Strictly '21 #11: Craig's found his 10 paddle early this year! Will we get another glimpse soon?

[GraveyardPlotsAndDoomedScreams]

Spoiler-free thread

Previous thread here.

Next week will be interesting. Sara's q/s might be nice, but 9–5 theming is probably going to be annoying. AJ might be great at the Charleston, or her Bambi legs might re-appear. I hope Jojo gets his choreographical mojo back, I haven't really got properly into their last few dances and rumba is a tricky one!

Tilly was on Zoe Ball's show this morning, she said she's still trying to get the green makeup out of her ears!

I think Adam and Katya have relied too much on his physique and ability to be sinewy. It did work for Kelvin, but he was a better overall dancer and Oti showcased him well.
I think the judges have been kind to Tilly because of that idiot DJ, but I enjoyed her dance.
Dan is lovely, but I agree that Rose and Gio are a really lovely partnership.

Just checking in.

I assume that none of the judges (apart from Motsis vague reference) commented on Judi being on the wrong beat for the first 20 seconds of their dance off dance was due to kindness totally understandable with lack of practice I guess.

I think it was covered by "made mistakes"

@Faevern

I say it inly because a few of us were saying on the last thread that we ship the idea of Rose and Gio together but weren't sure if she was definitely taken

I'm glad the lobsters stayed in. Barking mad but I liked it.

The lobsters made me smile and I gave Dan a vote because of that and because he managed to carry off a bizarre theme.

He's still not a dancer though!

I have a feeling that J and J won’t make the final. A few weeks ago I’d have had them (plus Rose and Gio, and AJ and Kai) in there. But I think they’ve gone off the boil.

I have a feeling that Sara and A are popular with the public and won’t hit the DO until late November/early December. Is the final on the weekend of the 18th?

Does anyone else get irritated by the judges’ failure to answer the ‘why’ part of ‘who do you want to save and why?’ after the DO?

If I remember correctly it was brought in a few years ago for greater transparency on rational for saving (or not) and every week they largely ignore it!

Poor Adam's girlfriend's apparently being trolled on SM over the "near kiss". I hope this doesn't break them up. It must be tough on her.

Nadiya looked like she'd stuffed & mounted Elmo on her head on Saturday 😄

I loved J & J at first. Did someone say he was doing the Rumba, slow, flirty, sensual. He did a lovely Rumba with Catherine from Corrie (and then had the unfortunate CQ last year). I would just love to see him dance a proper slow burn Rumba with John.

I thought John and Johannes were fantastic at first, finalists if not winners, but they have gone off the boil a bit. I hope they're not feeling limited as a same sex couple.

J&J dances need more light and shade.

Hello! I rarely post on the strictly thread because I watch the smoke thing on a Sunday night. DH isn't a fan, so this way I can watch it all in 1 night!

Poor Dan and that outfit but somehow Nadia still managed to look stunning! He's quit wooden, but I like his spirit and him and Nadia seem to have a nice relationship, respectful of each other, but very friendly!

I enjoyed Tilly although agree she won't win. Love watching Jojo, but thats mainly Johannes I think, I love how extra he is, and looking forward to a slow, expressive dance, although generally its an awful dance!

I can't decide whether J&J have gone "off the boil" or if they just came in high and haven't changed.

The rumba will be interesting given it's always said to be very hard for the male celebrity - how hard will it be for a male celebrity who doesn't have to lead all the time?

@Maireas

I thought John and Johannes were fantastic at first, finalists if not winners, but they have gone off the boil a bit. I hope they're not feeling limited as a same sex couple.

I wonder if they feel they have to keep role swapping etc. I don't know if they'd be better just sticking to one? And of course Johannes might be finding it more difficult to choreograph and teach both parts.

It's an awkward one, because I would think if Johannes led it would make it easier, but John looks better leading than following.

@GreenClock

I have a feeling that J and J won’t make the final. A few weeks ago I’d have had them (plus Rose and Gio, and AJ and Kai) in there. But I think they’ve gone off the boil.

I have a feeling that Sara and A are popular with the public and won’t hit the DO until late November/early December. Is the final on the weekend of the 18th?

I agree with all of this.

I can't decide whether J&J have gone "off the boil" or if they just came in high and haven't changed

It's haven't changed, but not in terms of standard, it's their routines, they feel nearly identical each week, samey and boring.

The electricity that existed Week 1, the Wow Factor, its gone.

pmk

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

I can't decide whether J&J have gone "off the boil" or if they just came in high and haven't changed

It's haven't changed, but not in terms of standard, it's their routines, they feel nearly identical each week, samey and boring.

The electricity that existed Week 1, the Wow Factor, its gone.

Yes I agree - there was a real spark in the first week that isn't there anymore. They are still very good though.

I don't really understand what is meant by light/shade and leading/following but I do know that I love watching J&J and feel a bit when their dances are criticised for being too samey. I really hope they go for a gentle, romantic rumba to show their soft side.

I've been a very casual Strictly watcher over the years but got into it more this season. This may be a very basic question: do the couples/pros choose the music they dance to or is it set for them?
Also do they recycle costumes/outfits?

Leading and following is easy enough to understand — usually one person (generally the man) in the partnership leads, and the other (usually the lady) follows.

In ballroom there are different body/arm/head positions and different footwork for each. The follower is more likely to be going backwards. If they're in promenade position (facing the same way) the follower will be positioned slightly behind the leader.

Role-swapping, which is what John and Johannes do, means that they'll switch who leads and who follows throughout the dance.

@MyCatEatsPrawnCrackers

I don't really understand what is meant by light/shade and leading/following but I do know that I love watching J&J and feel a bit when their dances are criticised for being too samey. I really hope they go for a gentle, romantic rumba to show their soft side.

Light and shade just means showing contrast within the dance, so having moments of stillness alongside the movement - thin about Rhys' early dances, he was just manic all the time and you just felt exhausted watching him!

For leading/following, it's just the description for the traditional male/female role. It's a democratic process, the "leader" asks the "follower" to move with them but it is up to the "follower" to agree or not. The leader has to be clear in what it is they are asking the "follower" to do or it can lead to confusion. It's all too easy to just learn a routine by numbers and not actually "lead" it for the celeb men, which is why the judges always comment on a male celeb that actually looks to lead the routine correctly.

To give an analogy, dressage riders will always tell you that they never practice their routine (or "test" as it is correctly called) with the horse in full. They will practice parts of it and change the order in which they do it because if they keep doing the routine in full over and over again the horse starts to anticipate what comes next and stops actually listening to the rider. In dressage you are given marks on the communication between horse and rider and if the horse is doing his own thing then you drop those marks. Does that make sense?!