Every series brings a tide of tittle-tattle in the tabloids and forums about previous “dance experience” and speculation is rife about how much of an unfair advantage this is. Usually the “s’not fair” sniping is directed at a female contestant, but this year perhaps Ricky Whittle should be breathing a sigh of relief that the recent race row has diverted attention from too much gossip about his alleged previous experience.
The slings and arrows have rained down on past contestants, such that all female celebs must now surely dread anyone coming forward to say that they once got first prize in a hokey cokey contest at somebody’s fifth birthday party! One of the more ridiculous rumours I heard last year accused Lisa Snowdon of having worked as a professional ballet dancer! Darcy Bussell made waves as an unusually tall ballerina at 5 foot 7 – so I hardly think that a model reaching the lofty heights of 5 foot 10 would have had much of a career in the famously petite ballet world.
The fact of the matter is that all contestants bring something to the table, be they singers, sportspeople, actors or presenters (and if they don’t, maybe the celeb should think of firing their agent!)
Singers such as Aled and Lesley had a huge advantage because they not only had natural rhythm, but an in-depth understanding of music, which enabled them to dance with so much added musicality. They were also used to performing with live musicians in front of large audiences. They may not have been as physically fit as some of the competition, but I bet the breath control they learnt as professional singers stood them in pretty good stead to perform a 90 second dance on Strictly.
Everyone talks about the advantages that sportspeople have in terms of physical fitness, but I think that their mental fitness has just as much to do with their success. Not only the will to win, but the ability to come back fighting after a setback. There is also the fact that they are used to being physically coached (and by that I mean being directed on which muscles to use, how much control to use, how much energy is appropriate etc). I think one of the key advantages is that they are mentally prepared to practice and practice and practice – even when they are not in the mood, or when they are not expecting a great breakthrough, or when it just feels plain boring – but they know that the endless practice is the only way to achieve the end goal of improvement.
Actors are used to assuming a character and making the public believe in that character. An intimate rumba or a passionate tango should present no problems for anyone who has ever done a love scene in front of a studio full of colleagues. I would also imagine that if you have the mental agility to learn lines and lines of dialogue, then retaining a choreography in your mind isn’t too big a leap (would it be too churlish to name Matt di Angelo and Zoe Lucker as counter to this argument?).
Well known TV presenters, mainly of the GMTV ilk – well they bring with them large fan bases with trigger happy dialling fingers….
Strictly never has been a level playing field and was probably never intended to be. The celebs need to come from a variety of fields in order to satisfy the biggest possible viewing audiences. Otherwise why would the producers choose such a range of ages and such a variety of physical fitness levels? 17 year old Louisa Lytton against 66 year old Jimmy Tarbuck? Out of condition John Barnes up against action man Gethin Jones?
In addition to that the Beeb really needs celebs with a range of abilities to sustain a 14 week series. They need the no-hopers to provoke groans and votes in equal measure, the journey men and women (if only to justify the existence of the weekly spin-off show), the truly talented to make it seem like a real competition, and the cannon fodder, those who can be sacrificed to early dance-offs and shock exits. To get this mix, it seems wise that the cast should include a few people whose popularity could be predicted to outweigh their talent, a brace of sportspeople, and a sprinkling of ex-stage school and pop singers. A series full of no-hopers would not keep people tuning in every week; just as a series comprising only accomplished performers, with no journey story, would not keep the votes rolling in.
I also wouldn’t mind betting that the presence of a few “good from the get go” stage schoolers act as a kind of starting whistle for the ultra-competitive sportspeople, firing up their determination, giving them a real target to beat, and making for a more unpredictable and closely fought series as a whole.
I do get rather fed up with the oft-repeated mantra of “it’s all right for them, they have previous dance experience” though. It seems that all too often the criticism has been dished out without understanding a) what kind of dance experience did the contestant actually have b) how long ago was this their training c) how long the dance training lasted and d) was the contestant actually even any good? You are hard put to find any woman (celeb or non celeb) who did not do any ballet/disco/street for a few years as a child; but it doesn’t necessarily follow that they are going to be any good at learning ballroom and latin in a time pressured environment as an adult.
One of my real bugbears about the “dance experience” bandwagon, is that so many people lump all dance under one umbrella term, believing, wrongly, that dance is just “dance”. If there were a pro am telly series teaching celebs to play tennis, would we have all of this fuss because a male celeb had played a bit of school football in their youth? Would anybody really say “well, it’s all sport isn’t it, of course it makes it easier?”
The reality is that they are some transferable skills between dance disciplines – posture, use of arms and legs to finish lines, timing and musicality – but not every dancer is able to succeed in every discipline. And claiming that it is easier for a dancer to master a completely new discipline, just because of past experience, takes away from the hard work and dedication involved.
I recently took up tap, after several years on and off attending flamenco classes, thinking that this experience would stand me in good stead for picking up complicated patterns of footwork. How wrong could I be! Flamenco relies on driving down into the ground, whilst tap is about making the energy from the feet bounce back upwards, and requires agility and lightness in my feet that I just have never experienced before. I am still struggling, and there is no way that my previous dance experience is making it any easier for me. Sometimes there are just no short cuts.
And this is the nub of the problem – exposure to one form of dance technique can mean that that particular style of dance is so rooted in your muscle memory that unlearning it and learning a new style can prove just as hard as learning from scratch is for a novice. Those who have done ballet in the past have a real disadvantage with learning latin, for example, because their whole core is conditioned to be all “zipped up”, so loosening up the hips, torso and arms is a real problem.
Another big problem is actually learning how to dance in hold. There is no other dance form that requires partner work with such a degree of body contact as ballroom, and this is tough for anyone to master. But a woman with previous dance experience can have a really difficult time in learning how to follow their partner’s lead, to dance as a partnership, and to not pre-empt the lead.
And just don’t get me started on the shoes! Latin in particular requires a connection with the floor, to dance into it with foot pressure, using the whole leg to power the hip motion. Easy enough in bare feet, or dance trainers, but a whole different ball game in 3 inch heels, because it alters the whole way your feet feel the floor.
