Took you long enough! My two favourites were Jade and Chris from the start!


I think you've hit the nail on the head with the bit in bold.

Before last night's show I watched loads of Charleston clips on YT and I didn't see anything in Chris and Ola's Charleston that I hadn't seen done in those clips - even the swimming move!

I did think there was a story in Cola's dance and I think they captured the fun of the dance perfectly, as well as doing lots of basic Charleston steps - Ola did them better than Chris, but they were danced. One of the most popular songs from the 1930's was 'Anything Goes' (originally from the Broadway show) and I think that's the case with the Charleston!

I can understand why the judges marked Ali higher than Chris, but I preferred Cola's dance, just as I preferred Ali & Brian's dance to Laila & Anton's which I liked too.

Each to their own, but I don't feel the need to say nasty things about any of the couples as I enjoyed them all dancing the Charleston.

But Ola said she had never danced the Charleston before - so how could she choreograph a routine for a dance she has only just been taught? And why would she junk basic steps for a dance she doesn't know, only days after she's just learned it?

I haven't heard that before and, sorry, but it doesn't scan for me.

Plus we saw the specialists with all the couples in almost all the training footage ...

Watching the ITT footage during the week and seeing the professionals having real trouble mastering the two new dances (especially poor Vincent!) because of their unfamiliarity with them, makes me have even more admiration for what these celebrities manage to achieve in a few months - most especially those who have had no previous dance experience. Even poor old Craig goes up in my estimation for having mastered the steps, even if the rhythm escaped him.

You are correct - Charleston's basic step is very simple Tap Step Tap Step. Variations are the key to making it interesting. One of the key ones though is the swivel in the foot to give it the unique look of 20s Charleston (as opposed to Lindy Charleston that lost that element).
The Swivel is devilishly difficult to master though - The couple who teach us are some of the top swing dancers in the UK & Graeme admitted to me recently that it took him six months to master. It's no surprise to me that C&O haven't cracked it but I would have marked them down because they didn't.
I thought they were scored about right. A&B were overmarked IMHO but probably just about shaded it so 1st & 2nd on the leaderboard was fair (Laila & Anton were undermaked IMHO)

I agree with you, she learns the dances but thats it no fun element. She bores me. And yes she dose know she'll be saved. I can't wait for her to go.

Those were my thoughts as well. I am willing to concede that there must be some basics that the judges look for in "any" Charleston, but is it so "formalised" as other more commonly recognised disciplines ?
Another point for me was the authenticity of the routine. I thought Ali and Brian's routine was arty and theatrical..but less reminiscent of the period. In fact, for me Laila and Anton appeared to capture the "mood" of those old, grainy, black and white movie shots we are used to seeing.
I also think they were all entertaining, but none of them quite captured the frenetic nature of the Charleston. Len did mention the mood they should have been trying to re-create..just after horrors of WW1, women feeling liberated, prohibition, the wild abandon of a dance that was considered risque at the time..etc, etc.

Rita: (Quote)...So what are these technical elements of the charleston that some think Ali and Brian's dance contained, while Chris and Ola's didn't? All I can find on wilkepedia is that the basic charleston step is a walking step and that creativity and innovation is prized above anything else. Is that true - all you dance experts? (quote)

Good question...anyone ?

I much preferred Chris and Ola's Charleston 10 was too much for Ali I think, though she is a lovely girl. Ali&Brian's routine was good, but I found Chris&Ola's far more entertaining.

I actually enjoyed all three Charlestons, but I have to say that I can't understand how anyone could think Chris and Ola did a better job than Ali and Brian.

From a purely technical point of view, Ali did all the things that the judges criticised Chris for not doing (swivelled feet, particularly). From a performance point of view, she made it look like a dance rather than 90 seconds of mucking about. After seeing Chris's I was laughing, but coming dangerously close to agreeing with Veri's earlier thread about the stupidity of the Charleston.

What really tipped it for me was that I think it's the first time all series that I've seen Ali do any sort of acting. And she was great at it. Plus Brian is an American and thus immune from the English disease of worrying about looking a prat in that kind of dance, which he threw himself into with brilliant results.

