Strictly: "Celebrity and showmanship"
wazzyboy
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According to a leading amateur ballroom dancer, SCD is more about the above than dancing. Do you agree?
http://www.cheshirelife.co.uk/out-about/victoria_bennett_the_real_life_strictly_come_dancing_queen_from_altrincham_1_3204841
http://www.cheshirelife.co.uk/out-about/victoria_bennett_the_real_life_strictly_come_dancing_queen_from_altrincham_1_3204841
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I don't think, however, you can assume that they would love to be involved in SCD and don't have the showmanship. If anything the article suggests the opposite - they are very much more concerned about competing and being the best that they can be before turning pro. Anyway SCD clashes with three of the competitions they mentioned in the article (British nationals at Blackpool, internationals at Royal Albert Hall and WDC at Disney).
As the article makes clear, the amateur dancers are not sneering at Strictly - indeed, they are delighted that it has raised the profile of dance - but it is not surprising that it doesn't appeal to them in the same way it appeals to those of us who are strictly sofa dancers. My elderly neighbour, who gave up ballroom dancing in her 80s, won't watch Strictly because they don't wear long gloves. Sniff.
I know! This is more Dot's style...
How would you get that dress in the boot of your car?
You could be right. The pro dancers are not selected primarily because of the number of ballroom dancing medals they have on their mantelpiece. They need to be able to tackle all 10 dances, plus the extra ones that the Strictly producers throw at them (Salsa, Charleston, Argentine Tango, American Smooth); choreograph routines; teach celebrities how to do that routine; and have a decent personality and enough charm to win their own fanbase.
For example, Kevin from Grimsby is not nearly as good a dancer as his sister, Joanne, but he was a huge success on his first series because he was able to hit all those Strictly buttons. To be brutal, he didn't need to be that good a dancer. I'm fine with that, and I would guess most of the GBP would be happy with that as well, if they give it any thought at all.
A rival magician performs the most basic tricks to thunderous acclaim, because he does it with "showmanship".
There is a technique of a magician or assistant doing a move that is guaranteed to make an audience applaud, such a move is called a "clap-trap".
Strictly may be full of "showmanship" but X-Factor is full of "clap-traps"
You do get to see some really top dancing from the pros as well, so while the show is focused on the celebrities you still get to see the proper stuff!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I'll not sleep tonight, now that you've reminded me of the most terrifying thing I've ever seen in my life!
I think we can all consider ourselves 'told'
Er, OK. x