Professionals Great opening number
Babatunda and Nancy -
Charleston.
Nice swivels and good timing and rhythm. Loved the choreography and well remembered, needs to work on more energy in the arms. But I loved the story telling and the partnership was fantastic.
Melenie and Kai -
Theatre Jazz.
Karen and Carlos - Argentine
Master Class with Motsi
Traditional Argentine Tango as it would have been dance in Argentina ( Two men vibe) we often forget it originated as a same sex dance.
Nice Back and Forward Ochos. The Ganchos where sharp yet lose which is perfect. Loved the Sweep, and use of Salida. Great story telling and lovely timing, boy can this girl Spin.
Amber and Nikita - Show-dance
Very much Acro Dance style full of energy with a two bars of Salsa popped in. Love her as a dancer and this is her style, shame Nakia went behind the beat a few times (nothing new there). Clever lifts and lines, this style doesn’t have much dance to it, she performed it well, would have liked to she her transition a bit better but it was great.
George and Alexa
Sorry I would not call the routine he did an Argentine Tango. I counted 8 bars of AT throughout. The routine was full of drama and tricks, it was in time with the music and the rhythm was great. I loved the partnership but it was untidy in places and the music didn’t fit the Argentine Tango.
Karen & Carlos
Lots of Samba steps full of energy and she preformed them well.
There was a few mistakes but she kept going, lovely spins with timing spot on. Again the music didn’t work it was in 4/4 not 2/4 which meant it had no bounce in the rhythm and therefore she couldn’t create it within the dance.
Balvinder & Julian
As usual this week is the first week I can truly name actual steps rather than just the basic movement/action and a few shapes. So I named as many as I could see for each choreography. Note there not in dance order.
Alex & Johannes
The choreography had lots of CCC steps which I loved: Natural Top, New York, Hand to Hand, Fan, Alamana, Time Steps, Three Threes and other basics.
Great footwork and leg action. Though her body posture was forward there was not enough weight through the body and legs to create a hip action. Where the routine was correct she was in time and her rhythm was good.
George and Alexa
Again nice Quickstep choreography with steps I could recognise: Scatter Chasses, Promenade Runs, Wood Pecker, Charleston Kicks, Pendulum, Natural Spin Turn, Lock Steps. Loved the frame and posture and he lead it well. Good footwork and…
Loved seeing the tower ballroom I miss working on that floor. I also loved seeing Natalia and Levgen Kuzmin in the audience it about 10 years since I last seen them our studio watching their daughter Anastasia practice.
Lewis & Katya
Full of energy with some great swivels. Love the music and rhythm. The synchronicity was off the charts. I thought this routine was wonderful.
Balvinder & Julian
Loved the story telling and drama but the music was not for me.
Great routine she lost her core a bit towards the end but there was no mistakes. Now she needs to work on her ankles. Loved the dress
Balvinder & Julian
I liked the choreography and the music. Balvinder danced that beautifully, lovely footwork and she told the story with grace. She needs to stretch up from her core more to create a better frame. Those that were in class this week will know what I was saying about Julian. This is a great dance to show what I was talking about.
Amber & Nikita
Choreography not my cup of tea but that not taking anything away from it. It was clever and full of paso steps. The timing and rhythm was brilliant full of passion and drama. A bit more structured sway in the body would have been nice, but her arm and handology was lovely.
Alex & Johannes
Clever choreography using open positions at the beginning and coming apart at end of the standing spin as well as using open steps rather than closing. That is…
Lewis and Katya
Lewis’s body isolation is brilliant. Rhythm and timing was great. I loved this dance it had a real authentic cha cha feel.
Karen and Carlos
A very fast routine with great synchronisation. Rhythm and timing was amazing. Lots of energy, and a lot of choreography. Wonderful spins loved the jitterbug section very 30’s style.
Alex and Johannes
Great drama and intensity. Loverly rhythm and timing throughout. Could have done with a little more body shaping in places which made it look off balance. Loved the hand/armology and skirt work.
Vicky and Kai
I liked the choreography and the story telling but somehow it didn’t go with the music for me.
I loved the dancing though, good stride and flow across the floor and the rhythm and timing was great. She now needs to work on core strength to make the arms and body flow.
Ellie and Vito
Loved how she started on her own. Elie’s rhythm as usual was on point but I did feel it went a bit out of time in places. She performed the routine without a mistake and her footwork was good.
George and Alexis
Sorry about last week but we where away and the place we stayed in did not have TV or internet
Strictly week 6
Lewis and Katya
I loved the playfulness of the routine. His hold and frame is really good and partner skills lovely. The rhythm and timing was spot-on. Great scatter chassis and pendulums love this dance.
Karen and Carlos
The steps are a little placed due to her balance. Some nice basic choreography. She now needs to work on the turnout on the Delayed Rumba Walks though the legs were beautifully straight.
No Stefan and Dianne this week
Amber & Nikita
This routine played to Amber's skillset in every way. The work on and off the benches was incredibly challenging, and those lifts were great but I would have liked more open floor choreography. She needs to work on softening her knees in the Foxtrot elements.
Chris & Nadiya
What an improvement on last week. Far from perfect but more characterisation and a very committed performance. Some of the rhythm and timing was lost in the middle of the routine, but he got back on track again. Now he needs to work of fluidity.
