BBC Looking for traditional dancers!

Subject: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 17 May 07 - 12:44 PM

Cecil Sharp House got a call from the BBC this afternoon, and they asked us to pass this information along. Please get in touch with us if you'd like us to pass along your information to the BBC.

To all traditional dancers:

The BBC have contacted EFDSS to try and find traditional dancers to take part in their new series "Dance EX. "

This is a TV competition from the same producers as "Strictly Come Dancing". The BBC feel that traditional dance is not being represented in the auditions they have held so far, and they would welcome any dancers from the Morris/Clog and country dance tradition. They mentioned that traditional dress/costume is a bonus and that groups or solo dancers can audition although they are looking for individuals.

The auditions take place this Saturday 19th of May and next Saturday the 26th of May at the BBC television centre from 9.00am.

If you are interested in taking part please contact us at Cecil Sharp House as soon as possible so that we can pass your information to them.

The BBC are so desperate to get traditional dancers that your auditions will take priority over others. So get your name down if this sounds like something for you!

email your information to efdss!

http://www.efdss.org

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: GUEST,Godzilla
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:13 PM

Judging by the way these programmes go and the recent shoddy programme featuring some sort of comedian being taught how to play banjo, you would be well advised to steer clear. I suspect that the traditional dancers may well be wanted for comedy effect.

Past programmes would seem to indicate that there are few in TV currently that have the foggiest idea of Folk Music/Dance traditions.

Come back Yvonne Littlewood

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:30 PM

Much as I hate to pre-judge the issue, I cannot for the life of me see the BBC sustaining anything serious, informed or even vaguely constructive with traditional dance. Especially not in series format. This sounds like the precursor to an almighty piss-take. I would love to be wrong.

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Little Robyn
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:33 PM

Hey, if real dancers don't turn up, they'll have to use the clowns!
If we weren't half a world away I'd get our side activated.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:38 PM

And the next headline:
"BBC auditions one-legged men for arse-kicking competition...."
KYBTTS

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:50 PM

They've left it a bit late, haven't they?

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:56 PM

Auditions on two of the busiest festival weekends of the year.
0/10 for planning.
All the best dancers like the Offsprings and Dogroses are likely to be busy.
Another lost opportunity.

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:59 PM

A brief interview on BBC Look North on May Day implied all morris dancers were pagans -truly bizarre.

Given the BBC's track record on supporting traditional music regionally they deserve the thumbs down.

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 May 07 - 04:46 PM

They haven't given much notice have they... two days?!

They also haven't mentioned sword dancing either.. presumably they think the H&S would be too much for that.

Someone tell Hammersmith Morris - they'll do anything and have been on The Generation Game already.

Although the thought of seeing some well known muscle bound macho man dressed as a Molly is appealing.

LTS

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 17 May 07 - 05:50 PM

Hey, I just report the news, y'all. The BBC do always want everything yesterday: every time they call, they want something right now. However, the fellow my coworker spoke with seemed sincerely interested in seeing different types of dance and that he was really overwhelmed and tired of hip-hop and breakdancers (or whatever they're calling themselves).

But, to increase the humour value, he did ring again and advise that actually, there aren't any auditions on the 26th: they're all this Saturday. Whee.

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 18 May 07 - 04:52 AM

Do they not understand that people need advance notice of this sort of thing?

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: julian morbihan
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:07 AM

Liz - it was Herga Morris on the Generation Game with Larry Grayson.

The story I heard from them was that after showing the producer various dances to choose from, the deciding factor was that the name of the dance was Queens Delight - though they were told not to tell that to Larry!!!

Julian

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:12 AM

I seem to recall the Smiffs dancing around a sofa containing Michael Portillo and Diane Abbott.
Why, was not altogether clear.

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:36 AM

The Smiffs appeared on the GG much later than Larry Grayson... I suspect it was with Jim Davidson. At one point, they seemed to be appearing on every channel you switched on!

LTS

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 18 May 07 - 06:13 AM

Sounds like some graduate in media studies working as an unpaid gofa at the Beeb has come up with a 'really super idea'

Offski!

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: IanC
Date: 18 May 07 - 07:17 AM

Actually, I think they're looking for alternatives to the Come Dancing package, which has proved ultra successful and got 000s of young people doing ballroom dancing again.

Could be crap, but who's telling me they wouldn't like to get a chance at having 000s of young people doing Morris Dancing again?

No risk = No gain.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BBC Looking for traditional dancers!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 18 May 07 - 03:20 PM

Yes, Julian, you're right, and it was nearly 30 years ago, for a Generation Game shown at Easter (one of the other rounds involved putting the crosses on hot cross buns).

Kitty