Thursday Thoughts: Week 5

 Super-late update this week, and next week is also likely to be super-late. But I'm still here!

JB & Amy's jive just didn't quite get there. JB was a bit heavy footed, and needed to be up on his toes more. He was also a little pigeon-toed at tines. JB has so much personality and looks like he is having fun, but his dancing is letting him down a bit. And I've noticed that Amy has this habit of putting her hand to her throat, which is obviously just something she does with her free arm, but to see it three times in about 16 counts was a bit distracting. They did her dirty with that frock, though. Awful.

Punam & Gorka's Viennese waltz was competent, but just really dull. Nothing stood out. Everything was a bit plain. And there were a few times where Gorka was dancing around Punam. he was definitly doing all the work. There wasn't even a fleckerl to keep things interesting, just a standing spin.

I really liked Jamie & Michelle's paso. I loved the black and white costumes (yes, even Jamie's high trousers). I loved the traditional music and how it built as the routine went on. It had more appel than we have seen from other couples this series. It had a bit of drama. The only thing I didn't like was the weird hand-shaking bit.

You knew Chris & Dianne's waltz was going to be a thing of beauty before they even walked onto the floor. It was emotional without being sentimental. His dancing continues to be very good, too. I've watched it several times now, and I still shed a tear when Dianne leaves Chris to dance alone. He absolutely did his team and his city proud.

Tasha & Aljaž continue to be stunning. Their tango was spot on. I know I am going to enjoy whatever they present. They look amazing together. They cover the floor so well and so effortlessly. It perhaps could have had a little more light and shade - it was a bit one-note. But I didn't dislike it at all.

I did, however, dislike Paul & Karen's samba. The wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men were more interesting to watch than Paul. Karen did all of the work, as usual.

I think Sam was beating herself up unnecessarily. There was a small error in the middle of her quickstep, but it certainly wasn't a disaster. She looked elegant and she and Nikita covered the floor well. She still needs to work on her timing, which is still her greatest issue, and will probably will be her ultimate undoing in the competition.

Pete & Jowita's rumba was pretty OK for a male rumba. He looks as though he is leading, even if he probably isn't. He does a reasonable job of showing off Jowita. And there was a good mix of intimicy and outward presentation. I thought it was decent. I could live without the illegal lifts. Len wouldn't stand for it.

Once I got past Sarah looking like Toyah in that wig, I really enjoyed her samba. The routine was light and fun. But I think Sarah left her hips in the dressing room. There was no hip action at all. There was more hip on her sassy walk away at the end of the dance than appeared anywhere in the routine. Vito gave her another complex routine, and she kept up with it all. I really wish the nude illusion fabric on her dress wasn't so loose.

Shayne & Nancy's American smooth was competent but it didn't really stand out. I really loved the lifts, and none of them were easy. Shayne dances, and partners, really well. It was understated, and lovely. I'm glad Shayne didn't end up back in the dance-off, but they'll need to do something to stand out or they might end up there again.

I don't really enjoy watching Wynne. If someone else had done this routine, it would have been really charming and sweet. There was nothing wrong with Katya's creativity. But I find Wynne and his 'dad bants' really cringey. His hold is a bit iffy at times - his right arm is too far forward which makes him sag a little. Yes, he has good musicality. Yes, he is light on his feet. Yes, it was correct throughout. But at no point do I look forward to watching him. Overmarked once again.

Montell & Johannes' couples' choice was total joy. Just like Punam's, it celebrated who she is. Who they both are. It was everything we love about seeing Johannes on tour, and it was stunning. I fear for other couples' choice routines now. I don't think anything can live up to this. Undermmarked! What can Craig possibly not have liked about it?

Montell and Chris was absolutely the best of the night. It was right for Paul to be in the dance-off and to leave. He was getting left behind, and there wasn't anyone in the group that he is better than. JB did go a bit wrong, but the judges were right to save him.

Monday Musings: Week 4

I watched the show on Saturday night, but just didn't have the time to write down my thoughts before the results. I'm not 100% sure I was watching the same show as the judges, though. They seemed to be piling on hyperbole and overmarking all over the shop.

Shayne & Nancy's cha cha just didn't pop for me. It lacked flow and never really got going. I blame the bowling theme for that. Perhaps Shayne was concentrating too hard. It just didn't look relaxed, and his arms looked shortened. He's competent, but just not reaching his potential yet.

Sarah & Vito's foxtrot didn't really get going for me either. It felt a bit 'small'. Sarah is a lovely dancer, and as Shirley noted, her spotting is impeccable. But this dance just didn't sing in the way other dances have done for her. I don't know why they changed hold for a few counts - it jarred with the feel of the piece for me.

I enjoyed Nick & Luba's Charleston. It was sweet. And given his injury he did really well. He's quite light on his feet for a big fella. I thought the routine was joyful.

I think Jamie played the part of a wide-boy holiday rep really well. The salsa was pretty solid, and it's clear that Michelle really trusts him as a partner. His partnering skills are really strong. What I'd like to see next is for him to develop his performance so that he is dancing for all of us instead of just being focused on being a great partner. Definitely his best week so far.

I thought Wynne & Katya's tango was overmarked. I know the tango is supposed to to staccato, but it was a bit jerky and lacked drive and flow for me. His left arm was a bit far forward for my liking, the frame didn't look quite right. The storytelling was there, though. He took on the character.

Definitely not a good week for Punam & Gorka. Punam's jive was so flat-footed it made for an ugly presentation. There were a couple of very obvious errors. She also needs to learn how to stand when Gorka is moving and she isn't so she looked posed and not just waiting for the next step, or the bus.

