Dance 100

I'm fussy about dance shows and was hoping this would please, but it ended up being more frustrating than entertaining. I like the concept and it could have been successful, but the production was all wrong. I was expecting "World of Dance" and got an MTV video with CW drama. I came for the dancing but saw more of the audience (why??) and could hardly see the routines for the constant wide angle and zoom shots. Add smoke and dark lighting, and it was usually pointless. I was curious to learn more about the 8 choreographers professional background but there wasn't much meat there. The "world class 100" consisted of a variety of people but only about 5 got all the camera time. One reviewer said everyone on the show was American (and therefore bad I guess?), however they must have had it on mute because the majority of dancers (that spoke) were from another country. There was the requisite drama thrown in (completely unnecessary) and the usual filler to drag out 8 episodes. I didn't like that the songs were chosen for them (some really odd choices) and that it all felt one note- same dance style/moves over and over again. I come from a contemporary dance background, but I appreciate all styles which made World of Dance so engaging. I quickly grew tired of the frenetic bumping and grinding that is fine only in small doses. There were moments of creativity, but not enough to make this satisfying. In fact, the one choreographer that was a bit of a creative oddball was voted off fairly quickly. I'll watch the finale, but I would never watch a second season of this without drastic changes.

The show doesn't work for 1 simple reason, it's not clear what criteria the dancers are judging the choreographers on other than they don't like them/their personality, or the way they communicate their vision, however that does not mean the dancers are voting for the best routines at all. It's disappointing as a viewer to see fun or artistic performances be judged so harshly, and to see choreographers that are pushing the dancers and delivering great performances be voted off for being "tough," in any industry leaders push us out of our comfort zones to reach greater levels. The show could have worked if there was a clearer judging criteria like points, or additional judges, or if there was an added element like the public could vote in addition to the dancers. At the end of the day, a performance is as good as the choreography, the execution, and how it is received by the audience. The dancers have 1 perspective, but they are biased because they are voting based on interpersonal relationships and not just purely on the execution of the dances.

At the beginning of episode 2 when noone stood behind the heavier dancer, I decided then and there to stop watching. She was just as talented as the others. With that said, I found the show very boring. I thought I was going to watch outstanding dance routines, but instead I felt a bit agitated and wanted to rush through the show just to get to see the routines. I didn't want to see a bunch of chit chat or antagonism between dancers. That part was especially demoralizing to me, to see other dancers criticize the routines when they are peers to the choreographers. They are the same. They just were not chosen to choregraph the routine. I didn't get that.

So they need to extend the dancing part on the show, cut back on the backstage stuff and give people what they want to see: more dancing. Kind of like World of Dance where you get to see straight on, the routine. Not cutting in and out and away from the stage. Also give the bigger choreographers a chance. That was awful. Not even one person stood behind her. I call BS on that.

I would love to see this done with the choreographers getting to choose their own music and being able to switch out dancers that are being a pain. One of the "100" (Johnny) seems to be chosen almost every episode to give his (usually snarky, often negative) feedback on the dances. I suppose for "drama." Also, in earlier episodes especially, the camerawork doesn't allow us to enjoy the dances, with frequent angle and distance changes and cuts to the audience, sometimes every few seconds. At least that seems to get better after the first few episodes. Definitely has potential, but not there yet.

This show is supposed the be featuring dancers - and there are so many really talented ones. And the competition is to select the best out of 8 choreographers. But instead of letting the viewers appreciate the dance, we get constant, and way, way too many, cuts away to audience reactions. Plus cameras zooming around and OUT from the stage so it's impossible to watch and appreciate these talented dancers. C'mon directors - I've tuned in to watch dance!! Not audience and not swooping cameras!! There is a really missed opportunity here for an entertaining show. If there is another season, I'm hoping they will take on board suggestions to feature dancers please. And calm down that camera.