SCD 2014 #4. As we Dance Away

[Behoove]

New thread here

Oh I SEE! The professionals left early, I see what you mean x

On ITT last week, the very tall Family Fortunes bloke made a remark about Mark being the only celeb who has not danced before. So Jake has then ?

I'm glad Pixie's gone and I don't care if that makes me sound like a bitch.

She was so obviously trained, she was consistently not picked up on things like not closing her feet that others are criticised for, Trent just put in high/long leg things every dance to impress people, and she had no personality as far as I could tell. She was very ungracious squealing with joy after Craig saved her.

I'm glad Simon went through and I didn't mind him collapsing to the floor; I felt it was genuine shock, and that he can't really believe he's still there, whereas Pixie seemed to just assume she was going to stay in. Trent's face was like thunder when they got called for the dance-off, too.

Caroline's AT had too much trickery and not enough of an intimate feel. Jake was terrific and what a clever, sparkling routine Janette gave him. Have completely forgotten Mark's dance. Frankie's didn't have enough salsa, it was a rubbish song and it just looked trashy and slutty, and not in a good way.

digerd, I think someone on here said Jake went to stage school. I don't know the details of how much he's danced though.

I agree re Pixie. The week she did the Charleston the judges said she was amazing, yet the bits they showed in slow motion clearly showed her legs were out of sync with Trent's. She also looked gawky at times. They definitely over marked that dance.

I also agree Re Simon collapsing on the floor. It was a shock to all of us that he was saved so I can't imagine how shocked he'd have been! Even before the dance off he was saying his thank yous and basically saying goodbye

Rachael Stevens was robbed!

Kara Tointon was on the Sport Relief version of SCD so you might be thinking of her?

Agree that Simon was genuinely shocked, I nearly fell off the couch myself! I didn't think anyone could beat Pixie.

Interesting that Pixie said Trent hadn't told her there was anything wrong with her legs in training and he said the same. Can anyone with dance experience explain if the judges or Trent are right? Dd was in tears when Pixie left. Harry Judd did SCD for Children in Need before doing the main programme.

Was Harry stage schooled? Tbh with his fan base I think he could have done the Hokey Cokey every week and still won.

I'd say the judges are right about Pixie's legs. They just looked odd....I don't know if I can explain it technically better than that but it was very, very obvious to me. I can understand why her legs were so straight as you're constantly told in cha cha that your legs need to be straight and you need to push your feet through the floor in order to get the correct hip action. But her legs were too straight, which is strange because most people find getting the legs straight really difficult (I know I do. It doesn't half do my knees in, especially in rumba). I think she overdid it which is a shame as previously her legs have been too bent. Her legs were always her weakest area though, I think her brilliant top half was able to hide the mistakes she made with her feet and legs a lot of the time.

I didn't like her legs. There's a particular action you need, and she just wasn't getting it. Basically, your legs should only bend when you move them, the rest of the time you should be settled into the hip, so your knee has to be locked. Pixie was getting it some of the time and not others, so it looked heavy and not sharp enough.

Have a look at to see how sharp it should look. Cha cha should never look soft.

Some dances you're allowed to do lifts (ie American smooth) and others you aren't. Cha cha is one that you aren't. Two feet off yhe floor = lift
The pros usually get round it by making sure one foot is in the floor during the lift. Or just throwin them in anyway and hoping for the best.
It's usually the newbies, Aliona did it with Matt artem did it with Kara
len's the traditionalist so he'll mark the celeb down for doing it.

Ten dance (the 'proper' ballroom and Latin dances: waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, cha cha, rumba, samba, paso doble, jive) shouldn't have lifts at all. Drag type things are ok, but the girl's meant to have one foot in contact with the floor at all times.

American Smooth they've set at a maximum of three lifts, but salsa and charleston are a free for all.

Actually about lifts, I've been wondering about what happens in proper competitions when there's loads of couples on the dance floor. Presumably it can get a bit dangerous if all the men are flinging their partners Around.

Quite simply, in some dances you aren't allowed lifts at all under the rules, in others you are only allowed a limited number of lifts. Any lift outside the permitted quota is an illegal lift.

Sonorous - Harry did Children in need special and won with Ola
( very good paso)
Dotty - aside from Simon only Fearn Briton has done the main show after doing a Xmas special first.

Kara did a sport relief special prior to doing main show.
Susannah did Children in need.

Two slebs...Elaine Paige and Rochelle Wiseman from the Saturdays have done two specials each - a charity one SR CiN then Xmas ones.

But because of the springboarding it means that people like matt Goss and Helen Skelton are always touted as poss candidates for the next series. On DS anyway;-)

Quietly - I need to rewatch it but didn't Trent lift her off the sofa at one point?

Redcoats, you don't do them. Some will have drops etc. (paso especially) but you have to be careful and if it looks like you'll hit somebody you just have to improvise.

Things like acro rock and roll with lots of llifts, they just put fewer couples out in a heat. And ballroom salsa typically doesn't have lifts.

Okay, so getting nearer to the final...same format as previous years do you think?
Judges choice/showdance
Slebs choice

Love that we see all the showdances now
We don't miss out on an unlearned dance never seen...still want to see Pamela's Argentine tango years ago that we never got to see
But last year by holding back sophie's charleston we never got to see it get the tens it deserved.
Wonder if they'll do that with Jake's salsa?

I reckon for show one -producers- judges so called choice

Jake Tango or Samba
Caroline Rumba
Frankie Viennese waltz
Simon Quickstep
Mark Charleston

Show two- slebs so-called choice
Jake Salsa
Caroline Charleston
Frankie Tango if can do make up/hydraulics, Paso if not
Simon Argentine tango
Mark Jive

Depending on
Who goes next week
Whether they are trying to justify Simon's safe
Whether they are appeasing audience popularity (Mark, Jake)
Whether Jake is chucked under bus for not doing tour
Whether holding back Jake's salsa Caroline's Charleston will make them more cash in phone votes
Whether the showcases are latin/ballroom based

Yes, and they've been very lax about picking them up on it this year.

I think it's partly because a lot of these are more used to dancing show and exhibition dances than actual competition dances too.

Although you don't need lifts to do a really impressive dance - [ this]] is one of my absolute favourites to watch.

I don't think lifts have any place in the ten dance (but then I'm a traditionalist ). They never used to put lifts in the salsa either - but then most of the professionals in the early series had competitive rather than stage backgrounds.

Digerd I'm assuming you know that the tall Family Fortunes bloke is Vernon Kaye - Tess's husband

But last year by holding back sophie's charleston we never got to see it get the tens it deserved.

I'm still bitter about that!

GettingJiggy I really hope that either the judges or Caroline (assuming she gets to the final) choose her American Smooth - would be interesting to see what it can get if she doesn't trip up!