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The Charleston is one of the most irritating dances ever invented
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taxi_driving
28-11-2009
Originally Posted by Veri:
“Fun for you, not fun for me.


Chris and Ola's Charleston only barely qualified as a dance.

Most of it was gurning, rubbish acrobatics, and gap-mouthed over-acting.

But, yes, the Charleston was a perfect gift to viewers who don't like dance and are looking for a John Sergeant or Coleen Nolan they can use.”

The mind, in a very real sense, boggles.
Veri
28-11-2009
Originally Posted by taxi_driving:
“The mind, in a very real sense, boggles.”

It follows from observations such as yours, that the Charleston has "given Chris and Ola the dance they needed to win".

What it's given them is given them an opportunity to pack a routine with crowd-pleasing non-dance elements, which can then be preferred to far better dances -- even to other Charlestons that are better dances -- by those who don't care much about dance or have a problem with the good dancers.
reclinewithme
28-11-2009
Looked like dancing to me! You try it!
Starpuss
28-11-2009
Originally Posted by reclinewithme:
“Looked like dancing to me! You try it!”

But it wasn't really that much proper dancing. It was alot of acrobatics, rolling about, pulling faces etc. The actual dance bits were quite small. Unless you count that awful chicken move as dancing
swnymor1963
28-11-2009
Originally Posted by Veri:
“It follows from observations such as yours, that the Charleston has "given Chris and Ola the dance they needed to win".

What it's given them is given them an opportunity to pack a routine with crowd-pleasing non-dance elements, which can then be preferred to far better dances -- even to other Charlestons that are better dances -- by those who don't care much about dance or have a problem with the good dancers.”

Argh Veri.....Nothing changes.....You always call a spade a spade on the BB forum and likewise here....I personally loved the Charleston's tonight...Laila being my favourite.
reclinewithme
28-11-2009
Well, I LOVED it! Brilliant, spirited, exuberant, it had moves .. it had steps.. it had coreography .. musicality .. it sure looked like dancing to me. (Of course, I'm not an expert on 'proper' dancing .. THANK GOODNESS!)
Literary Agent
28-11-2009
As a dancer, I love the Charleston. Chris and Ola's Charleston was excellent.
Abbasolutely 40
28-11-2009
Originally Posted by Veri:
“It's an unbearable, nauseating, irritating, nightmare of a dance.

I expect next week to feature some of the most vomit-inducing "performances" ever seen.

Why did they have to bring it to SCD?

(And the other new dance is little different from a jive.)”


You really are such a happy bundle of joy , arent you Veri
-Sid-
28-11-2009
After tonight, I hope we see The Charleston again next year - I loved it!

It was just tonic.

Scrap RnR though. I thought Ricky and Natalie got the raw deal there.
mimi dlc
28-11-2009
Originally Posted by -Sid-:
“After tonight, I hope we see The Charleston again next year - I loved it!

It was just tonic.

Scrap RnR though. I thought Ricky and Natalie got the raw deal there.”

I don't see the point of having RnR and Jive
Veri
22-10-2010
There was some interesting discussion in this thread, but as a kind of shortcut, here are what I think are the best Charlestons:

First, two danced by Ginger Rogers, starting with a Charleston scene from Roxie Hart (1942):

Originally Posted by kassieq:
“Love the Charleston, great fun, great music. Here is an argument for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myq6h...eature=related”

Then one from one of the Lucy shows:

Originally Posted by BuddyBontheNet:
“I don't want graceful, I want fun!

I like this one!”

They have: plenty of dancing, no rubbish non-dance acrobatics, minimal (for a Charleston) gurning and ham acting, and no irritating criss-cross hands on knees nonsense.

I do not think there will be any Charlestons like that in SCD, but I'd love to be proved wrong.

Originally Posted by BuddyBontheNet:
“LOL! I do know what you mean!

This couple dancing a Lindy Hop and Charleston routine make it look smooth and effortless - it doesn't have to be chunky and angular. There are no fancy frills and you can't even see the dancers faces, just their silhouettes. See what you think (ignore the weird start).”

That one's also relatively good, and well worth watching, though I can't help thinking it would have been better of they'd left out the Charleston aspects. Also, since it's silhouettes, it takes out much that comes with gurning and over-acting.

If someone on SCD did a Charleston in that style, that well, I'd at least have to admit it deserved high marks.

But as other Charleston clips show, a Charleston can have a lot of ham acting, gurning, pointlessly exaggerated and distorted positions, and even acrobatics, rather than dancing.

I thought Ali and Brian's was by far the best of last year's SCD Charlestons.
stephanieplum
22-10-2010
I love it!!

Once I'm a famous celebrity and taking part in Strictly, I'm gonna dance it to "Won't you Charleston with Me" from the musical "The Boyfriend" (Can't link as I'm posting at work and youtube is not allowed )

Well, a girl can dream eh?
-Sid-
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by Veri:
“There was some interesting discussion in this thread, but as a kind of shortcut, here are what I think are the best Charlestons:

First, two danced by Ginger Rogers, starting with a Charleston scene from Roxie Hart (1942):



Then one from one of the Lucy shows:



They have: plenty of dancing, no rubbish non-dance acrobatics, minimal (for a Charleston) gurning and ham acting, and no irritating criss-cross hands on knees nonsense.

