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

Picture courtesy of the BBC

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 WEEK 9 Blog

Picture courtesy of the BBC 

 

Strictly Come Dancing Blog WEEK 9

With only four weeks left until this year’s Strictly final, as we see temperatures start to freeze outside, which of our celebrities is heating things up on the dance floor, and who is shivering and quivering with an ice cold performance that does not impress the judges? At least none of our celebrities want to get out of here!

Susanna & Kevin Cha Cha C7  D8  L8  B8  T31

Susanna Reid, You Cha Cha minx! A very convincing, courageous Cha Cha that was full of hips, shimmies and bling, to help create a truer correct hip action now try to only have one knee bent at a time , but an excellent performance and a definite crowd pleasure, despite what the judges were saying.

Ashley & Ola Waltz C8  D9  L9  B9  T35

A lovely simple Waltz that Ashley did make it look effortless, showing signs of control, however the top line (which is the line taken across the shoulders and into the upper arms that should be a perfect straight line) was slightly slanted, and the head line ( which should be looking to the left and slightly tilting outward as if you are trying to look behind your left arm without dropping the chin) was slightly inclined to the right, the routine did have a very light and floating feel which is true to the Waltz.

Natalie & Artem Tango C9  D9  L9  B10 T 37

WOW, this is actually how a true Tango should be danced, strong, powerful and full of passion and poise, and this is how you win at Strictly, but I was expecting a higher result from the judges, did you?

Mark & Iveta Foxtrot C6  D8  L7  B7  T28

Mark to say you have only been Ballroom dancing for 12 weeks there was nothing to be ashamed of, the Foxtrot is one of the hardest dances to master for any male, the flight and softness it requires yet power and strength to control the stride is very difficult and on the whole I thought you did a pretty good job, yes I would have liked to see a little more sway which gives the Foxtrot its smoothness but well danced.

Sophie & Brendan Rumba C7  D8  L8  B8  T31

Sophie has an amazing leg, as this was a beautiful Rumba, the dance of love and you could feel the emotion through every step, Brendan’s comments to the judges after they had danced were right on the money, Rumba is soft yet powerful as a dance, and not meant to be hot and sexy, If anything I would have liked to see Sophie’s upper body moving a little more and projecting into the forward placing foot, but this was definitely a true Rumba, that was danced correctly.

Ben & Kristina Charleston C6  D7  L7  B7  T27

Ben the content in your routine this week was phenomenal and so full of character, it was light footed and you showed musicality and charisma through your dance, you have come a very long way and with your strength and determination should continue and easily an eight from me.

Abbey & Aljaz Paso Doblé C8  D8  L8  B8  T32

A very promising Paso Doblé with great strong lines and presence, if I am absolutely honest I found the music quite soft and floaty which gave the dance a more fluid feel rather than the start stop action of a March, I loved the choreography and the performance was your best yet Abbey, now keep up the hard work as I know we have not quite seen everything yet.

Patrick & Anya Viennese Waltz C8  D8  L8  B8  T32

I loved the storyline that was created in the Viennese Waltz, there was some amazing content and choreography despite the few little technical issues and the floor spin at the end was very messy, it did look as if Patrick was throwing a ball around on a piece of rope almost as if they had run out of time to finish the routine properly as the last couple of figures did not look to be part of the same dance, but as always great rhythm, great story a great Waltz.

Sunday Results Show

A ‘Great British Bake Off’ opening from our professional dancers this week which for me was not one of their best performances that they have been enlightening us with of recent, but with Mark & Iveta and Ben & Kristina in the dreaded dance off I knew there was going to be tears all round and I did agree with the judges to save Mark & Iveta, I thought Ben danced down a little almost as if he wanted to step aside, but he will be sadly missed and his journey has been legendry,  next week is Musical Special Week where we see our magnificent seven strut their stuff from Broadway to the West End!

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