So to end – leave the “dance trained” people alone! They don’t have that great an advantage; they have to run the gauntlet of ill-informed criticism; the public won’t vote for them anyway; they will work hard, produce great routines, and then have a young, handsome male or a cricketer on a journey snatch it all away from them in the final!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
And so it's goodbye to Oxo Mum and Colgate Boy
For a lady of a "certain age" I think Lynda did herself proud. She outstayed the likes of Esther Rantzen, Gloria Hunniford, Stephanie Beacham and Gillian Taylforth (all of whom were cast in that role in previous series), and arguably outperformed younger pretenders such as Fiona Phillips, Georgina Bouzova, Jan Ravens and Kate Garraway.
I can't help but wonder what might have happened if Darren and Lynda had had proper tango and paso music (especially for tango, her first dance). I saw a clip on YouTube of them training without any music, and it looked so much better than her actual performance. I guess nerves can, and do, play a large part, but some authentic tango movement, with a much stronger, sharper rhythm, could have helped Lynda with her characterisation, and her technique.
I wonder if producers in TV la la land will be rubbing their hands with glee saying "told you so - these outspoken viewers calling for older women on TV. We give 'em one and look what happens - booted out by the Great British Public.Back to afternoon telly you go, all you women over 50!"
I must admit I was a little surprise by the tone of Lynda and Darren's exit. Darren was very frank and forthcoming in his views, which I have never heard from him before (mind you, unlike James, Brendan and Erin, he has usually been on the "right side" of the judges' favour). I was also surprised when Claudia started the interview with "I didn't expect to see you sitting here on a Monday". Well, with the voting going as it is, and always has done, there was a very high likelihood of Lynda and Darren either being on the couch as the couple voted out on a Monday, or the couple saved on a Tuesday. Seriously, unless there had been a real shock bottom two, who else was it going to be?
I was also surprised, and a little disappointed, to hear Darren so adamant that he, and other professionals whose opinions he had canvassed, had thought that Craig and Flavia had danced worse in the dance off. (And this was reinforced later by Craig Devil Borewood). Honestly, what is that going to do to Craig Kelly's confidence? His nerves are already probably the worst in the competition, but the threeline party whip on ITT suggesting he should have been voted off is likely to just about finish him off.
I like Darren very much on SCD, (although he can sometimes be a bit Goody Two Shoes)but was left feeling that a little more grace from someone who has previously placed 1st, 3rd and 4th in the competition would be a little more fitting. More like Lilia and Matt, than Aliona if you like. Any more of that behaviour and I may be reduced to making wig jokes (well have you seen a hairline like Darren's anywhere else?)
A far more upbeat and interesting section was another peep behind the scenes, this time with the lighting team. (I am so happy that ITT have cut the endless recapping of the weekend's events and are sticking with a longer behind the scenes look). Well, I never - 176 moving lights and 600 LEDS. That is the sort of fact that keeps my inner geek in seventh heaven! That whole segment really highlighted (sorry!) how seamless the planning and execution of the lighting design is, and how immediately apparent it would be if the slightest thing went awry.
I loved seeing the lighting guys poring over a colour chart of the ladies' dresses so that they can match not just the mood and feel of the dance, but the colour scheme of the costumes. Apparently, Flavia was wearing heamatite. That just goes to prove that you can learn something new every day, but sending the most gorgeous of the female pros out bedecked in a three syllable colour still doesn't make it right. A two syllable colour will do next time, thank you.
It was also mind boggling to realise the amount of behind the scenes activity that goes on between the voting lines closing and the results being announced, even more so when you realise how little time there is. Someone one behind the scenes needs to sort out the order of annoucements of the saved couples (given the severe lack of time, maybe the order of announcements isn't quite so random after all?), and then give cues to the camera operators and the lighting team. With so much pressure and split second timing, it is amazing that it never goes wrong on a live show (touch wood).
All in all, it was fantastic to see more of the unsung behind the scenes heroes, and to get a feel for just how much skill and work goes into giving us the finished, polished product. Shame that with so many front of house shenanigans, attention gets detracted from the achievements of those backstage who never put a foot wrong!
I can't help but wonder what might have happened if Darren and Lynda had had proper tango and paso music (especially for tango, her first dance). I saw a clip on YouTube of them training without any music, and it looked so much better than her actual performance. I guess nerves can, and do, play a large part, but some authentic tango movement, with a much stronger, sharper rhythm, could have helped Lynda with her characterisation, and her technique.
I wonder if producers in TV la la land will be rubbing their hands with glee saying "told you so - these outspoken viewers calling for older women on TV. We give 'em one and look what happens - booted out by the Great British Public.Back to afternoon telly you go, all you women over 50!"
I must admit I was a little surprise by the tone of Lynda and Darren's exit. Darren was very frank and forthcoming in his views, which I have never heard from him before (mind you, unlike James, Brendan and Erin, he has usually been on the "right side" of the judges' favour). I was also surprised when Claudia started the interview with "I didn't expect to see you sitting here on a Monday". Well, with the voting going as it is, and always has done, there was a very high likelihood of Lynda and Darren either being on the couch as the couple voted out on a Monday, or the couple saved on a Tuesday. Seriously, unless there had been a real shock bottom two, who else was it going to be?
I was also surprised, and a little disappointed, to hear Darren so adamant that he, and other professionals whose opinions he had canvassed, had thought that Craig and Flavia had danced worse in the dance off. (And this was reinforced later by Craig Devil Borewood). Honestly, what is that going to do to Craig Kelly's confidence? His nerves are already probably the worst in the competition, but the threeline party whip on ITT suggesting he should have been voted off is likely to just about finish him off.
I like Darren very much on SCD, (although he can sometimes be a bit Goody Two Shoes)but was left feeling that a little more grace from someone who has previously placed 1st, 3rd and 4th in the competition would be a little more fitting. More like Lilia and Matt, than Aliona if you like. Any more of that behaviour and I may be reduced to making wig jokes (well have you seen a hairline like Darren's anywhere else?)
