Saturday Service: Week 6

I don't think I've really enjoyed Halloween week since 2010. But we still stick with it and hope for better every year...

Before we even started came the shocking news that Will & Janette would not be able to perform as Will sustained a knee injury earlier in the day, and Neil was replaced by Kevin who was also ruled out due to injury.

I didn't love Emma & Anton's tango on first viewing, but watching it again I appreciated it more. It had some good tango content, some classic steps, but it didn't move me. She could have brought more somehow. It was good, but good isn't going to cut it. Good leaves you in danger of being in the dance off.

Emma brought Johannes' vogue walks to the floor, but they supposed to be Charleston swivels. Aljaž literally did all of the heavy lifting. A sequence of lifts with little else in between. It lacked cheekiness. I think what Craig was getting at was that it was a little bit placed and lacked the earthiness needed to be a convincing Charleston.

I like Chris, and I really wanted to like Chris & Karen's samba. But I didn't. Chris lacked hip action. It was a bit wooden and a bit campy at the same time.  I liked the choreogrpahy, it just didn't really come off.

I couldn't get over how much Saffron looked like half the girls I saw walking around Tokyo Disney a few weeks ago. They all dress like that. The music choice for a jive was questionable, so AJ had a bit of a job. Saffron was a little heavy on her feet for my liking. She kept putting her heels down - we can still spot it even if you are in high heeled boots! The choreography was all there, though.

Mike exceeded my expectations this week. Despite the odd theme, Mike & Katya's tango was quite sharp. I liked the arm section in the middle. It was serious, and it worked. He needs to work on his posture, of course, but this was not the comedy nonsense I was expecting to see.

I really, really wanted a paso to Small Town Boy to work, but alas, it didn't really hit the mark. Fair play to Amy for defending Karim when the judges started to criticise the choreography. The Stranger Things theme was a little lost on me. I think it's a dance you need to watch more than once. Perhaps the judges were right that the routine was too packed. Karim did his best with what he was given.

Catherine & Johannes' cha cha was about the third routine I wanted to love, but didn't. A great Steps track, and one of the few of the night where the song actually suited the dance set to it. Catherine's timing was off in places, there was at least one error, and it seemed devoid of hip action.  Her legs were a bit bent, and her arms didn't fully extend. I'd hope that if they had a second go at that it would be better.

Michelle & Giovanni finally delivered a dance worthy of Halloween. It was clean. Great top line, great timing, great storytelling. The foxtrot choreography was spot on. Pivots used sparingly look great. Anton take note! Lovely footwork. It all came together.

Kelvin & Oti's tango had a bit of a paso feel. I didn't really need for Kelvin to fly. That was just distracting. It had lots of drive. It was clean and razor sharp. Lovely top line, the work he has done in the week paid off.

I can't help thinking what Alex & Kevin's street commercial routine might have been if Neil had been there. It was looking so slick in training. Alex did brilliantly well, but because Kevin wasn't confident in the routine it lacked the synchronicity that it could have had. Fair play to both of them. They were absolute troopers. I suspect they were last to give them a few minutes' extra training time.

My favourite tonight was Michelle. Honourable mention to Alex for her fighting spirit. Most of the others I liked better on second viewing, but you only only one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime and all that.

Chris sadly has to be in my bottom two this week, but I don't know who I would put there with him. Possibly Saffron, despite her excessively high placing on the leaderboard. Or maybe Emma W, who lacked swivel. Mike is on the up, while Catherine is on the slide, but I know Catherine can do better. It wasn't a great week for Emma B or Karim, so both could so easily end up in the bottom.

If Chris is in the bottom, I think he's going home. If Mike is in the bottom, he could well be going home if he's against anyone but Chris. But if they both make it out, it could be another shock exit...

NTAs Long List

Last chance to vote in the NTAs' long list.

Strictly is nominated for Talent Show. Claudia, Tess, Zoe and Rylan are all nominated as presenters, and Shirley, Craig, Bruno and Motsi are all up as judges, alongside Oti for The Greatest Dancer.

You have until 2300 tonight...

https://www.nationaltvawards.com/vote

Sunday Service: Week 5

Kelvin & Oti lucked out by having the cha cha the week after the rumba. The two dances share a lot of the same figures. Great hips, and a great lead. I felt that in places he was concentrating on his feet and hips and stopped thinking about his arms. Sometimes they weren't fully stretched. That's not to take anything away. He was still brilliant.

Nadiya tried as hard to keep David's feet as still as possible, but he had to do some jive steps sometime. He tried hard, and it was watchable. I didn't want to hide behind a cushion or anything. It's a shame there were a couple of mistakes. A good effort, but it feels like the writing is on the wall. And why was Nadiya in those boots? They didn't look right with that frock.

Catherine & Johannes did a very good job with a poor music choice. The music didn't have any moments of drama, which meant it was never going to be very exciting. Catherine was sharp and got all of the choreography correct. There was just something lacking, but I can't put my finger on what. I'd love to see them do another tango to something else.

