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

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Last thread

Gosh we're a chatty bunch!

Seeing as we’re getting all misty-eyed for the days of proper, gimmick-free dancing with beautiful and appropriate costumes, I‘ll just pop this here:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=FOUYBXB6E6c

@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.

Oh my god a full dance of dance content! Appropriate music! A tail coat! No sitting on a bench reading the paper for 20 seconds at the start and 40 seconds at the end being hoisted into space on a cardboard rocket. It wasn't a waltz to a rap song! No one is dressed as a cartoon jellyfish! No fireworks, or flashing light, not a single (piss poor) CGI mythical creature. God I miss those simple days.

I miss those days too - appropriate music for the dance, beautiful floaty dresses and actual dance content. I wish they'd get back to that.

Finally watched both episodes.

I’m a bit bored this year. I always watch at the time but I’m not feeling it this year.

Ive complain to the bbc about bitchy Shirley the last couple of years. I’ll give her another couple of weeks & complain again.

I was sorry to see Jason go & would rather it has been Caroline or Nicola. Caroline is really getting on my nerves. Very false. I like Clara but think she was under marked.

I don’t understand what Motsi brings to the show. I just don’t.

Motsi brings the potential for expansive boobage desperately trying to escape from God awful outfits ImAncient

And yes to the old days of proper dancing, proper music, proper outfits and no faffing abaht! No wonder Len left

@merryhouse

And I totally agree about Shirley and the comments on looks. Was the dance circuit in the eighties as fixated on Beautiful People as I imagine it might have been?

Talking of looks... I can't help thinking that if Clara's lipstick had appeared on a drawn character there would have been eyebrows raised.

Surely dance is still as fixated on looks as ever?

Totally agree about Clara and I hope she puts her foot down about the terrible makeup and clothes they're subjecting her to.

It isn’t boobage. It is Bruno. Clambering out buttocks first

@Bluffinwithmymuffin

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...

Tbh I agree - one or two dances over and over again is alright if it is one you like, but if you dont like a particular style then it ruins the whole evening. I think the only exception should be the first two weeks - they should only be allowed to choose from maybe two ballroom and two latin and then half do latin/ballroom and the other half do ballroom/latin over the first two shows.

That way you'd get variety but also everyone gets a couple of weeks to learn the basics and everyone starts on a more level playing field - so you dont have a novice doing a paso vs a ringah doing a waltz in week one, causing uneven scoring.

What I do think they should do is insist on the individual couples alternating latin/ballroom every week. That way you dont get someone who prefers Latin stacking all their Latin dances early on to give them an easier ride. Couples choice should also not be allowed in the first half of the series, it should be a "reward" for progressing, not something you can whip out in week 2/3.

Thank you so much BigBad for posting the Mark Ramprakash dance.

Wasn’t it wonderful? He was my favourite winner (along with Kara Tointon) and the whole show looked brilliant in that clip.

@ScienceSensibility

Thank you so much BigBad for posting the Mark Ramprakash dance.

Wasn’t it wonderful? He was my favourite winner (along with Kara Tointon) and the whole show looked brilliant in that clip.

Isn’t it just beautiful? So much more elegance and style back then: the tail coat, Karen’s dress (I remember Arlene saying she looked like she was wearing 1950s Dior couture, which she did), no faffing, no theme, the beautiful walk on, the bow/curtesy at the end (not leaping around screaming ‘woooo, you nailed it!!!!!!!!’ before the music has even stopped). And if course, the correct dance content and a focus on technique.

Louise Rainbow, that Moira (I think) woman, and Jason Gilkinson have a lot to be sorry for 😡

I like Clara but think she was under marked.

Yes I thought this too, I loved her dance.

I just want to say that I agree with everything that everybody has said. You are all so wise.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

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.

Just repeating this question. I didn't recognise him either.

Just repeating this question. I didn't recognise him either.

I believe it was Kai Widdrington:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Widdrington

@stillsomewhatsheldonesque

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

I remember that too!

