Strictly Come Dancing 2012

[poppyshake]

I feel exactly the same. I don't usually have a particular problem with her but I'm not really enjoying her in this - and James' arrogance really gets on my nervous (as I used to say when I was little! ).

Yes, his little speech tonight has done Denise no favours at all, why does he always tell the public off about who they do/don't vote for? He looked like he'd been sucking on a lemon

Tonight's result was what Peter and I predicted. I don't mind Nicky, but I thought it was difficult to see where one type of dance ended and then next started. As much as I don't like James, I thought their dance was great - the changes between the two dances were really good. Although I think Nicky is a better dancer than Lisa (and so is Denise) I think she has quite a big fan base. Well, obviously she does as her dancing isn't keeping her in any longer. I do like her but I think maybe she'll go next.

Had enough of Lisa now. I can see one of the best dancers going out next week at her expense.

I don't think she's going anywhere, next week it's likely that (unless top with the judges - which could well happen) Denise may well be in the d/off again and that may be fatal for Dani or Kimberley (or Denise obviously). It's more likely to be Kimberley because Dani has the Argentine Tango and if Vincent can't do a spectacular AT then no-one can (except Flavia )

 

I reckon Lisa and Louis are probably the only two sure-fire finalists. It's a bit depressing but then people are enjoying her and you can't argue with that (though I'd like to .. but that would turn me into James )

[Karsa Orlong]

I don't think she's going anywhere, next week it's likely that (unless top with the judges - which could well happen) Denise may well be in the d/off again and that may be fatal for Dani or Kimberley (or Denise obviously). It's more likely to be Kimberley because Dani has the Argentine Tango and if Vincent can't do a spectacular AT then no-one can (except Flavia )

 

I reckon Lisa and Louis are probably the only two sure-fire finalists. It's a bit depressing but then people are enjoying her and you can't argue with that (though I'd like to .. but that would turn me into James )

 

That's exactly what I said, except I said it with less words

 

 

[poppyshake]

That's exactly what I said, except I said it with less words

 

 

Hahaha .. it wouldn't be the first time either.

You have to be kinder with me, look on it as therapy .. I need to get it all out or it rolls around in my head and I can't have new thoughts

[chesilbeach]

In case you don't know, Lisa & Robin have Salsa and American Smooth this week and Louis & Flavia have Foxtrot and Jive. Don't know about Denise or Kimberley yet.

[poppyshake]

Lisa and Robin's dances will suit them I think .. I'm almost sad about that which is mean of me (especially as I do love Robin .. but you always hope for the best dancers to reach the final). I can see Louis doing a great jive, it's quite acrobatic isn't it so that plays to his strengths, I'm sure they'll do a great foxtrot too .. that makes me happy I can't see any pitfalls.

If either Denise or Kimberley also take on the Argentine Tango that could be bad, as they might get compared unfavourably to Vincent & Dani. Kimberley also has the waltz left which she should try and avoid if she knows what's good for her .. she didn't do well when she did the one with the added twirly bits. I am hoping for a charleston or rumba and an American smooth for Kimberley and if James has any sense he'll avoid the samba and go for the tango and rumba.

 

Thinking about it though, if Denise and Kimberley don't do the Argentine tango this week then potentially if they get through they'd have to do it against Louis & Flavia in the final and that is probably worse. I would think one of them will also do an Argentine tango this week .. they get someone in to choreograph the AT's and the charleston's don't they Claire? Do Vincent and Flavia also do that?

[chesilbeach]

I think it's a choice if they want to get some specialist choreographers for the AT, Charleston and Salsa, so I doubt Vincent and Flavia would bother - why would they?!

[poppyshake]

I think it's a choice if they want to get some specialist choreographers for the AT, Charleston and Salsa, so I doubt Vincent and Flavia would bother - why would they?!

True They did talk about an AT showdown in the final but Vincent has changed his plans on that one I understand that Flavia has talked (on Twitter) about having to incorporate it into their showdance (should they reach the final ) because there will be no new dances in the final. Best news I've heard all week if so, I hate showdances and one based around a proper dance (and something like Midnight Tango) would be awesome and would win them the glitterball if it wasn't already won

[poppyshake]

So now we know ...

 

Louis & Flavia: Jive & Foxtrot

Denise & James: Rumba & Tango

Dani & Vincent: Argentine Tango & American Smooth

Kimberley & Pasha: Charleston & American Smooth

Lisa & Robin: Salsa & American Smooth

 

There's an awful lot of American Smooths in that list Hope they're very Fred and Gingery

[poppyshake]

Wishing them the very best of luck (I'm sure they read this thread ) hope it's a brilliant semi-final.

