Jives and rumbas .....


Ty - jive - this was a really poor routine; Chelsie should know that jive consists of far more than just repeating the same flicks and kicks all the time. There were no true jive steps. Most of the time Ty looked a bit lost. [18]

Shawn - rumba Mark choreographed a very tasteful and classy routine for Shawn, one that played on the "romance" side of rumba as opposed to the "sexy" side that SCD seem to think is essential. Beautifully danced. [26]

Lawrence - jive Basically a good routine, but unfortunately Lawrence just isn't a good dancer. [22]

Melissa - rumba given how good Melissa has been previously, I was a little disappointed. She needs to work on getting her weight more into her feet, then she would look more grounded. But a nice effort. [27]

Lil Kim - jive possibly the most entertaining routine of the night - if not the series! But it wasn't really a jive. There were elements of rock and roll, other than that it was a showdance; also Kim was very flat footed. But, as I say, extremely entertaining. [28]

Steve'O - rumba Oh dear, poor Steve, he does try! What else can I say - except perhaps to ask - Why was Lacey wearing her underwear as a costume? Tacky. [16]

Gilles - jive Hoorah! A "proper" jive routine, with plenty of real jive steps, and really well danced. I had to agree with Len in that, as with last weeks' paso, it was a bit hectic, but again, I think it was because the music was too fast. But maybe Cheryl should also choreograph a little more "light-and-shade" into the routines. [26]

Chuck - rumba Definitely his best dance, I thought he performed really well. My problem is that Julianne is a fabulous dancer, the speed and the way she can move sometimes defies belief. But she needs to remember what she is dancing. This isn't showdance on stage, and she is definitely overdoing things. She needs to calm her own movements down somewhat and then the routines would look a lot better.

Overall Both jive and rumba are dances that frequently give the celebs problems, and on the whole I thought tonights offerings were very good. I think this series is a vast improvement on the previous series.

No dance off this week. I thought the right celeb was voted out.

I was impressed by Shawn... I really wasn't sure if she could pull off a Rumba. I loved it.

And I agree with all your points about Lil' Kim's jive although it was my favourite of the night

Ty & Chelsie - jive - Chelsie slipped up with the choreography this week as it seemed a hard routine with too little jive. Ty gave it his all yet again, but his transitions are still letting him down. I thought his rhythm was much better though. I still registered on the DWTS website and voted for them 8 times - still my favourite couple! I thought the score was a little low, especially given what followed later in the show - first couple up though.

Shawn & Mark - rumba - I loved the school prom bit at the start and I'm not unusually keen on the 'messing about bits' on the VT. Mark got the choreography spot on for Shawn with her being so young and I loved every bit of this routine. So romantic, graceful and elegant! They are still in my top three. For the first time I realised just how cute Mark is!

Lawrence & Edyta - jive - I hate those leg warmer things Edyta wears. Lawrence is now for me the typical new dancer with a little bit of training who has to wait in a routine for the next bit to start. He's not getting any better and should be on the road home soon. Definitely over marked for me.

Melissa & Tony - rumba - Thought Melissa was going to start belly dancing at some points during this routine! Too frantic for me. It was a good routine but as Len would say, it was a bit clinical and there was no chemistry between them - and it has been there previously. I thought this was scored too highly.

Lil Kim & Derek - jive - I loved this!...but it was alike a show dance with far too little jive. I thought Len was spot on with his comments (and knew they were coming too!) and definitely not worth a 10. Derek seemed to know the dance was lacking in jive steps too so that was a bit naughty.

Steve-O & Lacey - rumba - Talk about tacky with Lacey in her underwear - definitely canvassing for votes with her costume. The dance was just dreadful. I'm surprised there were not more comments about how little Steve-O moved - let alone danced - and yet Carrie Ann marked them higher than Ty & Chelsie! This reminded me of the time Lacey was told off by the judges for showcasing herself and forgetting about her partner - except this time her partner can't dance!

Gilles & Cheryl - jive - WOW! Like two pros dancing! I first watched this clip on Tuesday and I'm still getting goosebumps thinking about how good this routine was as I type this! The height on the jump at the start! And such hard music (again) to hear a good beat! Really showed up how little jive content Lil Kim & Derek's routine contained. Easily the best dance of the night for me, so under marked in comparison with what had gone before.

Chuck & Julianne - rumba - I didn't get this dance. Julianne was so frantic and Chuck stuck out like a bad thumb for me. He had banana hands too! I think we need a light bulb moment from Chuck where he remembers to do everything he's learned so far in one routine. At the moment imho he gets one bit right at the expense of the next.

I enjoyed the show this week, but two things spoiled it a bit for me -

1. I thought the marking was all over the place. In general I thought Len kept his cool and marked at the right level, but both Bruno and Carrie Ann got far too carried away. For me it really showed how marking too highly can really restrict what paddles each judge can end up using.

2. I know it was jive week, but a lot of the routines were too frantic for me.

We must have reached the point where there is no dance off and I am so glad Steve-O has finally gone. Lawrence should be next.

I enjoyed Gilles and Lil Kim's routines the most this week.

I don't like rumbas very much, I've decided. I hate that they have to wear underwear type clothes and I just don't really like the whole style. I quite liked Shawn and Mark's though, as it was that bit more tasteful.

They don't - they really don't - have to wear underwear type clothes for the rumba (or any other dance for that matter). That was just Lacey being Lacey - totally and unnecessarily tasteless.

Generalising a lot - rumba is frequently the favourite dance of dancers; and the least favourite dance for non-dancing spectators!

It doesn't help (I think) when shows like Strictly & DWTS keep stressing the rumba has to be "sexy". Given the right dancers it can be sexy, but it should never be tacky; but for many it is a beautiful romantic dance. Take a bow Mark and Shawn!!

I so agree.

I much prefer a romantic rumba with lovely lines and so few celeb couples can pull it off. I don't mind sexy, but too many rumbas become tacky like you say. I loved the rumba that James & Cherie did on SCD and her ballet training obviously helped with her lines. It is the hardest dance for a male celeb to imho - so out of their comfort zone. For me the music choice often makes or breaks the rumba performance - if I can't 'feel' the romance or the intimacy between the dancers it doesn't work at all.

Were Ty and Chelsie in the bottom two or was it in no particular order apart from Steve O being bottom?

It's confusing when they don't have a dance off.

I think this week it was in no particular order apart from Steve-O and Lacey being bottom

I love your DS User name!

Haha! Thanks