Despite what many people think, dancing on television is not new at all. The history of dance shows on networks is surprising to many, but dance programming has been around since the beginning of television. There is no doubt the recent network dance shows have brought back the desire to dance. After all, dance is, indeed, all the rage these days. Check almost any television network and you will find a dance show. With so many shows hitting the major networks, there is a renewed interest in dance, especially among teens. Many teens both experienced and not, are watching the shows for the latest moves and the latest dance fashion.
Dance programs are becoming a hit more and more everyday, and the audience is growing hot for it everyday. Such shows as Dancing with the Stars are taking dance enthusiast by storm. Turning on and dancing in step with their favorite program is what millions of viewers are doing each night. So much, that there has been four new dance programs slated for upcoming shows. Why is dance television engaging both and young? Mostly, people watch to see what the latest moves are, while others are watching to see what the latest fashion their favorite dancer is wearing. Some teens are watching the shows and running out to their favorite dance studio and asking to be taught similar moves and the fashionistas are running out to a dancewear boutique and buying similar dancewear.
The only dance masters I could have were Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Walt Whitman and Nietzsche.
—Isadora Duncan (1878–1927)
But, dance themed shows are nothing new. They've been around for quite some time. Such shows as The Arthur Murray Show aired in the 50's and were hosted by the famous Arthur and Kathryn Murray themselves. Yes, the same people who have chains of Murray Dance Studios you see across the United States. The 1960 brought great shows such as the Groovy Show and Hollywood A Go Go. But it was Soul Train, which aired in 1970, which brought tight dance grooves into the American home. People, both black and white would tune in not only for the music, but to catch a glimpse of new and innovative dance grooves. Soul Train was pivotal in launching the resurgence of people's interest in dancing and dance fashion. It was a way the TV audience to dial into current dance and trends in fashion. The 80's and 90's brought about shows such as Club MTV, VH1 Dance Machine, and the influential Dance Party USA on the USA network. The shows were very popular among the Generation X crowd leading the way for the current offering on networks now.
There will always be dance shows on television. Dance and the music that drives it, changes with each newer generation adding new spice and flavor to what is possible on the dance floor or in the studio, even if you are luck, on a prime time slot. And as with previous generations there is a rabid following of their favorite dance show. Current dance shows are no different and it explains why the networks are jumping over each other to get to the next best dance show.
I can get dressed earlier in the evening with every intention of going to a dance at midnight, but somehow after the theatre the thing to do seems to be either to go to bed or sit around somewhere. It doesn’t seem possible that somewhere people can be expecting you at an hour like that.
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
Dance Auditions and Dance Intensive.