Sunday Service: Week 9

Only half of the couples remain in the competition, and the cracks are starting to show, both physically and mentally.

I found Kara & Artem's jive a little timid and flat. It was more like the Kara we saw earlier in the competition. It was all a bit tentative. There were some nice bits of choreography (I loved the bit where Kara went through his arms and then back again), but there were a couple of errors. The ending was late. Kara seemed to be looking at the floor during the side-by-side section. It wasn't a bad job considering the lack of training they had done, but not up to their usual standards.

I think Anton is actually just taking the mickey now. He looks like he's lost the will to live, and I think it may well be his entertaining performances keeping them in rather than Ann's. Let's talk rumba. Ann has no hip action. There is no sense of longing, no romance, no nice lines. There were more steps than we've seen in previous weeks - basics, hand-to-hands, opening outs, alamanas, cuban rocks - but they poorly executed. Ann never presents anything, and never looks like she's having a good time. Does she really want to be in the competition?

Patsy & Robin's Argentine tango was not as slick as we would want to see, but Patsy gave it a good go. There were a couple of tiny stumbles. If the competition were longer she could do well, but she is running out of time. She has improved, no doubt about it, but she's still not up to the standard of some of the others. I love Patsy's passion, though. I really hope she gets to stay a bit longer.

It was a shame about the errors in Scott & Natalie's American smooth. The poor fella really does look knackered. The lift was good, and Scott managed to get to the end despite the mistakes. My sympathies are with him, but this is still a competition, and the show must go on. He may be working hard, but when he hits the floor he has to be able to sell it no matter what. There was a small stumble near the very beginning - I think his shoes might have got stuck together. It was still a routine packed with content. Natalie does not pad her routines with props and tricks. Maybe this week she should have.

Gavin & Katya's jive was lots of fun. I liked how Katya had based the choreography around the song, and there was plenty of basic steps as well as the more 'stylised' stuff. Gavin had lots of timing issues, and was a bit flat footed. But I think performance-wise, it was one of his best routines. He looked like he was having fun even though he said he wasn't. That has to be a breakthrough.

Matt had some dodgy facial expressions during the American smooth, but aside from that I liked it. I agree with Bruno that Matt seems to flit between beauty and beast sometimes. It was not a typical American smooth, but I think it was lovely. It was so nice to see them do a routine with no tricks. Maybe Aliona has finally worked out that Matt doesn't need them. And I actually liked the 'trudging through snow' lift.

After a mediocre night from some of the front runners, the leaderboard was Pamela & James' to steal, and steal it they did You just knew their charleston was going to be a treat before they even hit the floor. It had personality and musicality. Pamela executed everything so beautifully. It was such a delight to watch. It was well presented, and it was great that the show ended on a high note following an off-week for so many couples.

Of course, I want to see Ann go home, but it's likely to be Patsy or Gavin. It's totally unfair that good, and dedicated, dancers are going out while Ann stays. But those are the rules of the competition, and we are all going to have to live with it. I can't believe next week will be the quarter final!

Here are the videos...

Kara & Artem



Ann & Anton



Patsy & Robin



Scott & Natalie



Gavin & Katya



Matt & Aliona



Pamela & James