SCD 2013 #6: The semi-finals are here!

[ScatterGotStuckUpTheChimney]

Following on from the last thread.

I'm looking forward to seeing two dances from everybody.The music choices don't look bad either relatively speaking.

Bizarrely there's only one couple (Patrick and Anya) who have two of the usual ten dances, the others all have AT/AS/salsa. Natalie and Artem don't have a ten dance at all.

The time at which I posted my comment about her being smug was when she was smiling in what appeared to be self satisfied confidence. It was very much a I scored 40, it won't be me look. Clearly she knew she'd be in the final anyway given the other dancer was Patrick. Only Susannah had anything to worry about being in the dance off.

You can't really tell what they're thinking, obviously, but it's the impression she gave me.

I think she must suspect that she can't win if it is all down to public vote and no judges' scoring.

Natalie danced it beautifully, but it was emotionally lacking to me.

Yes. I thought this - I didn't understand why the judges said she was smouldering (or something). Maybe it lost something on camera that it had in reality.

It's reported in the papers that Patrick is complaining that it is a popularity contest, and he feels the injustice for Natalie (not for himself) - who he says has superior dancing talent.

I guess he's right.

well of course the voting is done as a popularity contest.

what differences to the judges make, apart from in the dance off.

Yes Animation (you could see that Patrick thought it weird that he was in the DO with Nat.) but someone upthread said it is the beeb's fault for putting in a well trained dancer up against novices; Nat. hasn't really been through a 'journey' so it's not a level playing field.

Anything involving public voting is bound to be a popularity contest. It should have been Patrick v Susannah in the dance off.

ppeatfruit - yes I think the public quite rightly want to see 'a journey' as well as dancing talent. Patrick did look a bit raised eyebrows that he was up against Natalie!

Susanna to me has gone as far as she can go on her journey and seems much the same as she was a few weeks back, whereas I think Sophie continues to improve every week.

I'm rooting for Sophie.

The problem with Natalie is that she has never seemed to need to put effort in - she just learns the choreography each week and does it, like the professional dancers. The others make obvious progress through the week on It Takes Two and have crises of confidence which we can identify with. The worst that has happened to Natalie is not having long enough in hold in the Paso, she hasn't struggled with heel leads and arm shaping like the rest of them, so she is just not very interesting.

I'm just cTching up now! Sophie paso was fab !!

Ok after
First dances abbey was the best!

Something missing from Natalie at !!!

It doesn't help Natalie that she is taller than her partner Artem in her high heels. Artem mentioned that on ITT that it makes him look too short in certain poses so is limited in his choreography.

The thing that does annoy me about Natalie is when she plays 'hunt the camera'. She did it in the middle of the AT the first time around and I really didn't like it. Much better in the second one when she stayed focussed on Artem.

And Jane what can I say

I love Kevin from Grimsby, he seems so nice and just shows off the English amateur dancesport circuit in a good light

I like Kevin too he seems a genuine bloke.

Nat. seemed very smug at the beginning of the results but the smile disappeared when it was down to her and Patrick (if she was camera aware she'd have been more careful!)

How much dance training has Natalie had? There seems to be a feeling that she's next best thing to a pro dancer, but if all she's done is a bit of dance at stage school or acting college, then that's not much different than a lot of other actors. Didn't we have this with DVO?

carabos, I don't think it's the standard stage school training - her VT right at the beginning said she trained to be a dancer and had to give up at 19 due to an injury.

Her pre-Strictly cv says she is 'Highly Skilled' in: Cabaret Dancing, Contralto, Jazz Dancing, Latin American, and Tap. Though no mention of ballroom.

here:

here

So Natalie can act, dance and sing - has a contralto voice. Very talented.

Strictly is Natalie's 3-month audition for the West End.

Yes, I think so too.

But strangely unlikeable. Not sure why.

And good for her. As much as I don't care for her to win, she was usually good to watch. Nearly all of them go on for reasons other than "the purity of the dance", so exposure for your talent is as good a reason as the rest. Probably better actually.

Oi, don't start with the passive-aggressive digs, I was only answering carabos' question!

As an aside, I actually think that Natalie has an unfortunate mouth that twitches a lot and makes her look as though she's pulling faces when perhaps she doesn't mean to.

After loads of thought about why I don't like Natalie's dancing as much as I should when it is technically so good, I think it's to do with a lack of joy. She has a strong work ethic and a good sense of humour, Artem has a strong work ethic and basically no sense of humour at all when under stress. So the further along they get, the harder they work towards perfection and the less they enjoy it, and I think that lack of enjoyment really shows. It's all work! She is trying her hardest because it's the right thing to do, when she should be loving it so much that she can't help but throw her heart into it.

If she had been partnered with someone more cuddly or fun, like Robin, I think she would be a lot more popular and more fun to watch, although she would possibly be slightly less perfect.

I'm quite enjoying watching Kevin. I liked his comment about the girls who are less than perfect dancers being the fun ones to dance with, and he clearly thinks having fun outweighs winning. He is the antithesis of Artem.