Strictly Come Dancing 2013 Blog WEEK 12

Picture Courtesy of the BBC 

 

Strictly Come Dancing Blog WEEK 12

SEMI FINALS week and with the standard at its highest ever, whoever leaves the competition at this stage is surely going to be devastated, but who is your favourite to be crowned Strictly Champion 2013?

Natalie & Artem Salsa C10  D10  L10  B10  T40

As always a great presentation and performance from this hard to beat couple showing great style and musicality, I personally would prefer to see an earthier danced Salsa with a slightly stronger knee action, yet as always, priceless.

Patrick & Anya Waltz C9  D9  L9  B9  T36

An elegant and graceful Waltz with some very nice shaping and poise from Patrick, I found the music very difficult to follow in the first part of the routine which made them look to be dancing off time, but maybe it was just my ears? Still a great job.

Sophie & Brendan Paso Doblé C8  D9  L99 B9  T35

Such a dramatic Paso, full of attitude and presence, to start with a continuous ‘Pot Stirrer’ which is extremely difficult to hold and control and Sophie made it look easy and it was great to see Sophie oozing with confidence.

Susanna & Kevin Foxtrot C9  D9  L10  B10  T38

Foxtrot, the floating, flowing dance and flow and float it did, there were a couple of little footwork issues from Susanna but overall a great performance.

Abbey & Aljaz Samba C9  D10  L10  B10  T39

For me I thought this was the dance of the evening a great sexy Samba full of Brazilian spirit and no nuts! An amazing true Samba action that portrayed a technically perfect routine and easily deserving a ten, and I wish Craig would not keep going on about the double bounce action in Samba, just for the record the only bounce action in Samba is through the hips and not shown with any rise and fall or bobbing action in the rest of the body.  (Bob Dale 1927 - 2005)

Natalie & Artem Argentine Tango C9  D9  L10  B10  T38

A very technical performance again from Natalie but I did feel it lacked slightly in the Argentine drama, I agreed totally with Bruno’s comment on it being clinical as it did have a clean and precise almost balletic finish which was not helped because of Natalie’s height and if she had just softened the knee more it would have created a softer flow.

Patrick & Anya Paso Doblé C7  D8  L9  B9  T33

Patrick really wanted to show his acting side and on the whole his Paso did have attitude, however I thought his head line was too stiff which then meant the Spanish lines and influences became slightly robotic but he did do all the Matadors of the world proud.

Sophie & Brendan American Smooth (Foxtrot)  C8  D9  L9  B10  T36

This has to be one of the most glamorous American Smooth we have ever been graced with, the control on the lifts was mesmerising, there were a couple of little issues with Sophie’s head line whilst dancing solo, but I loved it.

Susanna & Kevin Salsa C8  D8  L8  B8  T32

For me this was a true Salsa, yes there were a couple of the finishes that could have been slightly tighter but it had a Salsa groove and earthy approach with enough to tease but do not touch.

Abbey & Aljaz American Smooth (Foxtrot) C9  D10  L10  B10 T39

This was the most confident we have seen Abbey perform yet a truly graceful, effortless performance with musicality and style, If you did not have a smile on your face watching this routine then you need to seek medical advice, the transformation from week one to week twelve has been truly inspirational and if we could bottle it we would all be winners.

Sunday Results Show

A magical opening to our results show from our Strictly dancers along with the world famous magician Dynamo, but what an unexpected twist to our competition! Patrick & Anya and Natalie & Artem in the dreaded dance off, Very unfair for Patrick & Anya who danced their socks off, Patrick you entered Strictly as an accomplished actor and have left with your head held high (and to the left) as an accomplished dancer.

It is going to be a very exciting close final Susanna & Kevin, Abbey & Aljaz and Natalie and Artem.

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Strictly Come Dancing WEEK 10 Blog

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Strictly Come Dancing Blog WEEK 10

‘Musical Week’ as we reach the last few stages of this years competition and our seven gallant couples become six which of them is going to be all Broadway glamour and who will be walking the Yellow Brick Road home, an amazing opening from our professional dancers to ‘Anything goes’ from the musical of the same name which has been running for over seventy nine years and still makes you want to get up and dance, it really is getting difficult to pick the finalists from this years celebrities as the bar is so high, I think we are going to be in for a few disappointments over the next couple of weeks so KEEEEEEP VOTING!

Patrick & Anya Charleston C8  D10  L10  B10  T38

For energy alone Patrick deserved tens, it just never stopped or faded, great style, great presentation and great energy, I did however find the music very difficult to follow and easily find the Charleston swing, but Patrick smashed it.

Natalie & Artem American Smooth Foxtrot C9  D9  L8  B10  T36

Beautiful fluid movements with perfectly finished lines and musical interpretation made this a true professional performance, however I did feel that the ending lost energy and emotion somehow, and I did agree with Lens comment on the Foxtrot content, an American smooth should still be two thirds Foxtrot and one third lifts and breaks in tradition hold, but you cannot help swaying around on the sofa when watching these two together.

Mark & Iveta Samba C7  D7  L7  B8  T29

A true Samba showing great content and a good standard of technique, there were a few stonking heels at times but I loved the presentation and Marks ability to make me smile when I’m watching him dance.

