So I am watching "Dancing with the Stars" now. It's the single reality show in my roster at this point. And though I felt no frisson when the list of Season 11 competitors was announced, I was pleasantly surprised by the pleasure I took in the first show. While my allegiance goes to Gladys Knight, who was rightly praised for the way she "oozes" … [Read more...]
Ho-Hum “Footloose”
[This piece initially ran in the Los Angeles Times.] By one measure, director Craig Brewer’s 2011 restraint and careful focus in the retelling of “Footloose” appear a success for Paramount, and a boon for the propulsion of American dance. With heralded performances by its young leads and critical appreciation of its punched-up energy, Brewer’s … [Read more...]