Dancing Critial Analysis

Dancing
Dance to me is an art work with the use of your body and the expression of emotions. It is amazing how elegant or sassy a person can look while swaying around on a dance floor. I have found a television show, Dancing with the Stars, which incorporates almost every form of dance into it. From the mambo to the foxtrot, I have learned so much about dancing and have found a new respect for the art form that dance is and the “artist” whom performs it.
Dancing with the Stars is a television show on ABC and has been on for six years now. The show brings together 12 celebrities, six male, six female, and pairs them up with 12 professional dancers. Over the next couple months the stars have to learn several different dances and perform them in front of a live audience, everyone at home, and most importantly three judges. Each week another celebrity is eliminated off the show until they are left with the final champion.
Celebrities have such an impact on American society. That is why we always see them on television supporting a charity, promoting a new style, or just advertising a brand name of jeans. The media knows that we all have a favorite celebrity so they use them as a way of capturing our attention and drawing us in. In a way we look up to celebrities, that’s why I think using stars on this show is a great way to promote dancing. Also, it’s nice to know that they are not all perfect and can mess up at times just like us. Seeing them struggle with new things helps us to realize it takes everyone time to learn new things.
Another important factor is the diverse population of the celebrities and the dancers. Some of the stars are young, some are old, there are all different ethnic backgrounds, and there have been one’s with handicaps such as a fake leg and complete deafness,. The stars can be anyone famous from athletes to actors to talk show host like Jerry Springer. I just think this show is wonderful for promoting dancing because it shows the viewers if Priscilla Presley, a 62 year old woman can dance, then so can I.
Throughout the competition, the couples must learn the proper techniques for 11 different dances. These include the waltz, cha cha, foxtrot, jive, mambo, paso doble, quickstep, rumba, samba, tango, and the Viennese waltz. It is amazing to see a new dance each week that the couples only had a week to learn and prepare for. Most of these dances are upbeat and it makes you want to get up and dance along. What I enjoy the most though is how each dance tells a story and the dancers use their bodies as tools for the story. Every movement must beat perfectly along with the music and the outcome is amazing.
The specific dance I chose from Dancing with the Stars is the cha cha preformed by Marlee Matlin and Fabian Sanchez as her very first dance. Although the dance isn’t exactly perfect, the basis of the dance is so inspiring. One must know the background of the story to truly appreciate this dance. Marlee Matlin, an Academy award winning actress, is completely deaf. She cannot hear the music at all which makes it very difficult to keep a beat when you are dancing. She relies 100% on her partner to direct her and keep her in beat with the song. That is an absolutely amazing partnership. If you watch the entire attached video it tells in more detail about her handicap and after she dances you feel so inspired.
When you watch the actual dance you can see a few times where they were off step but they adjusted so quickly and got right back on track. Notice how every chance she gets she is looking at him as if they are communicating through their eyes. For their very first dance, however, I think they did outstanding.
The cha cha is defined as cheeky, lively, and flirtatious. They danced to the song Get on your Feet and I think it was a good pick for the cha cha. It was a moderately paced song that they could dance feely to but still look sexy. They danced close to each other and the mood of the dance was very flirtatious. I think their footwork was good and the dance was very appealing. At times, especially when they jumped up and down they were not synchronized which was somewhat distracting. I understand that she is not a professional dancer but I have to say that it wasn’t a dance that really made me want to jump up and shake my booty. However, once you know the full story you respect what she is doing, and although not perfect, very entertaining.
I love to watch dancing because I know it’s not something I could probably do myself. But after watching a 62 year old woman do a death spiral on the floor, you take on a whole new perspective. I don’t think anyone can just hear a song and dance perfectly to it the first time, just like anything else dancing takes practice. I do consider dance an artwork, just a different type. You are still expressing yourself, just through a different technique. Using your body to be sassy, seductive, sweet, or shy, is how you are showing the expression. Not many people can tell a story without using words but I think dancers definitely can.

To view this video visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3FRB0YX3nc