Monday Musings: Week 10

With so few couples left in the competition, everyone is now fighting for their places. And while there can be no 'shock' eliminations at this point, anybody really could be in the dance-off.

Layton & Nikita were up first with a somewhat disjointed American smooth. On paper, It's Oh So Quiet looks like a good song choice. It has light and shade baked right in. It has crescendos and stillness. Yet somehow it didn't translate into a coherent ballroom number. I think they did a good job, it just didn't pop. Layton's foxtrot footwork was excellent with a lovely toe release and a neat heel turn. But some of the faster parts were a bit wild and loose. I think it is the sort of dance that requires multiple viewings. But there's no time for that on Saturday night.

Throughout Nigel & Katya's rumba, I was distracted by the curtain on the left, which seemed to be waving at an unnatural rate. Which doesn't say a lot for the dance. There was a lot of wafting, and not as much content as I would like. I liked the musicality though, although when I wasn't looking at the curtain, I was looking at Katya. Was Nigel even in this number? I barely noticed him.

While I love a good rock song for drama, you just cannot beat traditional paso music, and the music really elevated Annabel & Johannes' routine. She continues to get better and dance without inhibition. It's wonderful to see. Her paso had attack and drama. She looked in control. She still needs to watch her facial expressions - at times she veered from intensity to nothingness.

The thing I noticed most about Angela & Carlos' cha cha was how neat Angela's arms were. Her free arm was on her hip for a large part of the dance, or tucked in. It was as though they had identified that it sometimes looks uncontrolled, and this was a way of keeping it in check. Cha cha is a hard dance to make interesting, and I thought they gave it a good go. They sold it, and I had a good time watching.

I really struggled with Bobby & Dianne's couples' choice. It seemed to me that production had decided that he needed to do a routine in tribute to his mother. I'm not sure this would have been his choice. The general public had a deep relationship with Jade that Bobby can probably never fully comprehend. I can't help feeling that production wanted to tug the nation's heartstrings in this way, and it may not have been Bobby's choice to do so. And it worked. Some of my friends reported that they were in bits. Cynical me wasn't so moved. The routine itself was a pleasant enough lyrical, contemporary number. It was nice. He danced it well, it was musical and because of the style it looked free. For once their height difference wasn't a factor. I liked it, but I'm not willing to be manipulated in this way.

Ellie & Vito's Argentine tango was outstanding. Gorgeous loose legs, lots of push and pull. Drama, tension, sexuality, musciality. A wonderful routine and was absolutely deserving of a place at the top of the leaderboard.

Ellie and Annabel were my favourites of the night. There are no bad dancers here, and picking the bottom two is difficult. It's probably right that Angela was in the bottom. I might have put Bobby or Nigel with her. 

There seems to be a lot of negativity towards Layton online because of his theatre background. So many people seem to have decided that that is not allowed on Strictly. I don't know where that comes from. Being a novice has never been a requirement.

Everyone still in the competition deserves to be there. They are all worthy, regardless of how much experience they started with. They have all entertained and worked their behinds off.

I'm going to be pausing the blog for a couple of weeks as I won't be able to watch, but I'll be back for the final!

Sunday Service: Week 9

The problem with Blackpool week is that there is such a build-up to it, such a hype train, that we it arrives it often disappoints. Some of the judges get over excited. Some forget to pack all their paddles. It's total chaos.

Bobby & Dianne kicked things off with their jive. It was actually much tidier than I feared it might be. It was much neater than last week. The routine had lots of energy and there were no errors. It didn't blow me away, but it was very competent. I felt that the additional dancers seemed to make it feel crowded, as if they were too close to Bobby & Dianne. 

Angela & Kai were up next with their American smooth. I can't help thinking that the grueling Strictly schedule is starting to take its toll on Angela. She is looking tired and sometimes confused, and frequently goes wrong. The long competition is tough for the youngest and fittest, and it feels as though Angela reached her peak a few weeks ago. It wasn't a bad performance, but it really felt like the end.

