Strictly Come Dancing 2016 - Glitterballs ready?

[SheHasAWildHeart]

First 'celebrity' confirmed:
Ed Balls

I'm not allowed to compete as an amateur because I'm training as a teacher, and I'm certainly not good enough to dance as a Pro! It's a shame as I'd like to have had some competition experience but I wanted to go down the teaching route.

I only wish I'd started dancing at a much younger age (24 when I took my first Salsa class, nearly 28 when I had my first Latin lesson and 31 when I started Ballroom) so I could have done a few competitions first

You could do pro-am comps Cave? Or I think there are medallist comps where teachers dance with students.

No I know you didn't Polkadots, sorry - and I stood corrected re the fact he was only amateur - I hadn't appreciated that. When I said that it wasn't the case that he just did Burn the Floor and wasn't properly trained, that was more in response to another post that said James was a top dancer and Kevin danced in the West End - was just making the point that he was trained too.

Would be interested to know who you rate from the current crop.

Crossed posts - yes, Neil and Katya seem great. I think AJ and Chloe turned pro just before they started on Strictly didn't they? I presume they didn't necessarily need to do that, as presumably they wouldn't need to be pro to teach on Strictly, unlike in the real world (or people like Janette wouldn't be able to do it would they?)

Yes, I like Natalie too - hopefully she'll have a good year.

CaveMum - that's a shame - it sounds like you are between a rock and a hard place (no pun intended!). That's amazing that you started in your twenties!

They probably don't to teach on Strictly, but I'm not sure they'd be allowed to compete as amateurs afterwards. A lot of amateurs do a bit of teaching on the sly, but going on Strictly isn't exactly discreet!

Thanks for the explanation Polkadots.

The best dancers are not necessarily the best teachers I guess. I can see the Jordan's did well to compete professionally but JJ always seemed to have a nasty edge to him. Maybe not such a problem with someone super competitive like Gabby Logan but he seemed quite nasty at times.

To go back to the old days I thought Lilia Kopylova(?) seemed lovely. I know Darren Gough was not the best dancer the year he won but I thought she must have been a good teacher to get him to the standard that she did.

My understanding is that there are very few Pro-Am comes in the UK these days. I could do the medalist comps but my only option is to dance with DH who, although he's got his pre-Bronze in Rhythm Foxtrot and Waltz, needs a bit more training before he's ready to hit the floor!

Evening! I mentioned the background just as gossip, not because I thought Karen was right to say that, if she in fact said it. I actually miss James. Loved his choreography: Pasos with Pamela and Denise, Denise's freestyle, Cherie's foxtrot.
I was less keen on Ola's...too many knee slides. Although I adored her paso with Harry for charity and James's routine with Jayne Torvill.
Still have a soft spot for Brendan from the current pros, simply because I think he worked very hard to make his ballroom as strong as his Latin. Plus he started late and according to wiki trained in Clayton, bless him.

Shall we kill some time by posting our favourite dancing videos?! I make no apologies for posting the same ones I always do

First up, Christopher Hawkins and Joanne Bolton dance a basic Waltz. My teacher showed me this video to demonstrate the prefect use of head weight in achieving turns and spins. I also love the way he almost winds himself up into the first steps to really emphasise the swing.

This is what a real Waltz looks like folks, and you'll really appreciate what the judges mean when they talk about swing and sway

I also adore this video of Vincent and Flavia, I think it was the first time they ever appeared on SCD. Watching it just makes me wish they'd stick to traditional AT music as so much of the dance is about atmosphere!

So I finally caught up with Saturday's episode

Are you fucking kidding me. 80 mins of programme for about 4 minutes of actual dancing

I fast forwarded through most of it

I have always quite liked this quickstep with Artem and Natalie. It was the week that she was completely off her head on painkillers as she had hurt her back. It was also the most relaxed that she seemed in the entire competition.

And, I can't remember whether I posted this on this thread already, I suspect I might have. This is Giovanni and Joanne at the Strictly Prom (I'm so envious of the Mnetter who saw it in person). Joanne is good, but Giovanni is smoking, he never danced like that on Strictly but he should have. Same music as Vincent and Flavia's AT but so much better when done by a full orchestra.

Very fun .

