Dance: Uniting the World

Dance on TV: Uniting the World

Almost everyone has seen the television shows So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. The celebrities on one and the young and talented dancers on the other intrigue viewers and keep them coming back to watch every week. But did you know that you are being exposed to hundreds of world cultures just by watching these popular TV shows?

The forms of dance that are chosen by the contestants each week are each from a different culture. The Paso Doble, a dance from Spanish cultures, and many variations of it (the samba, rumba, etc.) is a great example of the spread of cultures across the world through these dance shows. This dance encompasses the feel of Spanish bullfights, with the male dancer as the matador character and the female as either the bull, the matador's cape, or his shadow. The music is that of the entrance of the matador during a real bullfight in Spain, making this completely symbolic of Spanish culture.

The costumes, although tweaked to be more flashy and stage-appropriate, are designed to look like the original costumes. The choreography is traditional of Spain, and most times an actual Spanish ballroom dancer creates the dance.

Learning these dances is also a cultural experience for the dancers, because they are able to be exposed to the traditions of Spain while doing what they love and are competing for.

Although these shows are extremely entertaining and addicting to viewers in America, the Spanish spice in specific dances gives each and every audience member a cultural experience and an insight into Spanish culture without them knowing.