Should ‘‘Strictly Come Dancing’’ contestants be allowed to have prior dancing experience?
As a professional Strictly Come Dancing watcher with a graduate degree from my nan’s sofa, and as a child, to my own bed and laptop as a young woman (with too much time on her hands). This debate is very close to my heart and one that I have had with my own nan to no end.
I can understand both points of view. Contestants should not be disallowed because of minimal experience in careers or hobbies growing up. Although it is a huge advantage compared to a contestant trying to learn a new skill on live television with no previous experience.
And the truth is, I would have to argue that any Strictly contestant should have no prior dancing experience. Not because it is fairer on the other contestants, but for the reason being it’s just more fun.
Let me explain in my own opinion. I think that any Strictly contestant should be entering the competition for the experience. For what it can become for them. Like for their own journey. I think any contestant who enters with the intention of winning, rather than gaining something for themselves, is not entering it with the right mindset.
Personally, I feel like over the past few years, there’s been an increasing number of contestants who only go on to Strictly Come Dancing for the PR part that they get out of it. With the prospect of winning it rather than enjoying the experience and having fun.
I say this as I’ve grown up watching the show many times. I’ve seen it change how the conversations I have with my nanny. About the most memorable contestants (and the ones we want to win the most, the ones who seemed authentic and genuinely themselves). The ones who admitted when they had made a mistake and then seemed more keen to try afterwards. It was really impressive and admirable to watch someone with no experience then become more confident in their own ability. To have fun and seem to enjoy what they get out of it while doing so.
I think it’s what things in life reflect. Hard work and dedication, while it seems the most challenging, can often feel the most rewarding.
I have found that in most things I have done in my life and most of my accomplishments. The ones I feel most proud of are the ones I thought I would do the worst in or had no previous experience with.
As an only child, I was often pushed out of my comfort zone. Whether that was by making friends or talking to new people, or even experiencing the world on my own without another person my age to talk to.
This led me to have an attitude of “give it a go”, and whatever happens, happens. While I think this was helpful for me as a child with making friends and certainly throughout my transition into adulthood. I can see how not everyone might have grown up with that attitude, and that trying new things can be a huge challenge ( not saying it can’t for me because trust me, I’ve been there).
That’s what makes, in my opinion, Strictly Come Dancing contestants with no experience so much more enjoyable to watch. They’re relatable and admirable for the fact that they have. They have tried it and given it a go in front of so many people.
It’s very easy to enter a competition knowing that you have had some type of experience beforehand and can win. It’s also very easy to enter a competition with the sole purpose of winning it and winning it only.
The hard part and the most challenging part is entering a competition knowing you have no experience in that field and will have to put a lot of hard work in to learn. Also, to add on top of that, it will be broadcast on live TV.
It takes a special type of person with a lot of humility and a certain level of bravery to enter a competition like that. I feel for them.
So maybe in the end the discussion on whether contestants on Strictly be allowed to have prior dancing experience or not isn’t as much about dance?
It is the reflection on life and society’s acknowledgement and rewards of those who work hard to achieve success, and those born with the key in hand?