I do not think there will be any Charlestons like that in SCD, but I'd love to be proved wrong.



That one's also relatively good, and well worth watching, though I can't help thinking it would have been better of they'd left out the Charleston aspects. Also, since it's silhouettes, it takes out much that comes with gurning and over-acting.

If someone on SCD did a Charleston in that style, that well, I'd at least have to admit it deserved high marks.

But as other Charleston clips show, a Charleston can have a lot of ham acting, gurning, pointlessly exaggerated and distorted positions, and even acrobatics, rather than dancing.

I thought Ali and Brian's was by far the best of last year's SCD Charlestons.”

Veri you won't have to worry about it too much as you announced you are fast forwarding all the dances/dancers you don't like this series

You will only have to endure Peter and Kara's if I remember correctly.
Veri
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by -Sid-:
“Veri you won't have to worry about it too much as you announced you are fast forwarding all the dances/dancers you don't like this series ”

That's been working pretty well too. For example, there were threads about some dance Flavia did, and I didn't know what they were talking about.

Quote:
“You will only have to endure Peter and Kara's if I remember correctly.”

Unfortunately, the Charleston is such a horrendous nightmare that even the merest glimpse of a gurning ham "performing" it ...

Fast-forwarding might be safe on the faster settings; watching training footage on ITT, however, isn't. I've struggled unsuccessfully to forget Jimi's Charleston face for days.

Also, I'm pretty sure I reserved the right to change my mind (if not, it was an omission, and I do it now). I saw the training version of Tina and Jared's rumba on ITT and now they're among my favourites.

So if they're doing a Charleston ... (and after all I do occasionally like one, such as Ali and Brian's).
Tangerine_82
22-10-2010
I also dislike the Charleston. It's silliness taken to the nth degree IMO and I'm sad that it's back. I like Strictly because it's supposed to be about traditional ballroom/latin dancing. If I wanted any of kind of dancing I'd watch SYTYCD or DWTS.
RichmondBlue
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by RichmondBlue:
“Why should the Charleston be any less viable as a dance discipline than the VW ? There were hundreds of different Waltz styles, we just happen to have decided on the Viennese Waltz and the International Standard Waltz as ballroom disciplines. Come to think of it, what happened to the Minuet or the Polka ?..just as valid, if you want to go back to the Regency period.
I think dancing should be fun, both for those who participate, and for the remainder of us who watch from our sofas. I'm looking foward to this week, the Charleston from the Roaring 20's and Rock n' Roll from the 50's..great fun.
I would really like to see an exhibition of "acrobatic" Rock n' Roll, maybe from the world champions, they come up with some remarkable moves..and no, I'm not suggesting they introduce that as part of the competition. ”

My post from last year..I've not changed my mind.
Veri
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by RichmondBlue:
“My post from last year..I've not changed my mind. ”

I think there's a difference between Charlestons that are packed with dance -- like the Ginger Rogers ones and the other one I re-posted links to earlier today -- and ones that are a lot of ham acting around a little bit of dance.

The Charleston may make sense as a dance discipline when it's treated as a dance, but not when it's just taken as an opportunity for gurning, ham acting, jazz hands, and rubbish "acrobatics".
reclinewithme
22-10-2010
Oh no, not this again! The Charleston is a legitimate dance and it does require skill and technique and it is fun to watch. Just because some of you don't like it doesn't mean that the rest of us should be deprived of it!
rickster1995
22-10-2010
yeah we know that. but i think its cause it isnt a latin dance.
FelineFantastic
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by reclinewithme:
“Oh no, not this again! The Charleston is a legitimate dance and it does require skill and technique and it is fun to watch. Just because some of you don't like it doesn't mean that the rest of us should be deprived of it! ”

Jared mentioned the technicalities I think in his ITT bit. I may be dreaming that!!

Veri- I want to see Tina and Jared's dance this week- it looked pretty good on ITT
Bonnie96
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by FelineFantastic:
“Jared mentioned the technicalities I think in his ITT bit. I may be dreaming that!! ”

No you're not
He was comparing the merits of the Charleston and Swing of which he's champion.
FelineFantastic
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by Bonnie96:
“No you're not
He was comparing the merits of the Charleston and Swing of which he's champion.”

Thanks- its been a long week!!

I think some of the charlestons look like they will be great fun- but I liked them all last year too
Bonnie96
22-10-2010
Originally Posted by FelineFantastic:
“Thanks- its been a long week!!

I think some of the charlestons look like they will be great fun- but I liked them all last year too”

Me too
They were a breath of fresh air!
FelineFantastic
22-10-2010
Bonnie96- we can be the founder members of the Charleston Appreciation Society then!

I am hoping for a fab night all round with the Tango's too

Can't wait- have goodies and Slanket ready and waiting already!
Styker
23-10-2010
I personally would like to see many more dances from the 20's. Isn't this what SCD is supposed to be about? Dances that are not seen in nighclubs in this day and age broadly but of a bygone age?

I used to love the period drama The House Of Elliott which was set in the 20's and one of the best bits about it was when they showed them in their 20's outfit dancing the quit snazzy and cool dances of that decade.

Charleston should have been bought in earlier but I would like at least one more dance of the 20's to be bought in at some point.

A couple of years ago before the charleston came in they where reapeating the same old dances over and over again and it was getting a bit boring.
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