April 18, 2006

Project Danceway

In a January 30th post, "If there was a modern dance reality tv show…," Rachel Feinerman proposes a dance series for TV along the lines of Bravo's Project Runway.

I think that this would be an excellent idea.

If you haven't watched Project Runway, this is what this reality show is about: Sixteen fashion designers who have gone through an audition process are chosen for this TV series. Each week the designers are given a project such as designing a garden party dress. During the show we get to watch the designers buy their materials, make their dresses, interact with the other contestants and deal with time pressures. Then at the end of the show there is a fashion show where models showcase the dresses and judges rate the outfits. At the end of each show one of the designers looses and is off the show.

What I enjoy most about Project Runway is that the creative process is exposed for all to see. You get to watch the designers as they create their outfits - sometimes struggling as they second guess themselves or have to work with the wrong materials. Plus you gain some insight into each designer's personality as they interact with each other and are forced to finish their work on time. So when the fashion show takes place at the end of the episode, you have an emotional connection with the designers and you probably have a favorite.

So if there were a Project Runway for modern dance, some variations would have to be made to the format but the overall idea would probably work. I think it would be a lot of fun to watch choreographers and dancers work together from start to finish to create a different dance piece each week.

There's no current format that I know of that provides dance audiences with access to the creative process at work. A Project Danceway would provide this access and make the experience of watching the performances at the end of the program more meaningful and enjoyable.

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