DANCING I was among those who were pleased with the recent return, however briefly, of ballroom dancing to prime-time television viewing.
I have a feeling that ABC-TV was among those who were suprised at the ratings it received as well as some obvious interesting signs among teen agers. It might just happen to be a good moment to swing the new generations unknown hoofer stars into a new area of ballroom dancing.
The producers were wise to keep a firm theme of competition in the performances at all time was good. Viewers picked their favorite couple early for what one , might call the usual reasons; ,stayed loyal to them as long as they could until won away by better dancing dancing well done by others.The title of evsrn"Dancing With The Stars" was important, too. It allowed for the presence of a dance star sharing artistic wealth with a non-dancer eager to learn!
What better way could there be? We saw it as a driving force urging advancement. I could feel it as a mere viewer. Think what it must have meant in the innards of a dance-to-be.
Maybe you thought the judges to be too critical; short on patience and understanding? stuffy, too casual - even rude...lacking in emotional feeling! Forget such hogwash! Judges are supposed to be "like that"...they judges more given to being Don Rickles than Jack Benny! Judges are judges. I'll admit some judges do have a quirky sense humor and laugh when they see a banana peel slip on a person. In being accustomed to seeing backwards, they can judge what something must have been before it was.
I hope the "Dancing With the Stars" format stays active for a time. If our young people are properly introduced to the routines and rigors of such dancing we can anticipate an era of fine dancing. Notice the special treatment needed regarding musical background in this series. Orchestras, too, need to change radically if ballroom dancing is to survive its rebirth.
A.L.M. March 23, 2006 [c354wds][
