"'Dancing with Stars' steps on toes of 'Survivor'" [Archive]

bluetango

02-13-2006, 02:32 PM

The article states that the show had a high of 20 million viewers (19.2 low).
At this point, NO ONE can complain that ballroom isn't mainstream enough in terms of exposure or reaching enough viewers.

If this doesn't help ballroom become an accepted and cherished national pastime, and we don't see it more on TV then the general population will never embrace it. Maybe there will be an influx of more american children taking up dancesport as a viable alternative to other sports. Maybe even the finals in junior and youth events will have less "sky's, vich's, and kov's" within the next few years......:-)

[full disclosure, while not in any of those finals, i happen to be of the 'sky persuasion myself...but would love to see a bit more cultural diversity]

new-ish

02-13-2006, 03:16 PM

If this doesn't help ballroom become an accepted and cherished national pastime, and we don't see it more on TV then the general population will never embrace it.

Hmm. I would love to see this show be the catalyst to Ballroom Dancing becoming a national pastime. But I think this is a case of a great TV idea which happens to use Ballroom as a vehicle. TLC's Ballroom Bootcamp didn't seem to fire up many people on Ballroom Dancing alone.

I hope that I'm wrong. Foxtrot and Swing used to be THE dances.

saludas

02-13-2006, 03:54 PM

Hmm. I would love to see this show be the catalyst to Ballroom Dancing becoming a national pastime. But I think this is a case of a great TV idea which happens to use Ballroom as a vehicle. TLC's Ballroom Bootcamp didn't seem to fire up many people on Ballroom Dancing alone.

I hope that I'm wrong. Foxtrot and Swing used to be THE dances.

I agree, but it certainly did what many thought "Champ Ballroom Dancving" would do - but never did.

I also think it exposes what the public really wants to see - and what it does NOT.

The comments about the ABC message board saying they want to see more 'partnering' and less 'show' (read: Am style) tells us that the ballroom community may not be the best place to find the answers to the question 'how to take ballroom mainstream' (it was always a 'given' that the public did NOT want to see Standard, but would prefer Am style, and now the actual public is speaking)... maybe it is to be what skating is today - the amateur is avidly followed by the general public, competition is almost one on one, and more connected with the audience - perhaps a percentage of a comp win would be based on audience votes or such?

At least foks are getting tired of such obviously fake situations as 'Survivor'....

alemana

02-13-2006, 04:03 PM

i've been reading those boards and it's a misrepresentation to claim such an uprising against "showy" dancing (which you predictably misinterpret as a mandate against American style) is going on over there.

nice try. and yet, lame.

the content of those boards is as follows:

1. 90% VoTE FOR StAcY/dReW becuz i SAid So
2. 5% STaCY ShOUld Be DisKwalilFied
3. 1% OMG they are TOTALLY havIng an AfFair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. 2% LiSA rInNa's LIPPPPPZ
5. Other

Laura

02-13-2006, 04:05 PM

Over on "Television Without Pity," the subject of being sorry that Maksim's hot ass is gone comes up with great frequency.

alemana

02-13-2006, 04:07 PM

exploding lips, hot asses. it's a TRENCHANT analysis on the potentialities of ballroom dancing in this country.

africana

02-13-2006, 04:16 PM

:lol:

laughter feels so good :lol:

saludas

02-13-2006, 04:24 PM

exploding lips, hot asses. it's a TRENCHANT analysis on the potentialities of ballroom dancing in this country.

You may want to discount them, but this is how young people talk these days, and their comments are real... so yes, it is all about sex and 'popularity without question'... which is why the audience is watching.

PS - I certainly didn't bring up the audience comments about Am style vs Int'l - Laura did, in another thread...

Bradamant

02-13-2006, 05:01 PM

Just today, people are again clamoring for more lifts in DWTS. "I want the helicopter! They should allow lifts."

Having spent far too much time on the ABC messageboard :oops:
my take is that the average viewer would not care for standard except for the ever exciting quickstep. I could be wrong, but that is my impression.

alemana

02-13-2006, 05:08 PM

QWTS

quickstep with the stars. all quickstep, all the time.

and maybe just limit the music to muppet songs.

