Strictly 2025 : Who will leave the ballroom this week? Week 10 18.35PM NO SPOILERS

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

It’s that time again folks!

Here’s the Spoiler Thread!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5405030-strictly-2025-the-spoiler-thread-results-and-couplings?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

It was a good thing Alex drew the rumba. I just can't see how she would have managed to do the salsa or samba in the instant dance.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit@Piggywaspushed
Annabel Croft?
I do remember pps saying AC’s dance experience didn’t count for much, she gave up when she was 12 etc (if I’ve got that right) but ballet is a very strong discipline, she did it for many years, and although she wasn’t a ringer in the Lewis/Amber category, the training she had would’ve served her well on Strictly. No beef about that either btw, I liked her and voted for her all the way.

So would I, though I do think Lewis’s Couples Choice is the dance of the series for me.

Here's an article in which Karen herself talks about how much dancing she did

https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/Article/karen-carney-lionesses-football-dancing-background-271117

It matters not one jot to me (Lewis fan here) but dismissing some people and then emphasising the journey of 'novices' is over promoting Karen and seemingly over Bal, which I find interesting.

Debbie McGee danced as a young adult I think.

Yeah they were they just shifted focus. I think Karen works for the BBC occasionally anyway .

ITT made it clear that each couple knew the 4 dance styles that they could have and that they were taking some time to practice them. The judging was on how well they prepared to dance to unfamiliar music.

Karen went to local dancing class aged 12. A few times a week. And stopped at aged 15.

This is not the same as someone who takes dancing through to adult hood at a performing arts college or/and into their careers. With it incorporated in what they do for a living.

I don't believe they were actually random choices, I think either judges or production picked them.

A few times a week is a lot of dancing. And the competitive dancing on a Sunday? And the competitions? You are missing out a lot of info there. If she wasn't so likeable , more people would have something to say.

Anyway, I care not. Just a bit frustrated by the over emphasis of the 'journey' story with her (including from Shirley who called her a complete novice) because other journey candidates have gone form the show as far as they seem to be concerned (not sure why they aren't emphasising George's journey more and I can't find any evidence of Bal having danced ).

What Karen is clearly excellent at is learning and taking coaching - the instant dance showed that she needs time to perfect things.

Definitely not random! Their dance rails had the right costumes for the dance!

Didn’t they have the option of a possible 3 dances? Hence multiple costumes

Read the article again.

She started dancing much earlier than that and went to a class every week that her sister went to, and it was at 12 when things started to get serious.

In her words, she competed at big events until 15.

Anyway, I don't care that she's had dance experience. I enjoy her dances and on a few occasions more than Lewis'.

Her dance history however, is more significant than just a few years of classes though. You can see that in her couples choice.

Yes, I agree. There's a significant difference. I've seen Amber on stage in the West End in a musical. I've only ever seen Karen playing football.

I just thought how convenient it was…..

I cracked up when Alexis told George to take off the coat!

She was serious about dance and also competed - it wasn't just enjoying dancing.

"It wasn’t until I moved to Steptoes Dance School in Halesowen when I was 12 that things got more serious and I started going three or four times a week. It was there that I started to compete in some big events.
“I enjoyed football when I was a kid and had loads of kickabouts, but I didn’t join my first club until I was 11. Until then, it was all about dancing for me. We did loads of different routines and genres of music; street dancing, hip-hop, disco, rock ‘n roll, slow dancing, team dances, everything.
“But when I started doing football and dancing, things got a bit hectic. There were times when I played football at 10am on a Saturday then I’d go and dance for two or three hours in the afternoon, and maybe just grab a sandwich in between.
“I’d dance competitively on a Sunday, too, so when I got a bit older and my football matches switched to a Sunday, I had some choices to make. I decided to give up dancing when I was 15."

I really love Karen, but I hate this narrative that she is a novice. She's not. Her CC clearly came from her street dancing/hip hop background.

She was a teenager though like lots of kids they did dance classes and sometimes competed, I don't think Karen has ever professed to be a novice.or never danced before. She has been transparent that she did dance as a teenager, people are a bit obsessed about a Saturday night telly programme like it is a dance championship and there is "cheating" going on.

I agree! There's all manner of accusations of "fixes' as well! 🙄

@Coffeeishot cheating going on

its not cheating as such but I find it really unfair and not a level playing field for example to pitch someone like Krishnan Guru Murthy against someone who is a West End star. And then the judges act like there’s no disparity

That's not my point to be fair. What I actually think is that Shirley got her wrists slapped for her comment about Karen's posture in about week 3. Carlos is still clearly upset about it. Shirley is now over compensating by gushing about Karen's performances but in so doing wants to suggest she has had some part in a transformation story.

You yourself coffee might point out how no such gushing occurs over Balvinder .

I thought it was Motsi made the comment about Karen

It's people on this thread in all honesty who pick over people's dance experiences. Not sure public vote cares as much. So when posters on this thread say they won't vote for dance experienced contestants and then say how great Karen is, it suggests that Karen's past dance talent is less relevant.

When is the last time Lewis did any proper dancing ? He's clearly excellent but I think his dancing shoes were hung up quite some time ago?

They both said something quite similar. I sm sure it was Shirley who said 'novice' or somesuch.