Dancing with Benefits by Djuanna Brockington
By Djuanna Brockington • Mar 6th, 2009 • Category: Musings of a Mid-Life Diva •
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Let’s just get it on the table.
I am anxiously awaiting Dancing With The Stars this season.
(Yes, Djuanna- we know all about your reality TV addiction- RuPaul’s Drag Race in the middle of the day- indeed!)
But I haven’t watched Dancing in a while. Seriously, after Emmit Smith and Jerry Rice- there wasn’t much that they could offer me.
Except for now. Lil Kim y’all!
My mouth dropped to the floor when I heard the news. Lil Kim on Dancing? Seriously?! Apparently so.
Which got me to thinking about the act of reinvention.
Lil Kim came out swinging as a hard core female rap artist. She rolled with Biggie. Flaunted what her mama gave her. Went platinum a’plenty. Proved that she was a “ride or die” chick and went to jail for it. Is rumored to have written about 200 songs or more while doing time. She’s been seen here and there on television since her release- looking a little more mature, wearing more clothing, and working her game, but seemingly a little quieter on the set.
So far, Lil Kim’s makeover has been subtle. You know there’s something different, but you can’t quite put your hands on it. After 20+ years of working with folks and trying to facilitate change, I know that the changes that stick the best are the ones we move into with thought, caution, and careful consideration. Drastic changes work- they just don’t always last (as evidenced by many, many, many people losing large amounts of weight in a short period of time and then gaining all of it back- and on occasion, even more; as opposed to those who lose weight slowly and consistently and end up keeping most, if not all of it off).
For me, Lil Kim was an interesting choice. My first thought was that she wanted the publicity. Let’s face it, some of the contestants on Dancing get plenty of air time out of it, and it has jump started their comebacks (Marie Osmond, Drew Lachey, Lance Bass, even Vivica Fox). In other words, you don’t seem to have to win Dancing to benefit from the experience. Good for them.
Come Monday, Lil Kim’s going to show us what she’s working with. On the dance floor, that is. Honestly, I am very interested in how she performs as a dancer. But I’m even more interested in where career goes AFTER the show.
What say you, APOOO- do you think Lil Kim will use her Magic Stick and move from Hip Hop Diva to “mainstream”? Is she about to change her game?
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Djuanna Brockington is a Southern Diva. Reading, writing, and running (on occasion) are her favorite things. Her short stories and novellas can be found on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. When not ranting on APOOO, she's ruminating on her own website: http://www.divafictionbytes.com
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Hmmm…1st I have to get off my chest that someone needs to make her stop wearing that color foundation.
Now, the access hollywood anchor Nancy will not be dancing. She had an injury and she was going to announce who else is out of the cast, but I had to go to sleep so I missed it. (ok update, I had to stop and google, it is Jewel)
I am not real sure that she can do the job. I think she is going to be the one I am cheering for, just because. I have been trying to remember if I ever saw her dance, even a little.
I found Drag race last week, but can not find out when it comes on to see them all.
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Girl, I’m just going to have to watch the show because out of all the AfAm women they could have picked…Lil Kim…WTF…lol.
xoxo
I am a DWTS junkie as well. Now when I heard that Lil Kim was going to be on there, I said a quick prayer for them to encourage her to wear clothes. I don’t want her to break a sweat and we have another Janet and Justin mishap.
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I usually don’t watch it but since my girl, Lil Kim, is gonna be on there, I’m definately watching. She may surprise you haters…lol Just kidding, but she may be surprising. We’ll see.
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Last season is the first time I believe that I watched every single episode, voted and when I missed something went online to see that episode. At first I was thinking Lil Kim. NOPE, HOW? Cause as stated, Kim is off the hook LITERALLY! I think that it may also help to jump start her career into a GROWN WOMAN. With the Biggie movie and Faith’s book, Kim’s stock is on the rise. What I hope is that she actually comes prepared to work and not assume that she’ll get by or use any flaky excuses as to why she can’t do something. It’s safe to say that I will definitely be tuning in to see.
Hmpd, she better not make the wrong move, something might break off, fall off or stretch too far, All the plastic.
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