[chaliepud]

Go Dani and Vincent, they're getting lots of local support here in Surrey where they are training!

[Karsa Orlong]

Best to worst last night, imo:

 

Kimble

Denise

Dani

Louis

Lisa

 

I've come to the conclusion that the studio audience will give a standing ovulation for anything - I couldn't believe it when they stood up for Louis's jive - it was almost as bad as Vaughny's

 

Lisa has to go, surely? Please?

[Karsa Orlong]

Hurrah, me happy. Should be a great final

[chesilbeach]

Me too. Think it was Lisa's time to go, and she'd done so well to get so far. Disappointed that people don't like Denise, as I think she's great, and I don't care how much stage school training you've got, ballroom dancing is a completely different discipline, but hey, what do I know?

 

I loved their tango, but I'm rarely a fan of rumba's so they were onto a loser with me there anyway. Liked both of Kimberley's dances, but the American Smooth had 4 lifts (possibly 5, if you're being really picky), she missed a hand grab at one point, and her free arm was limp on at least two occasions, so should never have got 10s. I know I always seem to single out Kimberley, but I do think she's overmarked. In fact, I think all the dances that scored 10s were overmarked this week, not just her, as everyone, except maybe Denise, looked under rehearsed. Despite that, my favourite are Dani & Vincent, even though I don't think they're the best dancers.

 

Still, I like that the couples left in the final are pretty evenly matched, and it'll come down to favourites. Only the public vote counts in the final, the judges just score to give us an idea of how good they dance, and from what I can make out, they will all dance a judges choice and the show dance in the main show, the phone lines opening after the first dance and frozen at some point when they'll count the votes then at the beginning of the results show, the couple with the lowest public vote at that point will be eliminated, then the remaining three will dance their favourite dance. My guess is that with Louis and Dani having never been in the bottom two, and Denise being there both of the last two weeks, and Kimberley there once before, Denise is probably favourite to go first, possibly Kimberley, and then I think the public support is behind Louis, so he'd be my guess to win overall.

[Karsa Orlong]

I actually don't mind who wins out of these four - I think they're all excellent. I guess I've liked Dani and Vincent the most all along, so I kind of want them to win. I didn't think Kimberley was overmarked tbh - I thought her Charleston was the best I've seen on the show. I feel sorry for Denise because I don't think it's her that's losing the votes, it's James (but then my mother thinks he's hilarious, so what do I know? ). I just hope - as I always do - that the voting reflects the quality of the actual dances. If Louis were to win with a performance like this week's jive I'd be less than impressed

[chesilbeach]

I didn't think Kimberley was overmarked tbh - I thought her Charleston was the best I've seen on the show.

 

I did just mean her American Smooth, but I HATE the Charleston as a competitive dance. There's so little technique and it's mostly about the performance, and as long as you can pull silly faces you can get high marks. Ridiculous dance to be compared to a jive or a rumba which are so technical, that it's hard to score high marks. Would have felt the same whoever performed it.

 

I feel sorry for Denise because I don't think it's her that's losing the votes, it's James (but then my mother thinks he's hilarious, so what do I know? ).

 

I don't find James as objectionable as I know a lot of people do, but he doesn't do himself any favours with the repeated comments about voting, stage school experience, etc. I do think, however, he's one of the weaker choreographers and doesn't get the best out of his celebrities.

 

I just hope - as I always do - that the voting reflects the quality of the actual dances. If Louis were to win with a performance like this week's jive I'd be less than impressed

 

I agree with both these points!

 

I'm hoping for better show dances than we've seen for the last few years - my favourite show dances have been ones that include elements of the dances they learn on Strictly, not street, hip hop or modern dance. The ones that stood out for me go back a while now - both Jill & Darren and Denise & Ian in series two, Darren & Lilia in series three and Mark & Karen in series four - the golden age of Strictly!

Edited December 17, 2012 by chesilbeach

[Karsa Orlong]

I HATE the Charleston as a competitive dance. There's so little technique and it's mostly about the performance, and as long as you can pull silly faces you can get high marks. Ridiculous dance to be compared to a jive or a rumba which are so technical, that it's hard to score high marks. Would have felt the same whoever performed it.

 

Yeah, it is an odd one. I thought Kimble and Pasta's had a 'wow' factor that I'd never really found with any of the Charleston's I'd seen in previous years, but I get what you mean.

[Ophelia]

Really looking forward to the final and think that Denise will be the first out. I would like Dani to win but think it will be either Kimberley or Louis.

[poppyshake]

Best to worst last night, imo:

Kimble

Denise

Dani

Louis

Lisa

It is getting scary how much we are agreeing I'm sure it's temporary.

