2, 3, Cha Cha Cha: It's semi-final time! SCD #9

[CaveMum]

New thread

On ITT last night Len was saying that the new judge should be a ballroom and latin person and he was dropping a load of names. One of them was Ian Waite, until Len said his name I hadn't thought of Ian in that context at all, but now I think he would be very good. He's kind but he really knows his stuff and points out mistakes and poor technique.

bbc.in/1O1X6Xh

Here's a link for anyone who would like to listen. The programme is called Strictly Russia.

Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rhianoff Mambo.
Love love love this. So sexy (and not in a Gleb way)

I miss Lilya, Erin and Karen. I still have my fingers crossed for Karen as head judge. But the person I really miss is Arlene, I do wish she'd come back.

Ooh, showdance songs announced on ITT. Jill Halfpenny is looking good. Darren Gough (the dancing wardrobe) not so much. Kill him Zoe!, he robbed you and Colin of your joint crowns.

"Danny's the best but it doesn't mean he's going to win" well you'd know all about that wouldn't you Darren.

^ But that's exactly the point he was making. He said Zoe and Colin were the best his series, ignored Zoe's attempts at refuting, said he knew he wasn't the best but re his win would take it regardless as it was the people's vote and that's what he loves about Strictly. He couldn't have been more upfront.

I know he was being self-deprecating but that still doesn't excuse him. I bear grudges.

So excited to hear Danny say on ITT that they've chosen the samba as their favourite dance to do again in the final!

That's fine. I love grudges. So who did you want to win: Zoe or Colin?

Zoe was very good but I was rooting for Colin. That quickstep! That rumba!

Colin wuz robbed but I had a huge love for Zoe's freestyle America routine. It was nice she got to perform it. Even if Ian nearly fell on his arse.

There was a nasty undercurrent of homophobia about Darren's win - constant reference to how he was a big manly man who was embarrassed to be poncing about in a sparkly shirt.

Colin lost out because of dummy-gate. I get what Erin was trying to do (show he could dance well solo for a whole routine) but it just wasn't a Show Dance.

That dummy routine was properly weird.

I didn't start watching Strictly till (I think) the year of Snowdance.

I'm actually a bit disappointed that Doti have chosen their samba. I really wanted to see the chacha again, but perfected. Hope the judges choose their quickstep.

Do not like the music choice for their showdance, nor whoever was doing the sappy one (K&L?). But the 40s swing one (name gone) should be good.

God yes, I really wanted to see their Cha cha cha again as I remember being blown away at the time (for a week 1 performance) and think it would be off the scale now with the experience and training he has got plus I love the song

Please could somebody explain the voting system for Saturday please?

I haven't voted before in a final so don't remember how judges and public decide on winner

TIA

Saturday - three couples will all dance and public will vote (for a short time), poss with judges scores as well. After votes are counted, one couple will be eliminated and the two couples left will dance again and the public vote reopens, no judges scores for this (can comment though) so the winner is selected by the public vote only.

Or that's what usually happens!

The Final is all about the public vote. The Judges will score as a guide for viewers but they have no influence. Your vote is for who you want to win, not who you want to see through to the next round, IYSWIM.

Normally they will perform 2 dances, open the phone lines and take a programme break. They then come back a bit later in the evening, eliminate the couple with the lowest votes and then reopen the phone lines while the final 2 couples perform their last dance.

I'm disappointed that Danny and Oti are doing the Samba too.

They'd have been better off doing an earlier dance where they didn't get 10s and scoring all 10s on the night thus showing how he actually has improved, because everyone thinks he hasn't.

And I wanted to see the AT.

Thank you guys

You are all deffo brill

Songs and dances are:

Ore and Joanne’s Favourite Dance will be a Jive to “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars
Danny and Oti’s Favourite Dance will be a Samba to “Magalenha” by Sergio Mendes
Louise and Kevin’s Favourite Dance will be an Argentine Tango to “Tanguera” by Sexteto Mayor
Ore and Joanne will be performing a Showdance to “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin
Danny and Oti will be performing a Showdance to “Set Fire To The Rain” by Adele
Louise and Kevin will be performing a Showdance to “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston

Judges' choices will be announced on the night. Which I hate. Tell me now!

I'd like the judges to choose the Singing in the Rain one for Ore, and the AT for Danny. But am I right in thinking they're meant to choose something they think the sleb can improve?

I think the Judge's choice is supposed to also balance the dances, so if they choose a Latin for their favourite dance the Judges will choose a Ballroom dance for their choice and vice versa. It's not fair if one couple have two high tempo, upbeat dances that are more likely to fire up the public and another couple have two more low-key (though still technically good) dances.

On that basis I don't expect to see Ore or Danny dancing the Quickstep or Charleston!

I would love to see their Cha Cha again. It blew me away in that very first week but watching it back, there are lots of things that he can do so much better now: would love to see it get a 40.