Very good but a bit cold and clinical.

She can do the technical but she's now got to add some omph to the performance.

I'm not sure where I am on Natalie. I enjoyed it her more than Ali, but those faces were a little bit . I agree that Jade pitched it the best, though.

I've to disaggree. I think Brian's salsa choreography was righjt. Because he has to play with his Partner abilities and He has to push his partner,because if he does simply steps, he was going to be acussed to be safe.
I love salsa, I grew up dancing salsa in the Carribean and I love Brian routine very much.
I love Ian as a dancer, he is one of my fvourites dancers, but his routine was too messy for my like. For me Brian's and Vincent routine were the best. But Brian's brought the best salsa routine, because he knew Ali could do it.
But it's about taste and I some people like a routine and some people don't . Like Craig said, the choreography was excellent for my salsa dancer trained eyes.

Vinny needs to have a word.

That open mouth thing Natalie does is a bit off-putting.

She doesn't seem to do it in rehearsal.

Maybe she gets overexcited during the main event!

AGREED (Stands & appauds)

Jade & Ian were underscored.

I didn't love any of the Salsas. I had most been looking forward to Ali and Natalie.

I thought Ali's was very good but too frantic. I would have preferred an easier routine so that she could sell it more. I just wasn't mad about Natalie's in general. I don't like Jade's legs for some reason so that was putting me off in hers.

I think I enjoyed Chris and Phil's dances most. Not very good technically I'm sure but I enjoyed watching them.

What do you think about the way Ali danced it, though?

I don't think Brian would be accused of being too safe if he'd made the dance just a bit easier. And I think it's clear that the judges do not reward difficulty. Some of them even come right out and say they prefer a simpler routine done well.

Lol I laughed at someone`s comment about the Isle of Man connection

Amazing legs though !

Of course Ali's Salsa was a real Salsa. The rest were Ballroom Salsa's. Compilations of walking, shoulder shaking, poor pelvic girations, stumbling about, and Cha Cha material. That's why some may think they could get up and dance with Jade and Natalie. The difficulty level was minimal at best.

Intricate arm and foot patterns are not tricks. Standing on you hands is a trick. The neck drop is a trick. All of the woman were backweighted on the backrocks except for Ali. Even the pro, Natalie, was too wide with her backrocks. I think she would have had a problem with the arm shines Brian put together. A routein like that must be done tight and close. If anything the tempo was too fast and therefor looked a little rushed at times.

Ali just needs to get into the Latin more. Down & Dirty. It was definitely the best Salsa of the night. Amazing that she could get through it with only one missed hand connection.

Of course Ali's Salsa was a real Salsa. The rest were Ballroom Salsa's. Compilations of walking, shoulder shaking, poor pelvic girations, stumbling about, and Cha Cha material. That's why some may think they could get up and dance with Jade and Natalie. The difficulty level was minimal at best.

Intricate arm and foot patterns are not tricks. Standing on you hands is a trick. The neck drop is a trick. All of the woman were backweighted on the backrocks except for Ali. Even the pro, Natalie, was too wide with her backrocks. I think she would have had a problem with the arm shines Brian put together. A routein like that must be done tight and close. If anything the tempo was too fast and therefor looked a little rushed at times.

Ali just needs to get into the Latin more. Down & Dirty. It was definitely the best Salsa of the night. Amazing that she could get through it with only one missed hand connection.

The complication argument works three ways at least. She has more to remember, more to learn and there's no time to build dramatic conclusions or a simple story as the choreography hs moved on to the next bit before the last one can have an impact. Ali can't sell a story when there is none in the choreography

Does Zoe have a BBC job coming up? She's still being overmarked for simple routines with one simple story. She's far flatter than Ali so you couldn't even argue for personality in the mark. Contentwise its cpmparing GCSE to A level. Nathalie has loads of energy and lots of chances to act (well sort of act) but not much content or execution - not sure you could combine that with half of Ali's content.

I'm not an expert, but I loved Ali's Salsa. Natalie's was a bit too "forced" and I liked Jade's, but I agree that the choreography was very simple.

I disagree, I absolutely loved it. I thought Ali performed a lot BETTER than I was expecting. I thought she was sexy, fiery and proud in the opening number and indeed whenever she was alone or performing the slower moves. She only looked a little insecure when she was in hold with Brian doing the faster arm movements. Overall I was very impressed and it was by far my favourite of the night.

