peacock spider puts on a colorful courtship display.

Courtesy of © Jurgen Otto

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Golden leaf-folding frog prepares for mating ritual.

Courtesy of © Andre Coetzer/Shutterstock

Episode 2: “The Dance For Life” airs Wednesday, March 25 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, March 29 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Steve Backshall takes a look at some of the extraordinary dance-like moves that animals perform to survive all aspects of life.

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Meerkat family on the look out for possible danger.

Courtesy of Alta Oosthuizen/Shutterstock

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Two giraffes take part in ritualized dual.

Courtesy of Gudkov Andrey/Shutterstock

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Black grouse in ritualized fight for territorial rights.

Courtesy of Vitaly Ilyasov/Shutterstock

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Running springbok jumping high, Kalahari, South Africa.

Courtesy of Johan Swanepoel/Shutterstock

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Verreaux's sifaka uses balletic moves to cross open ground in southern Madagascar.

Courtesy of Hugh Lansdown/Shutterstock

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Sunda flying lemur clings to a tree in the rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Courtesy of Vincent St Thomas/Shutterstock

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Pom pom crab performs with anemones in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Courtesy of Hans Gert Broeder/Shutterstock

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Spanish dancer sea slug escapes danger with a flamenco dance.

Courtesy of Cigdem Sean Cooper/Shutterstock

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Manta ray puts on an impressive aerial display in the Pacific Ocean.

Couresy of Kjersti Joergensen/Shutterstock

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Humpback whale work together to secure a meal.

Courtesy of Tory Kallman/Shutterstock

"At the heart of every natural process is rhythm, beat, a pulse. Everything in the wild world is syncopated to its very core. Dance - as we humans would recognize it - is found across the spectrum. From the mighty twirls and leaps of great whales, the largest animals ever to have graced our planet, to the vibrations and posturing of insects so tiny you need a microscope to watch their moves," says Backshall. "Dancing animals are hypnotic, beautiful and dazzling to watch, but their performances ask questions that verge on the philosophical. Evolutionary theory suggests that costly behavior must have a purpose, but even the most hardened biologist has to occasionally ask; is this animal just dancing for the fun of it? And if not, then why should we humans be any different?"

Distributed by BBC Studios.