Beto

02-13-2006, 05:25 PM

QWTS

quickstep with the stars. all quickstep, all the time.

and maybe just limit the music to muppet songs.
http://www.texassalseros.com/forums/images/smiles/newTooMuch.gif

Genius! :notworth:

africana

02-13-2006, 05:55 PM

http://www.texassalseros.com/forums/images/smiles/newTooMuch.gif

Genius! :notworth: hahaaa!! can I please borrow that smiley

http://www.texassalseros.com/forums/images/smiles/newTooMuch.gif http://www.texassalseros.com/forums/images/smiles/newTooMuch.gif

Beto

02-13-2006, 06:13 PM

hahaaa!! can I please borrow that smiley

http://www.texassalseros.com/forums/images/smiles/newTooMuch.gif http://www.texassalseros.com/forums/images/smiles/newTooMuch.gif

Por supuesto! :) I bookmarked it from the other site since it seems quite a few forums don't have it anymore.

bluetango

02-13-2006, 06:33 PM

But I think this is a case of a great TV idea which happens to use Ballroom as a vehicle.

I agree with this, however, if people didn't think Ballroom Dancing was interesting they wouldn't watch. Doesn't matter how cool the format or elimination is, if the actual content is lame then it wouldn't be so heavily watched especially so deep into the second season. We have to remember here that its already almost 7 weeks into the season, and still 20 million people? That has to be more than just format. Actually, I think the format is a bit lame and the show can be a heck of a lot better - so in my opinion, its gotta be the dancing. Especially because all the bad dancers have been eliminated, so at this point, no one will be tuning in to watch people look bad.

What DWTS shows us is that the general public does enjoy ballroom and it can be a mainstream artform+sport.

At this point, its really up to the perseverence of the top level dancers and ballroom organizers to not take this for granted and keep on pushing for more and more and more exposure. The dancers on DWTS must push to get agents (if they don't have them already) and start pushing for more television exposure, movies, etc.

Since the movie musical seems to be making a comeback (moulin rouge, chicago, producers, to name a few) as well as the dance movies (shall we dance, take the lead) Ballroom is in a position like never before to take advantage of these incredible opportunities. Thankfully, we don't still have non-ballroom dancers choreographing partner dance scenes (like in Dirty Dancing II) And in all the aformentioned ballroom movies they did feature recognized ballroom dancers. But its not enough!

There should be more dance scenes and more ballroomers in the foreground, not relegated to dancing somewhere in the back of some disco scene (like slavik and karina).
[though didn't karina have 2 whole lines in 'Shall We Dance'?]

bluetango

02-13-2006, 06:35 PM

You may want to discount them, but this is how young people talk these days

This proves that teens ARE watching, its not just college age and and up as most had suspected....

musicchica86

02-13-2006, 06:47 PM

You may want to discount them, but this is how young people talk these days, and their comments are real... so yes, it is all about sex and 'popularity without question'... which is why the audience is watching.

PS - I certainly didn't bring up the audience comments about Am style vs Int'l - Laura did, in another thread...
*cough* Um, need I mention that I'm 19 and yet I don't talk like some inane vegetable?

Overgeneralizations are a bad thing.

pygmalion

02-13-2006, 06:49 PM

Yay for you, musicchica! :notworth: It's not how young people talk, IMO. It's how IMers talk, if they don't know bulletin board etiquette. Big difference. :lol:

chandra

02-13-2006, 06:52 PM

Ayuh, as Im sure all the other DF youth will agree... None of my freinds IM like that either... Dunno where that culture is, but it hasnt made it to Iowa yet. (hmmm, I wonder why???)

pygmalion

02-13-2006, 06:52 PM

Ayuh, as Im sure all the other DF youth will agree... None of my freinds IM like that either... Dunno where that culture is, but it hasnt made it to Iowa yet. (hmmm, I wonder why???)