Karim & Amy's salsa was full on. Packed with steps, and all executed with precision and accuracy. Lifts, tricks, armography. It was all in there. I thought the song choice was going to hinder this routine, but far from it. If I was being uber critical, he went in for the last too early, which meant you could see it coming from a mile off. But that's Craig level of detail...

Michelle & Giovani's rumba was lovely. Lovely basic steps. Good chemistry, especially at the end. It could have delivered more. Maybe the judges were right, there could have more undulation through the body, but it didn't make it any less enjoyable.

For me, there was something not quite right about Emma & Anton's paso. Maybe she lacked a bit of balance. Maybe it lacked a bit of fluidity in the transitions. I don't know. The performance was there, for sure. And the choreography was OK. I just wasn't moved. Unlike other couples, they had a half-decent music selection.

This was the Alex we have been waiting for! Girl was having fun with that Charleston. Great choreoraphy. Alex looked relaxed and was having a blast with Neil. The timing was great. She looked cool. I loved it!

Quite a traditional Viennese from Emma & Aljaž. A decent frame. Emma kept up with the choregraphy. I didn't like the set dressing, which cut off half the floor. I presume that was deliberate so they didn't have to travel so far. Standing spins rather than fleckerls is a bit disappointing. I had a hard time getting past the all-white outfits for a song about adultery, but that's just me. Perhaps a tad overmarked.

I enjoyed Mike & Katya's samba for what it was - a novelty dance. I liked the way Katya used the accents in the music for the natural rolls. I liked the nods to Alphonso's dance. As a samba, it was an abomination. As a novelty crowd pleaser, it was a triumph.

Will & Janette's contemporary routine was very sweet. Great emotion. I liked the choreography. It was nice for him to be able to dance without rules and just connect with the story and the music. I missed happy, bouncy Will, though.

Chris & Karen's quickstep was quite skippy. Totally agree with Craig's point about the 'mini' steps. He didn't exactly fly around the floor. Technically, it still needs work, but it was quite fun.

I think the foxtrot might be Saffron's best dance so far. Her basic foxtrot steps were really clean and nicely executed - lovely heel turn, lovely upturned toes on the backward steps. The out-of-hold elements were really showbiz. AJ had clearly pushed her, and it worked. She especially lit up after catching the cane at the end. I've done routines where I've had to catch a cane, and you spend the whole routines worrying about it. Once the move is over you can finally relax. She definitely did that. Overmeaked, though. Can't believe Alphonso awarded a Donny Ten. I thought he had more integrity than that.

Best of the night for me were Karim and Alex.

Bottom two for me is a little trickier. Definitely David. Mike is weaker dancer than Chris, but this week I enjoyed the stupid novelty of his routine, while Chris left me a bit cold. I'm usually a Chris fan, but not really think week. Either way, David has to be in the dance-off, and has to go home.

Sunday Service: Week 4

This week's show was so much better than last week's confused movie mess. A lot of really good performances, and even the ones which weren't so good were still very watchable.

Chris & Karen are such a joy to watch. I really liked their jive. Of course Chris still has timing issues, and those basketball hands are still with us, but when he's on the floor I just don't care. I just get lost in the joy of it all.

Emma & Anton really deserved the high marks they received for the Viennese waltz. The timing was very difficult in places, but Emma was able to just go with it. Gorgeous fleckerl at the top of the routine. Emma is very watchable. She has a decent frame.

I thought Dev & Dianne's cha cha was a bit forgettable. It was perfectly competent, but it just didn't stand out. Decent hip action from Dev. His timing was good. He's also very watchable. It was just a bit bland. I just wish they wouldn't put both of them top to toe in the same colour. With Dianne's red hair as well, there were times where they got lost in each other because of red on red.

I really liked Catherine & Johannes' Charleston. I had to force myself to watch Catherine, because Johannes was bringing it. I think he overshadowed her perhaps a tad. I loved the choreography, and she executed it very well. This is the kind of Charleston we've been crying out for. She could have been lighter on her feet, and she could have had more swivel. Again, with the same colour costumes, although theirs weren't so bad because her skirt was short.

Alex still fails to reach her full potential. Her tango with Neil was OK, but a bit ploddy. She had clearly worked on her footwork, although there were still some walks on the toes where there shouldn't have been. It lacked drive and aggression.

David has definitely got better over the weeks. This was not a good quickstep, but I did kind of enjoy it. He had a bit of charm. There were timing issues - the chasse section which was out of sync with Nadiya was not pretty. He doesn't always have control of his long limbs. But the improvement is marked. Well done, David!

A decent rumba is rare from the male celebrities. Kelvin & Oti's rumba was lovely. His hip action was on point. There were a few flaws. He raised his shoulders in the middle of the routine, and some of the transitions were a bit hard and lacked flow. That said, it was smouldering and engaging. Kelvin presented Oti beautifully.

Emma & Aljaž's jive was just OK. Something seems to be lacking for me. The flicks were there, and timing was there, but something was missing for me. It's all a bit 'nice'. It needed to be more earthy. She didn't have as much bounce as Aljaž, and it showed. I loved the section on the step at the top.

