SCD '20 #5: The next thread in the caterpillar of dancing and chatting

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Last thread

Gosh we're a chatty bunch!

In fairness (waving my girl/girl competitor flag) same-sex Latin is often styled like that. There's a big emphasis on matching (or reflected) hair/make-up/dresses. I know a couple who dye their hair so they looked more similar!

Ballroom can be like that, or you can put the lead in a matching but black dress, or a black stoned leotard and trousers. I have seen one girl who danced in a velvet smoking jacket type thing, which looked really good. Tails on a girl don't really look right — I suspect because they're cut for men the lengths are all off and they don't fit across the boobs.

I think if Nicola and Katya alternated ballroom and Latin it would work better — there's be more contrast. Quickstep and jive are quite similar in character, and couples choice is an abomination not really comparable. She needs a waltz or foxtrot next in my opinion.

The other thing of course in a girl/girl Latin couple is your dancing is supposed to match, which Nicola and Katya aren't really managing.

Good points, Polkadots. You're right about them not matching. Somehow they dance but not exactly together. My favourite dance of theirs was the first one - they changed hold etc. It was good.

Agree with Maireas...it’s all very stilted and keeping a distance...not sure it works! Nicola very hot footed in that dance...Jason is so sweet what a lovely guy ! The costume and dance did him a dis lservice...gone right on of CQ! but live Johannes!

Flat not hot

I would find it really boring watching a whole programme with just a couple of different dances

But it wasn't!

It was brilliant!

And they danced the dances "properly" with Len and Craig falling them off if the put in too many lifts, or not enough skippy-jumpy-steps (technical term ) or whatever.

You really learned about the dance, and became much more critical and discerning about what was being presented on the dance floor.

They also used music that was appropriate to the dance - and didn't just try to shoehorn and American Smooth into the Smurfs Song or anything stupid like that, which they seem to do every week now.

@SchadenfreudePersonified

I would find it really boring watching a whole programme with just a couple of different dances

But it wasn't!

It was brilliant!

And they danced the dances "properly" with Len and Craig falling them off if the put in too many lifts, or not enough skippy-jumpy-steps (technical term ) or whatever.

You really learned about the dance, and became much more critical and discerning about what was being presented on the dance floor.

They also used music that was appropriate to the dance - and didn't just try to shoehorn and American Smooth into the Smurfs Song or anything stupid like that, which they seem to do every week now.

It really was brilliant. I miss the old days, I truly do.

I think a big difference was that Len kept a close eye out for "faffin' abaht" as well. Lots more actual dancing, so you got far more into the routines.

Here's a waltz as an example.

I also used to love it when you could watch it on the red button with a fixed camera position.

I miss the old days but I also miss the twirly old ‘come dancing*

So agree with unique and schadenfreude

It wasn’t in the least bit boring. Yes, fewer bangs and whistles and shiny gimmicks, but all the better for it. The music was SO much better and matched the dances, which are unique and complex in their own right.
The right combination of dance/music/costume and performance was breathtaking.
I thought Saturday’s show was an abomination. If you follow/read Marianka Swain on Twitter, she gives a perfect summary.

@stillsomewhatsheldonesque - I used to go to bed when I was younger and watch Come Dancing in secret like I was watching porn or something

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams Thank you for sharing that clip. I dip in and out of Strictly, and I had forgotten how magical Erin was.

Polkadots week one waltz isn't a ringa - it's a former sport person so has the +Ives of fitness, used to being coached etc but wasn't at theatre school with lots of dance training and years of performance experience.

@DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes - he did have the advantage of buying me a vodka & lemonade on NYE though 😄

Oh yes, I should have said that — I just picked one I sometimes go back to.

was the lowest scoring waltz the same night, and you can see there's tonnes more content, even though the hold and technique aren't great. More recently, it's been style over substance I think.

I completely get the love for the old format, and it was definitely easier to make comparisons when they were all performing the same dance, but I also agree with whoever said it’s potentially boring to sit through an entire programme featuring a particular style, especially if it’s the waltz or one of my other non-favourites... paso, rhumba...

I miss the old days too

Sorry posted too soon

I think they did the transition quite subtly so it didn't feel like in one season woah

But I miss what it was like 5-10 years ago

@iklboogeymum

Far more entertaining than porn.

All that orange tulle - lovely stuff.

I also hanker after the old format. No couples choice, no ridiculous costumes, proper music, everyone doing a ballroom or latin one week and vice versa the following so you don't get four or five weeks in and not seen someone doing any ballroom or any latin.

Evening all. Just watching the results show on catch up. Who's the handsome chap at the start of the pro dance? The one with the glasses. I didn't recognise him.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

Oh yes, I should have said that — I just picked one I sometimes go back to. was the lowest scoring waltz the same night, and you can see there's tonnes more content, even though the hold and technique aren't great. More recently, it's been style over substance I think.

Did her fluffy shoulder drape thing fall off?

Polkadots I think the amount of experience allowed is another aspect that has changed over the years - I'm sure that "the lovely (former professional ballet dancer and fairly recent artistic director of her own ballet company) Debbie McGee" won't have got within a mile of Strictly 10 years ago. While I appreciate that it would be fairly difficult to find actors/musicians that have never danced at all I do think that being transparent about people's level of experience is important. When those with absolutely no dance training play the "not a dancer" card (or more likely have it played for then) it can come across as a bit 'poor me' but if the person who has done 5 years of dance at stage school or used to have 'dancer' on their passport own up to it from day one (yes Karim I am looking at you) it would level the playing field. Rather than the bollocks we get on the intro show I'd much rather we got a brief summary of their dance background. Mine would read I did ballet for a couple of years aged about 6 to 8 and about 6 month of tap at the same time that was 40 years ago. I went to a social Lindyhop club once a week for about 18 months ten years ago. I am not musical and I haven't performed since my last school play.

It's a shame Jason's gone. He's another very handsome man.

Y'know, I think I might be ovulating...

Definitely @stillsomewhatsheldonesque - but for some odd reason in my little mind I thought it was 'grown up' and I'd get into trouble for watching it .