'Cause it's Iowa? :rolleyes: :wink:

chandra

02-13-2006, 06:55 PM

hmmm... I wonder if that might be it???

alemana

02-13-2006, 06:55 PM

i don't think the people posting on the abc boards using random "spellingz" are teens, exclusively - i think they are grown-assed people.

anyway it's interesting what you say about ballroom organizers "seizing the moment" with ballroom on tv... let me point out that i have experienced the opposite, insofar as

1. a certain chain has such a close sponsorship with the show that they prevent other studios from capitalizing on its success

and

2. there is a very pernicious attitude amongst some ballroom people, maybe those in the purist vein, who actually disdain the show as so crass and dumbed-down that it will only dilute the sport and lower the standards.

a good friend of mine, an amateur 10-dancer, is spitting mad at the moment because she's been observing some other syllabus-level dancers of her acquaintence *teaching independently for money.* she says, and i think this is a stretch personally, that the bump in popularity of ballroom is allowing any know-nothing to teach and make money (even at the risk of their own amateur status, I KNOW another issue).

i countered her with the argument that i WANT more bodies in the ballroom, and that if it takes a flood of 100 johnny-come-latelies to pound into the studio, take a month of lessons, then depart en masse but leave behind 1 or 2 people who would never have discovered ballroom otherwise - so be it.

but i just point this attitude out because i do think a certain echelon of ballroom folk enjoy disdaining the current atmosphere of excitement around ballroom, because it gives them a rare and cherished opportunity to turn up their noses. they do so to spite their own faces, of course... but that doesn't stop them.

bluetango

02-13-2006, 06:56 PM

'Cause it's Iowa? :rolleyes: :wink:

Reminds me of the Wayne's World quote...

"Hey, we are in.....Delaware?"

pygmalion

02-13-2006, 06:58 PM

I agree with this, however, if people didn't think Ballroom Dancing was interesting they wouldn't watch. Doesn't matter how cool the format or elimination is, if the actual content is lame then it wouldn't be so heavily watched especially so deep into the second season. We have to remember here that its already almost 7 weeks into the season, and still 20 million people? That has to be more than just format.

Interesting point, bluetango. Hmm. It's food for thought.

Just wondering how long it would take the "Stars" aspect of the show to become a non-novelty. D'ya know what I mean? For example, the Surreal World. After the first season, who cared? B-list "stars" were involved, and I couldn't have cared less. The novelty had worn off.

I'm just wondering if the appeal of DWTS is watching the stars dance rather than just watching dance. I'm not sure.

pygmalion

02-13-2006, 07:02 PM

1. a certain chain has such a close sponsorship with the show that they prevent other studios from capitalizing on its success

Somebody brought this up in another thread, but I didn't have a clue. Sponsorship? Really? :?

It's kinda hard from one chain to prevent studios from benefitting, though, isn't it? :? Folks who want to dance can always use the internet or yellow pages or word of mouth to find a studio, right? Or is name recognition ruling the day? (I ask in all innocence, since I have no idea. :cool: )

bluetango

02-13-2006, 07:07 PM

1. a certain chain has such a close sponsorship with the show that they prevent other studios from capitalizing on its success

Chain or no chain. The Dancers on the show (to my knowledge) don't operate within any studio chains, so its up to them to seize not only ballroom's popularity, but their personal popularity. Granted, its very difficult to manage both a competitive career, and as well as a screen career! And I'm not saying they aren't trying, I am sure they are - I'm just stating the point.

2. there is a very pernicious attitude amongst some ballroom people, maybe those in the purist vein, who actually disdain the show as so crass and dumbed-down that it will only dilute the sport and lower the standards.

Of course, because the show isn't a REAL ballroom comp. But its a doorway to getting real comps actually broadcast, on ESPN or something. Certainly anything that disrupts the status quo, such as ballroom suddenly getting all this extra attention, is going to propel some dancers into the spotlight, and rub others the wrong way. There is certainly a risk of having popular opinion and the 'TV factor' starting to effect the way comps are run and the direction of dancing, but that is a risk that must be made if the the goal is to move dancing into a more mainstream position. If a majority of competitors are satisfied having ballroom be a subculture, then so be it.