George & Alexis I like this high energy popping and locking dance. Well synchronised ( Alexis is amazing). The performance level was high and he showed good confidence, with excellent rhythm and timing.
La Voix- Aljaz
Was that a Jive? Very flat footed, and wooden to night, but the comedy was great and I quite liked the choreography.
Karen - Carlos
Her hand needs to be placed better and a stretch of her breast plate and front of neck, Carlos needs to hold a better body position for her to attain this. Nice rhythm and timing and good footwork.
Jimmy - Lauren
Good rhythm and timing, great steps placement and hip action, love the his choreography
Chris - Nadia
Good Samba footwork in places, nice foot positions. Now he needs to work on body action, timing and rhythm. Okay for week one.
Alex - JoJo
Fantastic storytelling, lovely frame when in hold, but not enough.
Footwork good, but the
music was terrible for a Viennese Waltz, and I didn’t actually see any Viennese steps.
Tasha & Aljaz - Salsa
Lively and dynamic, with great content. A great Salsa routine, loved the lifts great Salsa timing and rhythm.
JB & Lauren - Paso Doble
Great shape but his shoulders were up when in hold which spoilt the line. Great strength but in places the traditions were too steppy . Loved the cape work very dramatic and the timing and rhythm was great.
Chris and Dianne - Charleston
Great musicality, timing, full of rhythm and content. I loved that routine. Brilliantly in sync and those lifts!
I have not commented on Music, rhythm or timing as I know hearing aids in tonight which means I can’t hear or relate to the music.
Sarah & Vito - Charleston
Feet to turned out and not enough swivel. Liked the lifts and the characterisation though.
Montell & Jojo - Rumba
I wish JoJo would teacher to use her ankles. You could see the lack of hip rotation or isolation because it was so slow. Sorry i didn’t like that routine.
Pete and Jowita - Tango
Posture all wrong but he held the frame well and he kept it throughout the dance. Good footwork. Timing okay behind in place and there was no staccato but that might have been the choreography.
Sarah & Vito - Rumba
Wow love the entrance. Great arms and hand placement. Legs and feet placement was great. Nice fans, great Alemana and lovely promenades.
JB & Lauren - Charleston
Loved this routine, full of fun and character very professional. The transitions were great and the lifts and tricks brilliant.
Well they’re dancing on my floor today. I have taught, acted , danced, judged and had loads of fun on this floor.
Chris and Dianne- American Smooth
Lovely feather step, back wave and chasse. Great use of floor.
Brilliant timing and musicality, amazing synchronicity, beautiful lifts. Just wow! Look how his frames improved.
Montell and Jojo - Salsa
The dress did nothing for her figure I’m afraid and she didn’t look comfortable with the armology with JoJo.
Strictly this evening
Tasha and Aljaz - Quickstep
Full of content, lovely foot work on Lock steps and Chasses. Great frame brilliant rhythm and timing simple beautiful.
Shane and Nancy - Rumba
Great story telling, loved the arms and body action on the rumba walks and slidingdoors. Need to keep the heels on the floor in Cucarachas to get a better body action.
Sarah and Vito - American Smooth
Are you watching strictly?
News
This Saturday JB will be dancing with Lauren Oakley and I’m sure we all wish Amy a speedy recovery
This weeks strictly
Chris and Dianne - Samba
Timing and synchronicity brilliant. Loved the choreography and characterisation. Posture improves each week, better footwork would control the bounce but a good job.
Pete and Jowita - Viennese Waltz
Very good opening out of hold. Once in hold it looked rushed and the transitions could have been better. Loved story and character.
Montell & Jojo - Cha cha cha
Strictly week 5 my thoughts
JB & Amy - Jive
Nice timing and musicality. Now he needs to learn to use the ankles so that jive flicks happen not all kicks this will also make it look less stepped.
Punam and Gorka- Viennese waltz
Nice when in hold, the frame was good and she held it throughout but it was safe. She doesn’t look fully confident when not in hold.
Jamie & Michelle - Paso Doble
Loving all the arguments on social media about the dance off.
I have watched both dances through again.
Toyah and Neil 12 bars of actual Jive,
Tom and Nadia 10 bars of actual Cha cha cha.
Both where off time.
Both where lacking in technique.
Week 2
Strictly with my examiners head on
Tom and Nadia - Cha cha cha
A bit lack lustre, I don’t think he is pressing into the floor enough so he not sure where his weight. Then he be able to use his feet to make his hips work. As I said last week it hard for a tall person to dance.
Punma & Gorka - slow foxtrot
Nice head and shoulder line in hold for week 2 but the body needs lifting so she is not leaning forward, this will then let her follow through to into the legs. ‘The feet do not leave the floor in foxtrot’ she needs to learn how to make the feet track rather than pick them up.
Week one
Here we go my view of strictly with my examination head on
Nick and Luba - Jive
Good musicality a little wooden in places but a great first dance, lots of kicks and flicks. Lots of energy.
Sam and Nakita - Slow Foxtrot
Nice presence on the floor, frame not bad for week one, a bit lumpy in places.
Am I allowed to respond? Personally, I *loved* the foxtrot. I thought it was beautiful and would have been very pleased to have been able to dance half as well. I was disappointed at the judges' comments, but clearly I wasn't looking at his head! I agree with you Janet about the "drive" though. But it was simply beautiful.