STRICTLY WEEK 11 Blog

Picture Courtesy of the BBC

Strictly Come Dancing Blog WEEK 11

Quarterfinals week and with our six remaining couples not only fearing the intensity of the final being two weeks away, but this week they also have to cope with dancing twice  as its Swingathon week.

Ashley & Ola Salsa C8  D9  L9  B9  T35

What a performance! Ashley has worked extremely hard on his Salsa this week and the control on his lifts and tricks was off the scale, I personally would prefer to see him in a slightly higher Cuban heel as he is quite flat footed and needs a little more knee action to create a truer hip action but for me this was Ashley’s best performance to date.

Natalie & Artem Paso Doblé C9  D9  L8  B9  T35

A very dramatic performance of a Paso Doblé and a very balletic show routine but I have to agree with Len about the traditional content (or lack of) the story of the Paso is the male taking the part of the matador and the girl being his cape but as they were dancing apart for the majority of the routine it just felt more like two solo performances rather than a duet. (Sorry guys you know I think you are fab)

Patrick & Anya Rumba C8  D10  L9  B9  T36

A masculine Rumba with a strong action developing, with good use of arm lines and positions, there were however quite a few heel leads from Patrick, but I loved the tension they created.

Susanna & Kevin Argentine Tango C8  D8  L8  B8  T32

I loved the concept of this routine dancing an Argentine to Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal, I did feel that the routine was a little stompy in places rather than the creeping, sliding feel the Argentine should have, it was intense and the choreography fitted the music very well it was just a little clinical.

Abbey & Aljaz Viennese Waltz C9  D9  L9  B10  T37

An excellent Viennese Waltz with fantastic choreography, Abbey has just secured her place in the final with this routine, her upper body, in hold, was just beautiful with just the right amount of curve in her back, which takes years of experience to hold for any amount of time, she did lose her arm line slightly in the second half of the routine but did keep the energy level throughout, I would have scored this a ten and Abbey is the most improved in this year’s series and now really looks like a true dancer.

Sophie & Brendan Tango C9  D8  L8  B9  T34

This dance should have been Sophie’s best dance yet, but for me it lacked the intensity  of a Tango, I loved the story and the overall performance I just felt that Brendan looked as if he was really having to work too hard.

“Swingathon”

The Jiving, Lindying, Swinging free for all, where all our couples get to battle out on the floor at the same time as in a real dancing competition, it is very difficult to give an honest opinion on any couples performance as the camera angles made it difficult to watch them all collectively, however I suppose the judges’ decision is final and they scored as follows;

Susanna & Kevin 1, Ashley & Ola 2, Abbey & Aljaz 3, Sophie & Brendan 4, Patrick & Anya 5, Natalie & Artem 6.

Sunday Results Show

A terrific titanium opening from our Strictly dancers but with both are remaining male celebrities in the dreaded dance off, you knew there was going to be tears. Ashley & Ola and Patrick & Anya both danced their hearts out and Ashley & Ola will be missed but Patrick & Anya are through to next week’s SEMI FINAL! The judges however were not unanimous in their decision, and Len got a little uptight as Bruno, Craig and Darcey all saved Patrick. 

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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 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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