In the ballroom
One show that I watch weekly, until its "winners" are announced is "Dancing with the Stars." And it's all ballroom dancing!
Foxtrot to the tune of "Lullaby of Birdland" (Starts around the 1:20 spot ) for week 7.
Derek Hough is the Fred Astaire heir of the 21st century. Humorous, precise and very talented. He choreographs (as do all the professional dancers) all the dances. Do excuse the costume, great color and design, but more material is needed - this is television, after all.
Firstly, it is the tremendous amount of effort these "stars" put in to learn something completely new, and very challenging.
Then, it is the drama that goes on. This being a very demanding and athletic type of dance, injuries are frequent, including stress-related ones such as extreme stomach aches that lead to emergency rooms.
Finally, ignoring the over-exposed (in all senses of the word) "Latin" dances - mambo, samba, rumba, even the tango - and concentrating on the real "ballroom", which includes the waltz, foxtrot and quickstep, some of these dancers really do put on elegant numbers, with all those oldies. Lovely songs, with great lyrics, and witty, well crafted tunes.
To be fair to the "Latins", I think the paso doble can take a well-earned place in "ballroom", although it is just a little melodramatic. And the cha-cha-cha was created by a Frenchman in England, so its Latin origins are that the music came from Cuba, not the dance.
I should add that the jive and jitterbug, those quintessentially American dances, in their exuberance and fun, and their incredible speed, are much more sophisticated dances than any of the Latin numbers.
Here are four "oldies" songs out of ten (that is a lot considering we hear zero of them normally) from week eight that were used in that week's competition. I've linked with youtube renditions.
I couldn't find the inimitable Frank Sinatra's "Call me irresponsible", but a young singer Michael Buble, who is actually reviving Sinatra's songs, does a fine job of this one.
1. "Call me irresponsible" - Buble sings Blue Eyes
2. "Puttin' on the Ritz" - Sung and tapped by Fred Astaire
3. "Sweet Pea" - A bluesy, ragtime revival of sorts
4. "Hallelujah I Love Her So" Ray Charles (1955)
Who knew. Television as a medium for sophistication and a return to lovely songs.