Not a stellar week for Michelle & Giovanni. The timing was out at the end, and she seemed to struggle with the speed. Michelle is still amazing, but this week she wasn't as engaging. I felt as though the pair of them lacked chemistry this week. Michelle was performing to us, and almost forgot about Giovanni unless she was facing him. Don't get me wrong, I love Michelle. This just wasn't as good as other weeks, and that showed in the marks.

I liked Will & Janette's foxtrot routine. Proper foxtrot choreography. Footwork is going to be more difficult for Will than anyone else, and he did what he can do. He needs to try to tuck his bottom under a little. He presented Janette very well, and I liked the chemistry.

Mike & Katya's quickstep was frantic. His legs were a bit bent in places. Way too much gapping, you could drive a bus between them at times. I could have been better. He has improved, but this wasn't as engaging as Chris or David in my opinion. Nine??

Saffron lacked the balletic qualities needed for contemporary. Her legs were bent, and she lacked balance. I think this was really exposing. Her core strength wasn't there. I think this was more AJ's choice, and it didn't work for me. I liked the choreography, but this wasn't her dance. Totally overmarked.

A return to form for Karim & Amy after last week's panda fiasco. Their tango had drive and attack. I liked the mood. The frame started to fade at the very end, but that was the only criticism. I really liked it and it was a great way to end the show.

Favourites for me this week were Karim and Kelvin. It's getting difficult to know who might go. My least favourite was probably Mike, but I didn't like Saffron either. I think Alex could be in the bottom two alongside David or Mike. Much harder to call this week, as they have all raised their game so much.

Saturday Service: Week 3

I really hate that we have a theme week so early on in the series. The couples are trying hard to make sense of Strictly and dancing, and then they get a (often tenuous) theme chucked at them. It made for a very odd evening...

Things started well with Michelle & Giovanni's quickstep. We all knew Michelle was going to be in her element with Cabaret, and she delivered. It was a confident and bright performance. Her top line is excellent. There was a little too much out of hold for me, but that didn't detract from a very good performance.

I liked Neil's rumba choreography. The routine had lots of basic steps and was recognisable as a rumba. Sadly, Alex didn't execute it all that well. Alex's shoulders were raised, and there wasn't much hip action. It didn't quite hit the mark, which was a shame.

It was lovely to see a different side to Chis & Karen this week. I think they drew the short straw, having to dance the American smooth before any other ballroom dance. I don't think any couple should have to do that. Chris coped well, though. I loved seeing a more controlled side to Chris. The dance lacked drive and the steps he took were too small, but all the choreography was correct.

Karim & Amy's samba was a bit bizarre. The costumes were bulky, and the Kung Fu Panda theme didn't do anything for me. I think Karim had good hip action (hard to tell through that costume). I just didn't feel he was leading. They felt more like a duo than leader and follower. Karim can afford to have a miss at this stage.

I loved the storytelling in Catherine & Johannes' rumba. They showed the emotion and connection of their characters, and the choreography was lovely. Catherine could have had more hip action, but it was pleasant to watch. I'm really enjoying seeing the development of their partnership.

Poor Will & Janette were also lumbered with a weird theme, getting Pokémon.  I found that I actually forgot to watch Will, Janette stole the routine for me. She didn't deliberately pull focus, but he just faded into the background a bit. Will's performance was all a bit one note for me, lacking light and shade. Paso is one of the few routines where the man gets to show off, and he didn't.

Kelvin & Oti's Charleston was clean and slick. It didn't excite me as much as it did the judges, but it was definitely well executed and performed.

Emma and Aljaž's foxtrot was classy. Emma really needs to watch her shoulders and topline. Her head placement was a bit odd. I still think she has lots of potential, though.

Anneka & Kevin's Charleston was a bit crazy and uncontrolled. It was stompy and lacked swivel. It was just a bit mad. I think that they had a good song in Woo Hoo, but the Kill Bill theme meant they had to go in a particular direction.

I really quite liked Saffron & AJ's paso. The routine had lots of content - AJ didn't make it easy for her. It was a little untidy in places. She could have closed her feet together more, and she was a bit light on her feet instead of stalking. It was a good attempt, though.

Mike & Katya's cha cha was stompy and dad-like. And what was he mouthing? At times it didn't appear to be the lyrics. Very distracting. The fireman's pole was the best part.

I think David has improved since week 1. The lifts in his American smooth with Nadiya were quite nice. It did have a bit of atmosphere. But it was just a bit dull.

I find Emma really watchable. She saved what was a pretty poor salsa routine by just being charming and engaging. There was a lack of salsa content in the routine, and it was a weird song choice. Soul Bossa Nova screams cha cha to me. I think she and Anton should be safe for another week.

Dev & Dianne were a great close to the show. Their street/commercial routine was energetic and entertaining. They were so in sync. I enjoyed it the way I used to enjoy the Charlestons.

So many of the performances missed the mark this week, some due to the stupid themes, others just due to the couples. My favourites were Dev and Chris. 

While James is improving, I don't think he has done enough to stay out of the bottom two. I think Alex could be at risk this week. When I saw the group number at the start of the series, I really thought Alex would be one to watch, but she's not quite living up to that promise. Mike and Anneka were also a little weak.