Louis's jive was indeed poor, I felt sorry for him actually because it was so flat footed. I think he was unlucky to get it so far down the line .. it's just not his sort of thing at all. His foxtrot was lovely though and redemption of sorts (but the singing was horrible).

I was disappointed in Dani, I thought I'd be knocked out by her AT but wasn't, not that she made errors but there was something missing - it didn't look right (and are we now not to get an AT from Flavia? .. I feel cheated ). I had a similar problem with Denise's dances. The steps all seemed to be there but the emotion, for me, was missing. I didn't feel the chemistry. Denise's tango I quite liked, I didn't like the rumba - she hasn't got any hip action and she seemed to be being pestered by James (this may be my own view ) rather than wooed by him. I haven't got a problem with her previous dance history and I don't think that's what's stopping the public from voting, everyone I speak to just either doesn't like him or her and combined it's worse. I think with a different partner she would have done better, James opens his mouth and by doing so makes things worse for her.

I think Lisa hitting the deck in her salsa was a low semi-final point and it was probably my most cringey moment of this years Strictly (though the competition has been stiff ) the whole dance was a nightmare and I didn't like their AS much better. Dani's AS I thought lacked sparkle, she has done some fabulous dances so I was baffled by it and baffled by the judges talking about it as much improved because her earlier dances were knock-out compared but then I did see the lovely heel turn which was very impressive. It's the curse of the two dances, in a way I wish they didn't do it because you always feel that what you've seen would be so much better if only they had concentrated on it more but it made sense for them to concentrate on the AT.

Kimberley's AS blew me away, I know Karen Hardy's mum could have done it but I'm betting she wouldn't have looked half so glam. She really did look like Rita Hayworth and everything Bruno said about her musicality was bang on, she becomes one with the music when she dances now which is a turn-around because earlier on she was a little disconnected. I don't know what I'm looking for technically (or only the basics anyway) and the judges scores have long since ceased to make sense to me but, for me, that was the wow dance of the evening. I'm another one that HATES the charleston and I must admit that the outfit (after such a good start as well) had me cursing Vicky Wardrobe for ever but their charleston was so much fun that I quite liked it. I loved the tricks as well especially the triple cartwheel .. I didn't think she was capable of doing that so was surprised. I have the greatest of fears for her showdance though, Pasha should still be serving time for last years effort and the judges pick for them might be awkward. I can see them having to reprise their dance-off VW.

 

Having heard which dances Louis has in the final I think, even if there was doubt before (which there wasn't ) that he has it in the bag. The fact that there will be at least two charlestons in the final is a bit disappointing (let's hope there's not more) and so far there is a distinct lack of ballroom (two charlestons, a salsa and a jive) but hopefully it will all pan out. Last week was the first time I haven't voted for Louis. I just couldn't because he really wasn't anywhere near good enough. I am holding out to see who's good on the night, out of him and Kimberley anyway. It could be that, like my mum last year, I'll put in votes which cancel themselves out. Alan put a vote in for Kimberley's red dress last week The dark ponies of course have as good a chance as anyone and I think their showdance will be the best because they won't be throwing each other around or doing too many tricks. Denise & James I would imagine will be first out so I'm guessing that they won't dance all their dances (though who knows? A lot of people only vote in the final).

I've come to the conclusion that the studio audience will give a standing ovulation for anything - I couldn't believe it when they stood up for Louis's jive - it was almost as bad as Vaughny's

I think they were in an awkward position, in Louis's VT he had said how overwhelmed he was by the audience's standing ovation the week before and I thought then that they'd probably feel bad if they didn't give him another. I think they love him anyway, they probably saw it through rose coloured specs a bit .. I tried to but I could see it was a bit flat. There were some nice tricks in it though which gave it a bit of a wow factor.

Lisa has to go, surely? Please?

Justice was done and it's nice because everyone left has been top of the leaderboard or very near it so it feels right. Lisa was sweet though bless her and enjoyed it so much.

[poppyshake]

So, just as predicted, the judges have decided to make Kimberley dance the dance that threw her into the bottom two .. the swines Whilst not being the only ballroom in that section it will be up against a tango, salsa and jive so hugh potential for it to be the damp squib of the evening (especially if that spin goes wrong again) and waltzes of any kind are just not dynamic. I wanted it to be the QS. They have chosen a Beyonce track for their showdance shades of Chelsee's showdance from last year and nobody wants to see that again (or no-one that likes Kimberley anyway ) The tango is another slightly odd choice because though I thought it was good and the music great, it wasn't quite one of her best. I'm guessing that she wasn't allowed to reprise her recent dances which is a great shame (though we don't need to see another charleston).

