Strictly Come Dancing 2011

[CaveMum]

As all the other threads seem to have died off I thought I'd start a new one in anticipation of this Friday's first live show.

I have to say I'm not too bothered about the Celebs this year, but then again I'm more interested in watching the professionals anyway!

The line up for each of the two shows has been announced (from BBC website):

On Friday 30th September the couples performing for the first time on live television will be:

?Alex
?Anita
?Audley
?Dan
?Lulu
?Robbie
?Russell

Then on Saturday 1st October the couples performing for the first time together will be:

?Chelsee
?Edwina
?Harry
?Holly
?Jason
?Nancy
?Rory

Please note the running order has yet to be confirmed. The celebrities have been listed above in alphabetical order.

They will dance either a Waltz or a Cha Cha Cha, but I'm not 100% sure who is doing what.

My overriding thought in the run up for the series so far has been "I hope the wardrobe department come up with some decent foundations for poor Chelsee!"
That outfit they've put her in for the promo shots makes her boobs look humungous

Anyone else care to share their thoughts in advance?

and oooooooooooooooooooooooh. good result imo. (not having seen the show, arf)

JudgePan:

Was it my tele or was Tess wearing comedy lipstick? It looked clownish. And did Bruno tell Craig to piss off when he berated him for his singing? I played it back a couple of times and I'm sure he did.

Audley - underscored. And doesn't Holly really suit that wig? She looked faberooney, dancing was v. good and I didn't think the outfit was too revealing or porky at all? And how did Harry get away with hardly any jive movements in a jive? He was just re-creating the garage Grease scene. And am coming to like Nancy against all things holy. Anton is just not at the races is he? Jason is becoming the Michael Schumacker of the series - very proficient but dull dull dull. Robbie has gone from hound at the start to a little puppy!. And Russel's timings are still perfection, and lots of excellent footwork.

right, off to spoil it for myself.

I think Chelsee is the strongest female dancer (but then I love Latin and really enjoy all her footwork and shimmying) but I was a bit disappointed this week that her dance wasn't tighter, and I think the judges were a wee bit disappointed too.

Holly is absolutely STUNNING but I always think she looks a teeny bit stilted and awkward.

Is it just me or does Dan look like he's about to give Katya a great big snog at any minute? Is he single?

Jason is excellent, but when he opens his mouth it's like Oh dear God spare me! Blah blah blah blah....

Really adored Len's shall I compare thee to a fluffy white cloud with a sun in the middle?

My top dances last night were
Jason's Tango
Alex's Viennese Waltz
Russell's Foxtrot
Chelsee's Cha Cha

Robbie is improving nicely - I'm surprised he comes over as a nice guy too. I was prepared to hate him.
I was very disappointed with Holly's tango, although she looked amazing in that wig.

Dan, Lulu and Audley were meh.

I enjoyed Rory's quickstep.

Harry just doesn't do it for me - I don't know why.

Nancy is awful (though she has improved a bit - how does she manage to walk? She has NO core strength!)
I love Anita, but the last 2 weeks have not been her best. I think she'll be safe though until the next Latin dance.

I think Harry has the same problem as Matt last year - Aliona. She's a rubbish choreographer. I can't believe the judges scored them so highly for a jive with hardly any jive in it.

What about the sodding terrible camera work? When a couple is doing some fancy footwork we are busy gazing up their noses or into the audience!

Nancy was a massive improvement and undermarked IMO

Lulu looks as if she's not 'there' - like this most of the time

Loving Russel - will be interesting to see if he can butch up and actually lead.
His feet are minute - is that an advantage or disadvantage? He looks like he's about to topple over

I like it when the judges mention the choreography and the technical dancy bits. By week 6 I can even remember some and nod sagely along Then forget it all and start next season anew.

I know all the "You stayed in character...fizz...energy...flair" is part of the judging and they want to stay mostly positive. Pointing out what to improve is important and I'm already fed up of the pantomime booing when Craig starts to speak.

Alesha seems to struggle to find much to say and throws in a comment about feet or frame as if to demonstrate she knows what she's talking about. That may be unfair as I admit she gets on my nerves. Thought she looked stunning last night in gold.