My husband did say he thought the Charleston was a much faster dance and I told him that was because all the old black and white films, especially the silent films look faster than they really were LOL! He already thinks he lives with the village idiot!

I don't like copying my own posts onto other threads but here's my twopenny worth from a thread about Alesha's marking.

"I thought Chris & Ola's dance was a great crowd pleaser, while Ali & Brian's was a great judge pleaser. What you're underrating is the ragdoll-comes-alive storytelling, as well as the great amount of classic Charleston moves that their choreography included (e.g. the "cross legs" where the hands overtake the knees). As Bruno said, it reminded of the original flavour of that dance. I don't think that Jacqueline Baker would have been proud of it, but she would sure have enjoyed watching it.

That said, I don't dismiss Team Cola's attempt, and didn't Ola look like "to die for"?
Unfortunately for Laila, Anton (unlike Ola) didn't compromise his own performance slightly, in order to really "partner" the celeb. So however good Laila was, she couldn't match Anton, and the judges noticed her shortcomings more than with the other two Charlestons."

Having watched Chris and Ola again this morning, one thing I think he should have got more praise for was his timing - he and Ola were in sync throughout, particularly on the side by side movements.

I thought the routine perfectly captured the kookiness of the Charleston. Although I'm still bemused by the fact that a sports presenter can give a more entertaining performance than two actors. Neither Ricky or Ali have ever done anything where I've thought they've really captured the spirit of the dance and left themselves behind. I think that's much of their problem in fact.

This is exactly how I feel. Ali is one of my favourites, but I am beginning to feel she is being overmarked, and this is always offputting.

She was awkward coming out of the lifts, and seemed uncomfortable on her injury.

As to your comments about the marking of Laila in the viennese waltz, I was shouting pretty much the same at the telly.

I liked both dances but i thought Chris and Ola's was the best

I've seen it said a couple times on here (DavidJames? I think? Not sure, sorry) and Ricky Whittle's current blog entry seems to confirm they're given moves, rather than start-to-finish choreography.

I actually liked all the Charlestons. I loved Chris's routine and it made me laugh (in a good way!) and thought Ali danced and acted hers well. So i liked them for different reasons but cant pick a favourite.
Laila's was my least favourite but i still enjoyed it.

Of course it was but the judges couldn't put Chris at the top as it would have meant there was a chance that both Ali and Ricky would be in the dance off

I thought Chris was great and very entertaining......Ali was technically better but not as entertainging.For me I want to see someone who can deliver both....perform technically well and, also put on an amazing performance......so i suppose both are lacking in one or the other and for me the winner should have both qulities.I do want to see a good dancer win,but I want to be entertained also.

I totally agree that Ali was overmarked and Laila was undermarked (6? Come on Craig!) but I also think that Chris was undermarked too. I think he deserved all 9's.



The judges definitely have their favourites and it can seriously backfire on the contestants e.g. Tom winning last year. He was a joy to watch but Rachel and Lisa were seen as better dancers by the judges. If the public sees too much 'favouritism' they can get angry and bite back!



They may have been giving her a more easy ride because of her injury. The routine had quite obviously been adapted because of it but it had an offset of making Brian look brilliant and I could barely take my eyes off him and he did most of the work IMO. He really had the chance to show off and, IMO, it detracted a bit from Ali's dance so I really don't know how they anyone could have given her a 10



Agreed

Yet they weren't prepared to do that for Laila.

Craig was most specific to Laila "I have to mark you on what I've seen."

imo both Chris and Laila were worth 9 and Ali no more than 8.

Another intelligent post from BB! I agree, except that I personally preferred Ali & Brians to team Cola, but they were both EXCELLENT, in different ways.

Vive la difference!!

JJ

I think Ola and Chris were a more fun one to watch whilst Ali's was more technical correct

The big difference between Laila and Ali (regarding the injury) was that Laila didn't finish her dance and Ali did. Either way, I don't think the judges made allowances for Ali's injury. The 10 was ridiculous but I think she deserved the 9s.

But Craig did say he would mark on what he saw - which imo was worth far more than 3.

The10 wasn't ridiculous. Alesha had already scored Chris & Ola a 9 and Ali was better. She doesn't have a 9.5 so what was she supposed to do!

Not all of us think that Ali was better than Chris.