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For three seasons now, I have been constantly astonished at the fact that this show is *actually about the ART of dance*. From the producers to the dancers to the choreographers, the focus of everything is an actual, passionate, nigh academic, love and respect for dance as art form, rather than media spectacle popularity contest.
As someone who has hung out with dancers for a good part of my life, I can attest that the judges commentary most closely resembles a high-level dance crit straight out of my alma-mater. Their critiques are (gasp!) grown up and thoughtful and constructive; incredibly knowledgeable in technique and history; with a deep grasp of the more intangibles that make a dancer with perfect technique into a dancer who is transcendental and magical; they are stern where they need to be, unconditionally enthusiastic where it's deserved, and deeply, deeply passionate about the art and the advancing of the art. (Which is why the judges stand between the voters and the dancers: they want to make sure that they have a say in who goes, just in case America misses the point. Amazingly, America usually gets it right!)
Really, it should all be too high concept for most viewers...except that you can watch it without being aware any of the above and still be completely entertained--a significant and important achievement in TV today.
It is by far the best contest/reality show on television, and makes "idol," et al, seem utterly base, sophomoric, shrill and trivial...which, of course, they are.
Oh, and Cat Deely is completely wonderful, charming and warm. You feel that her affection for the contestants is wholly genuine. She's no fluff piece!
