Chace Crawford will undergo grueling singing and dancing lessons before filming begins on the upcoming remake of the 1984 movie musical Footloose.

Last week, the star of television’s Gossip Girl was cast in the movie’s lead role of Ren McCormack, a dance aficionado who leaves the big city and winds up in a town where the expressive artform has been banned.

Chace signed on to take over the role made famous by Kevin Bacon, after Zac Efron was forced to pull out, but Chace’s musical experience is limited, and director Kenny Ortega — who is choreographing Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Comeback Tour — admits he’ll need coaching before he’s ready to take on the role.

“He really sizzles. He has musicality. We need to work with him on music and dance. There are some big shoes to fill. But he has it in him.”

Footloose will begin filming next spring.