I loved Layton & Nikita's Couples' Choice. It was fresh and fierce and everything you'd expect. They were almost perfectly in sync, and I can't help feeling they are being punished for not being perfect. For any other couple, that would have been a 40 I'm certain. The only thing I am left wondering is what the heck their showdance is going to be. They have used lots of tricks and have done a pole-dancing routine. What else is there to do?

I didn't enjoy Anabel & Johannes' American smooth as much as the judges seemed to. It was nice enough. She has lovely lines and it was very smooth indeed. The footwork was solid. But why did Anabel look so serious? That killed it for me. It would have been so dreamy if she had looked like she was having a nice time. I think she was going for emotion, but it read as intense and serious.

Choreographically, Ellie & Vito's Charleston wasn't my favourite. However, Ellie is just phenomenal. The lifts were heartstopping. Ellie nailed the routine from start to finish, high energy throughout, her facial expressions were great and she gave it bags of performance. I think I just prefer a 1920s style number.

The Argentine tango from Angela & Carlos was the best they have looked in a while. It was strong and intense. The lifts were really nicely executed. I am inclined to agree with Craig about Angela's legs - they didn't look elastic enough. But it was a good number, and it was nice to see Angela doing well again.

If only Nigel hadn't made a couple of tiny errors in that quickstep! What an amazing routine, and the (almost) perfect end to the show. Does he lose focus during the dance, or does he make the same mistakes in rehearsals? He is infuriating. That aside, it was showstopping. The solo sections were spot on. I absolutely loved it. I am shocked that the judges scores were so low. Also, I want to throw a fabulous party where Katya plays piano.

Layton, Angela S and Nigel (despite the errors) were my favourites of the night. Angela R has to be exiting the competition now. She's been in the dance-off twice already, and did nothing to suggest she shouldn't be there again. I have no idea who will also be in the bottom two. For me, it would probably be Bobby, but he didn't do especially badly.

Sunday Service: Week 8

Is it almost Blackpool?

Lauren very much did all of the work in the samba with Krishnan. There was a lot of walking, without a lot of hip action. The samba rolls were OK, but the rest was a bit lacking. He looked a bit unsure of what was coming next. However, there is still something so darn watchable about Krishnan that I didn't hate it.

Bobby & Dianne's American smooth felt more like a Couples' Choice, as it was quote lyrical and seemed to have lots of little lifts. I didn't dislike it, but the most exciting bit was when Dianne unexpectedly pegged it towards the stairs. Bobby is a competent dancer, but I'm just not excited to see him anymore.

I'm starting to feel as though Angela has gone as far as she can in the competition. Her posture in the paso wasn't quite right. Her walking steps had a kind of 'shudder' to them, in a kind of cockney way. She seemed to be hanging on to Kai for grim death. And she seemed to be mainifesing her power in her jawline, which was quite unattractive. Her timing, however, is very good. She is a competent dancer, absolutely, but I'm not sure she has anything else to give outside of the ballroom classics.

I really enjoyed Nigel & Katya's Couples' Choice. It was so sweet and romantic. They danced it so well, and I loved the storytelling. I loved the way Nigel looked at Katya throughout with a fondness. He looked happy and she looked beautiful. It was a delight. He still hasn't hit the heights of those early weeks, but this is the Nigel we've been waiting to see again.

Ellie & Vito's rumba was stunning. I loved how she was alone on the floor at the beginning in the spotlight. The routine had light and shade, fast and slow moments. It was a routine I could have imagined Ola Jordan performing. Her lines are stunning, and she finishes all her moves beautifully.

I didn't see what the judges saw in Annabel & Johannes' samba. It was a little more Sophie than Shakira for me. Annabel is a little too straight and upright. There was also a little error towards then end. It wasn't a bad performance at all, but there are better couples left around her.

