Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are the pinnacle of many of the current trends we see in today's society. This is something that the creative industries and, in particular, the dance industry thrive on. These platforms can be great for sharing ideas, networking among industry professionals and sourcing many dance-related events, competitions, workshops and auditions, however dance on social media has its ever-pervasive pitfalls in many ways. One of these in particular, is the huge focus placed on the concept of "dance as competition" rather than "dance as an art form", another is an increased susceptibility to injury due to the misuse of dance practice safe and finally we are seeing young social media users sensationalize the popular young dancers of social media to the point that they are sometimes celebrated more than professional dancers in the industry who have had numerous years of professional experience. While these social media platforms offer many benefits, it is also probably one of the main reasons for the evolving nature of the dance industry. Dancing is a popular leisure sport. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayAccording to 2012 census data, dancing is the most popular recreational sport in Australia for a young female between the ages of five and fourteen. With a participation rate of 27.1%, this is over a quarter of girls participating in dances outside of school hours (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). One of the biggest problems in the evolution of the dance industry is that dance is gradually becoming more about acrobatics and "trendy" moves rather than the artistry, passion and technique behind what makes it great. a dancer (Howard, 2018). Social media comes into play here, as these platforms are a space where the extremes of any topic are held in high regard and are often idolized; it seems like this is becoming the new normal as everyone tries to compete with each other for instant gratification. Popular dance sensations on these platforms often showcase fancy moves on their profiles which leads to an increased following, more likes and comments, more foot traffic, and sometimes even monetary benefits. These often extreme and unrealistic movements are often images and videos of overstretching, flipping, and excessive jumping; usually out of context with an actual dance combination (Howard, 2018). These movements are rather useless when it comes to learning choreography when auditioning for professional dance jobs and such movements usually only find their place in a recreational dance competition. However, with a good base of technique and alignment; tricks can often elevate a performance to the next level. Michael Dameskis' performances on popular television shows like "World of Dance" and "So You Think You Can Dance" are a classic example of this. His impeccable ballet technique, phenomenal strength and artistry paired with occasional impressive movements, are what makes him a world-class dancer. Analyzing this, however, it is easy to see how, to the untrained eye, these movements can overshadow the good technique and beautiful simplicity of a well-placed tendu. Social media intercepts this notion because many of its users do not have adequate training in dance, but follow these popular dance trends and without adequate training’.
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