In case you haven’t noticed, this is a prime time for watching dance on primetime!
TV is giving dance enthusiasts plenty to consume and discuss with shows both new and tried-and-true in their summer lineup:
Which of these new shows has your remote at the ready?
Breaking Pointe — 9 p.m. Thursdays on the CW
“Breaking Pointe” rips back the curtain on the inner workings of elite Salt Lake City Ballet Company, Ballet West. It obliterates the notion that ballet is a dated art form and shatters pre-conceived stereotypes about the men and women who give their lives to the world of ballet. Beneath their perfect exteriors, these dancers have the toughness of linebackers, punishing their bodies to achieve perfection and dancing through injuries and pain.
Led by Artistic Director Adam Sklute, a former dancer and Associate Director of The Joffrey Ballet, Ballet West and Ballet West II’s company of 48 dancers includes: Principal Artist Christiana Bennett, Soloist Ronnie Underwood, Demi-Soloist Allison DeBona, Demi-Soloist Rex Tilton, Beckanne Sisk, Kathleen Martin and Ronald Tilton.
Bunheads — 8 p.m. Mondays beginning June 11 on ABC Family
Bunheads is the tale of a Las Vegas showgirl, who impulsively marries a man, moves to his sleepy coastal town, and takes an uneasy role at her new mother-in-law’s dance school.
From Executive Producer Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls, the series will be headlined by Tony Award®-winning actor Sutton Foster. Bunheads is set to premiere Monday, June 11.
All the Right Moves — beginning July 31 on Oxygen
“All the Right Moves” follows the tight knit friendships and journey of Emmy®-nominated choreographer Travis Wall (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Teddy Forance (recently featured on “Dancing With the Stars” as dancer and choreographer), Nick Lazzarini (winner of “So You Think You Can Dance” season one), and Juilliard-trained Kyle Robinson (“Dancing With the Stars”), four of the most successful and sought-after dancers in the industry. These close friends have banded together to take dance to a whole new level by launching their dance company called SHAPING SOUND. With careers, reputations, and friendships on the line, they’re striving to change the world of dance forever by giving background dancers a chance to shine.
To which of these continuing series are you hopelessly devoted? (And which will you drop because it’s hopeless?)
So You Think You Can Dance — 7 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox
Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew — 9 p.m. Wednesdays on MTV
Dance Moms — 8 p.m. Tuesdays on Lifetime
TV Puts Its Own Spin On Dance
The Ballet World Exposed Through Reality TV – Tendus Under A Palm Tree
Bunheads – Dancing Branflakes
Never Tutu Late – NY Post
We want to hear from you!
- What do you think about all this dance on TV?
- What will you be watching and what will you skip?
- What do you think of the new premieres?
- Is this the saturation point or will there be more shows to come?
- How realistically do any of these shows depict the dance world?
Sound off below in the comments!
Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
