Strictly Christmas Special Professional Review

Strictly Come Dancing

Christmas Special 2011

Just as we were beginning to forget the last three months they were all back for one last performance together and to keep the Strictly bug going a little longer.

Contestants

Sue Pollard & Anton

Barry McGuigan & Erin

Debra Stephenson & Ian

Simon Webb & Katya

Charlie Brooks & Vincent

Simon & Katya

Cha Cha

C         L            A            B            Total

9          9            9            9            36

A very lively opening to the Christmas special, however I would have preferred to see a little more dance content and a little better timing from Katya but Simon had some great arm lines but not deserving of a nine in my opinion.

Debra & Ian

American Smooth (Foxtrot)

C         L            A            B            Total

8          9            10            10            37

Debra was very graceful and portrayed great attitude and poise on the dance floor, she really held her own with beautiful control on the solo turns and looked as if she was loving every second dancing a very convincing Foxtrot.

Barry & Erin

Quickstep

C         L            A            B            Total

8          9            10            9             36

Barry is very light on his feet and it was a hot roaring Quickstep, his footwork legt a little to the imagination though and his overall performance could have been improved with more facial expression but in saying that he did look very scared.

Sue & Anton

Foxtrot

C         L            A            B            Total

6          9            7            8            30

Ah Bless! It reminded me of the sugarplum fairy meets the pantomime dame! Her top line was like a shelf that I had put up at home and her facial expression was like something from Watership down, but fabulous to watch, real good fun and she did give Craig a run for his money when receiving her judges comments.

Charlie & Vincent

Jive

C         L            A            B            Total

9          9            9            10            37

Great fluid jive movements from Charlie with kicks and leg attention to match, some of her chasse were a little flat in places but a great lively performance full of character, speed and flair, I did think that compared to the other contestants the judges scored it a little low and having only eight hours to rehears the routine it compared to a week five dance for the main competition and they would have been dancing for two months, it just shows what you can achieve when you have a good teacher!

A special demonstration from dancing masters “Grant & Flavia” performing to the legendary Shaking Stevens and I thought this was his best performance to date exploding from a Christmas pudding! (Russell not Stevens!)

Check out the Strictly Tour, which commences in Birmingham on January 20^th without James & Ola Jordan, (do you think it is right to drop James & Ola because of his outbursts on live television?)

But remember only another ten months to wait before we do it all again so Happy New Year & Keeeep Dancing!

Strictly THE FINAL

Strictly Come Dancing 2011
The Final

What a build up! The whole country has gone Strictly mad, all the coverage on local radio and television over the last few days has been fantastic, we have gone from fourteen couples down to three and then to crown one of them Strictly Champion 2011 and for me this has been the best series yet.

Harry & Aliona
Quickstep

Great musicality and flair, from Harry and good control on his scatter chasse, a very fast, flamboyant and flavoursome Quickstep, if anything a little too wild in places but a wining combination and deserving of four tens.

Jason & Kristina
Tango

The first time I saw this routine I was not too over keen, it was fun and entertaining but miles away from the other two celebrities, there were however some nice lines and good feather work!

Chelsee & Pasha
Jive (The Shrek)

Another great routine from these two with great choreography, although I thought Chelsee danced it better last time out, still a great Jive action though.

Harry & Aliona
Showdance (Jive)

Great Balls of Fire, and they were on Fire! And extremely full on routine with amazing control on the lifts, it is very difficult to keep that level when the adrenalin is flowing, I love the little drumming section from Harry at the end was a real crowd pleaser.

Jason & Kristina
Showdance (Quickstep)

Some amazing showmanship and another energetic routine with lots of tricks, I preferred the second half a little more than the first as the Quickstep section was excellent and easily deserving of four tens.

Chelsee & Pasha
Showdance (Disco)

I am not one hundred percent sure of what I made of this routine there were some excellent parts but then equally some nail biting sections, the East Coast Swing sections were crisp and clear and the lifts were death defying but I felt myself wanting more and not for all the right reasons, I honestly think this could have cost them the trophy.