Sophie & Brendan Viennese Waltz C9  D9  L9  B9  T36

A lovely rotary Viennese Waltz with perpetual natural and reverse turns, a little lighter lilting action and a little straighter in the legs when closing the feet would have created a slightly smoother rotation and help to keep Sophie from leaning backwards as all the judges commented on it but none of them helped to correct it, but I loved the choreography and movement.

Abbey & Aljaz Salsa C10  D10  L10  B10  T40

WOW, I loved the presentation and constant energy levels, Abbey’s performance was incredible, I personally would have preferred to see the Salsa danced deeper into the floor, as they were quite light on their feet and the Disco music actually gave it more of a Hustle feel than a Salsa, but Abbey keep working this hard and we will see you in the final.

Ashley & Ola Rumba C8  D9  L9  B9  T35

Rumba is very difficult for a male to look masculine yet fluid and Ashley performed it perfectly there was some nice content and feeling to their routine it was clean and tidy and for me Ashley it was right on the money.

Susanna & Kevin Quickstep C7  D8  L9  B9  T33

This was one of the best Quickstep presentations we have seen this series, fast and furious with more content packed in than a tin of sardines, Susanna has wowed us and dances like she has been dancing for years, I crown Susanna Reid the dancer of the BBC award 2013!

Sunday Results Show

A Fame musical opening from our professional dancers that would look at home on any West End stage, but for the third time we see Mark & Iveta in the dreaded dance off, along with Ashley & Ola but Ashley and Ola make it through to the Quarter Finals. Mark you have been a star and strictly A1 performer, I hope you keep dancing.

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Strictly Blog WEEK 6 Halloween Special

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Strictly Come Dancing Blog 2013 WEEK 6

Halloween Special, with more spookier goings’ on than a ghost train at midnight! As our eleven remaining couples become ten, who will treat us with their perfect performances and who will trick us with all stunts and no dance content? Overall I was a little disappointed in Saturdays Strictly Special compared with previous year’s, the production did feel a little rushed and everyone did seem a little tired, Do you agree?

Patrick & Anya Quickstep C8  D9  L9  B8  T34

Patrick started off a little weaker than in previous weeks, he was quite flat footed, heavy in the knees and off in his top line, but as the routine progressed he got much better and really started to perform to his normal standard mastering more complicated, speedier steps than normal.

Fiona & Anton Charleston C6  D7  L8  B7  T28

For me this was easily Fiona’s best dance to date, an amazingly well choreographed true Charleston routine, Fiona was fun in her presentation lighter on her feet than normal and performed the whole routine really well, her timing was off slightly a couple of times but I thought it was a real Thunderball, and I loved it.

Ben & Kristina Paso Doblé C7  D8  L9  B8  T32

Ben obviously has been working really hard on his routine this week, and in the gym! The choreography as a show routine was fantastic; however there were still several technical issues with his footwork and arm lines, but as a performance it was great.

Sophie & Brendan Jive C6  D7  L8  B7  T28

I did not really understand the storyline behind their performance this week, Sophie looked as if she was playing it safe again and not letting go, it felt heavy and quite hard work on Brendan’s behalf who also looked a little off, Sophie now needs to concentrate solely on her technique, and let her hair down.

Natalie & Artem Viennese Waltz C9  D10  L9  B10  T38

I loved the production these two performed this week, a haunting show routine, they are matched well as performers, but I do agree with Len’s comment that the routine had more of an American Smooth Viennese Waltz feel than a traditional one, but as always it was flawless.

Mark & Iveta Paso Doblé C6  D6  L7  B6  T25

Mark has some good, well controlled steps, it did feel a little limp at times and lost the true Paso feel of the Matador, especially with his little disco section which does show Mark’s fun side, however his timing and musicality are fantastic.

Rachel & Pasha American Smooth (Viennese Waltz) C7  D7  L8  B8  T30

A fabulous characterisation of this style, amazing true Pasha choreography a great Viennese Waltz, Rachel performed her heart out and made the whole routine look effortless, which is the main aim of any Viennese Waltz.

Ashley & Ola Tango C8  D9  L8  B8  T33

There were some good recognisable step patterns from Ashley this week, I am not quite sure if his top line and head line were distorted for him to stay in character as Frankenstein or whether it was a fault, his feet were a little sloppy at times but he showed great strength and staccato timing.

Abbey & Aljaz Rumba C8  D8  L9  B9 T34

Rumba, the dance of love and these two perform it wonderfully together, for a non dancer Abbey performs and moves fantastically, the energy they create together is truly inspirational.

Dave & Karen Jive C4  D5  L6  B4  T19

This was not one of Dave’s best performances however he did have quite a lot of Jive content in his routine, despite some of the judge’s comments and again he has worked extremely hard, even though he was a little flat footed, but has he done enough to stay or has he burnt out.

Susanna & Kevin Charleston C8  D8  L9  B9  T34

A great little Charleston routine, with great comical timing coupled with strong kicks and a great Charleston Swivelling action, I would have preferred a little straighter in the knees at times from Susanna, but to maintain the energy on such a speedy dance is really difficult and she did not falter one bit.

Sunday results show.

Another great opening from our professionals with the male pros being puppets! This has to be one of the most haunting Sunday results show’s ever with Abbey & Aljaz and Rachel & Pasha in the dreaded dance off, with neither couple deserving to be there, I honestly thought someone was playing a trick! Rachel did look very nervous and did make a couple of little mistakes, so unfortunately her Strictly journey ends, we will miss you Rachel, we see Abbey & Aljaz dance again next week (thank goodness).

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