Born to Dance
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dance contest pushes contestants with positive messages.
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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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What's the Story?
After whittling down a pool of hopefuls to just 20 dancers, celebrity choreographer Laurieann Gibson is putting each to the test with her trademark tough love to see who was BORN TO DANCE. Ultimately, one dancer will win $50,000 in support of her professional dance career and be chosen to join Gibson's \"Team Boom Kack\" dance group.
Is It Any Good?
Laurieann Gibson is well known in the dance world for her tough-love tactics and snappy catch phrases, including the audible "Boom-Kack!" she uses to punctuate her choreography. She entered the realm of reality TV in a supporting role to P. Diddy, whipping would-be pop stars into shape on Making the Band, and eventually launched her own mix of dance and behind-the-scenes drama with The Dance Scene.
But with Born to Dance, she makes far better use of her considerable talents as a teacher and her palpable desire to mentor young girls who seem to remind her a lot of herself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the world of professional dancing and the qualities you need to succeed in the business. According to Laurieann's criterea, what are the most important traits a dancer should have? What separates a good dancer from a stand-out star? What do you think makes a good dancer?
Why does the dance world tend to favor slender body types? Is the bias merely aesthetic, or do dancers who are "thick" (as Laurieann describes them) have physical limitations that smaller dancers don't have?
Do you prefer reality TV with a more cooperative edge, or do you miss the conflict? What's the appeal of watching people get into heated arguments on camera?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 2, 2011
- Cast: Laurieann Gibson
- Network: BET
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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