Racist dance extravaganza

The promotion for NBC's "Superstars of Dance" (Mondays at 8pm) started in December and it made me giddy with anticipation.

"Superstars of Dance" is, according to their website, "equal parts sporting event, rock concert and artistic exhibition" featuring solo, pair and group performances from eight countries: Ireland, India, USA, Argentina, China, Russia, South Africa and Australia. The judges, who ultimately determine which country carries home the Miss Universe-like trophy, are also representatives from those countries.

Based on the dancers selected to represent each country, I knew that the racism would be scintillating. China is represented by a team of acrobats: a ribbon dancer, a whip dancer, and the Shaolin monks. Even the Chinese dance judge is a Shaolin monk. Whether ribbon and whip acrobatics could be defined as dancing is debatable but few would classify kung fu as dance. South Africa has every Black dance that a limited imagination could produce: hip hop, Afro-fusion, jive - though, the Gumboot group performers are unique to Africa. And the poor Russians present a dance repertoire seemingly dictated by the Communist culture committee: Bolshoi ballet, ballroom and Cossack style.

Then there is Ireland, whose solo, duo and group contributions are all Irish Step Dancers, as if the Irish are incapable of separating their arms from their torso whenever their legs start moving. Of course, show host, Michael Flatley may be to blame for this limited Irish dance representation. The original Lord of the Dance is looking wider than he used to but just as tanned and slick as ever. If only he would break out the string head band and chest baring leotard to join his countrymen, then the show would be complete.

The most unfortunate thing about "Superstars of Dance" is how badly the dancing is showcased. The lighting is ineffective since it usually fails to highlight the dancers. Instead, atmospheric, multi-colour lights seemingly camouflage the dancers and distract from the performance. The camera work is equally hideous, sometimes choosing to focus on the faces of the performers while leaving the actions of the lower body to the imagination. Other times, the camera is seemingly mounted on a competing dancer, swaying violently back and forth, and flying around the performer(s). The production values turn the broadcast into amateur night on the local cable channel.

The only reason I know dance can be showcased better on TV is thanks to excellent shows like "So You Think You Can Dance?" Surprisingly, "Superstars of Dance" executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller are also "two of the masterminds" behind "SYTYCD?" It is only reasonable to assume that Nigel and Simon's unnamed compatriots at "SYTYCD?" prevent the show from turning into the hot trash that "Superstars of Dance" is proving to be.