Why did Aliona have a big 'H' on her top? We couldn't work that out.

And I too was disappointed by her lack of jive content. I thought that when they did do the jive they still managed to 'Grease-ify' it a little because Harry did a little flick of his jacket collar, or smoothed the side of his hair - very good I thought. And I thought no harm in doing a little of the 'classic' dance to that song (by which I mean what we all do when it comes on at weddings and Christmas parties ). But it should have been way more jive I think.

I forget who said 'Harry has the same problem as Matt - Aliona' but I totally agree . And sadly for Harry I don't think he's as good as Matt so he just won't do as well, whereas with a better teacher (Ola or someone? Or Lilia!) I think he could have really improved.

Also thought Robbie did pretty well. Nancy did a lot better but was still like the bottom end of the week 1 scoreboard. At least she turned out a dance though, didn't look drunk and Anton didn't 'comedify' it.

Love Russell but he's going to need to butch it up for some of the dances - tango or paso? Or even rumba? It's only acting after all and we expect the sports people etc to be able to act them out.

Gosh I'm rambling - gonna stop there

anyone else getting a bit at all of these 'standing ovations'?

Yes Pan very much so! In fact I commented to DH it must be like being in church if you're in the audience!

Loved it last night but I was amazed by how many couples got a standing ovation. The audience must have been worn out! It was then painfully noticeable in its absence for those not rewarded with one.

Audley seems lovely, looks so enthusiastic and un-stiff - if only his feet would do he same!

Holly looked gorgeous but I agree the bottom half of the dress not the most flattering - needed a little skater skirt or a split pencil to set off the edgy sexiness of the top. Or even Cabaret-style shorts.

I do wonder how much say they get in wardrobe choices - surely Anita didn't have a hand in the monstrosity they put her in last night? Last week's was funny at the time, but now it's starting to look tragic.

And am I the only one who thinks 'the chicks'll cream' is unsuitable for a family show? I do feel sorry for Harry as well - he seems charming and a gift to his pro - but she doesn't care about anything other than showing herself off.
I remember getting really cross last year when she was in the group dances - she'd always be just that tiny beat ahead or behind so she stood out - not the point of a group dance at all!

That was a brave singer who had to do a Queen number with Bryan May in the audience - not sure he pulled it off. And I can't remember which song, but there was a point where the female singer kept croaking and nearly missing the notes - very off-putting.

< step away from the laptop! >

Crossed posts!

what is/are chicks'll cream? and yes about ideas about Holly's dressing - not too bad but shorts would have been fab re her legs.

Yes we thought that about Holly's skirt too.

Obv she's not porky, but they did something weird with the side panels that covered the bits where your knickers would go round - sort of between the top of her thighs and her hips. It made her look very rounded and bumpy, but I wondered if perhaps you could see the top of her tights through it or something? Maybe that would explain the bumpiness? Surely that would be a rooky mistake for the wardrobe dept?

'Chicks'll cream' is a (rather rude) line from the grease song. Can't remember the lines around it to put it in context....

ah. thanks. What I don't know won't hurt me.

Here are the lyrics - the line in question is near the end of the chorus

doh! should have worked it out for myself. I am sooo naive. thanks biscuit.

.
I remember being shocked by Grease when I was 15 - can't believe it's performed a primary schools up and down the country!

Aw bless innocent Pan!

Ah not at all Pan - I've just read the lyrics when I found that link and I would never have even guessed most of the words in it!

But yet I must have sung it countless times at parties

Oh, and for a long time I thought the words were 'a real pushin' wagon' and they're not (ahem )

ahem

Oooh sorry

Am so used to hanging out on the pregnancy boards and you don't find many men there

I do hope I've not offended

i am a new viewer. we have just started watching it and have to say love it...but I don't get Aleshia(sp) why is she a judge and what is her background in ballroom, I know she won once, but does she have the background to judge others? genuine question.
oh and Harry is the best

no offence at all, but thanks for throwing flowers at me!

Aleisha - no idea why she is there other than glamming it.

Hello Seven I like Harry too (but not Aliona so much )

And I think Aleisha's only credentials are that she won the series - don't think she has any other experience.