It's alumni week on 'Dancing with the Stars'

[May 18, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Former "Dancing with the Stars" contestants Melissa Rycroft and Joey Fatone will return to the dance floor this week by performing the tango -- together.

It's the first time the show has ever paired up two celebrities. Pro Mark Ballas will choreograph the number.

Fatone and Rycroft were picked by fans to perform in a contest called Design a Dance. Viewers also chose the dance style, song and costume design.

The two will dance to "Rock and Roll All Nite" by Kiss.

Fatone, a member of boy band 'N Sync, and Rycroft, Jason Mesnick's jilted fiancee on "The Bachelor," both did well in their respective turns on the show. Fatone was runner-up in season four, while Rycroft placed third in season eight. Still, they believe they'll need all the help they can get to pull off the tango.

"We'll probably have an hour attention span before we both just lose focus," jokes Rycroft.

One challenge for the couple is limited time to rehearse. Fatone lives in Orlando and Rycroft lives in Dallas, so the two said they would only have a week or so to practice.

This is a contrast to the amount of time that partners usually have to work on a number.

"You (normally) see your partner every day, four or five hours a day, nonstop. It's crazy," says Fatone.

The season finale of "Dancing with the Stars" will air May 25.

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On the Net:

http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/

[Associated Press; By ALICIA RANCILIO]

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