SCD 24 #16 The Final Countdown. Who Will Make It? NO SPOILERS

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

KEEP DANCING

That doesn't mean that you would have the skills to be able to do a foxtrot or a waltz or a samba or Argentine Tango. It does mean that you have been trained to move about a stage, sing, speak and generally perform like any actor would.

I'm not saying that SCD should outlaw all 'ringers' but at some point everyone will have had some form of performing arts training (actor/singer/comedian) be that on the job training or structured training. It doesn't mean that they can do ballroom or latin dancing.

If we were to ban all ringers, what areas would the 'celebrities' come from?

The ringers almost never win, with the exception of Carolyn Flack who did a brilliant job of covering up that’s quite important part of her CV, so it doesn’t mattter. I agree with whoever said that the vitriol against Layton had a lot to do with racism and homophobia.

I think they should ban anyone whose main profession is professional dancer, like Layton, that was a bridge too far, for me, much as I enjoyed some of his routines. But not someone who has jigged about in a pop video or did another type of dance when they were kids or at stage school.

I would be banned as I actually did ballroom and latin from the age of 4 to 14. And I'm not a celeb!

Yep there is a massive difference between someone who was at stage school with the aim of being an actor and lurked at the back of dance classes once a week and someone who is earning money from giving dance lessons to others.
I don't hate ringers as people, I'm never unkind about them but I never vote for them and I don't think anyone who has been paid primarily to dance should be the show (unless they are there as a judge or a pro).
If other dance styles are so unrelated to Latin and Ballroom that it gives no advantage why did they have a ballerina as a judge? Or expect the pros to turn their hand to Street, Theatre, Contemporary or Bollywood?

I didn't like Layton for justifiable reasons that had zero to do with either his race or his sex life, maybe other people did feel that way but I want to clarify that this is not the case in every situation.

Jay McGuinness also had a dance degree, which will surprise nobody who remembers that his Pulp Fiction jive was week 3! I bow to no one in my admiration for Aliona's teaching skills, but she definitely wasn't working from a blank canvas there.

Not to mention Craig and Arlene, neither of whom had any pure ballroom or competition-standard Latin experience.

the thing is if i want to see a dancer, i watch the pro's, for me the programme is about people learning to dance.
i was fooled by Jay, but seem to remember he lacked confidence.

I hadn't realised that about Jay but as pp said he certainly didn't showcase himself the first two weeks so the Jive really was mind blowing, still think it's amazing dance degree or no!

I wondered if they were keeping Lauren in reserve, in case anything happened to Amy. She stepped in beautifully and JB has really come on. Amy just felt very safe and sweet and unfortunately rather boring. Lauren is just so sassy and lively. Hearing Aliaz breathing so heavily after his dances made me wonder if Kai was being kept in reserve to cover for him, if Aliaz couldn’t continue.
I'm going to look forward to the final, but I’m happy that Chris will be able to have a break from rehearsals. He must be so tired now. Dianne has definitely become one of my favourites now. I’m trying to imagine Katya with Chris though!

The three impeccable pirouettes half way through the jive were a bit of a giveaway.

Oh and the advent of the couples choice means anyone with a dance background can use whatever style they have extensive training/ experience in at least once, something that those who are beginners can't do, so even if you think a different style only gives you a tiny advantage in Ballroom/ Latin it is also effectively a 'get out of jail free' card for a couples choice.

I have a theory that the judges are not commenting on the lack of chemistry between Aljaz and Tasha because he's a Very Married pro and quite a lot of years older than her. They don't want to make A Thing or require them to "act" a relationship, this year of all years.

Bit like Karim’s pirouettes. Think they may have been in the final though?

I think that's a problem with CC

CC is always boring. Follows the same patterns.

• First it was extreme lifts showndances . Which got boring
• We had a cringey street dance phase
• Contempary, no shoes phase
• Now we’ve gone onto cultural show dances. Morris Dancing could happen at this rate.

I liked it when Gio switched it up with Faye and we had a jazzy dance.

I still hold a secret love for the years when they wheeled out the world show dance champs (all throwy catchy lifts) in semi finals and the looks of abject terror on the faces of the would be finalists.

And Brendan looked on and thought "I can do that". I'll look really butch and strong throwing my partner around in crazy lifts.

Spoiler alert, he couldn't, especially not with a strapping lass of 5'10"

Yep definitely a style suited to a tiny pocket rocket of lass, not former model!

I would love to see some cultural dances from anywhere in the globe, including the British Isles. The contestants are always from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, having a cultural dance week would be lovely.

That's a great Idea

I would much rather that than random CCs scattered through the series, mind you, I'd rather have root canal work than watch most CCs.

Cultural dances - yes! Much better than the usual CC.

The thing is, it's virtually impossible to mark a CC fairly, they're often a tribute to a dead relative or some meaningful moment in a person's life. You can't give a 5 to someone who's dancing for their late Nan.
The exception was Punam's, which was great.

Punam and Montell had the best CCs of this series. They were both joyous.

It was quite a decent year for CC with only one agonised dead nan contempowaft. They were more varied than most years.