“Probably the only contestant who had even anywhere close to the professional dance training as Brandy was Jennifer, but her dancing was for one movie about 20 years ago.”
I agree with your point of view put I want to point out something about Jennifer Grey.
When she was asserting that she had little dance experience aside from Dirty Dancing I did some research. Not completely honest.
Jennifer’s father is a famous Broadway dancer, performer and choreographer. She went to a prestigious private school where she studied performance and dance. She scored a dancing spot in a Dr. Pepper commercial while still in her teens and was in a couple of movies including Dirty Dancing. Her dancing skills were obviously good enough for the role.
She’s an actress. I think that they do have an advantage over contestants who do not have any acting ability as you have to get into a role and play a character to perform the dance.
Past contestants include the lead singer in the Pussy Cat Dolls who rely heavily on dancing ability. The performer had been taking dance since childhood. Also Olympic winning figure skaters and gymnasts who also take dance. And a member of the Spice Girls performance group. Donny and Marie Osmond who certainly have more performance experience than let’s say a football player.
While Jennifer is clearly a very talented dancer I’m not sure what a win for her would prove. You would think she’d be embarrassed. She’s hardly competing with her peers.
The prize is not a million dollars. It’s a tacky mirrored disco ball. It’s surprising that people are getting so upset over it.
But I think you clearly illustrated why people are voting in earnest for Palin. They can relate to her and they appreciate the odds were against her. She continued to work hard and improved every week. Advancing this far for Jennifer was expected. Not so for Palin.
I think your strongest point was the one that Jennifer had taken dance classes. Still, I took dance classes about twenty-five years ago. If I had to dance on DWTS, I’d be booed off the show withing ten minutes.
It should be acknowledged that dancing in movies is not the same as dancing in a show like this. You rehearse exactly what dancing will take place. There are short scenes that can be shot over and over. The relationship between that kind of dancing and what Gray is doing today, is very tenuous at best.
The singers that dance on stage are not doing the same type of dancing that is involved in this show. These dances are world class dances. They aren’t short choreographed hop steps with a bunch of backup dancers.
You’re out there on your own for 1.5 minutes having to avoid forgetting your routine, and or making any mistakes whatsoever.
I think folks read way too much into some of these stars past dancing experience. I also think too much is made of the idea that these people are supposed to have never danced before. That isn’t the case.
If none of the contestants had any dancing ability, nobody would be watching the show. And no, the idea that ‘this person is just a normal person like me’, is not the premise of the show. If it was, this would be ‘Dancing With the Talentless People Just Like You”
Rather ironic in a way. Jennifer played a novice to dancing who ultimately masters the art form and becomes the heroine and now here we have Bristol who in reality is the “novice” who is advancing to the finals.