SCD '23 #14: We're in Blackpool! So many tailsuits <does happy dance> NO SPOILERS

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Let's not mention the corsets.

SPOILER-FREE THREAD PLEASE

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Spoiler thread.

Don’t forget that Caroline Flack studied dance at college.

I can forgive ballet training slightly more than other styles simply because it is so different to ballroom/latin. With ballet it’s very fixed and led by the feet, whereas ballroom/latin is much more fluid and led by body movement.

It’s another reason why I found Darcey a tad irritating as a judge - some of the advice she gave was an outright contradiction to what the celebs should actually be doing. Her main one being her constant references to the female celebs needing to “lean back” in their ballroom hold - no, no, no!

I can't remember the details of what they said or didn't about her, TBH. Although I do have a memory of her saying that after she and Giovanni met, he told her to go home and start stretching immediately, which is obviously a reference to her being (potentially) very bendy and very able, so that's one instance in which they didn't hush it up.
And she wasn't on it THAT long ago; it was easy enough to google people in 2017. I remember doing so myself and finding out that she danced for the Iranian national ballet company.
Anyway, she was in her late 50s on Strictly, so quite a different proposition from Layton, who's in his 20s.

Thanks for the list of remaining dances @CaveMum , really interesting. Nigel needs a couple of smokin hot weeks - hope it happens. Can’t wait for Saturday already!

Looking again at Layton’s remaining dances, 4 of them are very technique heavy (waltz, foxtrot, Paso and rumba) so he’s going to have to work very hard on at least 2 of those. At a guess they’ll try to drop Rumba and Foxtrot.

@covetingthepreciousthings, most likely. We can but dream!

Also, perhaps Layton can play a version of Miss Trunchball for the Matilda musical? Am thinking that might be one lady he doesn't want to imitate though...for some reason! I like the lad really, just messing about. He actually seems quite humble (and no I'm not being sarky) and has settled into the partnership better than he did at the beginning.

I'm a big fan of Layton, and I thought his turns in second, the other week, meant he'd had ballet training at some point (were they turned out? I can't remember, so possibly just jazz).

The grande pirouette in his jive? Have a look at the end of Solidarity from
Billy Elliot...

@Iverymuchdoubtitdarling, am holding out hope for Nigel too. Come on sir! He seems to be struggling more with ballroom, so if it's a latin he should be on fire.

Just watching ITT, has Gloria Hunniford done strictly?

Ignore that, the shows just answered that question! Yes she has..

Is Fleur pregnant?

Nikita and Layton have confirmed they're dancing an American Smooth this weekend. Waltz / foxtrot, with a bit of a jazzy part..

Also they even said there is going to be a limit with no tricks or flips, and just enjoy being in hold..

@SheIsStuck23, it would explain the baggier clothes. Unless that is the fashion nowadays. Am clueless.

@covetingthepreciousthings, it will be nice to see them pared back, like with their QS. Looking forward to that.

I think a few of us have been wondering that... I guess we'll find out soon enough if she.

I really enjoyed ITT tonight. Looks like we've got the AS we were hoping for from Layton and Nikita :)

Was interesting to hear Kevin talk about where Nigel went wrong. I like Fleur doing demo time too; she never stumbles around pretending she's clueless and talking over the pro like Zoe used to, she actually dances the steps so you can see what they're on about.

Was a bit surprised to hear Rangela describe Ellie as a novice with no dance experience though

I think they missed Blackpool in 2020 and 2021

Why do wardrobe dress Fleur abysmally? Even if she is pregnant why do they dress her like that? I get she may be trying to hide it but even so. Jannette always has nice clothes 🤔

Don't they just wear their own clothes?

Maybe Fleur just fancies an oversized look? Like Tess and her terrible fear of having both shoulder covered up. Wouldn't necessarily be my choice, but it's practical, respectable, colourful and high impact. Wardrobe on SCD have never shown any previous signs of dressing women like that off their own bat.

Lovely video on YouTube of Grazia interview, Nikita and Layton answering 10 questions. Their bond is fantastic

I was initially wondering whether she just liked the oversized look but then I clocked the size of her boobs which looked massive compared to her X Factor days which I why I put two and two together and thought she may be pregnant 😂😂

Was interesting to hear Kevin talk about where Nigel went wrong.

I honestly don't think that Nigel is as bad as judges are making him out to be. Yes, he makes mistakes, but I don't think they are worse than anybody else's. I've noticed that whenever they do the judges section during the results show, he is never one of the dancers talked about.

They have an opportunity to deliver something with their song choice. Pros did an amazing routine a few years ago with Oti and Graz. Her jump from the sofa took me back to her American Smooth with Danny. I'll upload it on the videos thread.

Also looking forward to Layton and Nikita's American Smooth. It's not going to be traditional ballroom, but we need to see a different style of dance now than the ones he has been doing.

Just watched this thank you. As you say - a really lovely bond.

Her Dad's having chemo and her grandmother died recently too I believe, so maybe the emotions just got to her.

Maybe she was torn between wanting to stay in, and wanting to be able to leave to go home to Oz to be with her family at a tough time.

If I was Dianne I'd be sorely tempted to ask to have Bobby switched to another pro so I could just get home but I'm guessing she's being the stalwart professional and thinks that would be unfair on Bobby.

Re, the styling of Ellie's dance. Yes, I think it had a lot to do with that. I'm also realising that while I love swing dance and enjoy Charleston I don't like a swing Charleston. It was also not quite slapstick, but also a bit slapstick. The lifts were amazing but there were too many of them causing her to have to have a minor pause which broke up the dance a bit too much for me. All of this is so moot because there was so much incredible stuff in the dance, her skill and talent is undeniable, so it was just that it didn't do it for me. That's on me/us, not her and the lovely batshit Vito.