Dancing with the stars by Ciara Finnegan

Dancing with the stars is a primetime ABC show that can be credited with doing two main things for Western culture: reintroducing them to lost celebrity figures and reviving the interest of the masses in dancing. Since its beginning in 2005, this show has continually grown and become a part of the weekly schedule of many families all over the United States and Canada. The whole premise of the show is to pair up “inexperienced” celebrities with professional dancers and allow the viewers to watch them grow into proficient forces on the dance floor as the season progresses. This show brings out many genres of dancing like ballroom, the cha-cha, the meringue, salsa, and the tango among many others to a population that is usually unaware that these forms of dancing even exist. Coupled with popular music performed live by the “Dancing with the stars Band,” the viewers are engaged by the growing chemistry between the different partners and the stifling competition between the celebrities to win. In the end, all of this embodies McLuhan’s view of television as a “cool” media as it engages more than one sense. One’s eyes and ears are engaged by the dancing and music that guides the tempo and movements of the dancers while our psyches are also engaged because many people consider taking dance classes or learning the moves after seeing them performed. The television now acts as an extension of our minds and our desires because although one may want to get directly involved in dance on the level of the contestants, they may never get the chance; so when they take a seat at their couch on a Wednesday night to watch their favorite celebrity dance their heart out, they are connected and some go as far as picking up the phone to call in and vote for that celebrity. I think it’s pretty clear to see that Dancing with the stars is one positive part of popular culture. It reconnects forgotten athletes, singers, actors & actresses and performers with their devoted fans while making new ones. This hour of movement allows society to witness the joy, growth and sometimes heartbreak felt by the contestants when they are voted off or move on to the next week in the show. Lastly, Dancing with the Stars sticks to its roots and just gives us dance in its purest form: a man and a woman together leaving it out there with true passion.

http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars