My love affair with dancing goes back to those classic movie musicals — the barn building scene in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” the Tom, Dick and Harry song from “Kiss Me Kate,” Good Morning from “Singing in the Rain.” I’m a sucker for a dance number and though I suffered through many a tap, ballet and jazz class, I sadly never had much of a talent in that area.

So I guess that’s why I love dancing shows on TV, just another way to live vicariously through others. Here are my top five picks!

5. Dance Wars

This was actually a tough call between Dance Wars and America’s Best Dance Crew. When I first heard about Dance Wars and the rivalry between DWTS’ judges Carrie Ann and Bruno, I was thrilled. Singing and dancing - full-on group production numbers. . . alas, it was a huge disappointment and I don’t know why. It had all the makings of a great dance show but it just didn’t get there. Still, I did like the themed weeks and the added bonus of having the contestants sing as well as dance (see number 4) was a nice change.

4. The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll (or Girlicious)

Not technically a dancing show, but still, these ladies have to strut their stuff if they want to win. Unlike most dance competition shows, these girls live in the same house together for that added layer of catty drama. What I really love is when they’re taught to bump and grind, then Mikey complains that they look like strippers. Yeah well. . . And then there’s the fact that the rehearsal segments make it look like they’re learning a complex dance routine (complete with whining and tears of frustration) but on show night it just looks like three girls prancing around to the beat of the music. Sorry, Miss Thang - time to hang up your boa! You will NOT be made into a star.

3. Step it Up and Dance

This is Bravo’s answer to So You Think You Can Dance with trained (some more than others) dancers competing to take home the prize. Like all of Bravo’s shows, there’s something “cultural” about the series. Each week, the dancers take part in an initial challenge which has them divided into two groups at the end. Both groups must then learn a new style of dance but only someone in the “winning” group can win while someone in the “losing” group goes home. I’m still not sure what the point is of that little twist, but it does ratchet up the tension and it also shows you who is bound to slack when they know they’re safe from elimination.

2. So You Think You Can Dance

It’s the American Idol of dancing shows and it really puts forth how tough it is to make it in the biz. What I love about this show is that they don’t let the dancers stay in their comfort zones. Ballet dancers must do hip hop routines. Jazz dancers take on the modern dance and those Broadway routines just slay me. It’s art with bodies in motion. It’s fun. It’s exciting. And when it’s live TV you just never know what’s going to happen. So You Think You Can Dance? Prove it.

1. Dancing with the Stars

Between seasons, I always swear that I won’t be drawn in next time around. But the show begins and the band plays and the dancers descend down those long, sweeping stairs and I’m hooked. I wait every week for that performance that will literally leave me breathless, or even wiping away the tears. (I’m very emotional when I watch people dance.) And just when I think I’ve seen it all, the recap show comes on and I’m blown away by the pros showing how it’s really done. I also must give great kudos to the show for featuring some of the best dancers in every style of dance, from clogging to cultural dances, modern tap and tiny ballroom babies! No doubt about it, Dancing with the Stars is my number one pick.