Dancing in the Media

What is dance? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term as: “to move your body in a way that goes with the rhythm and style of music that is being played” and “to engage in or perform a dance.”

None of their definitions give the thought that it is a very judgmental activity, though our society often adds that element. With a love for reality TV, stardom, and having a say through voting for contestants, there are shows where individuals can compete in nearly any activity. “Dancing With the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and the like function based on the premise that they have experts telling emerging talent whether or not they are good.

SYTYCD has been on the air since 2005 and ended its most recent season as the top-rated show on television. After auditions and being accepted onto the show, contestants compete in choreographed numbers in four typical genres of dance: classical (including contemporary and lyrical), street (hip-hop and related styles), ballroom, and musical theatre. Some American social dances and regional traditional dances are featured less often.

In these scenarios, competitors often are assigned certain styles of dance to attempt to master and perform, in order to gain the votes necessary to stay in the competition and seek out the prize awaiting the winner. One curious social phenomenon is the issue of who is perceived as a “good dancer” – certain forms of dance are often associated with ethnicities as having formed them and being better, but that is not always reflected in media presentation.