Harry & Aliona and Chelsee & Pasha then went head to head for the Glitter Ball Trophy and for Jason & Kristina it is the end of the road but I know it will stay with him forever he now has the Ballroom bug.

Harry & Aliona
American Smooth (Viennese Waltz)

A great storyline and top line again there were still a few little footwork and placing issues from Harry that would have just put the icing on the cake, but a beautiful performance full of grace and poise.

Chelsee & Pasha
Rumba

The Rumba is by far the hardest dance for both partners to get the balance just right, it has to be hard yet soft, fluid and perfectly poised and there were a couple of moments when it was just not quite reaching the bar, however a great little storyline, I think the nerves might have just stepped in a little.

Harry & Aliona
Argentine Tango

By far this for me was Harry’s best dance, I loved it the first time round at this was even better with more intensity and feel, good job.

Chelsee & Pasha
Quickstep

This routine was the turning point in Chelsee’s Strictly journey it is when most of us realised she was a top runner and I am so glad they chose this as there last dance together, great sharp actions with fluid, floating movements a true Quickstep.

It was then time to see the remaining 2011 contestants dance again for their lap of honour and for me it was their best group number from the first show when they were just stomping around the floor to now owning the floor they looked like a real Formation Team, very slick and entertaining, it brought back happy memories of my time on the original series dancing at the Tower and in Bournemouth.

This has too have been the closest call ever in a Strictly Final as either couple could have walked away with the Trophy but the voting public voted and on tonight’s performance the right couple won, Harry & Aliona were crowned 2011 Strictly Champions.

Well that just about wraps it up for me for this series, a huge congratulations to the BBC on a truly memorable series and good luck at your new studios up here in the North! I will be back to give my professional views and reviews on the Strictly Festive special 8pm on Christmas Day, a review on the 2012 Strictly Tour in earlier February and Vincent & Flavia’s Midnight Tango in April.

Keep Happy, Keep Healthy and warm but more importantly Keeeep Dancing.

Week 11, Strictly Come Dancing, Professional review.

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 Blog



Semi Finals



Double elimination, two dances each, two tens’ from Craig and only two weeks until Christmas! This was also the last time Strictly was going to come from Studio 1 television centre as next week the ‘Final’ comes from the Tower Blackpool and season ten will come from the new Strictly studio in Media City Salford.



Harry & Aliona

Dance 1 Charleston

C L A B Total
9 10 10 10 39



A very intricate routine and I thought the first half was fantastic but the second half seemed to loose a little energy, amazing kicks and true Charleston steps, a real show stopper.



Dance 2 Viennese Waltz

C L A B Total
9 10 10 10 39



A beautiful, effortless Viennese Waltz, performed perfectly with beautiful footwork, stance and sway, Harry’s left arm was a little over straight but what another show stopper. He came in to this competition a drummer with good rhythm and will leave a great dancer with great deportment.



Alex & James

Dance 1 Waltz

C L A B Total
7 9 9 9 34



A beautiful Waltz danced by a beautiful lady, good clean lines, the simplicity was pure, elegant and enchanting, what ever happens in the competition for me Alex has progressed the furthest and should be really proud of her achievements, but for Craig to score it a seven was a bit tough.



Dance 2 Salsa(ish)

C L A B Total
7 8 8 8 31



I found the routine more of a Samba than a saucy Salsa, however there was two sets of Mambo breaks and two sections of ‘armography’ and Alex did perform it like it was her last dance.



Chelsee & Pasha

Dance 1 American Smooth (Foxtrot)

C L A B Total
8 9 10 9 36



What a beautiful story these two told, we were truly watching a girl turn in to a woman before our very eyes, or were we watching an actress turn into a dancer for real? Chelsee’s lines are beautifully controlled and there lifts were excellent, the musicality was effortless as every dance should be performed and to dance a travelling split slide in a very tough step to master and therefore easily deserving for any final.



