Slightly OT but Aliona reminds me of Ashlee Simpson.

I liked the new girls' dance. On first look, they all seem very good. I look forward to seeing more of them.

Yeah I totally agree Katya (the one with Brendan i think) wasn't as good as the other two in my opinion

interesting how they've replaced slightly older, quirkier dancers with tall, willowy, younger girls

hated the routine though, looked like it should be in Spearmint Rhino rather than SCD

but then the BBC doesn't have a clue what we want so no surprise there

I have to agree. I've said this before but there are NO British female professional dancers in the show now? Appalling. I'm sure there are many talented female professional dancers born, brought up, competed and working in UK that would do a better job.

Aliana looks like a Russian Bride catalogue: desperate to elbow out competition. Her dancing with Rav was 'Look at me'. The others didn't register rather than looking raunchy.

I miss Camilla and Karen, I always really loved them both.

But I have to say I like what I’ve seen from the new girls, I’m in the distinct minority apparently because I enjoyed their ‘here come the girls’ routine.

I wonder if the use of 'foreign' dancers is to enhance saleability to the rest of the world, in the manner of 'dance with the stars'? Or, being cynical, some bizarre 'diversity' edict come from on high within the Beeb. nothing would surprise me.

I don't really mind about the UK dancers stuff, if we get international quality people. What struck me about all the new people is that the brief CVs which they gave out beforehand didn't seem to cut it. Unless I am missing something ?

I might have a bit of a girl crush forming on Katya.

And Aliona does amazing lifts - no wonder they partnered her with Matthew.

I thought so too but the comment "a bit less ME an a bit more WE" was quite harsh IMO.

I don't know yet what to think of Aliona, she's likeable enough but I'm afraid she might bring a bit too much American tricks and stuff to Strictly. Katya seems lovely, she seems to have a lot of fun with Tuffers and I wish her lots of strength and good luck . I'm patricularly happy with Natalie being on the show as she is a ballroom specialist and Strictly desperately needs one in my opinion, too many latin dancers already! I've seen some of her work on the Australian Dancing With The Stars and she is great.