Delightful surprise and joy is what you feel when you see the TV judges of e.tv's new upcoming reality show Step Up Or Step Out in action in front of the camera in their roles as arbiters of dance talent and in the way their 3 person on-screen dynamic fits together perfectly.
The original concept of Step Up Or Step Out produced by Endemol SA for e.tv is an unexpected television pleasure - in part because of great casting.
The 3 judges of Arthur Mafokate, Penelope Thloloe and Emile Jansen are perfect, and perfect together. Getting the right people who not only have clout, street cred, pop on television but also create magic when they're together is notoriously difficult and many shows - let alone reality shows - never find it. Step Up Or Step Out definitely managed to get it.
Arthur Mafokate, Penelope Thloloe and Emile Jansen together as the Step Up Or Step Out judges are a terrific trifecta of fantastic television. Three distinct and unique personalities come together in this surprisingly good reality show that judges dance groups. None of the three gets overshadowed, they all speak with a distinct style and feed off of each other's energy. As I did, I'm sure viewers will fall in love with waiting ... waiting to hear which one of them is going to say something crass but cool, funny or interesting.
Since Step Up Or Step Out will be judging dance groups (another surprise: some astounding talent, dance acts and routines! People dressing up! A sprinkling of dance drama like one group showing up with one white ''Michael Jackson'' glove each!) the judges' critiques suddenly sound fresh, new, interesting and (gasp!) constructively real. They talk about groups, group dynamics, non-verbal interaction with the audience, which members are letting other members down and costumes (a lot of groups come all dressed up).
Have you've watched Glee? The mesmerising joy of Step Up Or Step Out is watching Arthur Mafokate being almost exactly like a viscious Sue Sylvester at times. Its delightfully entertaining watching the Step Up Or Step Out judge (who will probably be the meanie) telling groups that they just don't cut it. Hopeful groups would do acrobatics, summersaults and intricate dance moves. Then Arthur Mafokate, with somewhat faux haughtiness, simply dismisses them. ''You need to practice more.'' It's cringe delicious.
Penelope Thloloe, a dancer, comes across as the clever teacher who's acceptance and words of praise you crave. You love her and you want her to give you a gold star. But not all the dance crews in Step Up Or Step Out deserve stars, so she dishes constructive criticism with remarkable observations. ''I felt that you had more to give and I'm sorry but I didn't see it,'' she would say. Or: ''I enjoyed you're routine. But I do need to see your eyes more.''
Before you hear him talk Emile Jansen's Afro is an external indication of the intangible larger-than-life personality. This hip hop artist knows exactly what he's talking about, but doesn't show off. With an affable smile he's warmly polite to all the groups. Could it be that he knows where they are and what it takes to get six people together who don't have anything but passion and who work together for hours and hours to come up with a freestyle routine on Saturday afternoons in someone's garage?
Step Up Or Step Out starts on e.tv on Sunday 8 May at 18:05 (with a behind-the-scenes second weekly episode starting Tuesday 10 May at 20:30).
