Monday, March 21, 2011

Why Don't We Just Dance?

If you like to be pampered, go to a spa. 
If you like to be waited on, go to a restaurant. 
If you like to complain about your life, go to a counselor.  
If you like gossip, go to a water cooler. 
If you like drama, go to a theater. 
If you like to lose yourself in someone else's life, go read a book.
If you like to dance and lose yourself in music, then go to a ballroom.  

For those of you who don't know me, I'm somewhat of a dancer.  Yes, I'm the type of dancer who dances when she cleans, cooks, and drives (which has led to some amusing performances and awkward moments).  I'm also the type of dancer who, like many young girls, started with tap and ballet lessons.  However, my experiences as a dancer do go slightly beyond these common displays of movement and rhythm (or lack of rhythm, as is occasionally the case).  For the past several years, I have been taking ballroom dance lessons from a local dance studio.  The term 'ballroom' in this case includes all styles of partner dancing (although I, myself, am single).  In addition to traditional ballroom dances like Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot, I've learned Latin styles like Cha-Cha, Mambo, Rumba, and Merengue, and rhythmic styles like Samba, Swing, and Hustle.  Basically, the dances you see on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, are the types of dances I've been learning over the past several years.
Actor Robin Williams dancing & cleaning in Mrs. Doubtfire.  I don't have a picture of my cleaning dance...sorry.  Image Source: Google Images

As a dancer working on improving my style and technique in these dances, I like watching Dancing with the Stars.  I like seeing what dances will be performed and how the pros will tailor the choreography to express the chosen songs.  I like watching the performances to identify familiar moves and discover some new ones.  I like studying the technique and expressions of the celebrities and seeing how they come together to affect the performance.  I especially like watching the performances when the couple is beyond the thinking stage, and is clearly having fun with the dance.  It's also nice to see the behind-the-scenes clips, and realize that learning to dance can be frustrating for both the instructor and student- even in the glamorous world of Hollywood.

Actress Jennifer Grey during a stressful practice session with Derek Hough in Season 11 of DWTS.  Image Source

After several seasons of dancing and watching DWTS though, there is one thing I can't stand.  The dance floor is a place for dancing, yet the focus has been shifted away from dance.  I don't like that.  I can't stand the drama and gossip that accompanies every season of DWTS.  Since the beginning of the show, rumors have been rampant about which celebrity is hooking up with which pro.  First it was Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke.  Then Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff.  Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas.  Julianne Hough and Apolo Ohno.  Sara Evans and Tony Dovolani.  Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Mel B. Julianne Hough and Helio Castroneves.  Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough.  Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.  Holly Madison and Demitry Chaplin.  Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.  Did I miss anyone?

Singer Drew Lachey & professional partner Cheryl Burke; a rumored and never confirmed romance from DWTS Season 2 Image Source

I realize some of these dancing partnerships actually did turn into something more, but some didn't.  I recently came across an ET interview with Melissa Rycroft online.  In the interview, Melissa discussed the rumors of DWTS hook ups, and I couldn't agree more with what she said.  She basically said- you spend a lot of time with your dance partner and you go through a lot together, you become best friends, but rarely do you actually hook up.

ESPN Sportscaster Erin Andrews & professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy; a rumored and vehemently denied romance from DWTS Season 10 Image Source

Now this is Hollywood.  Hollywood likes ratings. Apparently gossip and drama get ratings.  But to the people who actually believe, spread, and follow these rumors-  
REALLY NOW?!
Why the fascination with other people's lives?  Why the need for drama and gossip?  
Is it simply a guilty pleasure?  Do you find the pros/stars attractive (can't say I blame you) and wish you could be dancing with them too?  Would you like to be romantically involved with them? 
Is it a reflection of your own life? Are/were you romantically involved with all your single acquaintances?  Are you so insecure about yourself and your own relationship that you can't imagine being that close to another person without developing uncontrollable feelings for each other?
Or is it simply a form of escape? Is your own life so boring and inescapably mundane that you enjoy losing yourself in fantasies about other people's lives?
Singer Brandy & professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy in their Quickstep to the Friends theme song; DWTS Season 11.  Image Source: Google Images

Yes, a lot of the stars and professionals on DWTS are single.  It's not a crime.  Yes, they spend a lot of time together.  It's their time, they can spend it how they wish.  The stars struggle to learn new routines and the professionals patiently support them.  That's how most teaching/learning relationships are.  Both get frustrated from time to time.  They're only human.  They laugh and joke and have fun together.  It happens.  They talk about things.  Communication is important for successful partnerships- even professional ones.  They trust each other.  The female needs to trust her male partner to give her a solid lead, to support her in over-sways, and catch/support her in lifts.  The male needs to trust that his female partner will follow his lead, be confident of his support in over-sways, and help elevate herself in a perfectly timed, effortlessly performed lift.  Trust is essential. The partners perform dances together.  They flirt in the Cha-Cha, silently argue in the Tango, and are sensual in the Rumba.  That is the character of the dance.  Successful partners capture that character, embrace the personality of the dance, and emote accordingly.  Yes, dance partners go through a lot together.  Yes, they may become friends.  But no, that does not mean they are romantically involved.

Disney channel actress Chelsea Kane & professional partner Mark Ballas from current DWTS Season 12 Image Source

The dance floor is a place for dancing, yet people bring so much dramatic baggage to the floor that the dancers can barely maneuver on it.  This season, it would be refreshing if we could keep the gossip, drama, rumors, and other baggage off the floor.  This season, it would be refreshing if we could just dance.

Wide receiver Hines Ward & professional partner Kym Johnson from current DWTS Season 12 Image Source

*Note: 'Why Don't We Just Dance' is the title of a song performed by country artist Josh Turner.  'Dancing With The Stars' is the title of a television show produced by ABC.  No copyright infringement is intended by the use of either title for this article.* Images used in this post were found through Google Images.  Image sources were used solely for the images provided above.  Citation of these sites is not meant as an endorsement of content on those sites. No copyright infringement is intended by the use of images in this post* 

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