Riot and Frolic

While Dancing With The Stars has bought unprecedented exposure to ballroom dancing, I must argue that it sucks for the industry.  In the land of trying to set realistic expectations for students, Hollywood has put the glitter in everyone's eyes.

Here's why:

• I have had several students lament that they're not as good as [Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Donnie Osmond].  Well, no.

1. Most students fail to see that the measuring stick that DWTS holds up to regular amateurs is not equal.  Celebrities on the show are celebrities; aka, very very wealthy, often elite athletes, and seasoned performers.  Not the usual qualities for a 50 year old computer engineer.  
2. These celebs devote 20-40 hours PER WEEK preparing for the show.  An average of 30 hours for four weeks DOING ONE ROUTINE.  For most people, that's at least a year of lessons.  By the time you get down to the final, most of the celebrities have logged as many hours as most students will log in their entire career.
3. Most regular students don't have something on the line, like their pride and being watched by millions on national television.  You bet your bippy you'd be kicking your ass into gear if 20 million people were watching you.

• DWTS stars learn a routine.  They don't learn to dance.  I'm sure if you asked Apolo Anton Ohno to dance a waltz with you, he'd have no idea what to do.  Same thing if you tried to lead Shawn Johnson in a swing.  The TV people learn choreography, not lead and follow.

• Dancing for a television audience and doing an actual dancesport competition?  Very different.  On DWTS, most of the time one couple gets the floor to themselves to showcase their awesomeness (or lack thereof).  At the United States Dancesport Championships, there are 30 couples on the floor just trying to get the judges to notice their awesomesauce.  

• Now people "know" about ballroom dancing.  No, people know.  Like, you ask avid watchers why Melissa Rycroft beat Shawn Johnson and you are sure to get a slew of opinions.  On one hand, it's pretty easy to recognize good dancing, even if you don't know why it's good.  On the other hand, many people think they know what good dancing is because of who wins on the show.  Eh, not so much.

• As good as many of the final routines are, those folks on the telly have also not learned any technique.  They might have learned where to step with a heel versus a toe, but the "why" is not important for them.  They have manufactured an effect with no actual production.  The nuances of leg rise and foot rise, extension and turnout, latin motion and shaping come from practice practice practice and a good amount of sustained education.  

My dear DWTS fans, don't be intimidated by those suckers on t.v.  Under the same circumstances, I'm sure you would be just as good as Jason Taylor or Stacy Kiebler.  If DWTS makes you feel bad, turn off the tube or reevaluate what you're doing with your dancing.  Maybe you should do a Showdance routine.  Or maybe you should just practice your latin motion while watching the show.

Win!

One year ago: On Running With Mediocrity