I think most likely its the pro's that will want the exposure because that means they may benefit financially. I suspect that the amateurs, may care less about it or disdain it more because it doesn't really directly impact them (they really aren't the ones on TV).

Either way Alemana, I appreciate your insightful comments!

elegance

02-13-2006, 07:11 PM

I'm just wondering if the appeal of DWTS is watching the stars dance rather than just watching dance. I'm not sure.

I'm wondering that too. Among my friends, it's very much that. We all like dance (but aren't all dancers) and would watch it anyway, of course. But this time, they are showing so much more of a teamwork aspect that makes it more fun to watch. And when you kinda sorta "know" the people and are interested in how they respond to the situation, then you might feel more involved. I feel like people are rooting more for "teams" this time.
In my case, I don't know too much about the "stars" but what I like is that I know they are all performers and am interested to see what that brings to dancing and if it is different than the average person learning to dance. So I'm not sure if I'd be as interested if they actually were the average person learning to dance. Maybe if they continued to highlight that team aspect.
Of course that's just my opinion- very small sample size!

gusmahler

02-13-2006, 07:13 PM

1. a certain chain has such a close sponsorship with the show that they prevent other studios from capitalizing on its success

As I've pointed out in another thread, at least 3 studios in the Bay Area are promoting themselves using DWTS. Granted, they are promoting themselves because they are related in way or another to Anna (she and Jerry practicesin two of them and she and Jonathan work at the other), but that still doesn't change the fact that they are each trying to use DWTS for their own gain.

bluetango

02-13-2006, 07:14 PM

I'm just wondering if the appeal of DWTS is watching the stars dance rather than just watching dance. I'm not sure.

Well its a tricky question. Clearly if they were A-list stars, it would definitely be the star factor trumping all else. However, since they are B and below "stars"
then the dancing must certainly play a part. But going to the other end of the spectrum (a la Ballroom Bootcamp....which got very repetitive), if you took just random people, they don't have nearly the charm, presence, or humor to make entertaining television.

Clearly it must be a mix of both because both the Judges and the Stars themselves do provide a lot of 'entertainment value' aside from the dancing.

However, (though I don't know the ratings) from the message boards on ABC and elsewhere, it seems like lots of people watched OSB on pbs, and totally loved it.

Another question is who are the stars? With so much exposure right now, some of the dancers on DWTS are becoming pseudo-stars themselves. And people will tune in to ballroom comps to watch them (as though some of them really need yet another ego boost?!) This of course, is purely hypothetical...

pygmalion

02-13-2006, 07:18 PM

As I've pointed out in another thread, at least 3 studios in the Bay Area are promoting themselves using DWTS. Granted, they are promoting themselves because they are related in way or another to Anna (she and Jerry practicesin two of them and she and Jonathan work at the other), but that still doesn't change the fact that they are each trying to use DWTS for their own gain.

Which I think any ballroom studio owner in his/her right might should be doing, right now. Heck! Studio owners and dance teachers have to make a living, which requires having a clientele. Why not capitalize on the best thing that's happened to ballroom in decades? More power to 'em, IMO.

bluetango

02-13-2006, 07:24 PM

Why not capitalize on the best thing that's happened to ballroom in decades? More power to 'em, IMO.

Amen!

musicchica86

02-13-2006, 07:28 PM

Yep! I know my studio runs a local ad during the DWTS spot, as well as one of the highly competitive students, who happens to be an optometrist (which is what he's advertising of course LOL). I find it hard to believe that any studio WOULDN'T benefit from that kind of exposure.

new-ish

02-13-2006, 10:28 PM

but that still doesn't change the fact that they are each trying to use DWTS for their own gain.

Yes they are, but which ones will actually realize any benefit. My bet is that Starlight got a big boost from the first series and is enjoying alot of benefit from the second.

I think the secret to their success is that they do an exemplary job of taking care of beginners. Their Friday night party is called FBO. "For Beginners Only." They don't try to shove Silver moves down everyone's throat. Then they have a practice party in their side room to teach the rules of the road to newbies (how to ask for a dance, escorting your partner back, how to dance a mixer...)