I am sorry to disagree with you Sid, but I thoroughly enjoyed their salsa tonight. I thought Ali coped extremely well with an extremely difficult routine. In terms of leaderboard position, I actually think she should either be scored the same as Zoe (who I think was overscored slightly again), or that Zoe should be the same score at 32 with Ali. I don't think Ali should be third but second on the leaderboard.

Surprisingly again, I thought Chris was underscored quite severely tonight. I would have thought he deserved at least 28 overall.

Ricky W did a rather raunchy dance, and he actually really seemed to enjoy himself tonight. Reminds me of Matt Di Angelo's Salsa in terms of sexiness and spirit. His 'I love myself' persona is suited for the salsa. But the ending was messed up in terms of timing, so all the more I think Ali should be ahead of him.

Another point was that Ali's choreography was downright dangerous and could have ended in a complete tangle over and over again. Its relatively easy to sell a story when you are safely away from your partner, are just roughly in sync and havn't got many moves - its far more difficult when you could end up in a knot at any moment and are working together most of the time.

I want to be clear: I enjoyed their salsa. It was my favourite dance of the night, especially as a dance. I also agree that Ali coped extremely well. I was impressed. And I think that afterthoughts and lady latina make some very good points.

However, ... where were the marks to reflect how good it was?

There's nothing wrong with 8s -- until they're compared to the marks some of the other received.

I don't think Ricky W was very impressive tonight, for example, so that the difference between his dancing and his partners was very noticeable. Yet he still got 4 8s, the same as Ali.

Re Ali vs Zoe, here's a thought experiment: Could Zoe have done Ali's dance that well? I don't think so. Could Ali have done Zoe's? I think yes. I don't think any of the other celebs, 'cept maybe Ricky W, could have done a salsa of that difficulty that well.

Now, maybe Brian's approach is right, and pushing up the difficulty now will pay off later on. But the judges don't reward difficulty (and the things afterthoughts mentioned) in the way they do "performance", and it's frustrating to see such a good dancer go out with a routine that doesn't seem a good match to what the judges and much of the audience best appreciate.

I want Ali and Brian to win the competition but the routine was too busy. Brian is pushing Ali too hard and she spent the whole routine trying to keep up with him. Less would have been more tonight. It was still by far the best dance of the night. So many of them were over marked its laughable. If Ali can get more down and dirty and Brian tighten up his choreography then hopefully they'll win. His latin choreography is often too cluttered.

The only real salsa we have ever seen on Strictly was John Barnes and Nicole Cutler.

I'm from Puerto Rico, ( Carribean Island) and Salsa is our national dance.

Although Nicole

I don't get that vibe from him at all.

Agreed! It makes me laugh when people think LA salsa is the 'real thing'.

I think Ali's salsa was the best of the night. I have untrained eyes, but Brian's choreography was by far the most difficult. Maybe he could have made it a little easier, but by pushing Ali now, hopefully it will reap rewards in future dances. I think she'll do well in either of next week's dances, but would prefer to see her in doing the jive - I think she'd excel in that and be able to show 'personality' finally.

Care to elaborate a little more? I don't know where you are going with that comment. That he didn't have 'I love myself persona' or that he wasn't suited for the salsa?

I was disappointed with all the salsa on tonights show,especially Ali's. I also had high expectation of the dance, It didn't engage me. I thought Ali's performance was a little flat.

I'm from Puerto Rico, ( Carribean Island) and Salsa is our national dance.

Although Nicole and John Barnes salsa is one of the best salsa performances on strictly.

Salsa real good steps routines were performed by Brian and Heather and Brian and Ali.

Why? For me Brian brought all the rights movements, steps and even music than other performances on SCD.
Salsa is not just mambo steps with a mix of other dances.
Salsa is more compicate it than that.
You have steps, call guijira and wawanco that combines intrisic ad complcated movements with your arms and legs and have to be very coordinate.
I understand people here love more a simple mambo steps with some arms actions. And see a wildly performance, but in fact the salsa have more control movement.
But that's my opion. They way I leanrt to dance salsa.
I for me in terms of Salsa movements Brian's a Heather and Brian and Ali just brought the real deal to SCD.
But we all prefer dances, dance differently.