New Show on Fit tv channel: "Shimmy"

acmcgraw · 10-08-2007, 01:44 PM

I caught a little of this last night. It looked good.

The dancers had good technique, from what I saw. Though I didn't get to see enough to see how the instruction was done, it looked like the show covered a simple choreography.

The website indicates a bevy of trained ME dancers http://www.shimmy.tv/index.html

Anyone else catch this?

beki · 10-08-2007, 02:59 PM

I cought it the other morning while I was up with the baby and flipping through channels. I saw the whole show but wasn't able to get up and go through the moves with the program so I couldn't evaluate it properly. It does look interesting though. I may just have to tape a couple of episodes so I can follow along when baby is napping.

Lesgemini_Zafirah · 10-08-2007, 03:34 PM

I've DVR'd a couple of episodes and like what I saw

. The warm-ups are very good, incorporating yoga IMO. In fact, I think this show is produced by the same people who created Namaste Yoga (also on FitTV).

sumayasaahir · 10-08-2007, 03:50 PM

wow, the website is beautiful. I really like the Namaste Yoga, I hope this is as beautiful and serene too.

dilek · 10-08-2007, 05:49 PM

is it done by Aubre? She was teaching belly dancing before on that channel.
I better record it as well?

*Shira* · 10-08-2007, 09:09 PM

I haven't seen it myself, but it sounds worth a look. Thanks for telling us about it!

For those who aren't aware, one of the workouts offered in the Fit TV "All Star Workouts" series is a belly dancing workout taught by Aubre. I'm embarrassed to say that I captured it on TiVo many months ago and still haven't watched it! (Eek!) But if you go to the Fit TV web site and look under All Star Workouts, you should be able to find the schedule for when they expect to rebroadcast the belly dance workout.

ssipes · 10-08-2007, 09:26 PM

Well, this is going to sound petty, but why, given that they have such a beautiful website and have landed a TV series, are they wearing what looks like victoria secret underwear bras with hobby lobby home decor fringe sewed on?

Why not either nice pro costumes, or just chic workout gear?

Sedonia

Lauren_ · 10-09-2007, 12:56 AM

I don't see Aubre listed as one of the dancers on the 'about us' page. I'm not familiar with any of the dancers there, but it sounds like they're 'real' dancers, so YAY!!

(Sedonia, it sounds terribly petty and I wondered the same thing!)

sabrinabellydancer · 10-09-2007, 03:31 AM

sounds interesting. wish i had dvr...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssipes

Well, this is going to sound petty, but why, given that they have such a beautiful website and have landed a TV series, are they wearing what looks like victoria secret underwear bras with hobby lobby home decor fringe sewed on?
Why not either nice pro costumes, or just chic workout gear?
Sedonia

I hoped for the "outstanding...costumes" promised on the home page too.

tania atkinson is listed as the costume designer. maybe great dancing will make up for the lack of glitter?

sumayasaahir · 10-09-2007, 06:13 AM

the costumes bothered me, too. The dancers bios sound promising, anyway...

aazura · 10-09-2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssipes

Well, this is going to sound petty, but why, given that they have such a beautiful website and have landed a TV series, are they wearing what looks like victoria secret underwear bras with hobby lobby home decor fringe sewed on?

Why not either nice pro costumes, or just chic workout gear?

Sedonia

I wondered the same thing. Especially since, given the credits of some of these girls, I'm sure they must own better costuming. Perhaps the costume designer wanted a more "approachable" (as in "I can do that!") look??

I know this is wrong, but I often make snap judgements of a dancer's quality by the kind of costuming she wears and displays on her website. My first thought when I saw these pics was "amature."

kat · 10-09-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aazura

I wondered the same thing. Especially since, given the credits of some of these girls, I'm sure they must own better costuming. Perhaps the costume designer wanted a more "approachable" (as in "I can do that!") look??

I know this is wrong, but I often make snap judgements of a dancer's quality by the kind of costuming she wears and displays on her website. My first thought when I saw these pics was "amature."

Uhm -- yep snap judgments usually are wrong -- for example, should we consider you illiterate because you can't spell "amateur?"

Sorry -- big budget tv show or not, I would think the focus for all of us would be the quality of the dance instruction, not whether the fringe came from Hobby Lobby or Turquoise International. We've gotten very petty indeed if we can only see professional performance/quality content if someone has paid top dollar for designer-made costuming.

acmcgraw · 10-09-2007, 08:45 AM

for the workout portion the dancers are all in practice attire, melos, scrunchy butt pants, etc with kuchi belts or short fringe sashes.

I didn't get to see the choreo run through segment, did you Beki?