I'm sure most studios would love to get all of the dedicated experienced dancers as their clientele, but they have to come from somewhere.

Joe

02-14-2006, 07:27 AM

Joe

02-14-2006, 07:33 AM

We have to remember here that its already almost 7 weeks into the season, and still 20 million people? That has to be more than just format.
What's even more surprising is that there are still 20M people watching even with all the sh177y music their band plays. ;)

alemana

02-14-2006, 09:09 AM

interesting, all of this. i guess if i had clawed my way up to becoming a ballroom comp organizer - a big-leaguer, not a small-time player - in a catty industry (yes, personality counts for much in life, but the 'performing arts' careers are definitely heavy on it) i might fear what would happen to my tenuous livelihood if mass exposure changed the rules for success.

i think it's strongly unlikely that ballroom dancers will become celebrities, but that would certainly change the power equation in the ballroom world. anything that shines the spotlight on the industry and its incestuous ways threatens the way it currently works, and the rise of celebrity dancers (as unlikely as i think it is) would certainly do that.

pygmalion

02-14-2006, 09:18 AM

Insightful comments, as usual, alemana. :cool: :)

Since we're all speculating about how DWTS might change the ballroom world, I'll put in my swag.

I'm guessing that a ton of folks will be attracted to at least trying ballroom dancing. They'll take beginner and even intermediate lessons in large numbers -- mostly at AM, probably, since that's the name everybody associates with ballroom dance in this country. Some will keep dancing. Many will quit when the money runs out. The vast majority won't find their way into competitive dance. And those who do will be assimilated into the competitive dance world's status quo.

Just guessing... :wink: :lol:

If I were a dance pro, I'd hop on the opportunity right now. I think ballroom will have a good couple-year run, just like swing did in the 90s. But it won't last forever.

saludas

02-14-2006, 09:21 AM

I think the REAL change in comps would be if the income and success of a comp was based on the audience it pulled in, rather than how many entries it could get from competitors.

The power base would radically change - and competitors would be probably invited to compete (after all, the competitors who had the biggest fan base would be the most desireable).

Imagine having a comp on the horizon, and realizing that to be a success, you needed to get everyone you knew to show up and root for you?

Right now, a comp is basically boring to everyone except the entrants. Until the industry realizes that the instant results method pioneered by USABDA and Mark Tabor means that the audience actually connects with the competitors (after all, who really remembers how the heat went, one hour later?) comps will not be attended by the general public.

Joe

02-15-2006, 07:23 AM

And those who do will be assimilated into the competitive dance world's status quo.
Resistance is futile!

fascination

02-15-2006, 08:18 AM

Resistance is futile!i surrender:cool:

pygmalion

02-15-2006, 08:29 AM

I used the word assimilated for that exact reason. The current structure, warts and all, has some stakeholders who are interested in keeping things exactly as they are, I'm guessing.

So, unless a whole lot of new blood comes into the competitive world and is invested in changing things, things probably won't change much. *shrug* I guess I'm being cynical, but that's what I think. :?

bluetango

02-15-2006, 09:41 AM

So, unless a whole lot of new blood comes into the competitive world and is invested in changing things, things probably won't change much. *shrug* I guess I'm being cynical, but that's what I think. :?

I think that one big thing that may need to be changed is to move the judge/coaching system to a figure skating system. IE, if you are a judge, you can't be a coach, and visa-versa.

As it stands we can have the same retired pro dancing pro-am at a comp while later in the evening judging couples that they have been coaching. That seems a bit mixed up, but on the flip side, coaching and pro-am is a main source of income for most retired professionals. If most people had to chose, they'd chose being a coach, not a judge! So certainly that kind of choice may not be feasible. Also, since dancesport is evolving and changing every day, if judges are a separate entity, they may grow quite old and stale in their views very rapidly. Only through coaching can you stay active in that process.....

My conclusion: something needs to be done about the inbreeding and politics for this to start really reaching the general public - but dancesport in America seems to have reached a very stable financial equilibrium and any structural changes are may seriously hurt many professionals' wallets!

