to think it wouldn't kill Strictly make an effort to have same sex couples?

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I know there a big row about the comedienne who 'chose' a male partner but Strictly really could make an effort - maybe something along the lines of - " If you do have a same sex partner we'll make sure that you aren't some novelty act, we have access to some of the best choreographers & musical theatre people and creative people and it'll be awesome. Not just a version of the 'straight' routines.''
I've seen boys dance with boys and girls dance with girls and it really shouldn't be a big deal...

For the people who don't know how a man can ballroom dance with a man or a woman with a woman - have a look on YOUTUBE! Some great vids.

Well the male and female of most dancing styles have different moves. so 2 men dancing the tango - 1 of them would have to learn the opposite moves I.E. be the woman..

It's dancing and it's a competitive sport. People can choose the same sex when they dance socially but not in a mixed competition. Competitive same sex ballroom/Latin requires sharing of the lead between the two partners so it wouldn't work on Strictly unless all couples were same sex for reasons of fairness in judging.

Isn't ballroom dancing very structured around a man and a woman dancing though? Loads of gay people work in theatre, entertainment etc but the moves in ballroom require a 'straight' couple. They need to do lifts etc.

That may be so (I have no clue about dancing) but that's because it was structured to be that way, isn't it?

They could easily create other dances.

So, there is an element in heteronormativity in it. And while having sex with your dance partner isn't required, dancing is considered a romantic activity for couples, and that won't change anytime soon.

as in any sport or physical activity involving male/female pairs.

Which would that be? I can't think of any, except tennis. Where there's also the option to play in only male or only female pairs.

It would put the couples competing at a disadvantage whichever way you do it, as you'd have the professional dancing in the steps they're less familiar with (switching lead and follow) or you'd have the celebrity learning the opposite of what they'd normally dance. You'd also have to change choreography to reflect changed roles. As pp has said, it's not fair to place same sex couple dancing in competition with opposite sex. They're doing something different.

With ref to Susan calman, I think it's daft that people are assuming because a person is attracted to same sex they can't perform with opposite sex. Actors don't only perform in roles that are the same as their personal identified sexual preference. You get single and opposite sex pairings in tennis, you don't expect them to compete in the same competition. The whole thing is daft.

I honestly do not see why a person's sexuality has anything to do with who they partner in a dance competition.

Strictly is a Ballroom and Latin dance competition where one team member is a pro and the other an amateur. The whole point is to see if an amateur can learn to dance. The pros teaching them all dance professionally as mixed-sex couples. Even the gay pros.

At this rate, comments will start to be made about brothers and sisters dancing together.

Grim - not sure about your 'fairness' argument for judging. Some contestants are much younger than others, some have dancing experience in some way, some are overweight some are really fit. Not a level playing field anyway.
VestalVirgin - I'm sure many gay people would agree with the 'romantic' element in dancing, and would consider themselves romantic too...

@vestalvirgin there are literally different steps on dances for the follow and lead. In some dances there are moves that only the lead or follow perform. At the very least you will be doing the reverse of a step eg in a follow you start with the right leg, you'd step back first in a waltz and the lead would step forward. As someone with only basic skills, that's a difficult switch to make. A professional will be able to do it but you won't get the full benefit of their skill set - like asking a great musician to play on their second instrument.

myfeet I was replying to a previous poster who suggested that a same-sex couple would "take it in turns" to lead and follow. Plus how many male professionals could easily lift another male, who will be substantially heavier than the partners he is used to lifting?

Also there's a thing called muscle memory which we use when dancing - your body becomes used to moving in a particular way. I'm training to take dance teacher qualifications and I have to concentrate very hard when dancing the leader's (traditional "male") role as it is very different to dancing as a woman.

To back up what reetgood says, in a lot of instances the steps/footwork for figures (what we call a series of linked steps) are very different for the leader/follower.

Look at this video which is a basic Rumba figure called a "Closed Hip Twist". The footwork is very different for each role but both are still dancing the same figure.

It's a dance show - not an affirmation of lifestyle choices.

Do we know that any of the gay or lesbian contestants past and present actually want to dance with a same sex partner?

Cavemum - while you’re on Youtube treat yourself to a video of the female
couple on the Israeli Strictly or the salsa guy couple on America’s got Talent.
It’ll show you what’s possible, and that the sky isn’t going to come crashing
down on anyone’s head ( yours or the poor pros ) if same sex couples dance together

DarceyBusselsNose - the 1950's called, they'd like their attitudes back, ta!

How bloody stupid. Little kids watch it. What would they think

Personally I think SC didn't chose a female partner for a much more traditional reason - she's small and round. The dancers are all tall, fit and skinny. Who wants to dance with someone who makes them look like a weeble? No-one...

myfeet I've never said the world will come crashing down if two men or two women dance together. I'm simply pointing out that it's just not straightforward to ask a male or female pro to dance in the opposite role to that which they are used to, which is what some posters on this thread have suggested.

I'm also reiterating the point that whilst the Ginger Rogers' quote about "doing everything he does in heels, backwards" has a great ring to it, the fact is that the make/female, leader/follower steps are actually usually very different to each other, as is the style of dancing.

randomer - they would think that people exist in the world who dance with the same sex rather than the opposite sex.

I'm really surprised by these responses.

It would send a lovely message to same sex couples if this happened.

accrualIntentions - THIS is what the BBC have said... so maybe we will never know:
"Strictly has chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples and at the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples in the competition.”

Little kids watch it. What would they think

'Little kids' are curious, inquisitive and accepting, which is more than can be said for many grown ups.

But nattwebb. Your argument conflicts with your evidence. The celebs are all over 16. I can't imagine the kids dancing evocative dancing. Hence the rule, surely?

myfeetarealwayscold

DarceyBusselsNose - the 1950's called, they'd like their attitudes back, ta!

Best you toddle along then, my wording is deliberately ambiguous - and there's always one who wilfully misreads. You're it.

We well may be in the 21st century and Strictly appeals to a wide family audience, I'm afraid there are people who would not want to watch Pascha/Aliaz/Brendon et al gently stroking the vicars brow and gazing into his eyes lovingly. Of course unless you are suggesting that straight people be forced into homosexual roleplay as part of their work contract? I can see that being a vote winner.

Do you think there is enough support for Strictly Same Sex Dancing to be an actual show?

PS you have no idea if Im gay, straight, bi, transgender or asexual - so again a wonderful piece of projection on your part

Why have same sex couples? We get to see a male and a female dancing against other males with a female.
Both sexes are allowed to compete whether they are gay or straight. No one is being discriminated against. It's not about relationships. Why change it.?
I think people just like to look for problems where there are none.

I missed the little kids argument. I don't think that's a valid argument though. That one would be spouted by the sort of parents, who pulled their child from school because a kid dressed some days as a boy and others as girl.