I thought Angela & Carlos' waltz was about the best she has done in weeks. It was elegant and pretty to watch. It had more breath than she has ever demonstrated before. Her footwork was much better and she looked relaxed. It bothered me that she didn't turn her head the to right when she came out of the standing spin, and if you're going to do an attitude leg line, you really need to have your knee higher than your toe. But a definite improvement for Angela.

The intensity and intent in Layton & Nikita's Argentine tango was stunning. Absolutely amazing. As Shirley said, it was pure art.

Layton, Ellie and Nigel were my top three last night. My bottom two would be Krishnan and Angela R. I would quite like to see Krishnan in Blackpool, but I am not sure I'd want him to be there at the expense of anyone else left. There are a couple of others that I don't have strong feelings about, so wouldn't be sad to see them leave, but at the same time I think everyone else left has more to offer.

Monday Musings: Week 7

So apparently this is actually the halfway point of the competition, and not last week as Shirley kept professing. Not that it really matters...

I thought it was a really strong week for most of the couples, and it's really starting to get tough. The judges are now having to split hairs and encourage the couples to be the best they can possibly be.

Layton & Nikita's jive was fantastic. Their synchronicity was incredible. They were so together as a couple, it was as if they had been dancing together for years. The retraction was lovely on the kicks and the energy was sustained. I didn't really need the fouette turns and the no-hand cartwheel - incredible tricks, but they didn't really fit the jive. Save those tricks for the showdance, so that we have something to be wowed by.

Angela & Kai's waltz was pleasant, but it's hard to make a waltz interesting. Something about Angela's topline is off, perhaps it's her head position, I'm not sure. Sometimes she raises her shoulders just a tiny bit. Her footwork is very good, and of course she is graceful.

It was great to see Nigel & Katya back on form. I loved the story of their tango, it was dramatic and engaging. I totally agree with Craig about how much Nigel was picking up his feet on the backward steps, but I was willing to forgive the technique for the performance. I loved the trustfall. They covered the floor, it had drive. I want to see this Nigel every week.

I wasn't that taken with Angela & Carlos' samba. It was giving me 'mum on a night out' vibes. The skirt shaking looked odd, and her arms were awful. She didn't extend her arms enough at all. It all just looked a bit unfinished and frantic.

I really liked Annabel & Johannes' couples' choice. The lyrical style really suited Annabel and her movement was bigger and more free than we have seen from her so far. She used every part of her long limbs and the movement continued to her fingertips. Perhaps this will be a turning point for Annabel. I want to see her dance like this every week.

I loved the drama of Bobby & Dianne's Argentine tango. The passion and atmosphere was great. Once again, they were a bit foiled by their height difference. The 'A' frame wasn't really there. The gancho section wasn't as exciting as we have seen from other couples in the past. I enjoyed it, although I'm inclined to agree that is looked a little 'placed'.

Ellie & Vito's American smooth was pure Hollywood glamour. As smooth as silk, slick and clean. Is there anything this girl cannot do? I just wish Vito wouldn't choreograph to every accent in the music. He could let some of them go, and the routines would still be as good. Definitely deserving of the 10s.

I liked Adam & Luba's rumba possibly more than the judges did. I liked the chemistry between them, and I thought Adam lead the dance quite well. There was quite a bit of posing, and it did feel a little repetitive in places, but for a fella I think he did really well. He presented Luba well. I think he could have used more hip action, and more figure of eight rotation.

Krishnan & Lauren's couples' choice was my least favourite dance of the night. There was a lot walking and a lot of very uninteresting lifts. Krishnan is capable of so much for, and this was just a bit of a snooze-fest. He's still counting out loud, which really needs to stop now. I love that he is loving it, but I never want to see this routine again.

Ellie and Layton were easily this week's top couples. Angela S, Angela R and Krishnan were the bottom for me, but I love Krishnan and was happy that he wasn't sent home.