Sunday Service: Week 5

A week of poor frames, this week.

Ranj & Janette's American smooth was a joyous start to the show. Lovely footwork, clean lifts. He is a tad pigeon toed at times, but aside from that it was really nice. Great choreography from Janette. A sweet routine.

Lauren & AJ's contemporary routine felt like a showdance. It was very lyrical and emotional. I liked the choreography. It was a bit disjointed in places. The lifts were challenging. I liked the physical expression of her day job. A good job.

I loved everything about Graeme & Oti's tango, except Graeme's frame in hold. It had drive. It had emotion. I loved the neck drops and other difficult moved. He just needs to get his shoulders back. Graeme is slowly doing well and flying a little under the radar.

What a gorgeous rumba from Ashley & Pasha! A lovely mix of basic steps and more challenging choreography. Great lines. She really worked into the floor to give herself great hip action. Lovely underarm turns that Nicole Cutler would be proud of. It's so nice to see a rumba done so well on Strictly.

Seann & Katya's quickstep was much better than I was anticipating. They were pretty in sync. Some challenging choreography that Seann coped well with. Using the guitar in hold was slightly odd, but worked OK. Seann really needs to close his feet together more. Not his best dance, but not his worst either.

Stacey & Kevin's samba was bright and fun. It could have had more hip action in places, but it had some lovely basic choreography. Nice promenade runs. Nice natural rolls. My favourite Stacey routine to date. She looked as though she was having a ball.

Joe & Dianne's waltz was very sweet. Like Graeme, it's only his frame that lets him down. He needs to keep his shoulders back, and not lean over Dianne. His footwork was decent. It was nice. Not showstopping, but waltzes rarely are.

It was clear that Vick had really worked on her leg action this week. She tried hard to keep her legs straight. I didn't like the move down the stairs. Using the stairs takes way too long, but I guess Graziano is too new to know that. Vick totally sold what was a horrible cha cha routine.

What was it with frames this week? Kate's shoulders were too high, spoiling her top line. Otherwise, her Viennese waltz with Aljaž was nice. A good fleckerl and standing spin. She definitely felt the music. It just left me a bit cold.

I loved Danny & Amy's jive. Brilliant snappy leg action from Danny. Light on his feet. Energetic throughout. A total joy. Loved it. Everything came together. Props and lighting capped off a brilliant routine. It was so good to see Danny finally come into his own. This is what we have been waiting for.

I loved the storytelling in Faye & Giovanni's foxtrot routine. It was dreamlike. They had a lovely connection. It was very relaxed, it was nice to see a nice frame at last. It felt a little American smoothy, though. It could have more in hold.

It was nice to finally see Charles hit his groove. He was made for street/commerical. The routine was sharp, and Charles hit all of it. Great job. That should hopefully keep Charles & Karen out of the dance-off for this week.

Danny, Ashley and Charles were easily the best this week. Brilliant routines all of them.

It could be the end of the road for Vick. She sold a poor routine well, but I don't see it getting that many votes. Seann, Joe and Kate were all so middle of the road that they might not have got the votes. I could see any one of them being there too.

We'll find out tonight.

Alfonso was actully a pretty good guest judge. And not a "Donny 10" in sight. He failry marked everyone, and he was in line with the rest of the panel. Great job.