It's on again tonight, I may be able to kick the hubby out long enough to see a full episode. he can watch performance vids, but can't stand instructionals.

suzyq52 · 10-09-2007, 11:53 AM

I haven't seen "Shimmy" yet but my son told me about it being on one of the channels. He was surfing the channels before he left for work and happened upon it and told me that I would probably want to have a look at it. hmmmmm 6:30 a.m. - guess I'll have to tape it if I want to review it - I'm not usually an early bird riser!!! lol

Oh, and my son, is 31, does not live at home but both my boys know how much I enjoy bellydance so when they come across something to do with bellydance, they make sure to tell me!

rakgirl · 10-09-2007, 12:00 PM

i was just about to start a thread about this. i got an e-mail about it this morning.

ssipes · 10-09-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kat

Sorry -- big budget tv show or not, I would think the focus for all of us would be the quality of the dance instruction, not whether the fringe came from Hobby Lobby or Turquoise International. We've gotten very petty indeed if we can only see professional performance/quality content if someone has paid top dollar for designer-made costuming.

No one said they should be in a top dollar designer-made costume. There is a middle ground between a $1000 eman and underwear with upholstery fringe. It is the wrong impression to give student dancers, in my opinion. I don't let my students wear decorated underwear in my shows.

Sedonia

kat · 10-09-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssipes

No one said they should be in a top dollar designer-made costume. There is a middle ground between a $1000 eman and underwear with upholstery fringe. It is the wrong impression to give student dancers, in my opinion. I don't let my students wear decorated underwear in my shows.

Sedonia

Bull. The standard costume bra starts with a bra, so technically we're all wearing decorated underwear.

Could the costumes pictured be more upscale? Yes. Should they be -- maybe. That doesn't change the focus of the question -- why is what they're wearing (as long as nothing that shouldn't be exposed is showing) matter nearly as much as the content of the program and the quality of the teaching/performing? Bravo for you that you don't allow students on stage in poorly constructed costuming. I've no problem with that, I also try to ride herd on what my students wear, even when they aren't dancing in my shows. But I have a big problem with judging the worth of any program, let alone a fitness channel exercise show, by whether the costuming of the participants is professional grade.

I'd much rather see a good dancer perform well in a costume that is simply nylon fringe hot-glued on a velvet bra than a bad dancer perform badly in a $1000 Mdme Abla. Emans or Ablas for a fitness show? IMHO simply not necessary and probably not even desirable.

Lauren_ · 10-09-2007, 01:49 PM

I surely don't think the quality of the program depends on the costuming of the participants. But I'm glad to hear they're wearing workout wear for the class segments. The idea that our dance should be practiced and/or performed in one's underwear doesn't elevate our dance form in anyone's mind.

Bikini swimsuits are based on bras and panties -- but they AREN'T bras and panties, and no one confuses the two and wears their undies to the beach.

I don't mean any disrespect to the program at all. I think it looks like an excellent program. But I think it was a legitimate thing to be curious about, given the slick professionalism apparent in every other aspect of the program & website.

Shirin. · 10-09-2007, 04:03 PM

As said before, you can't cover up bad dancing with a good costume. I also agree that the the content is what we should be looking for, but first impressions are also something we remember too. Then again, if the people watching the show really enjoy what they're learning, they'll sign up for a class and learn correct attire (for public settings). I can see why they chose the outfits they did, most ladies will probably be dancing in their underwear so they probably wanted to send the message that thats ok (at home that is).
~~sigh~~~
I wish I got this channel. I would really like to see the series. They're putting a dvd out with the same content, but I'd prefer to see it on tv.

shems · 10-09-2007, 04:20 PM

I'm sure many people will wonder the same thing about their costuming. I did.

In Sedonia's defense, dance is a visual medium and visual appearance is very important. This is also particularly true in the world of TV. They chose beautiful and fit women for the program, after all, not dancers who are older or who had less generically beautiful body types, so appearance was considered on this point. And since these dancers are apparently professional performers, I think it is a very valid question to ask why their costuming looked very obviously less than professional on the website.

I don't think it is petty at all to care about costuming. I think the comparison to a bad dancer in a great costume is irrelevant. It should be a comparison between a great dancer in a great costume or a great dancer in a cheap looking costume, because that is what we are considering here. I personally would be/am disappointed every time I see a great dancer in a costume that doesn't do her level of dance justice. Appropriate workout apparel is fine for a workout instructional, but I personally think for performance costumes they should have opted for something with a little more class (regardless of what the ladies at home might be wearing).

Lauren_ · 10-09-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shirin.

I can see why they chose the outfits they did, most ladies will probably be dancing in their underwear so they probably wanted to send the message that thats ok (at home that is).

Why would the ladies at home be dancing in their underwear? I've never practiced in my underwear, not even when I first started out and was a video learner.