A far more upbeat and interesting section was another peep behind the scenes, this time with the lighting team. (I am so happy that ITT have cut the endless recapping of the weekend's events and are sticking with a longer behind the scenes look). Well, I never - 176 moving lights and 600 LEDS. That is the sort of fact that keeps my inner geek in seventh heaven! That whole segment really highlighted (sorry!) how seamless the planning and execution of the lighting design is, and how immediately apparent it would be if the slightest thing went awry.
I loved seeing the lighting guys poring over a colour chart of the ladies' dresses so that they can match not just the mood and feel of the dance, but the colour scheme of the costumes. Apparently, Flavia was wearing heamatite. That just goes to prove that you can learn something new every day, but sending the most gorgeous of the female pros out bedecked in a three syllable colour still doesn't make it right. A two syllable colour will do next time, thank you.
It was also mind boggling to realise the amount of behind the scenes activity that goes on between the voting lines closing and the results being announced, even more so when you realise how little time there is. Someone one behind the scenes needs to sort out the order of annoucements of the saved couples (given the severe lack of time, maybe the order of announcements isn't quite so random after all?), and then give cues to the camera operators and the lighting team. With so much pressure and split second timing, it is amazing that it never goes wrong on a live show (touch wood).
All in all, it was fantastic to see more of the unsung behind the scenes heroes, and to get a feel for just how much skill and work goes into giving us the finished, polished product. Shame that with so many front of house shenanigans, attention gets detracted from the achievements of those backstage who never put a foot wrong!
Monday, 12 October 2009
Has Strictly jumped the shark?
We are only four weeks into the new, long awaited series, and already it sometimes feels as if we are embarked on a long, slow train journey, rather than a rollicking good ride towards Christmas.
What with the negative publicity before the show had even started, the mis-steps of the PR department, the aggressive anti X-Factor scheduling, Alesha's slow start in her new role, and now the race row over Anton's crass comments, are the sequins looking a little tarnished?
I am still an obsessive fan, but there are various issues which seem to be contributing to the slow burn of a start.
The length of the series. 16 couples is just too much of a good thing. I really like the idea of couples dancing both a ballroom and a latin before elimination, but it was a big ask to expect fans to tune in to a Friday night show then a Saturday night show over the first two weekends. The two hours fifteen minutes of the past two weeks has been a tad bum numbing at times, with so many "interesting interpretations" of dance to witness. I think that a show has to earn loyalty, even when it returns to our screens on an annual basis, rather than demanding it from the start. Next year, please cut it back to 12 couples, so that interest stays piqued throughout the series, and we know that we are on the countdown to the end of the year, and further festive treats.
Bruce - no longer a safe pair of hands at the tiller (but I guess the million dollar question is who else would be? And I think we now know who would not be!). I salute Bruce as the consummate showman, the last of a dying breed, but would dearly love to remember him at the top, with the current crop of presenters referring in awestruck terms to "doing a Brucie". I am starting to feel tense and nervous when he comes on the screen, and for once I can feel sympathy with Tess the Terrible. That frozen grin must be masking a look of complete panic!
The chemistry amongst the judges has ceased to be. Veritably it has died and fallen from its perch. And the new look "friendly" panel it not preventing the "anti-judge" vote (and the constant ties at the lower end of the leaderboard are making it even easier for the public to vote the bottom scoring couples back in). I know that shock exits and near misses are par for the course with SCD, but it seems so tedious to have to sit through another re-run of Kate-gate or Sargeant-gate.
The show has lost some of the big hitters among the pros. Whilst it is great that a completely different pro has a shot at the trophy (and surely, even with the sympathy vote, Brendan won't even be seeing the quarter finals), I think SCD is missing some of its bigger personalities. Karen and Camilla have left, and Matt, Lilia and Darren have lost out in the dance offs. These are not only among the show's best known pros, but they are also amazingly good at their jobs - they are great at teaching and choreographing for their celebs, and are entertaining both on and off the dance floor. The new pros have got some pretty big shoes to fill, and are getting off to a slow start.
All the big personalities among the celebs are in the middle ground, rather than in the top half of the board. There have always been celebs who have danced well, but haven't caught the public imagination (Zoe, Emma, Kelly, Rachel, Lisa), but they have been counter-balanced by those who have scored well with both judges and public (Jill,Ramps, Alesha, Matt di, Tom and Austin). Ali, Ricky W, Jade, Zoe, Laila - none of them look set to inspire public affection in the same way.
Mark Lawson, writing in the Guardian over the summer, had some interesting observations to make about the longevity of popular TV formats. He wrote that there is statistical evidence that suggests that the optimum life-span of an entertainment format is 8 years. He cited 90s phenomena such as Changing Rooms, Groundforce, Noel's House Party as examples (all before reality TV "graced" our screens), and looked to Big Brother as the weather vane for popularity in this genre - apparently its most sustained ratings dip came after the 8th year. Both SCD and its arch nemesis the X-Factor are now in their 6th year (with SCD in its 7th series), so maybe both shows have started the final lap in the race.
Mark Lawson also pointed out that one of the big factors in the final death throes of Big Brother this year was that the tabloid press simply lost interest. This could have been for many reasons (he cited the prevalence of big "real" stories dominating the headlines as we entered the silly season - such as MP's expenses, swine flu, and the death of Michael Jackson - that filled column inches without recourse to the antics of wannabees in a stale TV format). But the end result was that whereas in previous years the non-Big Brother watching TV viewer could keep abreast of any key development by just walking into a newsagent, this Big Brother only existed in the eyes of its most hard core fans.
Maybe this is why the bosses of both SCD and X-Factor seem desperate to keep those tabloid headlines rolling, to keep the shows in the frame of reference for even non-viewers. It might be wise to remember though that not all publicity is good publicity. I also think that what attracted the original fans to SCD was its air of almost innocence - the surprise hit that really should never have been - and that a feeling of over-production/too overt manipulation could be a turn off for some of the die hard fans.
