I have just realised those of you who have commented are right there was hardly any of the dance out of hold and thats supposed to be part of the AS....oh well.....good try Natalie, next dance please.
That lift - what did you think?
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Foxtrot
Basic
Promenade
Rock turns left and right
Sway step
Promenade Underarm turn
Sway underarm turn
Zig-zag
Twinkle
Turning twinkle
Fallaway twinkle
These are the moves allowed in a Foxtrot based American Smooth according to to DanceSport UK.
Incidentally, they say a QS American Smooth is not normally danced.
Furthermore, you are allowed to be in hold for 40% of the dance, Im pretty sure he was out of hold for 60% of the dance.
Basic
Promenade
Rock turns left and right
Sway step
Promenade Underarm turn
Sway underarm turn
Zig-zag
Twinkle
Turning twinkle
Fallaway twinkle
These are the moves allowed in a Foxtrot based American Smooth according to to DanceSport UK.
Incidentally, they say a QS American Smooth is not normally danced.
Furthermore, you are allowed to be in hold for 40% of the dance, Im pretty sure he was out of hold for 60% of the dance.
I loved the lift! One of the best by a male celebrity I think. Don't think it was out of place in the dance. An AS should have show stopping moments in it IMO.
AND. Ive just watched it again and calculated (with MrBol's help as he is a mathematical genius) how much Ricky was in hold and how much he was out of hold.
He was in hold for exactly 40% of the dance which is fine and dandy in the AS rules.
Sorry to burst some bubbles there.
He was in hold for exactly 40% of the dance which is fine and dandy in the AS rules.
Sorry to burst some bubbles there.
I loved the dance and loved the lift. For a celeb to manage that lift was pretty amazing. Even some pros would find it hard to execute one of that quality. I actually stood up and clapped 
It took my breath away. For Len to give Ricky the same mark as Leila was a farce.
It took my breath away. For Len to give Ricky the same mark as Leila was a farce.
Originally Posted by zolili:
“I loved the dance and loved the lift. For a celeb to manage that lift was pretty amazing. Even some pros would find it hard to execute one of that quality. I actually stood up and clapped It took my breath away. For Len to give Ricky the same mark as Leila was a farce.”
“I loved the dance and loved the lift. For a celeb to manage that lift was pretty amazing. Even some pros would find it hard to execute one of that quality. I actually stood up and clapped
It took my breath away. For Len to give Ricky the same mark as Leila was a farce.”
The question wasn't about whether the lift was impressive. It was. The question was about whether the lift was APPROPRIATE.
I mean, somebody could break into hip hop, do a spot of ballet, before doing flips around the room at a pace of one flip for every half second. That'd be hella impressive... but unnecessary and inappropriate.
Perhaps to Len and others such as myself, putting in weightlifting at the end of a BEAUTIFUL, soft, romantic dance, was a farce
I think some of Natalie's choreography has let Ricky down.
The stop/starts in the Jive didn't do him any favours, last night's AS was a little lacklustre. She has one of the best male celebrity dancers ever to appear on SCD..I wonder how he would have looked with one of the more experienced professionals, someone noted for great choreography ?
Still, if all the gossip is to be believed, Ricky is perfectly happy with the way things have turned out.
The stop/starts in the Jive didn't do him any favours, last night's AS was a little lacklustre. She has one of the best male celebrity dancers ever to appear on SCD..I wonder how he would have looked with one of the more experienced professionals, someone noted for great choreography ?
Still, if all the gossip is to be believed, Ricky is perfectly happy with the way things have turned out.
I hated the lift, but then I don't particularly like lifts anyway although I thought the first one they did was fine and was in keeping with the spirit of the dance.
The dance was beautiful up until then, but the lift seemed completely out of place. To me an AS should be like Astaire/Rogers - elegant and stylish, and it had been up until then.
It isn't, as Craig suggested, about people being old fashioned, but more about what they find to be aesthetically pleasing. If banana, splayed hands came into fashion, I'm sure the Craig wouldn't be advocating them.
The dance was beautiful up until then, but the lift seemed completely out of place. To me an AS should be like Astaire/Rogers - elegant and stylish, and it had been up until then.
It isn't, as Craig suggested, about people being old fashioned, but more about what they find to be aesthetically pleasing. If banana, splayed hands came into fashion, I'm sure the Craig wouldn't be advocating them.
Originally Posted by Psychosis:
“The question wasn't about whether the lift was impressive. It was. The question was about whether the lift was APPROPRIATE.”
“The question wasn't about whether the lift was impressive. It was. The question was about whether the lift was APPROPRIATE.”
Actually the question is - That lift - what did you think? Its your opinion whether it was appropriate. I think it was. That is MY opinion
Originally Posted by Vivacious Lady:
“I hated the lift, but then I don't particularly like lifts anyway although I thought the first one they did was fine and was in keeping with the spirit of the dance.
The dance was beautiful up until then, but the lift seemed completely out of place. To me an AS should be like Astaire/Rogers - elegant and stylish, and it had been up until then.
It isn't, as Craig suggested, about people being old fashioned, but more about what they find to be aesthetically pleasing. If banana, splayed hands came into fashion, I'm sure the Craig wouldn't be advocating them.”
“I hated the lift, but then I don't particularly like lifts anyway although I thought the first one they did was fine and was in keeping with the spirit of the dance.
The dance was beautiful up until then, but the lift seemed completely out of place. To me an AS should be like Astaire/Rogers - elegant and stylish, and it had been up until then.
It isn't, as Craig suggested, about people being old fashioned, but more about what they find to be aesthetically pleasing. If banana, splayed hands came into fashion, I'm sure the Craig wouldn't be advocating them.”
