Apologies to Dancelife
Apologies to Dancelife by Roxanne McDonald
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Not that I’m taking responsibility for all of us, but sorry we didn’t get as excited as we could (or should) have for “Dancelife”. |
In January of 2007, 1.6 million viewers tuned in to “Dancelife”, a competition for dancers that was led by Jennifer Lopez (J-Lo). At about the same time, viewers had watched in such numbers as 10.3 million the July 20, 2005 installment of “So You Think You Can Dance.”
On a popular linking site, SirLinksAlot, we can even see the waning interest—how even reviewers stopped reviewing in February. One short month after “Dancelife” aired on MTV.
Art and artfulness defined are always subjective, but I am not sure that says much about the two dance shows or about the viewing public and their choices to watch or not watch.
MTV DanceLife—for Reality TV Purists
MTV DanceLife—for Reality TV Purists by Roxanne McDonald
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Despite several existing “talent” shows, Jennifer Lopez’s DanceLife is a refreshing reality TV experience. |
It is a well known give that reality TV is ideal for the voyeuristic. We get to see inside the lives and lifestyles of everyone from the ultra-rich to the trailer park poor. We get to covet what the haves enjoy or identify with the have-nots. We get to step outside ourselves for the period of time we are looking through the 26” peephole….
But with DanceLife, executive produced by Jennifer Lopez, we get an even cleaner peep in on the challenges of those who make dance their life. Because it is unscripted, we get
to witness an even more realistic experience. We get to watch how with such great numbers of competitors, some individuals add a flair to their auditions—one ripping off a wig symbolically at the finish of a tryout; another performing, dancing up to Lopez’s table, and presenting his photo resume.
The premise and purpose of the show is a Lopez creation, for as she says (according to ET Online), “Everything I’ve been choosing these past couple of years has to be stuff that I respond to, that I feel I can contribute something to,” she says. “I started my career as a dancer, and so I know what that life is, but I realize that a lot of people don’t. So that’s why I wanted to do [this series], because I lived it.”
The only thing unappealing, however, is how J Lo will only appear in two of the eight “episodes” of DanceLife. For her arrival is applauded by the contestants and lauded by those of us who have been followers and fans of the dancing, singing, and acting star. And her working her way up the talent and subsequent success ladder is as important as those who compete to follow in her footsteps.
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