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.

Strictly Blog week 6

Strictly Come Dancing 2011

Week 6

Nobody puts baby in the corner show with Jennifer Gray stepping in for Len Goodman this week, with it also being Bonfire Night, would any of couples sparkle and dazzle us with their performances lighting up our Saturday evening entertainment or will they just fizzle out after a few seconds with a poof!

Lulu & Brendan             C            J            A            B            Total

Tango                         5            8            7            7            27

Good strong simple choreography that Lulu almost managed, there were a few mistakes but she had obviously been working harder this week. I loved the overall simplicity to the opening and the overall performance.

Audley & Natalie            C            J            A            B            Total

Viennese Waltz   5            8            7            7            27

After a very long played out introduction which was obviously done to try and lift the dance as the Viennese Waltz is simple in steps yet difficult in keeping the power, pressure and performance constant, it looked like Natalie was having to over dance to keep Audley going, which is unusual for her. The pace was quite slow but there was some nice shaping and fluidity from Audley it just needed a bit more umppph

Harry & Aliona             C            J            A            B            Total

Samba                       8            9            8            8            33

Overall is was quite a good Samba routine with some well executed basic steps, the Samba is difficult for the male celebrities to master as one minute you are being fluid in your movements and then you are attacking and being snappy, I don’t think Aliona had quite taken on Len’s comments from last week about them trying to dance together more, as I think Harry would have been more confident in his approach this week if they would have dance in close hold. It was good just needed a bit more party, but you can not argue the guy can shift!

Anita & Robin            C            J            A            B            Total

Charleston                 7            8            8            8            31

There is no denying Anita looked a million dollars and the first half of the routine was fantastic but then it seemed to fade, they lost energy the choreography went weird and their rhythm and timing went out of the window, but go girl keep up the good work.

Jason & Krisitna            C            J            A            B            Total

Rumba                        6            8            7            7            28

Lovely choreography to a lovely danced Rumba. If anything the music was a bit fast and some of Jason’s movement needed to be a bit stronger, but it is a very difficult dance to get the balance right between soft fluid movements and the enticement of passion and loooove, and I thought Jason did an ok job.

Alex & James            C            J            A            B            Total

Quickstep                   7            8            8            8            31

I think Alex has just pushed her bar a little higher! A qwerky little Quickstep routine, energetic and powerful, what a shame they could not keep the energy levels to the end. The choreography just needed a little more pacing, a few little stumbles from Alex as well but a very good lively performance.

Robbie & Ola             C            J            A            B            Total

Waltz                           6            8            8            7            29

I am very proud of Robbie he comes out every week looking like he is going to take on the World. He started with some nice well controlled footwork, until he danced his forward lockstep on his heels! His frame and top line have really improved but he does need to relax into his knees a little more to give the Waltz its softer floating feel, but he is starting to look like a dancer and not look embarrassing at all a very good 1^st division Waltz.

Russell & Flavia  C            J            A            B            Total

Paso Doblé               4            7            6            7            24

It was more Paso dribble than Paso Doblé but a very good entertaining comedy routine, and Russell does actually dance Paso steps, and very well. He is loving every second but I still think he is capable of showing us more correct dance.

Chelsee & Pasha C            J            A            B            Total

Charleston                 9            9            9            9            36

A good strong action from Chelsee, with good clean kicks and a polished, well rehearsed routine. I just wished she believed in herself to the same standard as her dancing. Brilliant well thought out choreography from Pasha.

Holly & Artem            C            J            A            B            Total

Jive                             8            9            8            9            34

I love watching these two and they have been my favourite from week one, but If I am absolutely honest I think Holly has peaked, she was flat footed, her leg action was weak at times and just not shining at all. The choreography and Artem are fantastic to watch even suffering from an injury, but Holly just needs to let her hair down and go for it, as other celebrities are catching if not have already caught them up.

Sunday Results Show.

A girly opening to the show with five of our Latin professionals and then the guys turn who were all ‘Feeling good’, apart from Artem who was still suffering with his back. Audley & Natalie and Lulu & Brendan found themselves in the bottom two this week and with both of them scoring the same from our judges either of them could go, the public voted, and Audley & Natalie dance again next week.