And yet, and yet - there are still so many things that I love about the show! Claudia has not put a foot wrong in any episode of ITT this year, and should in fact be made Queen of England at the very least (if the present incumbent object too strongly, our Claude could of course take on the even higher profile role of Brucie's replacement). The pro dances have been spectacular, right from the word go. We have got through 4 weeks with never a glimpse of Westlife or Cliff Richard (guess they are saving him for the semi finals though, grr). There are 4 really interesting celebs on the show - Natalie, Ricky G, Chris and Phil can all dance a bit, are all set to go on a journey, and come across as refreshing, funny and highly watchable people. Can it be third time lucky for a cricketer?
What with the negative publicity before the show had even started, the mis-steps of the PR department, the aggressive anti X-Factor scheduling, Alesha's slow start in her new role, and now the race row over Anton's crass comments, are the sequins looking a little tarnished?
I am still an obsessive fan, but there are various issues which seem to be contributing to the slow burn of a start.
The length of the series. 16 couples is just too much of a good thing. I really like the idea of couples dancing both a ballroom and a latin before elimination, but it was a big ask to expect fans to tune in to a Friday night show then a Saturday night show over the first two weekends. The two hours fifteen minutes of the past two weeks has been a tad bum numbing at times, with so many "interesting interpretations" of dance to witness. I think that a show has to earn loyalty, even when it returns to our screens on an annual basis, rather than demanding it from the start. Next year, please cut it back to 12 couples, so that interest stays piqued throughout the series, and we know that we are on the countdown to the end of the year, and further festive treats.
Bruce - no longer a safe pair of hands at the tiller (but I guess the million dollar question is who else would be? And I think we now know who would not be!). I salute Bruce as the consummate showman, the last of a dying breed, but would dearly love to remember him at the top, with the current crop of presenters referring in awestruck terms to "doing a Brucie". I am starting to feel tense and nervous when he comes on the screen, and for once I can feel sympathy with Tess the Terrible. That frozen grin must be masking a look of complete panic!
The chemistry amongst the judges has ceased to be. Veritably it has died and fallen from its perch. And the new look "friendly" panel it not preventing the "anti-judge" vote (and the constant ties at the lower end of the leaderboard are making it even easier for the public to vote the bottom scoring couples back in). I know that shock exits and near misses are par for the course with SCD, but it seems so tedious to have to sit through another re-run of Kate-gate or Sargeant-gate.
The show has lost some of the big hitters among the pros. Whilst it is great that a completely different pro has a shot at the trophy (and surely, even with the sympathy vote, Brendan won't even be seeing the quarter finals), I think SCD is missing some of its bigger personalities. Karen and Camilla have left, and Matt, Lilia and Darren have lost out in the dance offs. These are not only among the show's best known pros, but they are also amazingly good at their jobs - they are great at teaching and choreographing for their celebs, and are entertaining both on and off the dance floor. The new pros have got some pretty big shoes to fill, and are getting off to a slow start.
All the big personalities among the celebs are in the middle ground, rather than in the top half of the board. There have always been celebs who have danced well, but haven't caught the public imagination (Zoe, Emma, Kelly, Rachel, Lisa), but they have been counter-balanced by those who have scored well with both judges and public (Jill,Ramps, Alesha, Matt di, Tom and Austin). Ali, Ricky W, Jade, Zoe, Laila - none of them look set to inspire public affection in the same way.
Mark Lawson, writing in the Guardian over the summer, had some interesting observations to make about the longevity of popular TV formats. He wrote that there is statistical evidence that suggests that the optimum life-span of an entertainment format is 8 years. He cited 90s phenomena such as Changing Rooms, Groundforce, Noel's House Party as examples (all before reality TV "graced" our screens), and looked to Big Brother as the weather vane for popularity in this genre - apparently its most sustained ratings dip came after the 8th year. Both SCD and its arch nemesis the X-Factor are now in their 6th year (with SCD in its 7th series), so maybe both shows have started the final lap in the race.
Mark Lawson also pointed out that one of the big factors in the final death throes of Big Brother this year was that the tabloid press simply lost interest. This could have been for many reasons (he cited the prevalence of big "real" stories dominating the headlines as we entered the silly season - such as MP's expenses, swine flu, and the death of Michael Jackson - that filled column inches without recourse to the antics of wannabees in a stale TV format). But the end result was that whereas in previous years the non-Big Brother watching TV viewer could keep abreast of any key development by just walking into a newsagent, this Big Brother only existed in the eyes of its most hard core fans.
Maybe this is why the bosses of both SCD and X-Factor seem desperate to keep those tabloid headlines rolling, to keep the shows in the frame of reference for even non-viewers. It might be wise to remember though that not all publicity is good publicity. I also think that what attracted the original fans to SCD was its air of almost innocence - the surprise hit that really should never have been - and that a feeling of over-production/too overt manipulation could be a turn off for some of the die hard fans.
And yet, and yet - there are still so many things that I love about the show! Claudia has not put a foot wrong in any episode of ITT this year, and should in fact be made Queen of England at the very least (if the present incumbent object too strongly, our Claude could of course take on the even higher profile role of Brucie's replacement). The pro dances have been spectacular, right from the word go. We have got through 4 weeks with never a glimpse of Westlife or Cliff Richard (guess they are saving him for the semi finals though, grr). There are 4 really interesting celebs on the show - Natalie, Ricky G, Chris and Phil can all dance a bit, are all set to go on a journey, and come across as refreshing, funny and highly watchable people. Can it be third time lucky for a cricketer?
Sunday, 11 October 2009
And Bruce opens his mouth to change feet...
.....the "seasoned entertainer" began the evening quite well with a riff on using Twitter, finishing with a reference to the Head of BBC1 calling him "the greatest twit of all". Not sure that that is so far removed from the truth, but I certainly laughed at that one. Bruce's wry and unscripted remark about learning that it is best to say nothing also seemed to be born of experience. If only he had carried that theme through the rest of the evening!