Dance 2 Paso Doblé

C L A B Total
10 10 10 10 10



The first full house of the series and it was definitely deserving of this. A fantastic Paso Doblé, danced to a true Paso tune, executed with true talent, professionalism and expertise, and another perfectly choreographed routine from Pasha, the best number so far this series for me.



Holly & Artem

Dance 1 Argentine Tango



C L A B Total
9 9 9 9 36



A very clean, safe and yet slow Argentine Tango, Holly’s lines are inspiring, another beautifully told story, that the simplicity heightened the emotion.



Dance 2 Charleston

C L A B Total
8 8 9 9 34



I loved this choreography from Artem, the Lindy, Hip Hop ‘Spank the baby’ was right on the money. In the VT just before they danced when Bruno said that at the beginning of the routines Holly dances like she is in it to win it but half way through she dries up! And he is absolutely right.



Jason & Kristina

Dance 1 Samba

C L A B Total
8 9 9 8 34



A very energetic, full on Samba however Jason’s timing on the promenade runs left a little to the imagination, but there were a lot of well danced recognisable Samba figures and as always performed superbly.



Dance 2 Argentine Tango

C L A B Total
10 10 10 10 40



A take on a Vincent & Flavia routine, and this was easily Jason’s best dance and his aggression and execution of the steps was phenomenal.



Sundays Result Show



An interesting opening from our professional dancers this week, maybe they are saving themselves for next weeks final? Craig & Natalie the retaining Show Dance Champions performed their world death defying head banger step! But what more could be more moving than the Military Wives performing their tipped to be Christmas number one hit ‘wherever you are’ along side our very own Vincent & Flavia performing one of their show routines.



Chelsee & Pasha Harry & Aliona and Jason & Kristina get to go to Blackpool, but for Alex & James, Holly & Artem the journey is over, congratulations and thank you, for making our Saturday nights Strictly inspiring.

Week 10

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 blog week 10

The Quarter Finals

Movie week and with only two weeks left before we return to the mecca for Ballroom Dance- the Tower Ballroom Blackpool for the final which is a first on two, firstly it is the first time a BBC Strictly programme will be recorded in 3D and it is 20 years since a final of the original series was filmed there, the only reason I remember this was because it was the last time I competed in the Tower Ballroom.

Robbie & Ola

C         L            A            B            Total

7          7            8            8            30

Quickstep

When I first saw these two stepping out on to the floor I thought Ola had made a terrible mistake not wearing a dress to help cover up bad footwork and leg lines, but I was pleasantly surprised, Robbie danced some very good scatter chasse, pendulum swings and running trots, there were still a couple of footwork issues and several places where he needed to straighten his leg on his rises, but overall an improved ability.

Harry & Aliona

C         L            A            B            Total

9          9            9            9            36

Rumba

One of the hardest of the dances to perform for a male celebrity and Harry upper body was great with superb arm lines with full body control however he was quite stompy in places with his feet and for me his hip action was forced rather than being a natural hip action, but a very good attempt and nothing to be ashamed of.

Alex & James

C         L            A            B            Total

8          8            9            9            34

American Smooth (Foxtrot)

Alex looked a million dollars and dancing to pretty woman was so apt, unfortunately though I thought the choreography was quite insipid and the music was a heavy march and more Tango than soft flowing Foxtrot, the lifts were beautifully performed and effortless looking and she is gaining more strength and poise week after week.

Holly & Artem

C         L            A            B            Total

9          9            10            10            38

Paso Doblé

Holly has beautiful arm lines and shaping with strong well defined Flamenco Taps and an amazing well performed routine but from a technical content point of view there was only one Paso step pattern that was not danced well at all, but as a show routine it was a show stopper and again cleverly choreographed for Holly’s style.