The fixed smiles, the rigid elbows . . . And the formation stuff, sometimes views from the top, with what seemed like a million miles of net covered with sequins ("every one sewn on by hand"), and all the women with rock solid hairstyles due to having 2 and a half cans of maximum hold hairspray on them!

Thisew were the days.

Erin was wonderful - Mr Schaden had a not-very-secret crush on her.

(So did I )

I just want to say that I agree with everything that everybody has said. You are all so wise.

Thank you Fuzzy, my little Puffling. I really think we are.

I don't know why they strayed from the initial format, because that was what captivated the viewers, but the show has lost much more than it gained. Like a PP I watch it because it is my Saturday viewing (and of course, the post-mortem on here is a delight), but the standard of dance has plummeted, the costumes are often dreadful, the music is sh*te (and worse - inappropriate ) and it just breaks my heart . . .

The fixed smiles, the rigid elbows . . . And the formation stuff, sometimes views from the top, with what seemed like a million miles of net covered with sequins ("every one sewn on by hand"), and all the women with rock solid hairstyles due to having 2 and a half cans of maximum hold hairspray on them!

Didn't they do an 'old school' pro dance at Blackpool one year? I'll see if I can find it

And thank you, everyone who has posted links - it's been a trip down memory lane here as Chez Schaden.

what seemed like a million miles of net covered with sequins ("every one sewn on by hand")

Oh yes! Always hand-sewn.
And the number of sequins had to be announced: "Six thousand!" or whatever.

Marking my place, I've read ALMOST of this thread, a good one IMO. Thanks for it Polka

Someone upthread asked why Nic n' Kat wear the same clothes and do the same steps, I know I know why because Nic (who is not a natural dancer, I think she's struggling a lot, poor girl)) needs to follow all those very difficult moves that Katme choeographs in her inimitable highly competitive way!!!

And thank you, everyone who has posted links - it's been a trip down memory lane here as Chez Schaden.

I was watching and realised that I was getting shivers down my spine and my eyes were pricking with tears, it was so beautiful! I never get that now - never . . .

Arlene and Craig were such harsh judges - but always constructive; as they said - if no-one tells the dancers what is broken, they won't know they need to fix it.

Len kept everyone right and even Bruno was almost under control (I can't bear Bruno now - he has become a parody of himself).

Now we have Shirley - who takes against people and is vindictive: -Motsi - who is, quite frankly a waste of space (does she know ANYTHING about dance) and Bruno who has slipped over the edge into comedy. Only Craig remains as a reasonable judge, and he has lost much of his bite - I suspect he's been told to tone it down.

A much better show in the Old Days.

Nic (who is not a natural dancer, I think she's struggling a lot, poor girl)

I think you may be right.

I'd rather have seen Nic go out than Jason* on Saturday - but we all know it Would Not Be.

*And Caroline go out than either of them, though I would have a minute's silence out of respect if we had lost Johannes' bum.

I did read that Craig was told to tone it down a lot. Who knows if it's true , but he seems a lot nicer than he used to be.
I do like Craig though : he'd be the one I would want to impress the most on there. He knows what he is talking about. ( he wouldn't be impressed with me I'm sure!)
I also miss the old days when it was more straight forwards and less showy than now.
They should have kept Arlene!

I did read that Craig was told to tone it down a lot. Who knows if it's true , but he seems a lot nicer than he used to be.

I wondered if it was a case that, given the lack of audience to boo and hiss, Craig's pantomime baddie routine might look vicious rather than cartoonish, so he's decided (or been told) to reel in in a bit. That, and the fact that everything is just so shit right now that they want to up the positivity levels a little.

Thank you Schaden. Yes I know what you mean about the show, the old Come Dancing did have it's humorous side (not deliberately, like the sledge hammer of nowadays). With the highly hairsprayed ladies in their military lines ,creating the CFC pollution problem!

But it was good. I liked Terry Wogan too.
I'm also an old gimmer (we're the best!!!!!! )

Did anyone see the Vera Lynn programme on Sunday? ' Twas wonderful, that did make me cry