So another week, another Strictly, another marathon programme of so-so and mediocre dances. Tess seems to be back in the bad books with the wardrobe department, after a momentary lapse into good taste last week. So it was all business as usual then.
Kicking off was a foxgallop from the lovely Zoe and the recently-shorn Wolverine. Zoe looked every inch the business, with a beautiful dress and a lovely elegant look. I particularly liked the little touch of the neck decoration as it made her neck look even longer and more swan-like. It was a nice foxtrot, although Zoe was rather unsteady on her feet at times, and I can see why James opted for a faster tempo dance, as I don't think she has the control necessary to sustain a slower pace.
The first salchamba of the evening was executed by Ola, three handkerchiefs and Sweet little Chris. I barely saw a recognisable salsa move, but to be fair, I don't think Ohh la la has ever salsa'd on Strictly before. I find it hard to be unbiased with regards Sweet little Chris, but I do think he managed a reasonable effort. He seems to have a very short neck, which will always mean that his topline looks a little strange, but his hip and body action was promising. He certainly hides his shyness when it comes to dancing and just goes out and gives it his all.
Oxo Mum and Colgate Boy danced nicely around the floor, looking like a stately galleon in full sail. She looked radiant and relaxed and Darren, as ever, treated her as if she is the most wonderful partner a man could have. Bless.
Barbie and Ken. I should be bouncing up and down to see an authentic salsa danced to great, appropriate music, and danced to a high standard. But unfortunately, it was all a little vanilla for me. Ali's arms are very "ballet" and are very well placed, as oppposed to moving in true Latin style. It seemed very careful to me, and I think that sometimes the best salsas have a bit of "messiness" to them. And there was no sign of sex, or even sensuality there at all! At one stage I even complained that there had been two foxtrots in a row, having totally forgotten this salsa. What a shame.
You would have thought that after the week that SCD has had, everyone involved in the show would have been watching every word that they uttered. But for some totally bizarre reason, somebody thought that it would be appropriate for Bruce to introduce Jo Wood with a laboured "joke" about the amount of weight the celebs lose on Strictly, finishing with the words "Jo has lost a Stone". Seconds before the least confident celeb was due to dance and face yet another mauling from the judges. It was not even an off the cuff quip - somebody had actually scripted and approved that remark, and it can only be seen as cruel and malicious.
I was actually really hoping that Brendan would go on the attack after the dance, but perhaps he decided that discretion was the better part of valour. From the way that Bruce fawned over Jo after her performance, I think that even he realised the nastiness of what he had said (or maybe it was the stunned reaction of the audience). Seriously, I think the SCD producers must still be off on holiday, with the work experience kids running the show. I imagine a large part of the programme's viewers are actually women of a certain age, and publicly insulting a woman of that age group after her husband has ended a 31 year marriage to run off with the dreaded "younger model" is not clever. I very nearly voted for Jo myself, and the fact that she escaped the dance off yet again shows that there must be a lot of like-minded women out there!
Thank God for Natalie and Vincent to get the show back on track. Full of energy and joy, they tore up the dance floor and got me wiggling about in my armchair. Natalie has great action in her arms and torso, and I just wish that she could carry that through to her hips. She doesn't really straighten her knees though, and her feet are currently a little lazy.
Sportsman Joe di Calzaghe and his Monroe-alike. Well his walking is a little better and more rhythmical, but calling it dancing would be against trades descriptions. A little less time spent on the horizontal dancing and more on the vertical, mayhap?
Charm and Smarm. A nice foxtrot, pleasantly done and safely choreographed. Laila looked beautiful and performed well. I did not think it was worthy of the head of the leaderboard place, which conveniently placed them safe from any possibility of the dance off. Oh well, I guess it was nice for Anton to top the leaderboard once in his SCD career, and if he is jiving next week, he sure as hell won't be anywhere near the top! I also doubt he will be back competing next year somehow....If next week, he escapes the jive and gets the viennese waltz, it will be a massive conspiracy, cooked up in the highest echelons of the BBC, possibly involving double agents placed and trained by Simon Cowell.
Adonis and Ambition performed a very nice disco routine (strange, I hadn't realised disco had entered the SCD format this year) complete with superfluous back flip. They seemed to dance entirely for each other, and at no point involved the audience in the performance. And they called Tom Chambers smug! Anyway, I needed a lie down after the sight of him in "that" shirt, and am starting to go all funny again just thinking about it.
Flavia and oh dear. After noting that Flavia had been given the most hideous dress of the evening (yet again) and that Craig looked petrified (yet again), I think I must have made a dash for the loo during this dance, as I can remember nothing about it.
Long jump and long legs - another salchamba - this time high on samba content, but I loved it! There was energy, charisma and a real rapport with the audience. Once I had torn my attention from Ian's lovely chest, I noticed that Jade's leg action is a little weak, but she has great movement through her upper body. I could have done without the ending gimmick of a pose, and the ensuing wardrobe incident, but hey, I am picky. I was totally with Ian when he remarked that the scores didn't match the comments, and it seemed as though Jade and Ian were in real danger of being dumped into the dance off zone.
Ricky and Erin - gambled by playing it straight, and I think it came off. He still needs work on his topline, but proved that both judges and public alike can see him as more than the class clown.
My Tuffers and the most likeable new pro - well I loved it! It is so hard for a celeb to get the start of a dance right, and it is very rare to see a celeb with the confidence and ability to start the dance away from their partners. The only male that I have seen before doing that was Austin with his paso, and I think that was in week 11. So for Phil to solo right at the start of the dance for as long as he did at this stage was a major achievement. And don't even get me started on those lovely buttocks! Rhythm, natural movement, great connection with the audience - if he can do that just six days after surgery, and with only limited training, think of what he could be like with full guns blazing!
And so to the guest performance while they gathered in the votes. Not much that could be said really, apart from Amy Winehouse is not going to be a positive force for that young girls' career. We could all see where the talent was, and it was not in that dazed and confused backing singer's raddled performance.