Paul showed improvement this week. The quickstep actually felt like a competent dance. It's a shame you could drive a bus between Paul and Karen for most of the dance. But his hold and his timing were a bit better. He's certainly not amazing, but his is improving.

JB & Amy's rumba was fine. It was correct, there were plenty of recognisable figures. But I didn't feel any emotion, either romantic or raunchy. As Motsi commented, it was very technical and well danced. But just not very interesting.

I enjoyed Chris & Dianne's salsa. He partnered her really well, and it's clear that they trust each other. His timing is excellent. His feet were a bit 'picked up', he could have been a little more into the floor. He bobs up and down a bit. A little finessing would make it even better.

Montell & Johannes' Viennese waltz was nice. Danced well, great timing, nice line. Just not exciting and I'm not sure why. Maybe a bland song, I don't know.

Sam's samba was a bit awkward, sadly. She gave it absolutely everything, but she's just not a natural dancer so it ended up reading as a bit naff. I'm glad she and Nikita enjoyed dancing it, and I respect her efforts.

Pete also showed improvement this week. There was a little moment when he went out of sync with Jowita so they were bobbing up and down at opposite times, but overall it was an improvement, and I enjoyed watching their quickstep.

Is there anything Tasha can't do? I wasn't sure about a festival-themed Charleston, but it worked. She's such a neat dancer, she gives it everything without it being wild. She's completely unstoppable. The lifts were great. She and Aljaž could be the perfect partnership.

Punam and Sam were the bottom two for me this week, followed closely by Paul. I was sorry to see Nick depart, and I don't feel we really got to see everything that he might be able to do, although it was right that the judges saved Shayne. He didn't really deserve to be in the bottom. I'd love to see Nick come back for a Christmas special some time.

Monday Musings: Week 3

Here are my belated thoughts on Saturday night's Movie Week special...

Montell & Johannes started the night with a tango. I love One Night Only, but the arrangement by the band was fairly standard, and therefore it didn't lend itself to tango. The whole thing lacked drama for me. Montell is a very competent dancer, but this routine lacked light and shade for me. None of this is her fault, of course. It's just annoying when the songs aren't appropriate to the dance.

Toyah & Neil's samba was definitely more theme week than technical samba. There were some nice samba rolls and promenade runs, and Toyah absolutely brought the characterisation, but it didn't really work as a samba. I'd love to see Toyah play some sort of witch in a panto after that, but this was not a routine which was going to save her from the bottom of the leaderboard.

Chris & Dianne's jive was a masterclass in theming. There were nods to Wayne's World, but there was still plenty of jive content to make the dance recognisable. Lovely toe-heel swivels, nice picked-up knees. I loved it. I'm just concerned that this could lead to lots of dodgy fan fiction based on Wayne and Garth dancing a jive together...

More early-series rumba action, this time from Tasha & Aljaž. I fear that Tasha is peaking too early, and people are going to tire of her. This was another brilliant performance. with lots of clean figures. There is little to dislike (other than Aljaž's dodgy Ken wig). She really understands how to move her body and the shapes she can make.

The musical arrangement did more cha cha in this routine than Paul did. His timing is not good at all. Aside from a few New Yorkers and walks, there wasn't much content. Karen is giving it everything, but she is back-leading the whole thing. Let it be over soon.

Sarah & Vito's Viennese waltz was as magical as the boy the music inspired. Sarah is such a beautifully neat dancer, it is wonderful to watch. Perhaps the dance could have been flatter, and Anton had a point about her head placement, but otherwise it was glorious. Putting Vito in an academic gown was a stroke of genius, as it gave the dance even more movement.

Pete (or George) is improving, although his samba with Jowita was a little odd. His timing was out in places, but I am enjoying his growing confidence. His hip action wasn't quite there - he had a good forward and backward thrust, but lacked the figure of eight motion needed to make the samba more fluid.

JB & Amy's American smooth was sweet and bright, as you'd expect for a routine to Pure Imagination. There is some finessing that would make things even better, and I feel that if this was coming a few weeks later it would have been even better. He could do with a little more drive. To do American smooth before foxtrot is a bit difficult for the celebrities, though. I really wish they could do more ballroom first.

For me, Sam's paso lacked sharpness and appel. They used to spend so much time on the show talking about the staccato nature of paso, and the importance of appel. That was totally lacking for me here. It was all a bit one-note. Sam's timing is still a little off in places. She and Nikita are working hard, but she has a way to go still.

Shayne & Nancy spent so much time out of hold that I had to check if they were doing a Viennese waltz or an American smooth. I picked up on the same thing about Shayne's left arm as Anton (you'll have to take my word for it, but I have a witness!) - he needs to expand his frame to make the whole thing 'bigger'. He's a competent dancer otherwise.

Wynne has very good timing, there is no doubt about that, but this cha cha was a bit 'dad dancer' for my taste. The lack of finesse was fine for a theme week, but it didn't work for me otherwise. I really want to see him and Katya do a straight Latin routine and see how he fares, as he's been hiding behind characters so far.

Punam & Gorka's routine is what Couple's Choice should be. It was refreshing to have a Bollywood routine, which meant something to Punam, rather than just another hip-hop or balletic waft which could be danced by anyone. As ever, it is impossible to judge a CC against any other dance. I can't help thinking this would have been better saved for a week with backing dancers, as it would have been even better with more colour and more movement. But well done to the show for putting this in prime time.

I liked Jamie & Michelle's quickstep. It was bright and they covered the floor well. There was lots of content and most of the routine was in hold without too much faff. I feel like Jamie just hasn't quite popped yet. He's so close to wowing us, and I can't wait to see it when he does.

There is no question that Toyah and Paul were the bottom two. Personally, I would have sent Paul home. I felt that Toyah's timing was a little better, and her characterisation and storytelling was better than Paul's.