Dancing With The Stars

[JonnyCoop]

I wish they would stop making them dance to hideously cheesy versions of past pop hits and make them actually dance to TRUE ballroom music in the genre chosen. Yeah, some of that kind of thing repeated over and over can get on your nerves if it's not your cup of tea (which is why I do not attend compolsury ice dance competitions), but automobile pile-ups and train derailments sound better than some of those simply awful renditions, which, if we want to be really picky, are more than half the time of "incorrect tempo", to use a judging term. I know the reason they do it is because of the mentality in this country that HEAVEN FORBID we should be exposed to non-pop music and maybe get out of our comfort zone in that department a little, but I hardly think at this point they would lose ratings if they switched to proper ballroom music. And quite honestly I think it would improve the dancing. It seems to me it would be a lot easier to do, say, the tango, especially if one is just learning it, if you were actually dancing to true TANGO music than a God-awful rendition of say, "Shake Your Groove Thing". (I exaggerate to make a point, but some of the songs selected mismatch the actual dance being performed nearly to that degree.). Seems to me it would be much harder to keep in proper step when the music is off. But maybe that's just me.

I think Laila Ali is the most graceful by far (tho I didn't see everybody); the judges seemed surprised, but there can be an actual grace in boxing, so I don't find it surprising. Appolo was surprisingly good; I found it amusing that he was called out to an extent for his "hunched over posture". Well, think about it -- of COURSE he's gonna be hunched over, he's a speed skater, they're hunched over when they skate, he's used to being hunched over. (Actually, I think doing a "posture study" on speed skaters vs. the general population would be rather interesting.....)

 

[SeaniBu]

I think she's an opportunist girl, and there isn't much opportunity here.

I agree, I am stretching it a bit.:agree: But she seems to me like one of those girls at the bar that flock to the guys with wedding rings on, or a girlfriend steps away for a second. I guess I am saying she seems to be like a young guy in the sense of "want" and then her reactions. IMO, she is too hot headed, questionable motives and knows she is smok'n hot she is not a trustable personality IMO. Maybe she reminds me of my last ex to much...

Of course who could compare to the perfection of Cheryl Burke?:agree:

 

[Pixie Cut]

Of course who could compare to the perfection of Cheryl Burke?:agree:

Pros dancing with pros, Cheryl is half the dancer Karina is. But Cheryl is made for this show. She knows how to make an inexperienced partner look great. I had a hunch that Karina would be kind of inept in that, and Monday proved me right. With a capable dancer like Mario Lopez, she could strut her stuff. When she actually has to try and make a klutz look good, she's totally over her head. True, Ian Ziering is a pretty decent dancer and Billy Ray Cyrus sucks. But I'd bet Cheryl could even get Billy Ray looking okay. In terms of DWS, she is perfection.

 

[julietvalcouer]

JohnnyCoop, I hate to break it to you, but...sometimes, the music at ballroom competitions is pop. I've heard "Vogue" by Madonna used a Cha Cha, for example. While you're right that some choices on DWTS are way out there ("The Phantom of the Opera" is not danceable. "Point of No Return" IS, but not the title song) ballroom is NOT like compulsories where the same stuff is played over and over and over again.

Poor Billy Ray. He's trying.

 

[Pixie Cut]

Poor Billy Ray. He's trying.

Is he? Or, like Master P, does he just want to promote a new album?

And you're right, they do play silly pop music at ballroom competitions. The same Bon Jovi song that was a Paso Doble on DWTS was, I think, a foxtrot on the PBS ballroom show.

 

[heyang]

Billy Ray was better than Master P. He was trying at least. The choreography was not a cha-cha, as well. So, that didn't help him.

Fatone and Ziering were the best of the night IMO. Other contenders are Laila, Clyde and Apollo. I think John R might have some staying power, too. He's got a great attitude and definitely dances better than Jerry Springer. With the exception of Laila, I didn't think any of the other ladies stood out.

 

[SeaniBu]

I don't think Cheryl is happy.???? GORGEOUS, but not happy.

I think Billy is ready to hit to road - he has a ring of fire.

John rocks, loved him.

Apolo was WAY better. Nice Posture IMO.

 

[Wolfgang]

I still haven't seen any of the episodes in this cycle, for some inexplicable reason my VCR refuses to record the show (yes, I do know how to program it....).
I can't watch live, because I'm off ballroom dancing at that time myself, and those classes are WAY too expensive to skip because of a TV show.

In any event, I kinda look at the lack of 'real' ballroom dance music another way: When you go out to the clubs, chances are, there isn't going to be any 'real' ballroom dance music being played anywhere - unless perhaps you live in a very big city with specialized tango/cha cha/other ballroom clubs.
Here in Abq, the choices are basically limited to Top 40/hip-hop, country and salsa.
You can use a lot of foxtrot routines in two-step, there are some rap/hip-hop tunes (???) you can do cha-cha, salsa or possibly even tango to - provided the lady is small, light and willing enough - so you might say that what the show is doing is reflecting the real world......

One thing that I kinda wonder about is whether they take into account how much more difficult this is for the male 'contestants' than the female ones?
A lady celebrity who goes on this show has got it made, she gets teamed with a professional male dancer, who could make a bale of hay look good on the dance floor.
The guys, on the other hand, have to lead, which means they have to learn (and remember....) about 10 times of what the ladies have to learn.
Sure, having a pro lady to dance with helps, but it takes a big, strong lady to lead a step the leader forgot.....