The leaderboard was even more of a mess than last week, with ties galore, meaning that Jo and Joe actually had 6 points apiece from the judges, and that a relatively small number of public votes could have saved them from the dance off. SCD was lucky to escape a major shock in the dance off stakes, and the judges need to get the differentiation between the couples right, especially at the lower end of the board. With so many couples dancing, it is difficult, especially if they are trying to avoid marking very low and marking very high, but 4 separate ties is just chaotic.
I was kind of wishing that the judges could have put Craig out of his misery, but at least Lynda went out on a high. And I really don't know whose jive I am now dreading the most - Joe, Jo, Craig, or the du Berk's.........
So another week, another Strictly, another marathon programme of so-so and mediocre dances. Tess seems to be back in the bad books with the wardrobe department, after a momentary lapse into good taste last week. So it was all business as usual then.
Kicking off was a foxgallop from the lovely Zoe and the recently-shorn Wolverine. Zoe looked every inch the business, with a beautiful dress and a lovely elegant look. I particularly liked the little touch of the neck decoration as it made her neck look even longer and more swan-like. It was a nice foxtrot, although Zoe was rather unsteady on her feet at times, and I can see why James opted for a faster tempo dance, as I don't think she has the control necessary to sustain a slower pace.
The first salchamba of the evening was executed by Ola, three handkerchiefs and Sweet little Chris. I barely saw a recognisable salsa move, but to be fair, I don't think Ohh la la has ever salsa'd on Strictly before. I find it hard to be unbiased with regards Sweet little Chris, but I do think he managed a reasonable effort. He seems to have a very short neck, which will always mean that his topline looks a little strange, but his hip and body action was promising. He certainly hides his shyness when it comes to dancing and just goes out and gives it his all.
Oxo Mum and Colgate Boy danced nicely around the floor, looking like a stately galleon in full sail. She looked radiant and relaxed and Darren, as ever, treated her as if she is the most wonderful partner a man could have. Bless.
Barbie and Ken. I should be bouncing up and down to see an authentic salsa danced to great, appropriate music, and danced to a high standard. But unfortunately, it was all a little vanilla for me. Ali's arms are very "ballet" and are very well placed, as oppposed to moving in true Latin style. It seemed very careful to me, and I think that sometimes the best salsas have a bit of "messiness" to them. And there was no sign of sex, or even sensuality there at all! At one stage I even complained that there had been two foxtrots in a row, having totally forgotten this salsa. What a shame.
You would have thought that after the week that SCD has had, everyone involved in the show would have been watching every word that they uttered. But for some totally bizarre reason, somebody thought that it would be appropriate for Bruce to introduce Jo Wood with a laboured "joke" about the amount of weight the celebs lose on Strictly, finishing with the words "Jo has lost a Stone". Seconds before the least confident celeb was due to dance and face yet another mauling from the judges. It was not even an off the cuff quip - somebody had actually scripted and approved that remark, and it can only be seen as cruel and malicious.
I was actually really hoping that Brendan would go on the attack after the dance, but perhaps he decided that discretion was the better part of valour. From the way that Bruce fawned over Jo after her performance, I think that even he realised the nastiness of what he had said (or maybe it was the stunned reaction of the audience). Seriously, I think the SCD producers must still be off on holiday, with the work experience kids running the show. I imagine a large part of the programme's viewers are actually women of a certain age, and publicly insulting a woman of that age group after her husband has ended a 31 year marriage to run off with the dreaded "younger model" is not clever. I very nearly voted for Jo myself, and the fact that she escaped the dance off yet again shows that there must be a lot of like-minded women out there!
Thank God for Natalie and Vincent to get the show back on track. Full of energy and joy, they tore up the dance floor and got me wiggling about in my armchair. Natalie has great action in her arms and torso, and I just wish that she could carry that through to her hips. She doesn't really straighten her knees though, and her feet are currently a little lazy.
Sportsman Joe di Calzaghe and his Monroe-alike. Well his walking is a little better and more rhythmical, but calling it dancing would be against trades descriptions. A little less time spent on the horizontal dancing and more on the vertical, mayhap?
Charm and Smarm. A nice foxtrot, pleasantly done and safely choreographed. Laila looked beautiful and performed well. I did not think it was worthy of the head of the leaderboard place, which conveniently placed them safe from any possibility of the dance off. Oh well, I guess it was nice for Anton to top the leaderboard once in his SCD career, and if he is jiving next week, he sure as hell won't be anywhere near the top! I also doubt he will be back competing next year somehow....If next week, he escapes the jive and gets the viennese waltz, it will be a massive conspiracy, cooked up in the highest echelons of the BBC, possibly involving double agents placed and trained by Simon Cowell.
Adonis and Ambition performed a very nice disco routine (strange, I hadn't realised disco had entered the SCD format this year) complete with superfluous back flip. They seemed to dance entirely for each other, and at no point involved the audience in the performance. And they called Tom Chambers smug! Anyway, I needed a lie down after the sight of him in "that" shirt, and am starting to go all funny again just thinking about it.
Flavia and oh dear. After noting that Flavia had been given the most hideous dress of the evening (yet again) and that Craig looked petrified (yet again), I think I must have made a dash for the loo during this dance, as I can remember nothing about it.
Long jump and long legs - another salchamba - this time high on samba content, but I loved it! There was energy, charisma and a real rapport with the audience. Once I had torn my attention from Ian's lovely chest, I noticed that Jade's leg action is a little weak, but she has great movement through her upper body. I could have done without the ending gimmick of a pose, and the ensuing wardrobe incident, but hey, I am picky. I was totally with Ian when he remarked that the scores didn't match the comments, and it seemed as though Jade and Ian were in real danger of being dumped into the dance off zone.
Ricky and Erin - gambled by playing it straight, and I think it came off. He still needs work on his topline, but proved that both judges and public alike can see him as more than the class clown.