Strange, I agree and disagree. I agree, it should be reminiscent of Fred and Ginger, but I don't think they nailed that at all..with or without the lift. Poor choice of music didn't help.
Originally Posted by RichmondBlue:
“Strange, I agree and disagree. I agree, it should be reminiscent of Fred and Ginger, but I don't think they nailed that at all..with or without the lift. Poor choice of music didn't help.”
“Strange, I agree and disagree. I agree, it should be reminiscent of Fred and Ginger, but I don't think they nailed that at all..with or without the lift. Poor choice of music didn't help.”
Well yes, I accept your point that it perhaps it didn't quite capture the Fred/Ginger feel
, but I still feel that it was quite elegant. I agree about the choice of music, since I prefer a more swingy choice of music for a smooth (although it was not anywhere near as dire as Erin/Ricky's tango choice).
It was a little ungainly, but with a few adjustments and refinements, I think it could have worked.
I'm glad Natalie takes risks with her choreography though. It makes things more interesting and provides talking points.
Too many safe performances from the others.
I'm glad Natalie takes risks with her choreography though. It makes things more interesting and provides talking points.
Too many safe performances from the others.
Originally Posted by zolili:
“Actually the question is - That lift - what did you think? Its your opinion whether it was appropriate. I think it was. That is MY opinion”
“Actually the question is - That lift - what did you think? Its your opinion whether it was appropriate. I think it was. That is MY opinion
”
I was referring to the criticism of Len, which didn't seem to understand his actual criticism. "It was impressive" isn't relevant to what Len said.
Originally Posted by RichmondBlue:
“Strange, I agree and disagree. I agree, it should be reminiscent of Fred and Ginger, but I don't think they nailed that at all..with or without the lift. Poor choice of music didn't help.”
“Strange, I agree and disagree. I agree, it should be reminiscent of Fred and Ginger, but I don't think they nailed that at all..with or without the lift. Poor choice of music didn't help.”
Nor did the frock - I don't recall Ginger flashing her knickers in a see-through net skirt.
Originally Posted by Vivacious Lady:
“Well yes, I accept your point that it perhaps it didn't quite capture the Fred/Ginger feel, but I still feel that it was quite elegant. I agree about the choice of music, since I prefer a more swingy choice of music for a smooth (although it was not anywhere near as dire as Erin/Ricky's tango choice).”
“Well yes, I accept your point that it perhaps it didn't quite capture the Fred/Ginger feel
, but I still feel that it was quite elegant. I agree about the choice of music, since I prefer a more swingy choice of music for a smooth (although it was not anywhere near as dire as Erin/Ricky's tango choice).”
Yes, although Matt was not as good a natural dancer as Ricky, this one captures the mood for me...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3b...t-d-angelo_fun
I am one of thoe people who wants to like Ricky's dancing. He is very talented and seems like a nice bloke so I settle each week to watch him thinking, ;Tonight will be the night I see what others see. I want to be a Whittler too.'
But it never happens. I never feel that tingly feeling I get when I watch a great dance. BUT I have worked out that it's not his fault. It's the choreography. It doesn't suit him at all.
The foxtrot is my favourite dance so I love an AS foxtrot, but Ricky needed a more exciting dance. They should have have had a big song with a show stopping dance. The dance they did was beautiful but that lift just wrong wrong wrong.
But it never happens. I never feel that tingly feeling I get when I watch a great dance. BUT I have worked out that it's not his fault. It's the choreography. It doesn't suit him at all.
The foxtrot is my favourite dance so I love an AS foxtrot, but Ricky needed a more exciting dance. They should have have had a big song with a show stopping dance. The dance they did was beautiful but that lift
just wrong wrong wrong.
Originally Posted by RichmondBlue:
“Yes, although Matt was not as good a natural dancer as Ricky, this one captures the mood for me...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3b...t-d-angelo_fun”
“Yes, although Matt was not as good a natural dancer as Ricky, this one captures the mood for me...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3b...t-d-angelo_fun”
Yes, I agree that that dance captured the mood beautifully. The lifts fitted in nicely with the dance too. No feeling of "here's a lift coming". Only negative point was that was not one of Flavia's better outfits.
Showdance material. It didn't suit the AS and especially not THEIR AS.
Plus - where to go in the final? If I want coal-heaving though I do know where to go....
Plus - where to go in the final? If I want coal-heaving though I do know where to go....
The lift, whether good or bad in the context of the dance - the judges can agrue that until they are blue in the face - was executed very badly.
Originally Posted by bobferret:
“The lift, whether good or bad in the context of the dance - the judges can agrue that until they are blue in the face - was executed very badly.”
“The lift, whether good or bad in the context of the dance - the judges can agrue that until they are blue in the face - was executed very badly.”
That lift should have been static. It wasn't. It involved quite a lot of travel because he didn't accomplish it cleanly. It should also look effortless if it is to be done at all. It did not.
I thought that the dance was so understated the lift look too blatent
natalies choreography is not my favorite
So far this series I havent had a goosebump dance with anyone !
natalies choreography is not my favorite
So far this series I havent had a goosebump dance with anyone !
The rest of the dance was so understated and beautiful. If he had just swept her up straight into his arms in the position that they ended the lift it would have been the perfect finish.
Beautifully done but not in the right place.
A real wow moment when he went for the clean and jerk but still came over as 'look what we can do' rather than 'look at this great, integrated dance'.
A real wow moment when he went for the clean and jerk but still came over as 'look what we can do' rather than 'look at this great, integrated dance'.
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