SCD 14 - in a JOEVERMARKED ballroom, Oti we loved your Swansong

[PawneeParksDept]

Took the liberty of starting a new thread. Hope the title suits!

MORE TRISTAN

I realize that you have very little control over the music and dance styles assigned to you on Strictly (or on DWTS for that matter) but do you ever get concerned about how you could possibly make it work? And how do you make it work when you think the song/dance style are mismatched?

Yeah, you really don't have much control over most things to be honest and less still here in the UK compared to the US but that’s the way it goes. I think a lot of the time there are cases where things don't match, be a song and dance or a concept and song whatever it may be. It does get concerning sometimes, yeah for sure, and quite stressful at times as well when you know it’s not right but that’s what you have to do. So I do the same as I always do - have a little moan and just get on it with it. I let it go a lot of the time now as you have to accept that’s why there are different departments that do different jobs and remember it’s my responsibility to teach.

RE COSTUME AND MAKE UP

I think in US again it’s a little more 'what do you want we will find a compromise’ and in UK its 'this is what we want' and then you fight for a compromise but again that always comes from the top. The departments themselves are always very forthcoming and supportive of what we want but ultimately the decision comes from the top

Sometimes the songs chosen for SCD and DWTS don’t seem to be suited to the dance style you are assigned to do. Obviously you make the best of it but do you recall any cases where working with certain music was particularly challenging as you tried to choreograph and/or create a story?

Yeah, you have a lot less influence in a lot of the things on Strictly or at least it seems that way for me but it may just be circumstance and the way the weeks of the show were going. I think Strictly is more about songs that everyone knows and are aware of where I feel you can use any music that’s great on DWTS. I’m usually pretty good at just going with what I got unless I have a real issue with a particular song. I think I made it clear I didn't wanna dance to ABBA - ha - but what can you do?! Jenny was a huge ABBA fan. Once we got that we just had to go with it. I wanted to use a song by The Beautiful South. Hopefully I can use it on a future season. Movie Week I wanted “Jump In The Line”. I just love that song. Sometimes you get a song you just love but you have no idea after that about what to do - haha - you are just happy you got a great song and then everything is always relative. You should only do what suits your partner and maybe costumes and things like that - dress them for the same reasons. So I let the relevant departments do their job and I focus on my job. On Strictly you teach and try to influence and on DWTS you create more.

You said in the last interview that even though the Foxtrot with Jenny might have been your favorite because she enjoyed it the most, the music was not something you would have chosen. If you could have picked the music for Movie Week, what song might you have chosen? (You mentioned on Twitter “Jump In the Line” from Bettlejuice, a song Steve and Ola used in Week 4.)

Yeah, I wanted “Jump In The Line.” I love that song but that’s the way it goes and I also suggested something from The Commitments - “Mustang Sally.” I think we would have done that the following week if we had stuck around. Movie Week can be great but there are issues with specific looks that can't be identical to the movie or moves that you wanna put in but can't. Also they need songs that are really well known which I get but I usually want to do something that people don't know so well - like I wanted to do “Dance Magic Dance” from The Labyrinth or the theme song from Willow.

A year or so ago, you mentioned that with a couple of exceptions, you’ve never been a huge fan of theme weeks or props used in excess. Has that changed?

No - I think theme weeks can be fun if they are your own but not when its somebody's else's idea you are trying to fit into. That’s just frustrating. I think props are sometimes a good idea but sometimes it’s for the sake of having them. I don't see a problem in using them for a purpose but sometimes somebody has to justify having them there so they get more use than they should.

Of the 3 dances you performed with Jennifer, did you have a favorite? In all 3, you looked like you were both having a lot of fun.

I think maybe the “Mamma Mia” number purely because Jen enjoyed that one the most. I can't stand ABBA - it really annoys me hearing them – hahaha! I don't know why but I was dreading that week as soon as we got the music and I was trying to change it all week but I think Jen was most relaxed that week so it made it my favorite. When you finish the show you wanna say 'I had a great time and I’m proud of what I did' not 'I done really well but it wasn't that much fun'. Comments really make a difference for people out of their comfort zone so for me it was taking back our enthusiasm and reason for doing the show and that’s why we can go home with a smile and no tears.

I had my suspicions Mozzie

I think the (-good) pros had a better sense of rhythm and what could feasibly be slowed down/speeded up to fit a dance genre and what couldn't. Hence we now end up with all these stupid choices that don't fit the dance. Curse you once more, producers.

On the other hand I'm envisaging a Sesame Street routine with Jamelia as Big Bird and Tristan in a dustbin as Oscar the Grouch.

Okay...that's all things Tristan. Thanks again to Macmania.

I liked Tristan and Robin for their clarity in interviews but each pro will have their own way of looking at it I guess. Kevin was very insistent this year that pros had autonomy.

