I danced as a child- now I’m on Strictly

If you (as well as being an excellent dancer already) were warm, engaging, funny, natural and down to earth and had a fabulous and popular strictly pro then you'd be in with a chance of winning.

But if you are a fabulous dancer already but lacking in those other elements then you wouldn't have a chance.

The public vote for who they want to see every week - it's a TV show first and foremost and it has a competitive element. The Brits love a journey and an underdog. I love to see great dancers and not so great dancers and never vote so I'm not bothered who wins. All the celebs get paid and get amazing prime time TV coverage so they don't really have much to complain about!

Obviously it's an advantage!
And I think there are more ringers than there used to be.
If you've had a lot of dance training as a child and/or do a different genre of dance ie have been in a boy/girl band and are used to performing live in front of an audience you have a huge advantage.
Being young, fit, flexible and strong is also a big advantage.

Of course it's not a level playing field, although tbh there are so many experienced celebrity contestants with the advantages above it is becoming the norm now for the majority to be amazing from week one!

Imagine I am a celebrity

But you are not?

This seems a very roundabout way of asking, 'is it fair that some strictly celebrities have already done dancing?'

I don't really get what it has to do with you as you are not a celebrity and therefore are not going to be invited onto Strictly!

That's part of the fun. Seeing how people from different starting level progress and adjust. Sometimes the technically best celebrity dancers doesn't get the viewers on their side because they get boring.

Gosh are you a superfan? Does it remotely matter, it’s not the Olympics.

And there have been poor dancers who won, Chris Hollins being the obvious example.

I don't think that's true tbh. There have been plenty of winners who weren't the best dancer in their final, and plenty of excellent dancers who were robbed ended up as a runner up. Danny Mac being the obvious one.

Another advantage is being used to performing in front of an audience, which most of them will have whether they are in showbiz or sport. I felt sorry for Judy Murray when she was on Strictly as she was really not a performer of any background.

I like Amber.

I support the people who actually get better week on week- I especially love the moment someone suddenly gets it! They’ve been doing ok, but you can hear the cigs grinding while they dance, then suddenly one week they light up and flow across the floor!

It’s why I enjoy the couple’s choice, because the celeb gets a chance to throw themselves into it without feeling constrained by techniques and expectations.

I think the advantages are: being fit/having stamina, being used to training for an event, and being able to memorise complex patterns like scripts, gymnastic routines, football strategies etc. dance gives you some of those skills, but not the specific dance styles they teach on strictly. Plus the audience are wowed in the early weeks but then someone shows genuine progress and gains all the support.

Hi Amber!

I’m sorry but this wasn’t worth a thread,

she is talented across the whole board bu the looks of things and I don’t give a fuck. She will do well as that’s just who she is she succeeds in everything she does but then look at Vicky pattison who used to get pissed on the tele for a living she’s also doing great. This world. Just LET THEM be and live.

I don’t watch it anymore but the ringers used to bore me to death, I used to go out and get another drink or have a cup of tea when they were on. Or fast forward on catch up. People always say you need a few good dancers otherwise it would be awful, nah, don’t agree. The ringers make it boring.

It’s not meant to be an even playing field it’s people learning to dance from completely different backgrounds all in different fields of work, it’s light entertainment.

Yeh why not.

A lot of American gymnasts do the US version of Strictly. Dancing is literally a component of their sport. They of course have a massive advantage, just like a figure skater or similar would.

I thought this would be about someone (OP) who danced as a child, and is now a professional dancer on Strictly, like an "Ask Me Anything".

Of course it’s acceptable. The celebrities are chosen based on who will make good telly (and who the bbc can afford!), not on their dance background, but of course lots of the celebrities will have some background in dance because dance is a huge part of showbiz. But there is no specific criteria the celebrities have to meet to qualify, it’s not a real competition where they are supposed to be evenly matched, it’s an entertainment show not an actual serious contest.

Strictly needs some dancers with experience each year otherwise it would be excruciating to watch.

Well you clearly do give a fuck because you've started a thread about it!

🤣🤣

Agree

And?! What is the point of this!

I don’t really understand your question. Yes having experience and training is a good thing, but whether or not it will give you an advantage depends on the experience and training of everyone else you are competing with, surely?