Jason & Kristina

C         L            A            B            Total

9          9            9            10            37

American Smooth (Foxtrot)

I loved the opening and storyline they created to Singing in the Rain, Jason had some really well placed step patterns and showed great control on all the lifts with good clean transitions between the steps, if anything his right shoulder was a bit too high on his turns whilst in closed hold but another great performance.

Chelsee & Pasha

C         L            A            B            Total

9          10            10            10            39

Jive

Fab-u-lous a real red-hot roaring Jive with amazing true choreography and content beautifully performed with the correct amount of intent, meaning and professionalism, again Chelsee has raised the bar another level and on content alone the best dance of the evening.

Sundays result show.

A cheeky little Charleston opening and a beautiful elegant Ballroom segway from our professionals, Jason & Kristina and Robbie & Ola in the bottom two this week, but we will see Jason & Kristina dance again in the semi finals next week where our celebrities will face a double elimination, Robbie your journey has had highs and lows and even though you are not an expert at heels and toes you leave strictly as a dancer and I hope you continue.

 DAPA

Strictly Blog Week 9

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 Blog

Week 9

As our seven remaining couples prepared to become six, and after last week triumphant Wembley visit, it is becoming more and more difficult for our celebrities to blunder their way through. This week also sees them all having to dance twice, one of which is a Swingathon where all our couples perform at the same time for points and are knocked out one by one to claim the highest score.

Anita & Brendan

Cha Cha

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

7          8          7          8          2          32

As Robin was off this week, super Brendan steps in again to rescue another female celebrity in distress, performing a great little cheeky Cha Cha, there were however quite a few heel leads and even though Anita’s knee action was stronger than in previous routines she still needed to straighten her leg on the weighted steps.

Holly & Artem

Foxtrot

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

8          8          9          9          3          37

Their routine was clearly choreographed to show Holly off to her best ability but the foxtrot content left little to the imagination, the show girl elements were when Holly stepped into her comfort zone and the music was more show show than quick quick slow.

Alex & James

Charleston

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

6          7          8          8          5          34

Well Alex, you have again upped your game and in my opinion this was you best performance to date, your personality shone through and your storytelling deserved an academy award, but obviously the judges did not agree with me and James’s comment when talking to Tes was correct the Judges did score it very hard when you compared it to the other Charleston.

Robbie & Ola

Samba

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

5          7          7          6          1          26

It was so nice to see a Bob Dale pinnacle step, The Big and Small being danced to start their routine on Strictly, Robbie’s rhythm and timing have improved but his footwork does need a lot of work, but another lively performance.

           

Chelsee & Pasha

Argentine Tango

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

8          9          9          9          6          41

O.M.G! Chelsee if you Argentine Tango routine does not get you in to the final I will show my periodicals on the town hall steps, a very technical, extremely well choreographed routine performed, for me perfectly and easily deserving of a couple of tens, Craig’s comments about the couples frame was completely unjust as the height difference does not allow the couple to take the correct stance.

Jason & Kristina

Charleston

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

9          9          9          9          4          40

Jason’s performance has just kept them in the competition especially after last weeks fluff, a great little cheeky Charleston with some very well danced Charleston figures, this was probably Jason’s best routine to date, but I do not think it was any more impressive than Alex & James’s. Do you agree?

Harry & Aliona

Quickstep

C         L          A         B         Swing Total

9          10        10        10        7          46

One point off perfection! A lively Quickstep with good technical content, fluidity and musicality but Craig was correct, Harry does have a really bad sickle on his left foot which makes him dance pigeon toed and his left arm was a little to straight for me, but it was a very good energetic routine.

Swingathon

It was very difficult to compare all the couples at first because of all the camera angles but I do agree completely with the order of the final three, Alex & James, Chelsee & Pasha and Harry & Aliona.

