Jennifer Lopez brings her 2012 ‘Dance Again’ world tour documentary to HBO on New Year’s Eve

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Jennifer Lopez decided to hit the road after her split from singer Marc Anthony two years ago.

She went on her first world tour, visiting 65 cities on five continents and reaching 1 million fans.

If you didn’t get to see the tour in person, you can catch it on HBO on New Year’s Eve. “Jennifer Lopez: Dance Again,” premiering on HBO and HBO Latino (9 p.m. EST), includes performances and behind-the-scenes footage from the tour.

“I had just gotten divorced, was a single mom for the first time (and) decided to go tour the world,” Lopez said in a recent interview.

The 45-year-old singer-actress said she realized the show was more than an arrangement of musical numbers; it was a mirror of her life.

“Looking at all my music and putting this show together and seeing, ‘Who was I as a person? As an artist? What did I want to say with this show?’ … It was self-reflective,” she said.

“Dance Again” includes rehearsal footage, interviews with family members and tense moments, such as when a dancer unexpectedly quits the show.

Fans will see how difficult it was for Lopez to leave “American Idol” after two successful seasons. (She has since returned to the Fox show, with the 14th season premiering Jan. 7.)

Cameras also show Lopez heartbroken over her twins, Maximilian and Emme, now 6 years old, missing their father.

One poignant and touching part of the documentary shows Lopez ending her tour in Puerto Rico with Anthony joining her onstage for a surprise duet. (He recently remarried.)

Lopez said it was important for her children to see their parents together as a united front.

“They don’t do what you say, they do what you do. You’ve got to show them we’re not together, but we’re together for you. When it comes to you, you’re so important to us and you’re so loved,” she said. ” … I reinforce that their dad loves them and he reinforces that I love them. … Kids with divorced parents, and I think about this all the time, they feel like one of the parents doesn’t want to be with them or doesn’t care about them. We reinforce that even not being together is for them. It’s the best thing.”

___

Alicia Rancilio covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her online at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar

___

Online:

http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/jennifer-lopez-dance-again/synopsis.html#/

http://www.jenniferlopez.com/

http://www.americanidol.com