Strictly Blog WEEK 8 BLACKPOOL SPECIAL!

 Picture Courtesy Of The BBC

Strictly Come Dancing Blog WEEK 8

Its BLACKPOOL week and which of our celebrities will be soaring to the top of the tower and which will be limping back home like a lame donkey on the soggy sands? Blackpool is the best and the only Mecca for Ballroom dancing and to open Saturdays show, what could be more fitting than a carnival Samba with dancers of all ages all performing together on the best Ballroom floor in the World, Strictly perfect!

Sophie & Brendan Quickstep C7  D9  L9  B9  T34

To open the show at Blackpool must have been every celebrities dream and Sophie did not let anyone down, a great quality Quickstep, She was very light on her feet and the content was A1 this was easily Sophie’s best dance to date.

Patrick & Anya Samba C8  D9  L9  B9  T35

Patrick’s rhythm is truly natural and the content of their routine was fuller than a stick of Blackpool rock, Anya getting her foot caught up in her dress threw Patrick slightly and he did show signs of a few heel leads, but what a performance.

Ben & Kristina American Smooth (Viennese Waltz) C8  D8  L8  B8  T32

I loved the whole story these two created this week, the use of the other male dancers was epic, Ben’s movement around the floor is so light for a big bloke he did however look less confident when dancing solo, but a great technical Waltz.

Ashley & Ola Paso Doblé C8  D9  L9  B9  T35

The performance these two created was one fit for a stage, Ashley the Cowboy and Ola the Dance Hall Girl performing a Paso ‘yeehaw’ Ashley was so strong and dominant and for me he was stronger out of hold than in, mainly as his top line crushes slightly, but his cape work and level of intensity were ace.

Fiona & Anton American Smooth (Foxtrot) C6  D7  L8  B8  T29

Fiona looked a million dollars and performed stronger and better than ever, she created light and smooth steps the lift at the end however was a little awkward and her leg position was a bit ‘Dr No’ but I loved the flow and feel to their routine.

Abbey & Aljaz Quickstep C7  D10  L10  B10  T37

Abbey really does look right at home on the dance floor and to think that the only dancing she has done before was around her handbag, until Strictly and Aljaz swept her off her feet, there were a few little timing issues but I loved every second, Abbey believe in yourself now like we are all believing in you!

Mark & Iveta Jive C5  D8  L8  B8 T29

“You can’t stop the beat” Mark performing to this iconic theme from Hairspray, this really showed him to his best it was fun, fast and fabulous!

Susanna & Kevin Paso Doblé C9  D10  L10  B12  T39

Susanna Reid, You are the best celebrity cape we have ever been blessed with on Strictly, a true Paso Doblé performed with passion and power, this is one of the hardest dances to create the right amount of Drama, and Susanna you were right on the money and easily deserving of a ten Craig!

Natalie & Artem Charleston C9  D10  L10  B10 T39

I am so glad that Natalie was fit to dance again this week, and she did not let us down, great choreography, great styling and yet another great performance, I thought the musical arrangement sounded a little slow which just gave it a slight heavy feel, but these two really do perform so well together they could do a rain dance together and it would bring out the sunshine.

Sunday’s result show.

A brilliant ‘Ballroom Blitz’ group opening to our Sundays result show with all our couples (and judges!) performing. Mark & Iveta and Fiona & Anton were in the dreaded dance off and I thought both couples danced better and upped their game, the judges saved Mark & Iveta who we see dance again next week, but we will miss you Fiona Keeeep dancing!

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Strictly Blog WEEK 7

Picture courtesy of the BBC

Strictly Come Dancing Blog WEEK 7

Week seven already and after the upset of last weeks dreaded dance off when we lost Rachel & Pasha, and this week with Natalie unfortunately being taken ill at the last minute and not dancing at all, which of our remaining couples were next for the chop, as we reach the half way point of the competition the improvement in our celebrities should now be really showing, but who is showing signs of weakening?


Ben & Kristina Jive C4  D7  L8  B7  T26
Ben is certainly owning the dance floor, a great, very well performed Jive routine with a Double Twisting Pull Through, I personally would have liked to see a little higher knee and kick action, his timing also was off a couple of times, but he attacked the whole thing with passion.


Fiona & Anton Paso Doblé C5  D7  L7  B7  T26
Fiona had some really nice shaping and strong Paso lines, I loved the true Paso Doblé choreography, and this was one of Fiona’s best performances and easily ‘A View to a Kill’


Abbey & Aljaz Charleston C9  D9  L9  B9  T36
A fast, flirty and furious Charleston, light footed and quirky, a very well polished routine that was excellently performed the simplicity and enjoyment factor that they showed us was amazing.


Mark & Iveta Rumba C5  D6  L7  B5  T23
I liked what Iveta had tried to do with the choreography but unfortunately, it did not do it for me, I would have preferred just to see Mark dancing something a lot less showy and contained, Rumba is the dance of love and should be oozed and tenderised but having Dr Evil playing the lover to the music of Goldfinger just took the artistic licence a little too far I thought, Mark does work very very hard, but with the strained action and heel leads this could be his last secret mission.

Susanna & Kevin Waltz C9  D9  L9  B9  T36
A beautiful, simple and effortless Waltz, performed with true emotion, poise and presentation coupled with more rotary turns than a perpetual engine, I loved every second, and Susanna deserves to go all the way in this competition.


Dave & Karen Tango C4  D6  L6  B4  T20
I have to say that there were some recognisable steps in Dave’s routine this week and he did put his all in to it, although it was very stompy in places it was passionately performed.


Ashley & Ola Quickstep C8  D9  L9  B9  T35
A fast furious Quickstep, Ashley is very light on his feet and although his posture had improved his top line was still off at points I thought, a very competent performance that was very well danced with great energy.

Sophie & Brendan Argentine Tango C8  D8  L8  B8  T32
This for me was Sophie’s best dance without a shadow of a doubt, I loved the true choreography with the simplicity of the lines and the transition of the steps, beautifully performed.

Patrick & Anya American Smooth C9  D10  L9  B9  T37
I loved the opening to their routine this week, the energy and level of showmanship was fantastic, Patrick’s musical interpretation is purely natural, I loved the choreography and the style he showed throughout the routine there was a little slip at the end but he recovered very well and it did not distract from the mesmerising performance.

Sundays Result Show.

A fabulous opening for remembrance Sundays result show to the wonderful Punini Sisters and Sing Sing Sing, but with Dave & Karen and Mark & Iveta in the dreaded dance off and with both couples being similarly matched it was going to be no easy task for our judges, personally I felt that Dave & Karen danced slightly better than Mark & Iveta, as did Len, but the other judges chose Mark & Iveta who we see dance again next week in BLACKPOOL come on!


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