Harry & Aliona 7

Chelsee & Pasha 6

Alex & James 5

Jason & Kristina 4

Holly & Artem 3

Anita & Brendan 2

Robbie & Ola 1

Sunday Results Show

A fabulous Ballroom segway from Brendan, Natalie, Pasha, and Katya to open the show and an unforgettable show stopping Viennese Waltz from Anton & Erin, but Holly & Artem and Anita & Brendan in the bottom two this week either of them could have left this week but we will see Holly & Artem dance again next week, but we will miss you Anita you have done yourself proud and we are all proud of how far you have come, thank you.

Striclt y Week 8 Blog

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 Blog

Week 8

Wembley Week, and with a record £102,000 being raised for Children in Need from the ticket sales, if the show ended up being a complete flop it would have all been worth it, but it was not! A fantastic set, fantastic crowd and a fantastic world class opening and with all of the routines performed to British iconic songs it could not have been any better.

Robbie & Ola C L A B Total
Salsa              5 7 7 7 26

Robbie dancing to Robbie, and ‘Let me entertain you’ but I found it very clumpy and flat footed, and not at all saucy, however the lifts were very good along with the presentation, but over the last few weeks I have come to expect more from Robbie and he now needs to up his game more.

Alex & James C L A B Total
Tango             8 9 9 9 35

Dancing to ‘Relax’ by Frankie goes to Hollywood, but for me Alex was just a little too relaxed, she is improving week by week, slowly but surely, and from the waist down you could really see her gunning for it, but from the waist up she was lacking the staccato feel Tango needs, it was her best score to date and in my opinion her best dance, come on Alex just that extra 10 % needed.

Holly & Artem C L A B Total
Quickstep        7 8 8 8 31

It was great to see them dancing together again to ‘Valerie’ and there were parts that were fab and parts that were shab, there were several little footwork and timing issues from Holly and her left arm was very floppy, she also at times looks like she has forgotten the routine almost shell shocked, again as with Robbie time to up your game Holly.

Anita & Robin C L A B Total
Smaba            6 7 7 7 26

Dancing to ‘Come on Eileen’ well come on Anita! Samba being a very difficult dance to master but again as with every style that is thrown her way she envelops, a great little Samba action correctly danced without a bounce action, there was a little loss of energy in the second half of the routine but her performance again was top form and deserving of a nine from me.

Harry & Aliona C L A B Total
Salsa               8 8 9 9 34

Dancing to Elton John’s ‘I’m still standing’ and Harry you are still standing your ground but only just with this routine, any of the Latin rhythms do not seem to quite sit naturally on him as if he is holding back, and does not believe in himself, the second lift did look very strange as if he was attempting something then changed his mind, but it did not affect the rest of your routine, great performance and energy just needed more work on the technical side.

Russell & Flavia C L A B Total
Jive                     5 6 6 7 24

S Club seven’s ‘Reach for the Stars’ and Russell really looked like he needed to reach for something being shot from a cannon, like the Brandy! The routine consisted of step kick twice and then wave your hands, which was then repeated another ten times, it just needed more Jive content, but a very big thank you, Russell for making us all smile.

Chelsee & Pasha C L A B Total

Samba                  8 9 9 9 35

‘Spice up your life’ by the Spice girls and Chelsee certainly did that! She has great leg lines and rhythmical interpretation, with good strong fast foot placing and an excellently executed death drop to finish, another finalist routine from Chelsee.

Jason & Kristina C L A B Total
Jive                     8 8 9 9 34

‘Wake me up before you go go’ by Wham and I nearly did, this for me was one of Jason’s worst routines, I am afraid that he has peaked too soon and is now not progressing to the level that some of out other celebrities are, it was a very slow safe routine and Jason lost it all together on their kick section, which was very difficult, he as always though kept his energy and performance throughout, but another who needs to up their game to stay in the competition.

