Andrea M. Rosa del Pino Madrid
Madrid
Updated Wednesday, February 14, 2024-06:48
TV RTVE 'changes' Belén Esteban for Norma Duval after finally closing the jury of Dance as you can
Television Dancing with the stars, the great format with which Telecinco has gone all out: "We are the originals, the others are a copy"
Without a doubt, La 1's new
talent
represents a true revolution.
Dance as you can
is, in many ways, the typical
dance
show
. However, the way in which the contest is presented is totally innovative. In the program - starring
Lydia Lozano
,
Sabrina Salerno
,
Maestro Joao
,
Álvaro Muñoz Escassi
,
Ana Guerra
,
Fabiola Martínez
,
Jaime Astrain
and
Colate Vallejo-Nágera
- the contestants are not
celebrities
. Those who risk it for 50,000 euros are
16 dancers
who will have to deal with the obstacle of performing choreographies with eight celebrities who know neither
jazz
nor
hip-hop
.
According to
RTVE
and the
production company Zeppelin
, their idea was born from the desire to put the dancers - historically relegated to the background - in the main focus of attention. And for this they made a
truly admirable
casting
. In the group
there are eight women and eight men
. There is a Venezuelan girl, a Russian boy, a Dominican girl and a Vietnamese girl.
There are short people and tall people
. Some very handsome, others very strong. And, in terms of styles, they are all different. There are some who are more elegant, others more "urban", a somewhat
punkish
young man and a flamenco dancer.
But Spanish Television lacked something:
body diversity
. Among the 16 participants there is no one who is
plus size
and, quickly, the journalists realized this. "There is a lot of talk about diversity, that dancers are all different. But I think the time has come to also bet on the diversity of bodies, right? There are guys with spectacular bodies, yes. But,
for a next edition, what? "Have you thought about including dancers who are a little plumper?
" commented a reporter during the press conference... And that didn't go down particularly well.
"I think that we have, in the 16 contestants and the eight
celebrities
, represented a large number of identities, personal differences and ages.
We have thin and less thin people. I mean, there is everything
. But of course, we have a limited number. It fits everything is possible, but everything is represented. And
believe me, we have chosen these people for their talent
. We have not limited the
casting
to any type of physical appearance," explained
Miguel Martín
, the director of the production company, but without assuming that between participants there is no person outside the normative physical canon.
"I understand what you mean. But here you see, in the dancers, the same body types.
You talk about diversity, but I don't see it in the dancers
," the journalist insisted with conviction. However, it caused a reaction that he never imagined. After hearing Martín repeat and repeat "I believe that there is diversity",
Norma Duval
- the jury of the contest - got up from her chair and went, without hesitation, to one of her dancers. The former
star
took the young woman's hand and
asked her to stand up to show off her body
, which is slightly wider than that of some of her colleagues.
"No, Norma, please"
At first, the girl refused. But Duval insisted. In an effort to prove that Martín was right, he wanted to use as an example a professional who was absolutely embarrassed.
"No, Norma, please, no
," Martín shouted at the media presenter. But it was too late, the dancer had already gotten up.
"No Norma, please. No, don't let just one stand up. Everyone up, please
," ordered the head of Zeppelin, before the astonished look of
Anne Igartiburu
- who had also requested that the contestant not stand up. - and some of the stars, like
Maestro Joao
and
Fabiola Martínez
.
What happened then?
The more than 50 journalists present caused a murmur that made the dancers and VIPs uncomfortable
. But Miguel Martín tried to act as if nothing had happened. "This is proof that there is bodily diversity.
There are stronger ones, less strong ones, more such... There is everything!
" said the executive, while
the participant was affected, she seemed saddened and dismayed
. She touched her belly, lowered her skirt and looked for support from her colleagues, who did show her that they are a team.
Seconds later, RTVE ended the presentation and some participants and members of the jury acknowledged to the press that, indeed,
there is a lack of plus-size dancers who can deliver a positive message
. However, the one who remained silent was fellow jury member
Rafa Méndez
. The well-known choreographer of Fame, who became famous for his harshness when speaking, his excessively critical and hurtful behavior and that remembered scene in which he kicked
Lola Índigo
out of a class. "
Mimi, get out! You're a hindrance to my vision. You're a four
," he shouted at her.
As EL MUNDO has learned, Méndez has not learned anything since his altercation, in 2010, with the fashionable singer and in this new
talent
he has once again shown his true face. A facet that led him to tell the same contestant he attacked
Norma Duval
that he does not have the body that a dancer should have. In one of the episodes,
recorded a few days ago
, the canary referred to the professional with a disqualifying adjective, which - of course - affected the sensitivity of the aforementioned,
who burst into tears
. Despite this, that will not be seen on television. It has been agreed that it will not be broadcast...
And it has already been deleted from the script
.