fracas

Fracas likes to watch dancing.

Long before there ever was a Dancing With The Stars, this fraccy female used to watch the ballroom dancing competitions available on PBS.

It was because the temperature was a little too cold for painting, and the rhubarb from the fraccy garden needed to be ‘magically’ turned into that which we spread on toast and crumpets, that I was there in the kitchen, slaving over a steamy canning kettle, and heard the sound that brought the fracas running (jammy spoon in hand) to the television set in the other room.

“Season Premiere of Dancing With The Stars“

How could that be? A season premiere and I didn’t miss it? I miss everything. I usually find out later, by reading someone else’s blog, that something really interesting was either on, or started… and I, if I want to blog about it, am going to be a day late and more than a dollar short.

But not this time.

So this shall begin for the new Dancing With The Stars series, the blog posts, the reviews, and the tom-foolery in that fun-filled fraccy way that comes from being the gal who likes to frac.

Tonight was the grand introduction of the women. Here are the biographies of the women, as compiled by the folks from Dancing With the Stars.

Melanie Brown

PROFESSION:
Singer, member of Spice Girls

PARTNER:
Maksim Chmerkovskiy

BACKGROUND:
Melanie Brown is best known for being “Scary Spice,” one of the members of the girl band, Spice Girls. Their first single, “Wannabe” was released in 1996 and established the group as a phenomenon worldwide. The Spice Girls went on to release three studio albums and ten singles, selling over 55 million records worldwide. Brown’s first solo debut album, Hot, was released October of 2000 followed by LA State of Mind in June 2005.

From 2001 2004, Brown took a break from recording and starred as “Mimi” in the Broadway musical Rent. She also performed in Vagina Monologues in London.

In June 2007, after much speculation, plans were announced for a Spice Girls worldwide reunion tour kicking off on December 2, 2007.

Brown has two daughters and is married to longtime friend and movie producer, Stephen Belafonte.

Sabrina Bryan

PROFESSION:
Actress and recording artist

PARTNER:
Mark Ballas

BACKGROUND:
Equally successful on screen and stage, Sabrina Bryan continues to demonstrate her creative versatility. Performing since she was seven years old, Sabrina is currently a member of the multi platinum recording act, The Cheetah Girls, as well as the star of the hugely successful Disney Channel movie franchise of the same name. Sabrina also starred in and co produced a fitness dance DVD called BYOU which was created so young girls can have fun learning cool, hip hop style dancing and get fit at the same time. BYOU was founded in early 2006 and has sold more than double platinum. She is also co writing the book Princess of Gossip for Pocket/MTV Books.

She also lends her voice to the National Spokesperson for Healthy Kids Challenge which promotes healthy eating and lifestyle to school aged children all over the United States.

Sabrina can next be seen reprising her role of “Dorinda” in the upcoming The Cheetah Girls 3. In addition, The Cheetah Girls’ next studio album “TCG” will be released September 25, 2007.

Jennie Garth

PROFESSION:
Actress

PARTNER:
Derek Hough

BACKGROUND:
Garth rose to stardom in the popular television series Beverly Hills: 90210. She since starred in the sitcom What I Like About You for four seasons. Over the course of her career, she has produced and starred in several made for TV movies. Her most recent project was a lead role in Lifetime’s Girl, Positive, which was the network’s highest rated movie this year.

Garth has three daughters with her husband, actor Peter Facinelli.

Josie Maran

PROFESSION:
Model/actress

PARTNER:
Alec Mazo

BACKGROUND:
Josie Maran has graced the pages of some of the biggest magazines, including multiple covers for Glamour and appearances in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. She’s also been featured in national ad campaigns for Guess and Maybelline, and has appeared in such films as The Aviator and Van Helsing. Today, Josie is a busy entrepreneur, activist and new mom. She launches her eponymous eco chic cosmetic line Josie Maran Cosmetics this fall and is a supporter and member of the environmental organization Global Green. Josie also works with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, as well as Teens for Safe Cosmetics in their outreach and education campaigns.

Marie Osmond

PROFESSION:
Actress and singer

PARTNER:
Jonathan Roberts

BACKGROUND:
Osmond won the hearts of fans as co host of the popular variety program, The Donny & Marie Show. She has since starred in several made for television movies, co hosted Ripley’s Believe It or Not, achieved success as a recording artist, performed on Broadway, made the New York Times bestselling authors list, and established herself as an entrepreneur with her highly successful Marie Osmond Collectible Doll line. She is also the co founder and co host of the Children’s Miracle Network.

Jane Seymour

PROFESSION:
Actress

PARTNER:
Tony Dovolani

BACKGROUND:
Jane Seymour is an actress, artist, author, activist and designer. The Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning British born actress is a star of motion pictures (Wedding Crashers, Live and Let Die, Somewhere in Time) and television, ranging from her six season Western drama, Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, to her reign as ‘Queen of the Mini Series,’ so dubbed by critics and the media. In addition Seymour is a bestselling author, widely successful artist, designer of her own line of homewares and accessories, and an activist on behalf of underprivileged and abused children around the world.

Fracas figures:

I’ve always thought women have the tougher hill to climb on this show. Ballroom dance is really all about the woman. The male contestants are able to wow the crowd if the woman professional is a knock ‘em dead kind of dancer, while the female contestants just don’t have that option. When you watch dance, you most often watch the woman. 

Though this is way too early to really decide anything, fracas figures Josie will have to work really hard to stick it out and prove she’s more than just a pretty face and a great body in a sparkly dress. Marie and Jane will be in it for a bit, winning favour for being old enough to be Sabrina’s mom, and yet being the proof positive (to the chagrin of many an under-25 gal) that women don’t just fall over and die because they pass the age of 40.

But fracas figures tonight’s Dancing Queen is none other than Sabrina Bryan, the “Cheetah Girl” who stepped into the rehearsal studio looking like she might have a hard time getting through it… only to show up every last person there!

I’m curious to see if she has it for the slower, more graceful numbers, or if she’s just all Cheetah!

Tomorrow… the men, and that pressing question.

Will Wayne Newton live up to his own name, or will he be this season’s Cliff Clavin?

Image Sources:
Melanie Brown
Sabrina Bryan
Jennie Garth
Josie Maran
Marie Osmond
Jane Seymour