SCD#3

[Fiderer]

Thought about mentioning Halloween Hell in the title but it's a Sunday morning and some of us may be feeling delicate enough.

While I admit to being a whirly twirly ballroom girl, I enjoy the Latin dances.

And hate the Charleston. DVO's Egyptian one was horrendous. The Lindy Hop sounds like it'd bring me out in hives.

I always felt sorry for Tess when she had to work with Brucie - particularly in the later years, she had to be constantly on the alert to cover when he fluffed, and had to pretend to find his excruciating jokes funny. Having to put up with him pawing at her all the time was well beyond the call of duty. I've always wondered whether she didn't make a deal with the BBC that she'd carry on only on terms that she could take over presenting for as long as she wanted once they'd got rid of him.

I don't like her much, but cut her some slack because (and in no particular order)
A. She put up with Long past his best Brucie
B. If they got rid of her they'd bring in a man and I like that the BBCs flagship show is presented by two women
C she's married to Vernon Kay.

That's true Soup and it is fun - but I don't think they should do charleston, salsa, American smooth and AT and get out of doing several of the proper ones.

Oh I agree they STILL want everyone the colour of gravy Lotta I thought that while noticing they'd glammed up Claud (much higher heels than normal, curly hair heavy make up) and sooo brown, it wasn't her really. Tess and her both looked tangoed relevant when you think about our subject

Thanks for the answers. That's shocking re Anton (and Bruce). Gone right off him now.

I like the Charleston.

I'm still gutted that we didn't get to see Sophie EB do hers again.

Going back to the Argentine Tango, it shows what an exceptional dancer, teacher and choreographer Karen Hardy is when you know that the AT she did with Mark Ramprakesh was the first time she had ever danced the AT.

I liked Kiera and Artem's AT (but they were ripping each others clothes off!)

Oh I love Lindy Hop and Rock and Roll style dancing! I'd love to learn that myself! My favourite dance is the Jive. I think I just really like that old rock n'roll music

And an excuse to wear a petticoat!

I quite like the Charleston, it got off to a shaky start when none of the pros knew how to choreograph it, but they've all improved. A lot of the time it's horrible, and a very poor Charleston is a lot worse than a very poor waltz, but sometimes it's really lovely. It can be individualised much more than most of the other dances. I liked Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Charleston a lot. Plus I think that sometimes it gives a celeb a chance to shine when they are poor at all the other dances.

I didn't like DVO's Egyptian one either, it had loads of content and she was very efficient at it but it was very joyless. But then most of her dances felt that way, that she was doing a job and being efficient but wasn't enjoying herself at all.

I could do without the rhumba, it's almost always cringey.

Mmm naked Artem

The Rhumba is creepy i dont like it at all.

I love every dance BUT they need to be danced well for me to enjoy them, oh and to have the relevant music!

I agree about the rumba. I wouldn't be sad to see that go but my understanding is that it's popular with the pros...? I dunno where I git that from though.

Oh if i am meh about the music it puts me offthe dance.

The Rumba is going nowhere I'm afraid, it's one of the Ten integral dances. The problem, IMO, is that it has become expected on SCD that the Rumba should be "sexy" when that's not necessarily the case. It can be more of a dance about romance/love if that's what you want to portray.

Fun Fact for those who like to know more about dance: a lot of the figures (or moves if you prefer) that are danced in Rumba are almost the same as in the Cha Cha Cha. The key difference is the timing - Cha Cha Cha is danced over 5 beats whereas Rumba is danced over 3. If you watch carefully, the basic step is the same, both dances feature New Yorks as well as many other figures.

I'll try and find some videos to demonstrate what I mean...

Wow, this thread moves fast. Picking up on some earlier points:

Anton. Even if he did get extra technical support for the non-ballroom dances I simply don't think he's got the personality or charisma to carry them off. All the others can turn on the sizzle or the fun personality as needed, he just can't do it.

Erin - similar really, I did like her, she was so graceful, but too much of a girl next door and again, couldn't turn on the sizzle. That dance she did in the final with the dummies about 10 years ago was one of the cringey moments of the entire run.

Natalie - one of my favourites, she comes across as so generous with her partners, so kind, as well as being beautiful and an amazing dancer.

Aliona - the complete opposite, it's all about her, I don't feel she gives a monkey's about her partners, it all seems faked.

Found some good videos! Here's the New York in Rumba with a useful beat count to demonstrate the timing!

And the same couple demonstrating a Cha Cha Cha New York:

I voted for Katie and Anton because I think she can dance and I think given how long Anton has been with the show if they knew he couldn't choreograph/ dance half the dances the show should have taken steps to remedy that not keep pairing him with hopeless dancers so he never got to learn.
It will reflect badly on the show if Katie goes out due to the inadequacy of one of their longest serving pros.

Watching ITT, Aliona not endearing herself to me.

I liked Jo Clifton! Does anyone know if she dances with a male 'spare' pro dancer in the pro dances? It's driving me mad that I can't spot the spare man!

No there were 15 slebs to start with this year hoolio!

Oh I see! Thanks.

I love Aliona now, I think she comes across as really sweet. I used to think she was a bit too 'minkzy'.

I miss Artem