Day Out: Got To Dance Finals

Event: Sky1 Got to Dance Finals

Description: Uk dance talent competition. Where people from solo, duo, or groups audition in any dance style, before 3 jusdges and try to make it through to win the show and £250,000.

Location: Kensington Olympia

Frequency: Once a year.

Price: Audience tickets are free (as far as I know)

www: http://sky1.sky.com/sky1hd-shows/got-to-dance-home

Hot Tip: Go with the flow and participate!

I used to work behind the scenes in TV. Have experience in studio camera's, gallery work as a vision mixer and director and, freelanced as a VT editor before I was made redundant and went back to work in fashion. So when my friend was able to get audience tickets to Sky One's Got To Dance of course I asked. She knew I loved dance and would watch it at home. Added bonus was that I knew another person that was actually on the show and the group made it to the finals. All a good excuse to show some support.

As part of the studio crew Gerry managed to get us past the cue's... Rolling with the VIP (lol)... Shame we couldn't VIP the toilet cue. Non the less was better indoors then the cold and rain.

As we talked and audience are made to participate in time killing activities such as dancing and competing against the other side of the 6000 filled stadium the burning question was why watch here when you can have a better view at home? Not like the view we had wasn't great.. It was!! see for your self.. but from just one angle?

A good performance, a good dancer can convey a story and evoke emotion. Which is not often transferred on TV. You ever wondered why people get up from their seat for a standing ovation and as a TV viewer you thought it was flat?

I watched two kids, the age of 8 and 11 dance. They made me stand up as they expressed emotion in their movement. Not just the skills that an 11 year old boy can do lifts that an adult can find difficult and helping her jump in the air like it was slow motion. Or the fact that she was fearless in the lifts and dismounts.

Another group had 6000 people up as their energy in the piece soared like the tempo in music doubles in fold. They hadn't even finished dancing yet the stadium was up in euphoria.

All this can sometimes be captured and sometimes you can miss it. As I remember from my studio days I was too focused on finding a good shot then feeling their piece and translating that.

So why go out to watch a concert when you can buy the DVD? The mear experience and atmosphere that you cant buy or watch on screen. Plus a good day out from the norm. What you don't get to see on TV is also why the audience is there for; the love of the art. From small children getting up to dance, disabled Nan's zinging around in their wheelchair, and behind the rafters were teens busting out bboy moves, in the 3 mins that is a UK add break.

I was about to end there but I have to say Diversity did do a very good number, a Michael Jackson tribute, the best performance and choreography I might have seen from the group to date. The thing was on the journey home a teenager said he almost didn't recognise that it was a MJ dedication even though they did many MJ signature moves. With some tragic deaths of the greats of my generation, people that inspired, had signature moves or voices. Who do the youth of today have to look at and say that about? I don't see Justin Bieber having a signature move or voice that in 40 years time kids will say he moulded a generation other then his hair.