My Tuffers and the most likeable new pro - well I loved it! It is so hard for a celeb to get the start of a dance right, and it is very rare to see a celeb with the confidence and ability to start the dance away from their partners. The only male that I have seen before doing that was Austin with his paso, and I think that was in week 11. So for Phil to solo right at the start of the dance for as long as he did at this stage was a major achievement. And don't even get me started on those lovely buttocks! Rhythm, natural movement, great connection with the audience - if he can do that just six days after surgery, and with only limited training, think of what he could be like with full guns blazing!
And so to the guest performance while they gathered in the votes. Not much that could be said really, apart from Amy Winehouse is not going to be a positive force for that young girls' career. We could all see where the talent was, and it was not in that dazed and confused backing singer's raddled performance.
The leaderboard was even more of a mess than last week, with ties galore, meaning that Jo and Joe actually had 6 points apiece from the judges, and that a relatively small number of public votes could have saved them from the dance off. SCD was lucky to escape a major shock in the dance off stakes, and the judges need to get the differentiation between the couples right, especially at the lower end of the board. With so many couples dancing, it is difficult, especially if they are trying to avoid marking very low and marking very high, but 4 separate ties is just chaotic.
I was kind of wishing that the judges could have put Craig out of his misery, but at least Lynda went out on a high. And I really don't know whose jive I am now dreading the most - Joe, Jo, Craig, or the du Berk's.........
Friday, 9 October 2009
So has he done enough to get off the hook?
I am of course talking about the whole Anton debacle (btw, Bruce, if you are his friend, really shut the f*** up!).
I am glad that Claudia tackled the matter head on - it needed to be done (but then the whole BBC handling this week needed a much defter touch). The interview was probably very highly stage managed (I would doubt it was live), but Anton has at least reclaimed some ground in my estimation. I actually believed him when he said he was mortified, and highly embarrassed for the fall out for Laila and the show. I think it was the most subdued I have ever seen him, and rightly so. At least his contrition seemed genuine.
And it was a smart move for him to leave out the quips (look where that has got him!) and show how knowledgeable, articulate and passionate he can be, when he sticks to what he is good at - ballroom dance.
Time to move on - but I just wish his more rabid supporters can take a leaf out of his book. Forget the pretence that this was just a stupid joke gone wrong, that it is political correctness gone mad, that it is no worse than just abbreviating British to Brit - he was wrong; it was offensive; admit that, and like, Anton, move on.
I liked the Friday panel! Who is Sarah Cawood - she is great! Neil Fox as well had some good insights, and even Craig Darling had some reasonable points to make.
Looking good for the salsa - Natalie and Vincent, and Ali and Brian (looks like it is going to be the best salsa of the might with the most authentic music!). I am a bit concerned about Jade and Ian - something is not working for me, and I think it is her use of the legs. She doesn't seem to be dancing into the floor enough to generate the Cuban motion.
Ricky and Erin - his topline looks to be a little problematic, but seeing the training clips for Craig and Flavia and Jo and Brendan, I feel he is still going to be in the upper echelons of the leaderboard.
Predictions for the weekend - very difficult. Foxtrot has traditionally provided a bit of a breakthrough dance for some of the more dance challenged celebs - so Lynda and Jo could see some improvement ....however, Foxtrot has been a dance to see improved comments and marks and the final bye bye for Fiona Phillips and Georgina Bouzova.
I have not appreciated many of the salchambas served up on SCD, but this series looks as if though they could break new territory. And even bad salchambas (vis Lisa Snowden and Jessie Wallace last year) tend to score better with the public than better executed Foxtrots (Jodie Kidd and Gillian Taylforth), so the results tomorrow are anybody's guess.
Going out on a limb, I would predict the salsas will end up in the following order on the leaderboard - Ali and Brian; Ricky and Natalie; Natalie and Vincent; Jade and Ian; Phil and Katya; Chris and Ola.
Foxtrot-wise - Laila and Anton; Zoe and James; Ricky and Erin; Craig and Flavia; Lynda and Darren; Jo and Brendan; Joe and Kristina.
How they will all slot together - that's harder to predict - but I have a feeling that Laila and Anton could slot in third, Zoe and James fourth, and quite a competition for fifth and sixth place.
Tips for the dance off - I think there could be a shock - and I am thinking Jade and Ian with Craig and Flavia. Watch this space!
I am glad that Claudia tackled the matter head on - it needed to be done (but then the whole BBC handling this week needed a much defter touch). The interview was probably very highly stage managed (I would doubt it was live), but Anton has at least reclaimed some ground in my estimation. I actually believed him when he said he was mortified, and highly embarrassed for the fall out for Laila and the show. I think it was the most subdued I have ever seen him, and rightly so. At least his contrition seemed genuine.
And it was a smart move for him to leave out the quips (look where that has got him!) and show how knowledgeable, articulate and passionate he can be, when he sticks to what he is good at - ballroom dance.
Time to move on - but I just wish his more rabid supporters can take a leaf out of his book. Forget the pretence that this was just a stupid joke gone wrong, that it is political correctness gone mad, that it is no worse than just abbreviating British to Brit - he was wrong; it was offensive; admit that, and like, Anton, move on.
I liked the Friday panel! Who is Sarah Cawood - she is great! Neil Fox as well had some good insights, and even Craig Darling had some reasonable points to make.
Looking good for the salsa - Natalie and Vincent, and Ali and Brian (looks like it is going to be the best salsa of the might with the most authentic music!). I am a bit concerned about Jade and Ian - something is not working for me, and I think it is her use of the legs. She doesn't seem to be dancing into the floor enough to generate the Cuban motion.
Ricky and Erin - his topline looks to be a little problematic, but seeing the training clips for Craig and Flavia and Jo and Brendan, I feel he is still going to be in the upper echelons of the leaderboard.
Predictions for the weekend - very difficult. Foxtrot has traditionally provided a bit of a breakthrough dance for some of the more dance challenged celebs - so Lynda and Jo could see some improvement ....however, Foxtrot has been a dance to see improved comments and marks and the final bye bye for Fiona Phillips and Georgina Bouzova.
