I think you're missing something pretty important about why people say these things. They don't say it just because our pros are "ours" and M&J are "foreign" (in terms fo the show).

They say it because, like me, they genuinely prefer the way our pros dance. I watch lots of links people give to me of world class pro dancers, especially the likes of M&J winning competitions currently. I don't like them. I don't like how fast and hard they are. I don't like how technical they are. I tend to find that our pros dance in a more interesting, more emotive way, even though I can recognise that they are less technical.

So yes, I vastly prefer "our" pros and I'm not ashamed of admitting that.

Agree mostly with what Becca, LauraB and Erinfan were saying. I appreciate they are the best in the world and that their technique is simply unbeatable but that doesn't necessarily make it stunning to watch. I've watched M&J dance live in competition but I haven't been drawn to them on a floor full of other talented couples. There is just no emotion there! There's nothing there that makes me desperate to watch more and more of them.

But like was being said, I wish SCD fans would appreciate how good they were. Saying "Oh, our pro's are the best though." is a load of rubbish because they could only dream of being as good as M&J. (Take Karen, The Cutler's out of that statement.) That's meant with respect, I love a lot of the SCD pro's, I like their personalities but I know if I want to see the best dancing in the world I don't turn to them. if i want to see entertaining, exciting, fun, emotive dancing, I do like watching people like Karen, Matt & Nicole, Brian & Kristina, James & Ola though.

x x x x x

Didn't enjoy it. Wasn't impressed. Speed dancing isn't entertaining. Prefer watching Vincent and Flavia, Anton and Erin and Lilia and Darren any day.

Thought they were absolutely amazing. Prefer them doing a cha-cha than a rumba, as with rumba I feel like their lack of emotion is exposed. I agree with lots of the others, their technique is just amazing, but I do wish they had more personality and story-telling in dances.

Didn't really enjoy the guest professionals, maybe you can be too slick. There didn't seem much warmth in their performance though probably it was technically flawless. I'd rather watch the house pros.

I could watch her dance for hours, she fascinates me. Unfortunately, I never notice her partner because I can't take my eyes off her, she's phenominal.

I agree with you Emily. I love watching their cha cha (and also their samba) since they move amazingly well, but I'm not very keen on their rumba, since that does come across as technique triumphing at the expense of emotion and subtlety. Like maltipom my attention tends to be focussed on Joanna.

Yep i agree. I've watched that performance a couple of times and i really like it, although i find her the more facinating of the two. Off to find some more of their stuff.

No, too much posing and posturing for me. Mind you, I wish I had her figure and could bend meself up like she did!!
I much prefered the pro jive

In the past, I've admired their technical skill but not really felt any warmth from their performance- I must say I liked what they did on the show this year a lot more than the last time they were on.

I think they wanted to show the light and shade in the routine. They are amazing. These guys are supremely fit and really should be considered as sportsmen at the top of their game.

I think I would replace the word warmth with personality and individuality. Ar one time the competitive Latin couples had that individuality and star quality. Cork & Shirley, Donnie and Gaynor, Sammy and Barbara, etc all had their own style and individuality. The couples today are chasing some kind of ideal which tends to make them all alike, and therefore lost the personality and style of the couples of the past. There are no stars today, just great technicians.

While I agree with most of what Becca, Laura B, Erinfan and VikkiKaplinski 2 have to say and I totally admire M&J's skill, I do find something missing in their performance, I am not moved by them. Then again maybe it's my age.

Ricky Whittle has been criticised for being too hard and sharp, not soft and relaxed enough in his dances, but that was how I felt about this couple! Ricky is inexperienced and eager to do well, so maybe comes on a bit too strong sometimes - but these are champions with shedloads of experience - don't they realise how odd and disjointed their dancing looks at times? They didn't look like they were working as a couple, more as if they were competing with each other. Sorry, not denying they're technically super-talented, but I didn't like them.

Oh, there really are some stars out there, you just have to search to find them.

And for me, it's not necessarily those who are the great technicians who are the stars . . .

Hubby & I groaned when we realised who they were cos we did not like them last time they were on. I remember thinking she looked like his mother with that hard blonde haircut & black, black make-up (in fact I'm going to go & look up her age on Wiki in a mo).
I actually quite liked his outfit, it was sexy but hers was an abomination imho. She looked lke a boy from behind & mutton-dressed-as-lamb from the front.
Yes they are very good dancers but just not our cup of tea; we watched a few seconds & then fast forwarded - like we do with Bruce .

Have to agree with all you said. I was thrilled by them last time they were on SCD and so pleased they were on again. Thought they were incredable and can why they are world champions. I love seeing different people perform anyway its nice to have a change.
It was great that our own Pros paid respect to them.
Just cannot stop watching them

Joanna is Belgian, 28, 5 foot 6, and speaks beautiful French, English, Dutch, German, and now learning Italian. Michael is Polish. Both live in downtown Amsterdam now, giving lessons in several cities all over the world.

Formerly dancing as a natural blonde, Joanna now wears an androgyne platinum hairstyle which is rather offputting to firsttimers. As a child she was bedridden for 6 months with a leukemia-like illness, and to strengthen her body she took up dancing at 12 with parental encouragement. At 21 she won her first World Championship in latin show dance. Gifted beyond belief her mental strength is undoubtedly phenomenal. This world champion duo are also known to work on dance 6 hours a day, more often 8. Sport psychologists would give their left arm to learn from her.

http://www.easy2relate2.com/joanna_profile.htm

For those who would like Joanna slowed down from 200mph, there is a whole family of gorgeous M&J instruction videos on YT, the rumba video is particularly suited to charm newcomers, e.g.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLq4KqdPttQ

She is a dance goddess, here with us for a while for stunned admirers who appreciate the miraculous privilege . Rather dubious about displaying the finest treasure before a mixed audience famous for abuse. This one post only. Not trying to convert anyone in the least.

Sensational news broke on Dancesport yesterday. Ballroom World Champion Mirko Gozzoli is splitting with Alessia Betti and pairing up with Edita Daniute who after childbirth came back to win Blackpool Rising Stars Professional Ballroom in May. Latin world number 6 and most charming young Melinda and Maurizio are splitting up, each now with a new dance partner.......

Going off topic a bit... hubby said 'Dear me she's not as young as she'd like to be is she?'
And to be honest, it did look like he was dancing with his aunty didn't it? I expect it was the severe hair tha did it

She's only about 5ft6 in heels, I'm only about 5ft4 without and she's nowhere taller than me...unless we've both had a huge growth spurt!

They live over here now too, and he's 29
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He looks awfully like that David Gest/Guest(?) chap. That alone makes me shudder.
I'd like to see synchronised arms/hands more.
He splays his hands quite a bit so I don't know why Craig is giving a standing ovation as he natters on about hands all the time.

The routine wasn't about charm or delight so it's unfair to object that it contained neither of those elements but it just becomes a circus act without them. IMO.

Whilst I see what you are getting at and the modern move towards athleticism drives me mad, I think there are definitely stars left in latin and each of the top couples has their own style. The judges need to make sure they keep rewarding this.

I'd argue that Slavik Kryklyvyy, Yulia, Melia, Franco Formica and of course Michael and Joanna are all pretty huge stars of dancesport and they are all instantly recognisable with a signature style.

They look exactly the same age (and both look late 20s)when you see them in person - perhaps it was a weird combination of her own make-up and the lighting or something??

She's 28 (it says above). Well, he looks a well-preserved 45. Not that looks matter.

I thought they were technically amazing, but I was unmoved by it emotionally. Precise but cold.