So You Think You Can Dance??

We've been watching the TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance", last year and this year, and have enjoyed it thoroughly. I've learned a lot about different types of dances, and can even very occasionally spot a mistake a dancer might make. Most of the time, though, I'm just in awe of what they can get their bodies to do.

When they dance Swing or other 40's era dances, I always think of my Mama and Daddy. They loved to dance when they were young adults, while they were dating and also as young marrieds. They used to talk about working all day and then going out dancing night after night, enjoying the sound of the Big Band giants of their day. Living in Chicago, they actually did get to dance to some of the greats, such as Benny Goodman. Mama's eyes would always light up when she remembered those days.

I guess that's why she insisted that I take dancing lessons when I was in High School. I really did learn how to do all the ballroom dances, too, such as the Fox Trot, Tango, and, of course, the Waltz. The bad part about it was that, except for a few Valentine Dances, I never did go dancing anywhere.

Rock and Roll was taking over at that time, and about the only thing any self respecting teen would be caught doing was the Bop. It was a joke to go to a High School "Dance", as everyone stood around and talked. The only time I really remember much dancing going on was to the Bunny Hop, where we would make long snakes all around the gym floor, weaving in and out of the "talkers" who were in our way.

So, will a TV show like this change the attitude of people about "going dancing"?