SCD '23 #18: Our three Strictly Stars, and the MN Glitterball Gang, prepare for the final! (NO SPOILERS)

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

SPOILER-FREE THREAD PLEASE

Previous thread here.

Video thread. Please post videos on that thread, then link across to here to avoid buffering issues with this thread.

Spoiler thread.

Yes, absolutely re old-fashioned Fred & Ginger. We've ample evidence that this kind of show dance wins over the audience.

I'd have assumed they did.. it makes me wonder if Vito chose it after the Beyoncé medley with Fleur and then the Dua Lipa one..

But then again, I'm not sure he chose those?

Last year Fleur & Vito did an Argentine Tango x Paso Doble show dance, so maybe there's hope yet.

I'd forgotten how good their AT was... wow!! I remember lots of MN getting hot under the collar when Kai approached AJ in their rumba though 😍

Jennifer Lopez does at least have a few Latin based songs and has at least one Spanish singing album so perhaps it will be more Latin based than.... Diva based?

Not sure I like a j lo medley. I’m pleased about AS and paso. Hope that’s enough for the win.

I loved their AT. Kai is a different man when he dances.

He's done a great job with 3 very different partnerships. In the first year, he went a long way with Tilly and she made great progress from her starting point and blossomed in confidence. He got a good way through last year with Ellie S and was adaptable dancing with her proportions to make it work (I remember being upset about their dance off outcome but forget the details). He's been adaptable again with Layton and playing with roles and the physical logistics of dancing with a male which would affect technique for elements like lifts.

We've had two male/ male partnerships reach a final now. Although Nicola Adams ended out early, I'd have been surprised if she'd made the final weeks, and Jayde wasn't great last year. It would be good to have a strong female/ female partnership.

I'd like to see Kai with someone he can show-off more with. It was such a shame to miss out on the final with AJ. He reached a decent stage with Angela R, but was hardly free to let rip with her 😂

Here you go! Permutations across the years.
We missed out on seeing six contestants again: Pamela, Jason, Sophie, Dani, Mark and Katie.

Series 1 - 6
couple's favourite ballroom
couple's favourite Latin
showdance (not scored in series 2-6)
Series 4 and 5 also had finalists doing different numbers to the same song

Series 7
couple's highest scoring ballroom
couple's highest scoring Latin
showdance (scored for the first time)
Lindyhop group dance

Series 8
couple's highest scoring routine
showdance
elimination
new dance
couple's favourite number
we missed out on seeing Pamela's Argentine Tango still not over it and her favourite

Series 9
judges' choice
showdance
elimination
new dance
couple's choice
we missed out on seeing Jason perform a new routine and his favourite

Series 10-13
judges' choice
showdance
elimination
couple's choice
we missed out on seeing Soph's charleston still not over it
we missed out whatever Dani's favourite of hers/Mark's favourite of his was
we missed out on Katie's VW

Series 14- 21
judges' choice
showdance
couple's choice
Series 19 had showdance performed last

Bobby - Party Latin, LaLa medley (I reckon QS/Charleston fusion - see video thread), Contemporary. Showing three styles
Ellie - Fierce Latin, JLo medley (Party Latin as opposed to disco hopefully), Vintage AS ballroom-based.
Layton - Ballroom, Theatre jazz?, Latin

Could be anybody's
Bobby's will be a crowd pleaser
Ellie's could go either way
Layton's depends on whether it's also Aladdin themed? (Curse of the blue facepaint /harem pants) or a straight forward dance off

Morning all, thanks Polka 😊

Thanks Polka.

I am the only person in the world who wasn't bothered about Bobby and Dianne's samba, so… meh. I'm sure the voting audience will like it though.
I'm also the only person on earth who doesn't really know La La Land, so I can't get excited about that. I do fear it might be a bit cloying.

I don't mind Ellie and Vito's paso doble but, again, don't absolutely love it. There's a good point above though about getting to see both Tails Vito and Sweaty Bare Chest Vito

My heart sinks at the idea of the J-Lo megamix, but it's true, they could go in the direction Vito and Fleur went rather than music-video nonsense. I really hope so otherwise it might put voters off.

I think Layton and Nikita's quickstep is excellent. I particularly like Nikita doing this style. And they'll be fantastic doing Friend Like Me; it's a great song.

Oh well done @SequinsandStiIettos what an encyclopaedic knowledge

Bobby was one of my faves from the start, but I was so indifferent to his samba I had to watch it on you tube yesterday to remind myself. la-la land has been on the list of movies I must get around to watching one day (see also Moulin Rouge) but haven't managed yet :)

I still haven't recovered from those awfully tight trews Vicky Giggles put Vito in for that Cha Cha on Saturday.

Poor lad's probably pleased he can dance in normal trousers on Saturday for at least two of his dances (although, we don't yet know what he has to wear for the showdance).

Sweaty hairy bare chested Vito, tails Vito, sprayed on trousers Vito. That’s my votes right there 😍

Looking forward to most of the repeated dances, not sure about the showdance music. Agree a J-Lo medley for Ellie feels too similar to and too soon after her Dua Lipa medley CC.

I wanted Bobby to do his AT again. It’s one of the few dances where I can actually take Dianne seriously as a dancer.

I just posted Fleur and Vito's showdance in the video thread. It's a mix of modern steps with AT, Paso, Rumba steps and feel.

Having seen that I am thinking he could well do a great Party Latin showdance for Ellie which will be a nice counterbalance to her gorgeous AS.

(Vito fans should pay attention from 1.15 onwards when he really lets rip with his solo dancing - the high kick - and the facial intensity. There is also a lot of heavy breathing at the end. )

Placemarking for the Final!

I can't wait - although I know that Ellie is going to win, I think most of the dances will have something to recommend them.

I think the J-Lo could well be Latin based. I don't see her being a obvious pick for another Dualipa/Beyoncé pop style dance. I think it's Latin rhythms all the way for this one. Hopefully, because I did enjoy the pop video number but I'd rather see something a bit less intense especially as they're doing the paso again.

I think Vito said on ITT last night that the J-Lo showdance contains a lot of Latin elements. It makes sense as her salsa was very good.

They could have done a fabulous Fred and Ginger type showdance but I suppose they wanted something to stand out more from the AS.

An intense Paso
An elegant AS
A fun showdance

Sounds like a winning combination in terms of variety!

I also think from the start that the whole 'Laytonise' all the dances seem to say that he was so good that he didn't need to learn them as the other dancers did but was superior enough to customise them to his own style. Whereas beginners shouldn't have their own style.
To the previous poster that said she worked with his nan, I imagine Layton was a proper cutie :)

Am not really bothered about this series either. Hardly any of the dances made me grin which is what I like from Strictly.

I wonder if Strictly will be as popular next year.

have spoken to several Strictly fans and they feel the same about this series as I do.

Just something missing & unfair about having a professional dancer instead of an amateur take part. I think they’ve done it before but can’t remember it being so blatant.

Also for me anyway Shirley brings no gravitas to the head judge role and Motsi just shrieks. Anton has been off this series as well.