Strictly WEEK 9 Blog

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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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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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Strictly Blog WEEK 6 Halloween Special

Picture courtesy of the BBC

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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