 

Dani's tango was good I thought with good music and a strong story and their jive was swinging too. The lack of salsa content in Louis' salsa won't worry anyone - even Len - in the final, the whole routine was a crowd pleaser and his charleston was where everyone said he found his personality (though I much preferred his tango). Everyone knows Denise's jive was brilliant - the judges have picked probably her strongest dance, though because she fused it we do seem to have seen it a lot (though same could be said of Kimberley's tango).

 

On paper Bohemian Rhapsody as a showdance seems all wrong but Austin & Erin did a great paso to it and I'm imagining that's what we'll get from Dani & Vincent, it's got fast bits and slow bits (there is probably a more correct term ) and that should allow them to get a range of styles in there and I'm imagining it won't be too tricksy which is good. Louis dancing to Rule the World will play to his strengths, a bit of rumba and AT should see him vaulting his way to the glitterball. Another charleston from Denise and James .. I'm not sure what it says about the series when charleston's are served up as the best on offer. Ballroom seems to be taking a bit of a back seat with only the ones that have a strong nod towards latin on show (except for that ill fated VW). I don't know about Denise's showdance yet so hopefully, for balance sake, it will be ballroomy. It would be mad if not because that's where her strengths lie.

 

Of course we won't see all of these dances, I'm not sure how it will work this year but at least one couple won't be showing off their favourite dance (and with those choices Kimberley will be sobbing into her arm hankies again I have no doubt).

 

It's not really sticking my neck out to say that I think Louis will win. He's been favourite from day one and has survived being mid table quite a lot, Dani too has never been placed bottom two so surely the winner has to be one of them. I think Louis has the most support though. He has mine along with Kimberley, either of them will put a smile on my face though I wouldn't be at all unhappy if Dani won - whoever is best on the day hopefully although I do admit that Denise, or more importantly James, winning will probably put the kibosh on my Christmas

 

Hope everyone enjoys it and that all the couples are on top form

[Karsa Orlong]

It is getting scary how much we are agreeing

 

I know - stop it, will you?!

 

I guess it's almost inevitable Louis will win, especially after Flavia shamelessly plugging his potential lack of clothes in the show dance No idea who I'll be voting for - it all depends on how they perform.

 

I do admit that Denise, or more importantly James, winning will probably put the kibosh on my Christmas

 

I'm glad you added the after that

[chesilbeach]

I'm not so sure that Louis will win - I've been looking at a few online polls, and although admittedly they are on a small scale for the most part, Kimberley is now way out in front at the moment, with Louis and Dani pretty much tied for second place and Denise bringing up the rear.

 

I'm waiting to see the dancing on Saturday before I vote, but at the moment, I think it's most likely to be Denise or Dani, although I don't think Dani or Louis have really shone, but since they've decided there's got to be four finalists, at least they're the next best after Denise and Kimberley.

[poppyshake]

I'm pretty sure the online polls had Chelsee winning though didn't they? Mind you she did have a bit of a shocker, maybe that had an effect.

 

I don't like the outfits (or lack of them) Denise is wheeling out the catsuit (Ola has passed on this tip obviously) Dani's looked dreadful, Louis isn't going to be wearing one (and Flavia's looks as if it will be horrid) and Kimberley's looks like the sort of thing they liked to put Lisa in .. with all the colours of the dayglo rainbow in it (is it made of all the leftovers?). I'm disappointed too that they won't be changing the costumes for the repeat dances, I hated some of them (please don't let us have Kimberley's tango hairdo again .. it lost points/votes )

I do feel sorry for Kimble, she could hardly say anything about the judges choice of VW and it was left for Pasha to enthuse over it, all the others seem pleased as punch with their choices.

[poppyshake]

Very excited though Vicky Wardrobe is wreaking revenge by the looks of it. Very wise of Louis to go without a costume

[Janet]

Tess looks like a turkey trussed up in Bacofoil!

 

Loving the final. We missed Louis' first dance. Denise's lifts were spectacular! The 'singer' is now slaughtering Bohemian Rhapsody!

[Karsa Orlong]

Denise's lifts were spectacular!

 

Denise was far and away the bast dancer on the night, imo, and she got my vote. Having said that, Kimble was the only one who performed a ballroom dance - I think the judges pretty much shafted her there, giving the others more flashy Latin dances. They should all have had to do a ballroom and a Latin, plus the show dances.

 

The show dances themselves did nothing for me. Still, fair play to Louis - to bring gymnastics and weightlifting to a dance competition, and win, is like stealing the crown jewels and getting away with it