Fuse.TV’s new show “Pants-Off Dance-Off” (see also “Fuse TV Launches 4 Programs that Tap into Trends: Lo-Fi Pixilated Animation ala Vintage Gaming Consoles, a Dance-off Strip Game Show, + Selects from Top User-Generated Web Content”) an interactive dance/game show where average citizens compete by dancing and shedding their clothes to their favorite music video while viewers vote via SMS texting, has gained such a strong following that rival network MTV is now planning it’s own dance-a-thon pilot featuring Sean “Diddy” Combs. Dubbed the most “brilliant and lowbrow” show according to New York Magazine, what’s interesting about Pants-Off Dance-Off is that its tapped into the latest trends of dance and its growing popularity, as well as the concept of pop-video voyeurism, exhibitionism, humor, and even news. The trend, with it’s essence of content and culture, also reflects certain influences from Japanese TV, and also taps into the latest culture of YouTube.com videos (see also “LN YouTube Top 5 Playlist”) which often include imitations of dance moves from favorite music videos lip-synced by their creators with hilarious karaoke moments.
What’s surprising to Label Networks’ reporters is that the show’s popularity is so “surprising” to mainstream TV and media who simply didn’t see such popularity coming.
Recent trends in dance, particularly street dance, has resulted in increases in the percentages of 13-25-year-olds in North America, Europe, and Japan to name “dance” as one of their top favorite new “sports” from our Global Youth Culture Studies in the past 2 years. The increase in dance also comes from influences in music, such as Reggaeton + Dancehall inspired by artists Sean Paul and Daddy Yankee whom are both very popular among younger demographics in Los Angeles, NYC, and Miami; Krumping which was given voice a few years ago through David LaChapelle’s documentary movie Rize about the competitive street dancing started in Compton, Englewood, and Watts in South-Central Los Angeles; Capoeira and the martial arts moves in dance with roots from Brazil and Baile Funk from the favelas (see also “Brazil’s Ghetto Superstars AfroReggae Combine Music, Stage, + Circus School to Bring Social Change + Global Exposure to the Favela, Creating New Trends in it’s Wake”; Miami Base inspired by artists such as 36Mafia and DJ Sujinho; Houston’s Paul Wall; the emerging break scene coming from Cuba; and Sean Paul’s “Trinity” album which spawned the birth of the heavy grind dance known as the perreo.
Corresponding fashion trends include the increase in Reggae and Brazilian colorways such as gold, green, red, yellow, and black, as well as an entire fashion style known as Reggeaton. Part of street dance uniform also include “American Apparel” type tube socks and “arm” warmers, the re-surgence of tights and leg warmers, key accessories including necklaces, bracelets, and heavy face make-up, and pleated skirts--even “cheerleading-inspired” shorts and skirts such as Soffe.
As dance continues to increase among youth culture, inspired through new forms of music and artists, music videos, and now new TV, fashion too will take on new cues in the future from different forms of street dance culture. –Ryley Bane
For more information including primary data and trends on dance, sports, fashion, and music from our Global Youth Culture Studies, please contact us at info@labelnetworks.com