Sunday Result Show

A Beatles medley to open the show with all our professionals and our remaining celebrities performing together, Russell & Flavia and Holly & Artem in the bottom two this week but we see Holly & Artem dance again next week, thank goodness but Russell you will be missed.

Striclty Week 7 Blog

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 Blog

Week 7

Over half way through, and it is now time to sort the wheat from the chaff or the dancing doers from the dancing dodo’s, as our nine couples become eight what treats are in store? And with Brendan stepping in for Artem could it be the end of the road for Holly or will she go all the way to Christmas? For me it was the American Smooth dances that were the worst performances of the evening, the American Smooth should be based on any of the standard ballroom dances but a proportion can be danced in open hold and lifts are permitted, yet we were shown a complete array of concocted styles.

Alex & James            C            L            A            B            Total

Jive                             7            8            8            8            31

Jive? Well meant to be! It started with a really weak coy solo section from Alex with a stuffed doll, they then started to dance continental Rock ‘N’ Roll with only five recognisable Jive steps throughout the routine. Alex’s flicks and kicks needed to be stronger but unfortunately for me James and the choreography let her down this week.

Robbie & Ola                                                 C            L            A            B            Total

American Smooth (Foxtrot) I think                7            8            8            8            31

A great performance from Robbie this week, he had definitely upped his game, but I do not know what dance style it was meant to be as there was only two feather steps that I recognised, but the lifts were very clean and well executed.

Audley & Natalie            C            L            A            B            Total

Cha Cha                     3            6            6            5            20

I have to say that it is very difficult for a guy with size 17 shoes to give the Cha Cha its true feeling, his rhythm and timing were very good, despite what some of the judges were saying, he did not dance any heel leads which is a really common mistake in this style, but he did just slide his feet around the floor, I thought his hip circles were very well danced but I do feel his time is nigh.

Harry & Aliona C            L            A            B            Total

Argentine Tango 9            8            10            10            37

With the highest score of the series so far Harry and Aliona Tango was amazing, Aliona’s choreography and performance were incredible, but to be picky, Harry was just missing the seduction of the style which I could not blame him for because just dancing with Aliona must of made him even more nervous, but with this performance Harry has just secured himself a place in the final.

Jason & Kristina            C            L            A            B            Total

Viennese Waltz   8            9            9            9            35

Jason was showing some good strong heel leads with some nice shaping to his frame but his style was a little skippy for me rather than lilting action, but he danced a very nice fleckle with good power throughout the whole dance.

Chelsee & Pasha C            L            A            B            Total

Foxtrot                        9            8            10            9            36

A very graceful, elegant, floating Foxtrot, Chelsee’s has a fantastic top line and danced good strong clear steps there were however several footwork issues, but I think some of this was because Pasha was having to lift her up slightly.

Anita & Robin            C            L            A            B            Total

Argentine Tango 7            9            8            9            33

Every week Anita just looks more and more beautiful, there was a good storyline to their performance with some very nice lines Anita was just lacking in the staccato and sharpness to the dance.

Holly & Brendan            C            L            A            B            Total

Rumba                        8            8            9            9            34

Holly has such an amazing leg line she is built for the Rumba, I thought the routine was very careful and I am not sure what the sitting run thing was at the end, but with her Latin leg action, stance and poise in her Ballroom as long as she keeps on working hard she is my favourite out of the women left in the competition.

Russell & Flavia                          C            L            A            B            Total

American Smooth (Quickstep)            5            7            7            7            26

Well for me this was not one of Russell better performances both from a dancing perspective and the showman we have all begun to love, it had the feeling of the end of a party night when everyone has had too much to drink.

 Sunday results remembrance show

After a very fast fifties opening from our professionals, an amazing routine from Robin & Kristina backed by Christina Perry on the piano, and a truly never to be repeated moving piece by André Rieu and our very own Anton & Erin. I was then shocked that Anita & Robin were in the bottom two along with Audley & Natalie, but fortunately Anita & Robin dance again next week for our Wembley Special.