Smashing Through Dancing Stereotypes and Creating Interest in Dance

Recent television shows, such as So You ThinkRobson, Napoleon & Tabitha, Mia Michaels,
You Can Dance! and Dancing with the Stars, haveand Tyce Diorio have become common household
triggered an increase in public interest in the dancenames.
world. Viewers were lured in with celebrityNapoleon & Tabitha, who first came from
dancers & hosts, as well as the enticingbehind the scenes on So You Think You Can
chance to vote for the winners. By creating theseDance, now have their own show on TLC called
reality shows, dancers and choreographers wereRock the Reception. This is a reality show in which
able to show the world what they can do.Napoleon & Tabitha teach a bride &
Ballroom dance is no longer deemed stuffy. Balletgroom to be a dance that they will perform at
is no longer thought of as boring or conservative,their wedding as a surprise to their guests. The
and hip hop is certainly not thought of as ghettoshow is a lot of fun and very entertaining, and
or mere street dancing. The charismatic judges offurther shows the newfound excitement for
both shows help the viewer to understand howdance.
each style of dance should be done and what theThe enthusiasm for dance can also be seen in
dancers can do to improve upon it.how quickly tickets sell out for the live tour of So
So You Think You Can Dance! showcases asYou Think You Can Dance. The top 10 dancers
many styles of dance as possible- disco,(this season the top 11 will perform) travel the
contemporary, bollywood, hip-hop, ballet, etc.country performing some of the favorite dances
Bringing international dance to the stage onof the season. Tickets for these shows sell out
national television, allows the world to see thatfaster than some of the hottest concerts of the
across the board we all have at least one thing inyear, sometimes causing them to add additional
common-dance. Showcasing all these styles ofperformances at some of the venues. While most
dance also allows the viewers to see the talented,reality shows do little more than provide mindless
amazing choreographers that are behind all ofentertainment, this is not the case with the dance
these amazing dances. While theseshows. They provide exposure to different
choreographers are famous and appreciated incultures, arts and music. Hopefully these reality
the dance world, they now gain worldwideshows are here to stay!
recognition by the masses. Names like Wade