All She Wants To Do Is Dance

I know, I know - it's been a while. I don't have a good excuse - just life getting in the way.

There have been many things I have wanted to discuss - the excellent new season of Fringe, every week of Flash Forward, how Glee has stepped back up and is really turned itself into the perfect show full of humor, great music and truly touching moments. I could have devoted entire discussions to the crazy balloon boy family or the Jon & Kate saga - but quite frankly they aren't worth the trouble of typing.

So now that we are in full swing of the TV season - I am back on the dancing bandwagon. Who knew - years ago - that not just me, but America, would be so entranced by reality dancing television shows. I don't even think I truly understood professional dancing existed until Baz Luhrmann's excellent "Strictly Ballroom" - and let's face it - although a great movie - it certainly doesn't paint dancing in the best light.

But over the past few years I've become addicted to "Dancing With The Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance", and if loving them is wrong - then baby I don't wanna be right.

When both shows premiered - i remember snobbishly thinking "you've got to be kidding me." I was confused and thought they were on the same level as a show like "The Singing Bee" or "Deal Or No Deal" - not that they aren't entertaining - but easily the kind of show you watch while cooking dinner or paying the bills - they don't require your whole attention. I was wrong.

"Dancing With The Stars" takes "B" and "C" level stars and makes them relevant again - which is the ultimate feat in hollywood.  Actors and musicians who haven't had a hit in years - suddenly find themselves back on the top of their game  We see athletes off the field and out of the stadium and suddenly we understand why they are masters of their domains - their determination and work ethic speaks volumes towards their success. It's no wonder the Olympians and football players always place highly and have in fact won many times.

The "stars" let us see their struggle and their sweat, they sustain physical injuries and bruised egos, we see them succeed and we see them fail and we love them all the more for it. But more than that - we actually love the dancing. Never did i think i would understand the difference between a Rumba and a Samba, a Fox Trot and a Viennese Waltz or even more be able to judge, if not the technique, then at least the performance of a Paso Doble. We route for the underdogs but also like to see hard work rewarded. This particular season has been a little lackluster in terms of a super standouts like Brooke Burke or Gilles Marini -  but still absolutely watchable (even though i can't stand that Samantha Harris).

Although not the best dancer - I'm routing for Kelly Osbourne who deserves a nice win after how cruel the public was to her during her awkward teenage years.

"So You Think You Can Dance" on the other hand is all about talent and art - and who thought anyone would ever say that about a show on Fox. This show has captured the beauty, emotion and expression of  dance unlike anything i've ever seen. I am often driven to tears by the beauty of the performances. The choreographers work to create stunning new routines that both feature the dancers strengths and push them to a higher level than they thought possible. It's hard to say who i think deserves to win at this point there are so many standouts. Jakob the contemporary dancer whose lines and leaps are fierce. Legacy, the breaker who has transformed into an incredible dancer. Ryan and Ashleigh - husband and wife ballroom dancers who have had my two favorite performances of the season - neither of which was in ballroom (Mandy Moore's cane routine from last week and Travis Wohl's routine from this week). These routines are not just watchable they are memorable. Ask any SYTYCD fan about the breast cancer routine from last year or Mia Michaels doorway routine of the year before (or any Mia Michaels choreography for that matter) and they will not only know what you are talking about - but will gush equally about some of their favorite routines.

I truly believe this is one of the most artful programs on television. I often watch with my 2-year old daughter who routinely asks to watch the "dancing show" and I am glad that she is being exposed to something she loves so early in her life. Next weekend she has her first dance performance in the Nutcracker - and while i don't care if she pursues dance as a career (although i think it is less a career choice and more a way of life) - i am extraordinarily grateful that these shows have exposed me and my family to an art form i never really understood before they were on television.

Poppy Cultura is watching and sometimes maybe even dancing a bit too.