TimTamTerrier - it was me that saw it in person. It was fabulous. Such a great night - and that was my favourite dance. They did a waltz together too, which was pretty understated but lovely. I'll try to find the link. I like him and Jo dancing together and find it very sweet that they've known each other and been friends since he was about 14 or 15 (they were at the same dance school in Italy together). I think she got him the introduction to the Strictly team.

Whilst I'm not sure about his pairing with Laura (as I said, I still think they did a switch with Anastacia at the last minute, for tabloid purposes), I do think they'll be probably be good but not necessarily popular - compared to people like Will Young, and Claudia Fragapane etc. but I do hope he gets to do a great tango or paso in this upcoming series. Whilst I loved his dances with Georgia - unfortunately, they didn't get to do a "traditional" one of either of those - due to the bloomin' gimmicks that the producers insist on - their tango was a Ghostbusters themed one, in Halloween week, and the Paso was a rock one, to "the Final Countdown" which was great, but still, not exactly traditional.

Gio and Jo waltz.

P.s.just watch the tango clip that you posted again TimTamTerrier - does she have no backbone?!

I looked back up the thread but couldn't find your name Jill, you are so lucky to have seen it. I should probably try and get tickets for the Strictly tour so that I can see some live dancing, but I'm not sure whether it will be really 'good' dancing or more glitzy group stuff and silly themed dances.

I really wish it was Brendan with Laura and Giovanni with Anastacia, partly because it just is better paring of personalities but also because it would bring my couples forecast total up to 8 out of 15 (although I'm still happy enough with guessing 6 out of 15).

I miss Flavia on SCD I thought she was a lovely dancer across all dance styles. One of my favourites is from 2009 (I think) when she danced ballroom with Anton and then Erin and Vincent joined in. I thought her dancing was excellent but I'm not a qualified critic so would be interested to hear what those with more knowledge think! Sorry can't do a link from this device but it is on YouTube.

TimTamTerrier

This is the main reason I wanted Giovanni and Anastacia together (see link) - he's apparently a fan and was ridiculously excited when she was announced (according to this and things that Neil and Georgia said too). I think she's big in Italy! I think they would have been a scream together. I didn't like him at the start of last series, when they were trying to slot him into the "Italian Stallion" cliche mould - but he edged his way out of it and had a good sense of humour about the whole programme and once he settled in was very likeable. I feel for Laura - they've thrown her under the tabloid bus. Feel for him and Georgia too.

That's a pretty good guess rate you have there!

twitter.com/JManrara/status/766618949396131840

Is that Kevin jumping in at the last second to ruin Gio's moment?! He really is such a little twerp isn't he

It's Gorka

Or "Gorka that Corker" as I imagine he will be henceforth known! As someone else said earlier - I think I'm either going to LOVE Tameka (who is dancing with him) or she will get on my last nerve. It could go either way!

This clip was from one of the pro dancers training sessions - on the day that Anastacia was announced as a celebrity. I think he was a bit over excited.

Just watched those clips of Joanne and Giovanni they do dance well together but how does Jo bend back like that. I remember her dance with Scott when she was bent over backwards for what seemed like ages and I was in awe of her flexibility.

I don't understand why the BBC would have swapped Laura and Anastacia around, what could they hope to gain from it, Laura and Georgia are friends?

Well I'm not sure they are exactly friends - more acquaintances. I think they know each other through Flackers and had a night out with her recently

Tabloid stirring innit! Though to be fair, there may not have been a switch - they still would have stirred anyway even if Gio and Georgia hadn't just split

emotions Flavia was/is a fantastic dancer. As well as being World AT Show Dance Champions I believe they were also 10 Dance Champions which means they were highly trained in both Ballroom and Latin rather than specialising as most dancers do.

Of course when you do everything you're never quite as good at one particular thing as someone that has specialised as it takes a lot of work to get that many different dances up to standard. But yes, she was very good.

My teacher always said Kristina had the "best feet" of any of the female Pros - she just used them so well, really using the arches of her feet and her ankles to produce beautiful movement.

She also rated Darren and Lillia very highly, she said they could have been World Champions if they hadn't done Strictly.

She was a big fan of Anton and Erin but said their problem was they too old to make it to the very top - Anton was a teenager before he started dancing so turned Pro late (about 30) compared to those who dance as small children and turn Pro at 21.