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