User Reviews

I'd give this program a 9 if it weren't for the insipid commentary during the performances.

The performances themselves range from good to great; some of them are quite thrilling. But -- and this is a major flaw -- the commentators constantly talk over them. These are works of art, and they should be contemplated as a whole, without the intrusion of verbal chatter. This is not a ballgame; it doesn't require constant narration to keep one's interest and pique their excitement. If you were at the performance, in person, and someone next to you was talking during it, they'd be considered boorish, and you'd probably move. Unfortunately, you can't get away from the commentators if you want to watch the show on TV -- I've tried turning off the sound, but, without music, the dance loses something :-) So, please, producers, if you're reading this: PLEASE, lose the commentary during the individual performances. (During the mass performances, when several couples are performing at once, the commentary is more tolerable, and, I'd even go so far as to say, warranted. This is the section of the show in which the commentators can add value.)

Sleek and chic, the couple gracefully moves to the center of the floor, awaiting its music. With the first urgent strains, the crowd cheers, recognizing the music of the paso doble. He strikes the pose of the flamenco dancer, the toreador--totally in charge. She rustles her skirt with an insolent sneer, perhaps, as Carmen, the bullfighter's cape--a dynamic fluidity in her moves. The lights are subdued as they twirl and tap with a sexual tension that typifies the paso. They are artists, creating extensions and contractions that accent their athletic physiques.

And so goes one of the showdances in the ballroom dance competition that convenes every year in Columbus, Ohio. The best dancers in the country compete in four categories of dance that include the standards (e.g. waltz, quickstep, and foxtrot). In the finals, the four champion couples compete to be "America's Best".

The festivities are hosted (this season) by Mary Murphy and Tony Meredith. They try to clarify with expert commentary and to create excitement, but the dances are inherently exciting. PBS presents this wonderful dance competition that has been contested for decades. The beautiful Juliet Prowse used to host the affair in earlier days. It carries on with a timeless quality that reminds one of the historic standards that define these beautiful dance forms.

Anyone who appreciates fine dancing should enjoy this series that highlights America's finest ballroom dancers.