Joe

02-16-2006, 07:28 AM

I don't have a problem with cynicism. ;)

fascination

02-16-2006, 08:24 AM

yep I had this thought at a coaching...I was thinking man one minute I am getting coached by this guy, the next minute he's judging me and the third he's dancing against me....dunno if its relevant or not there are so many complexities to it...i mean hes everywhere so how coaching me gives me any sway I dunno...and certainly not when I'm dancing against him...it is a fairly small circle IMO

alemana

02-16-2006, 02:25 PM

the NYTimes has a story today on Dancing beating Survivor on Thursdays... it's in the Arts section.

mamboqueen

02-16-2006, 02:31 PM

Going to be interesting this week....they say the only show that has blown away the Olympics is American Idol. We'll have to see what DWTS does in that regard.

SDsalsaguy

02-16-2006, 02:35 PM

the NYTimes has a story today on Dancing beating Survivor on Thursdays... it's in the Arts section.
Any chance that one of you NY based DFites could mail me a coppy of that? Please? Double please?

Medira

02-16-2006, 03:27 PM

Any chance that one of you NY based DFites could mail me a coppy of that? Please? Double please?
Not in NY, but I can get access to a copy of the NY Times easily. Also, depending on how quickly you want it, do you need a hard copy, or would the online copy (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/16/arts/television/16danc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) suffice?

pygmalion

02-16-2006, 03:42 PM

the NYTimes has a story today on Dancing beating Survivor on Thursdays... it's in the Arts section.

Cool. I'll read it when I stop by the library this afternoon. Thanks! :D

redhead

02-16-2006, 03:44 PM

the NYTimes has a story today on Dancing beating Survivor on Thursdays... it's in the Arts section.
Survivor in the Arts section... lol

SDsalsaguy

02-16-2006, 04:01 PM

Not in NY, but I can get access to a copy of the NY Times easily. Also, depending on how quickly you want it, do you need a hard copy, or would the online copy (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/16/arts/television/16danc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) suffice?
Speed isn't the issue, original hard copy for my rsearch materials files is what's most important.

Medira

02-16-2006, 04:06 PM

Speed isn't the issue, original hard copy for my rsearch materials files is what's most important.
Okay! I'll grab you a copy. :)

SDsalsaguy

02-16-2006, 04:21 PM

Okay! I'll grab you a copy. :)
Thank yee mucho! :D

Medira

02-16-2006, 04:23 PM

You're welcome darlin' ;)

SDsalsaguy

02-16-2006, 04:28 PM

Puuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrr

fascination

02-16-2006, 07:49 PM

Puuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrcan see im gonna hafta knock medira off;)

pygmalion

02-16-2006, 09:16 PM

It was a pretty interesting article, IMO. Some observations were made about the demographics of the people watching -- skewed older and disproportionately female. At least that's what the article said. hmm...

Joe

02-17-2006, 07:30 AM

Speed isn't the issue, original hard copy for my rsearch materials files is what's most important.
What, you can't use a printer? :p

Medira

02-17-2006, 09:16 AM

can see im gonna hafta knock medira off;)
Just remember honey, you love me! http://www.burntnotes.com/chatcircle/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif

fascination

02-17-2006, 09:27 AM

well, allright....doggone it:rolleyes: (two -timin cat)

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 08:43 AM

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/va/20060210/113963405500.html

Apparently, DWTS beating Survivor in the ratings last week is a pretty big deal - no show has done since original episodes of Friends aired a few years ago... Go Ballroom!
That is super!:banana:

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 08:55 AM

I agree, but it certainly did what many thought "Champ Ballroom Dancving" would do - but never did.

I also think it exposes what the public really wants to see - and what it does NOT.

The comments about the ABC message board saying they want to see more 'partnering' and less 'show' (read: Am style) tells us that the ballroom community may not be the best place to find the answers to the question 'how to take ballroom mainstream' (it was always a 'given' that the public did NOT want to see Standard, but would prefer Am style, and now the actual public is speaking)... maybe it is to be what skating is today - the amateur is avidly followed by the general public, competition is almost one on one, and more connected with the audience - perhaps a percentage of a comp win would be based on audience votes or such?

