Dance Your Heart Out
Posted on April 6, 2009
Filed Under East meets West, Guest Columnist | Leave a Comment
By Susan L. Stackpole
Irving Berlin was onto something when he said, The best things happen while youre dancing. The evolution of dance captured the attention of audiences throughout the twentieth century and is continuing into the twenty-first century. Current shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Americas Best Dance Crew, and Dancing with the Stars affirm Americas fascination with dance. Dancing with the Stars boasted number one television ratings the week of 30 March 2009, as 20 million viewers tuned to watch the program.
Dancing has been part of our culture since man was walking upright, dating back to 3300 B.C. when Indian and Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing figures. Dance evolved greatly during the first half of the twentieth century when dancing was a popular recreational activity. As music has evolved during the decades, so has dance. Swing dancing, popular during the war era, included the Charleston and Foxtrot. Rock and Roll brought dances like the Twist and Mashed Potato. Disco brought bell bottom pants and the Hustle. Glam-Rock of the 1980s brought the Robot, Running Man, and Break Dancing. Hip-Hop of the late 1990s has led to hip-hop dance classes springing up everywhere. Latin dance continues to gain popularity, as salsa clubs increase in number. Classical dance, such as ballet, continues to be a highly competitive and respected profession.
Dancers that have dominated popular culture in the twenty-first century include ballet, tap, musical, and modern dancers. Anna Pavlova broke stereotypes by being a larger than average ballerina and was credited for creating the ballet pointe shoe. Mikhail Baryshnikov, brilliant Russian dancer, is revered as the best living male ballet dancer, and his popularity grew even more with his appearance in the popular television show, Sex and the City.
Mid-twentieth century dance was dominated by a group of dancers who seemed adept at easily gliding on air. Perhaps the most famous Hollywood dancing couple was Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, who single-handedly revolutionized and glamorized Hollywood movie musicals. Gene Kelly brought great passion and strong dance skills, forever altering the musical dance genre with his outstanding performance in Singin in the Rain. Sammy Davis, Jr., famous member of the Rat Pack crooners, began tap dancing at the age of four and was most remembered for his smooth voice and excellent tap skills. Gregory Hines inspired dancers, young and old alike, with his brilliance as a tap dancer, appearing in several movies including White Nights and Tap.
Contemporary music has brought with it modern dance. Martha Graham, dancer and choreographer, pioneered modern dance. Patrick Swayze gained massive popularity and set hearts ablaze after steamy dance scenes with Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing. John Travoltas charisma and cool dance moves created instantly loveable dancing characters in Grease, Saturday Night Live, and Pulp Fiction. Modern pop dancers Michael Jackson, Madonna and Britney Spears have redefined pop music and dance, adding sizzle and surprise to their shows and music videos.
Dancing with the Stars, one of the most popular shows on television, follows celebrities from all walks of life as they are paired with dance professionals to learn challenging dance combinations. Every week, the couples perform new dances and are critiqued professional judges during the show. The celebrities fates are ultimately determined by televisions audiences who vote via text message or telephone to decide which dancers remain on the show. Many of the celebrities remark on the family-like relationships created by the show, the tremendous workouts, and pushing themselves in new, fun challenging ways as being some of their favorite perks from being on the show.
Most recently eliminated Dancing with the Stars contestants are Steve Wozniak, with professional partner. Karima Smirnoff, and Holly Madison with professional partner, Dmitry Chaplin. Madison stepped in for singer/songwriter, Jewel, who was unable to continue following an injury to both legs. 
Wozniak and Madison shared a strong passion for new experiences and a child-like enthusiasm for dancing. Wozniak, an American computer engineer who founded Apple, Inc. with Steve Jobs, brought great determination to the show, even pushing through an injury to perform. Madison, reality star of The Girls Next Door, and former Playmate model, proved to be a quick study, stepping in for former contestant, Jewel, who removed herself from the show after an injury to both legs. Wozniak said, I gave it a good try, and Madison expressed it being physically more challenging than expected., though both expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be on the show.
Dancing continues to dazzle onlookers and participants alike, who are seduced by groovy music, dazzling costumes, and the quest to modernize one of the most ancient forms of human expression. Dancing is an international language connecting people of every age, race creed and color, encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones and into expressing their inner dancer. Berlin said it best. Even guys with two left feet, come out all right if the girl is sweet, if by chance their cheeks should meet while dancing, proving the best things happen while you dance. Amen. See you on the dance floor!
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