I have not appreciated many of the salchambas served up on SCD, but this series looks as if though they could break new territory. And even bad salchambas (vis Lisa Snowden and Jessie Wallace last year) tend to score better with the public than better executed Foxtrots (Jodie Kidd and Gillian Taylforth), so the results tomorrow are anybody's guess.
Going out on a limb, I would predict the salsas will end up in the following order on the leaderboard - Ali and Brian; Ricky and Natalie; Natalie and Vincent; Jade and Ian; Phil and Katya; Chris and Ola.
Foxtrot-wise - Laila and Anton; Zoe and James; Ricky and Erin; Craig and Flavia; Lynda and Darren; Jo and Brendan; Joe and Kristina.
How they will all slot together - that's harder to predict - but I have a feeling that Laila and Anton could slot in third, Zoe and James fourth, and quite a competition for fifth and sixth place.
Tips for the dance off - I think there could be a shock - and I am thinking Jade and Ian with Craig and Flavia. Watch this space!
Is it possible to love Tuffers any more than I already do?
If he needs a nurse/help mate to get him through the next few days, let me be the first in the queue.
I just love the way that he comes across on TV as funny and self-deprecating, but I really feel that he loves dancing! His description of his quickstep as "Ring a ring a roses" was hilarious, but his knowledge of some of the more technical dance terms reveals how seriously he is taking it.
Obviously the salsa is going to be a real challenge for him, but his torso and arm action is looking pretty promising, and even if he languises at the bottom of the leaderboard this week, I think his fan base will get him through!
I had mixed feelings about the return of Len's Masterclass, but the new twist of "recreating" famous moments from iconic Strictly dances does give it a slight new twist. It is just proof though that sadly, not everyone is born to dance. I know that Claudia hams it up like a good 'un, but she has no rhythm, no sense of left or right or weight transference, and precious little balance. I am not sure if she is even more dance-challenged than Tess Daly!
Interesting interview with Zoe and James to round off the programme. It turns out that she improvised a section of her paso, because she completely messed up that section. Proof that she does indeed have a hard time remembering the steps, but promising in that she stayed in character, on time, and had the gumption to just blag it to get in place for the final move. I know that Alesha and Matthew had a couple of "blagging it" moments in their Strictly run, but the first came in the Foxtrot, when Matthew could lead, and the second in their Paso, which was very near the end of the competition. For Zoe to be able to extricate herself from her mess in only her third dance shows that their is some natural talent in there somewhere, and James needs to nurture it as best he can!
I just love the way that he comes across on TV as funny and self-deprecating, but I really feel that he loves dancing! His description of his quickstep as "Ring a ring a roses" was hilarious, but his knowledge of some of the more technical dance terms reveals how seriously he is taking it.
Obviously the salsa is going to be a real challenge for him, but his torso and arm action is looking pretty promising, and even if he languises at the bottom of the leaderboard this week, I think his fan base will get him through!
I had mixed feelings about the return of Len's Masterclass, but the new twist of "recreating" famous moments from iconic Strictly dances does give it a slight new twist. It is just proof though that sadly, not everyone is born to dance. I know that Claudia hams it up like a good 'un, but she has no rhythm, no sense of left or right or weight transference, and precious little balance. I am not sure if she is even more dance-challenged than Tess Daly!
Interesting interview with Zoe and James to round off the programme. It turns out that she improvised a section of her paso, because she completely messed up that section. Proof that she does indeed have a hard time remembering the steps, but promising in that she stayed in character, on time, and had the gumption to just blag it to get in place for the final move. I know that Alesha and Matthew had a couple of "blagging it" moments in their Strictly run, but the first came in the Foxtrot, when Matthew could lead, and the second in their Paso, which was very near the end of the competition. For Zoe to be able to extricate herself from her mess in only her third dance shows that their is some natural talent in there somewhere, and James needs to nurture it as best he can!
Thursday, 8 October 2009
"It's not just dance....
...you have got to get out there and entertain, that is what dancers do".
Never a true word, spoken by Ricky Groves.
Loved both Erin and Ricky on last night's ITT. Erin seems to much more laid back this series, and her sense of humour is coming across well. Ricky is taking it much more seriously than the "clown" persona would have us believe, and last night came across as very astute and analytical. I liked the glasses as well!
The next segment was the return of shouty salsa man and his partner, and I rather liked him in commentating rather than teaching mode. Lots of good information (I hope he is wrong about Chris!), and really looking forward to seeing Brian and Ali's salsa. Maybe a proper salsa for once on Strictly - and could it be the first 10 of the series?
Bit perplexed about why Laila and Anton are doing foxtrot though... a salsa would surely have seen them near the bottom of the leaderboard, and a tail off in public voting would have seen an end to the whole debate that has been raging all week. I can see why the powers that be want more lively upbeat salsas in the show than elegant foxtrots, but Natalie and Vincent could have done foxtrot instead of salsa, and Laila and Anton the reverse. It's all a conspiracy I tell you!
Never a true word, spoken by Ricky Groves.
Loved both Erin and Ricky on last night's ITT. Erin seems to much more laid back this series, and her sense of humour is coming across well. Ricky is taking it much more seriously than the "clown" persona would have us believe, and last night came across as very astute and analytical. I liked the glasses as well!
The next segment was the return of shouty salsa man and his partner, and I rather liked him in commentating rather than teaching mode. Lots of good information (I hope he is wrong about Chris!), and really looking forward to seeing Brian and Ali's salsa. Maybe a proper salsa for once on Strictly - and could it be the first 10 of the series?
Bit perplexed about why Laila and Anton are doing foxtrot though... a salsa would surely have seen them near the bottom of the leaderboard, and a tail off in public voting would have seen an end to the whole debate that has been raging all week. I can see why the powers that be want more lively upbeat salsas in the show than elegant foxtrots, but Natalie and Vincent could have done foxtrot instead of salsa, and Laila and Anton the reverse. It's all a conspiracy I tell you!
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