At least foks are getting tired of such obviously fake situations as 'Survivor'....
I'd be opposed to audiences being able to vote for skating competitions. It would be a bummer if this kid of thing happen at any level of judged events.

And regarding Survivor being fake ... I can't say DWTS is a good representation of what a dance competition is at this point.

However, if it brings more people into ballroom dancing, and it seems to be doing this based upon some of the dances I've been going to lately being more crowded then a year ago, way to go DWTS! :cool:

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 08:57 AM

exploding lips, hot asses. it's a TRENCHANT analysis on the potentialities of ballroom dancing in this country.Ah, but we all know what sells, don't we? ;) :lol:

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 09:02 AM

Ayuh, as Im sure all the other DF youth will agree... None of my freinds IM like that either... Dunno where that culture is, but it hasnt made it to Iowa yet. (hmmm, I wonder why???)
Iowa? Where's that? ;) :lol:

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 09:05 AM

Interesting point, bluetango. Hmm. It's food for thought.

Just wondering how long it would take the "Stars" aspect of the show to become a non-novelty. D'ya know what I mean? For example, the Surreal World. After the first season, who cared? B-list "stars" were involved, and I couldn't have cared less. The novelty had worn off.

I'm just wondering if the appeal of DWTS is watching the stars dance rather than just watching dance. I'm not sure.
Maybe the next DWTS can feature A-list Stars! :idea:

I suspect the viewership would go way up! :raisebro:

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 09:07 AM

Somebody brought this up in another thread, but I didn't have a clue. Sponsorship? Really? :?

It's kinda hard from one chain to prevent studios from benefitting, though, isn't it? :? Folks who want to dance can always use the internet or yellow pages or word of mouth to find a studio, right? Or is name recognition ruling the day? (I ask in all innocence, since I have no idea. :cool: )
I heard that at one local studio, not affliated with the change who ahs the agreement, they have seen a big increase in the number of people taking lessons, so I'm not sure that exclusivity is really working. ;)

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 09:09 AM

Chain or no chain. The Dancers on the show (to my knowledge) don't operate within any studio chains, so its up to them to seize not only ballroom's popularity, but their personal popularity. Granted, its very difficult to manage both a competitive career, and as well as a screen career! And I'm not saying they aren't trying, I am sure they are - I'm just stating the point.

Of course, because the show isn't a REAL ballroom comp. But its a doorway to getting real comps actually broadcast, on ESPN or something. Certainly anything that disrupts the status quo, such as ballroom suddenly getting all this extra attention, is going to propel some dancers into the spotlight, and rub others the wrong way. There is certainly a risk of having popular opinion and the 'TV factor' starting to effect the way comps are run and the direction of dancing, but that is a risk that must be made if the the goal is to move dancing into a more mainstream position. If a majority of competitors are satisfied having ballroom be a subculture, then so be it.

I think most likely its the pro's that will want the exposure because that means they may benefit financially. I suspect that the amateurs, may care less about it or disdain it more because it doesn't really directly impact them (they really aren't the ones on TV).

Either way Alemana, I appreciate your insightful comments!
I saw a show dance competition on PBS a couple weeks back. Cacooo! :bouncy:

DancePoet

02-18-2006, 09:16 AM

Since we're all speculating about how DWTS might change the ballroom world, I'll put in my swag.

I'm guessing that a ton of folks will be attracted to at least trying ballroom dancing. They'll take beginner and even intermediate lessons in large numbers -- mostly at AM, probably, since that's the name everybody associates with ballroom dance in this country. Some will keep dancing. Many will quit when the money runs out. The vast majority won't find their way into competitive dance. And those who do will be assimilated into the competitive dance world's status quo.

Just guessing... :wink: :lol:

If I were a dance pro, I'd hop on the opportunity right now. I think ballroom will have a good couple-year run, just like swing did in the 90s. But it won't last forever.
I suspect this view is highly likely, yet it would be nice to see ballroom dance get to the point where say ... we see it in the Olympics? :cool: