Superstars of Dance

A couple of weeks ago NBC launched the latest edition of cultural reality shows with "Superstars of Dance". The brain child of "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" alums Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, the program showcases dancers from all over the world in a competition for the best dancer(s).

The show itself is a great concept and a wonderful opportunity to take a cultural dance tour around the globe. Each country Argentina, Australia, China, India, Ireland, Russia, South Africa, and the United States compete in solo, duet, and group dances all while displaying the traditions of each country via the dance.

The judges award points based on the dance with the home country judge not allowed to vote. This time around there is no audience or fan voting.

For dance fans and anyone interested in experiencing cultures from other lands even if it is only on the television, this show is an overwhelming hit; however, from a production point of view it is a great disappointment. The directorial, lighting, and camera work lacks much to be desired.

Whether it is the lighting itself or the camera operators shots, there are a number of occasions during each show where the scene is completely washed out by the flash of light in the camera obliterating any view of the dancers.

Dance is fluid movement and under no circumstances needs a camera operator or director who insists upon continual zooms, pans, and arcs. Using these types of shots only serves to distract and causes the viewer to miss many moves by the dancers. Just like framing a moving streamer in the foreground while the ballet dancer is in the background; while it may make a nice shot, it only served as a distraction from the dance being performed by the ballerina. Moving people should be framed in the center of a shot or slightly of center opposite the direction they are moving, not at the edge of the shot where they will disappear an any moment. If I had employed that same camera work in class, even on still objects, I would have failed the class.

From an educational and cultural point of view "Superstars of Dance" is a wonderful concept that is entertaining while not insulting the intelligence of the viewer; and that is the reason I continue to watch the show even though I am tempted to turn it off every few minutes when I miss portions of the dance due to the production work.

NBC has a hit on their hands if those in charge don't ruin it.