 

[SeaniBu]

One thing that I kinda wonder about is whether they take into account how much more difficult this is for the male 'contestants' than the female ones?
A lady celebrity who goes on this show has got it made, she gets teamed with a professional male dancer, who could make a bale of hay look good on the dance floor.
The guys, on the other hand, have to lead, which means they have to learn (and remember....) about 10 times of what the ladies have to learn.
Sure, having a pro lady to dance with helps, but it takes a big, strong lady to lead a step the leader forgot.....

That is one of the reasons I think Cheryl is the greatest - well that and she is just incredible looking.

I also think that is why the men have won the past 2, people are picking up on the difficulties the men face. Also voting for the best "teacher" in a way.

 

[Pixie Cut]

One thing that I kinda wonder about is whether they take into account how much more difficult this is for the male 'contestants' than the female ones?
A lady celebrity who goes on this show has got it made, she gets teamed with a professional male dancer, who could make a bale of hay look good on the dance floor.
The guys, on the other hand, have to lead, which means they have to learn (and remember....) about 10 times of what the ladies have to learn.
Sure, having a pro lady to dance with helps, but it takes a big, strong lady to lead a step the leader forgot.....

I believe you can catch the episodes on ABC.com if you have high speed internet.

I disagree totally about which celebs have it harder. The men can do simple backup steps while the female pros dance it up. Go on YouTube and watch some of Mario Lopez's performances from last season. Sometimes he did complicated moves, but more often he did simple steps to the side while Karina was doing the real dancing. Look at their second cha cha -- she did all the work.

Most of the male celebs don't really lead, which is why Len Goodman especially complimented Joey Lawrence after his waltz, noting that he actually did lead.

If a female celeb stands behind and the man does the dancing it looks ridiculous. If the man stands in the back, it looks like much of ballroom.

 

[heyang]

I think the men have it harder because the team looks awkward if he can't lead. I've noticed that when the guy is not such a great dancer, the pro will dance around him a lot while he just stands there. That happened with John O'Hurley from season 1 during the Latin dances.

A strong male partner can make almost any female partner look good.

 

[Jhar55]

I think it's goes with the ladies also, I've seen a couple of ladies who can't dance and the guy does most of the harder moves dances around them more on last year than what I've seen this year.
I really like most of this years dancers I think Layla and J.F. are going to be two of the front runners if they can keep up what they have done so far. But out of everyone Layla is my favorite and hope she wins.

 

[Wolfgang]

No high-speed, just dial up.......
Sure the guys could just do basic steps while the pro lady twirls and whirls around them , but aren't the celebs supposed (!) to be judged on their dancing abilities?
I mean, assuming for a second here that the show isn't just a total scripted setup from the get go.....
If dancing abilities do indeed matter at all, the just doing the basics won't do them much good, whereas a lady can literally be forced to look good by a professional leader, even if she has two left feet, is 3 sheets to the wind, has never done anything even remotely similar before, and has a heavy handbag orbiting her like a satellite - one of the ladies I danced with last Friday fit that description.....

I believe you can catch the episodes on ABC.com if you have high speed internet.

I disagree totally about which celebs have it harder. The men can do simple backup steps while the female pros dance it up. Go on YouTube and watch some of Mario Lopez's performances from last season. Sometimes he did complicated moves, but more often he did simple steps to the side while Karina was doing the real dancing. Look at their second cha cha -- she did all the work.

Most of the male celebs don't really lead, which is why Len Goodman especially complimented Joey Lawrence after his waltz, noting that he actually did lead.

If a female celeb stands behind and the man does the dancing it looks ridiculous. If the man stands in the back, it looks like much of ballroom.

 

[JonnyCoop]

I think it's goes with the ladies also, I've seen a couple of ladies who can't dance and the guy does most of the harder moves dances around them more on last year than what I've seen this year.

Some of those numbers remind me of this Carol Burnett sketch where she parodied the Rula Lenska hairspray commercials from the 70s and at one point she does her "dance number" where she just stands there fluffing her hair and doing an occasional half-hearted leg kick while Tim Conway is running around her in circles, gyrating madly, and getting on his knees doing all kinds of weird stuff until he eventually passes out. Then Carol looks down at him briefly, looks at the camera, and says, "After that EXHAUSTING dance routine, my hair is still in place!!"

 

[Dee4707]

Who got the boot??

Dee

 

[SeaniBu]

Most ladies are NATURALLY more graceful etc... then men are. I don't think it is as much of a stretch for the women to assume this character. I hope this doesn't sound to rude or un-PC, but MOST women can dance circles around MOST (not all) guys even with 3 prosthetics.

I am becoming an Ali fan and how about that Kim!

I didn't really agree with the results, but she was kinda starchy I must agree. It fit some of it IMO. But the rumba was it? they did? Stiff, to "classy." Agree with the down a dirty comments and think most people would agree. She looked like a debutante. Or the first 30 seconds of Gena Davis being afraid (not "scared"- I despise that accepted slang ) to dance in first part of Footloose. Like she can't "get down."

 

[SeaniBu]

Who got the boot??

Dee

Paulina Porizkova

 

[Dee4707]

Paulina Porizkova

Wasn't she pretty good??? Hmmm

Dee

 

[SeaniBu]

Wasn't she pretty good??? Hmmm

Dee

:agree: Yah but stiff, fine for the quickstep and foxtrot IMO, but any Latin nadda.JMO

 

[Dee4707]

Thanks Sean, didn't get a chance to watch last night. I thought she was graceful in the two dances you named. I guess for latin hot you have to move graceful to the hips.

Dee