'We are asked for our music choices at the beginning of the series and our list is used throughout unless there is a feeling that a song wont work and then we have a conversation. Nobody can force a song choice on us.

'Music choices have always been a collaboration. Most of my choices get accepted'

'I think the pros are good at blaming production if a dance doesn't work out. Most music choices come thru us. If we categorically don't want a track, we say 'no' and it won't happen, meaning EVERY track has been ok'd by the pros'

Anyhoo - bed beckons. Apologies for repetition (I have discussed the music theme at length in the past!) It does interest me though as to how much say a sleb or pro has and how hard it must be to produce a show that is balanced.

Oke doke thank you

You're very welcome sub I really wanted Brendan to do a spill-all book for Xmas but it's not happening so I will end up reading Craig. Ola's didn't divulge that much. I would be such a moaning minnie though - like when Anthony complained about his boxing paso - I'd be like, what? you're shoehorning Mozzie into a Morrissey track? hell to the no!
Not true I like him

gareth I am amazed dwts didn't go for that, they did TV themes week a couple of times which was....something stupid

Eek! The last thing Strictly needs is more theme weeks

I wonder if Sesame Street was a copyright issue aka too expensive...

I'd love a proper tell-all account but I think even the ex-pros are wary of their future earnings/contacts in the biz. That or they signed NDAs though that seems less likely as there's been a degree of bitching.

I never really liked Ola and James that much when they were on the show (they always seemed to be the bossiest/stroppiest/tackiest delete as applicable) but watching them back they were amazing compared to many of the current pros.
Still not sold on Ola's catsuits

If you want to be geeky, dancesportinfo is a really interesting site where you can look up the pros' competition record.

Watched a few of those Shirley and Corky videos' Gareth - she was an amazing dancer, wasn't she? I hadn't realised just how good. (And she looks stunning with short hair)

I agree about costumes.
Men in tails for ballroom!!!!
Also I think some of the dresses are too long in the ballroom, you struggle to see the feet and I feel very long dresses hinder the dancer as they must panic about getting their heel caught in the dress.

Wow sterling work many thanks for that Mozzie it was extremely interesting.

Shirley is introducing Friday is Music Night on R2 (this friday) with last year's Joe Mc. and Joanne Clifton. I'm not sure what the dancers will do on Radio though

Had a really weird dream last night that Strictly came to work and I was chosen. I did a waltz with Anton, a foxtrot with Aljaž and I was about to do a tango with Giovanni when I woke up.

The fact that I can't dance to save my life was not an apparent hindrance.

ikiboo Shame you missed your dream dance with Joe Varney

I liked Luba and Johanne's (sp.?) quick step on ITT yesterday ,her dress was long but she looked gorgeous.

Oh yes Schaden Shirley is world champion in Latin (since her teens I think).

"Was" a world champion..... well a champion of something

I know! Gutted. Anton smelled of Old Spice.

Gareth is that actually Brendan in that clip of boy and Camilla?? Has he had a nose job since???

I absolutely love the glitter headband/there’s something about Mary quick combo - you’re so right, Strictly Ballroom is so great. I hope it’s on over xmas.

As for who to believe Tristan vs Kevin; I’ve always had the impression that KFG is pretty good at toeing the BBC party line. So I suspect either he’s feeding the press the official take, or perhaps TPTB have actually been more kind to him than Tristan. He never did seem to buy into the Strictly Thing as much as other pros, perhaps he was 'punished' in that way?

FWIW that’s why I was always a fan of Tristan. He seemed chilled out about it because it was just a job! I get you couldn’t have a whole cast of pros like that, but it was a refreshing change to the gurning Clifton clan for eg.

Yy I really liked Tristan, he seemed so chilled about it all.
iklboo that’s sounds a very good dream, shame you woke up before the Joe Varney dance, I would have tried to make myself go back to sleep.

Can anyone help out? On his blog, Monkseal mentions Chelsee and Pasha's paso doble - I went to YouTube to remind myself of it but can't find it anywhere. It's really weird - literally every other dance they've done is on there? Anybody able to find it for me?

I searched for it earlier this week (wanted to watch it as a palate cleanser after Stacey's stompy mess) but could only find a training VT.

It was wonderful.

greece it's on daily motion - I posted a link to it on page 8. No idea why it was removed on youtube.
I end up singing your username in my head every time I see you!

monkseal.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/strictly-come-dancing-16-week-10-results/

I can't help but feel Kevin would be confident at objecting to a song as he's such a popular pro. Some one who is new or wasn't doing so well would be scared of being labled a troublemaker.

greece it's on daily motion - I posted a link to it on page 8. No idea why it was removed on youtube.

Amazing! Thank you! 😍

I end up singing your username in my head every time I see you!

My work here is done! 😄