Coliseum's dance show stepped on toes
The following is a Counterpoint.
By William James
Having paid nearly $60 apiece for our tickets to Saturday's "Dancing with the Stars" at the coliseum, one can honestly say that there was much to the production that fell woefully short.
First, about 20 percent of the show time was devoted to video clips from the ABC television series. How exciting to pay $60 to watch TV.
To add insult to injury, about 10 or 15 percent of the audience were in seats (ours included) from which the viewing screens were not even visible.
Second, the show did not include a live orchestra (a point your Jan. 29 reviewer apparently did not notice). The music was provided by two percussionists, a quartet of singers (who did very well) and a couple more people at keyboard synthesizers. No horns. No strings. No woodwinds. Cheap.
The other aspects of the show might be described as sexy, glitzy, frenetic, athletically impressive, but most of all, extremely loud.
It remains a mystery why people think that the decibel level defines the quality of the entertainment, or how gut-pounding, seat-shaking, head-splitting, disco-style pulsing bass is supposed to define the subtleties of various dance rhythms.
There was little or no difference between a cha-cha or a rumba or a foxtrot the way most of the music was played.
Except for Harry Hamlin's lovely and elegant waltz with his wife Lisa, and one or two other numbers, the most genuine ballroom dancing Jan. 27 was that provided by the local contestants in the brief competition which was part of the entertainment.
How sad to see the rock concert-MTV style dominate the occasion — and at what a price.
The writer lives in Reidsville.
Comments (9)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Paying $60 apiece for these tickets makes me question your sanity in the first place. Good letter, though.
One thing, how was the parking?
Posted on February 2, 2007 9:29 AM
Mr. James,
No matter how you critique the show, it still beats anything Reidsville has offered you, does it not? Just checking.
Posted on February 2, 2007 9:36 AM
I dunno DD, Short Sugars and the Sanitary cafe are hard to beat and two people can eat for less than $15 total at both places.
Posted on February 2, 2007 10:21 AM
I agree. But before this "yokel" condemns Greensboro, he needs to realize "Caveat emptor".
Posted on February 2, 2007 1:15 PM
I simply find it amazing that anyone watched the show in the first place, much less made it popular enough to take it on the road. I'd probably watch it if you paid me $60. Probably. But I've never been a fan of the reality shows/popularity contests anyway.
Posted on February 2, 2007 2:15 PM
While I did not or would not attend this kind of show, I agree on the level of sound. Paid good money last year to see Elton John. I could not understand a single word he sang because of the incredibly loud background music. Broke my heart...plus if you want to talk about parking problems...we had to wait in line to park for 45 minutes then parked at the WFU stadium and had to walk a mile...missed the first 30 minutes of show.
Posted on February 2, 2007 3:54 PM
You walked from Wake Forest to the Greensboro coliseum? Dang, I bet you did miss 30 minutes of the show!
Just nitpickin. Have a great weekend.
Posted on February 2, 2007 4:42 PM
By the way, the coliseum had a minimal effect on the show. The content was up to the producers; the coliseum just booked it.
Posted on February 2, 2007 7:19 PM
Ok, nit...I forgot to say the concert was in W-S...my bad.
Posted on February 3, 2007 1:04 PM