The gap-mouth look seems to be what's most convincing to the judges, hence their sold-it comments re Natalie C and now Chris.

Unfortunately, the pros are not above using the same technique.

Fortunately, Vincent and Flavia's Argentine Tango showed how unnecessary it is (or should be).

Give me wide-mouthed gurning over an expressionless face anyday.

At least Chris is injecting some life into his routines.

Why can't he take Alesha's comment as advice? Its so unsightly. Especially when Natalie did it.

Maybe the same reason someone like Ali just can't seem to let her hair down.

It's in his nature.

That AT was incredible, spellbinding and mesmerising; I could run out of superlatives, but I do have to look past the fact that they are professionals and admire those celebs who, with no experience and not a lot of natural talent for dance, give their all and, despite their shortcomings, manage to engage viewers with their enthusiasm and that dreaded 'j' word.

Since when it wide-mouthed gurning life?

Didn't you like Rachel last year? (I did, btw.) She didn't have to resort to over-exaggerated dance faces, because she could dance.

Yes, but celebs can give it their all and be enthusiastic without going for the dreaded "O"-face.

The judges seem to have lost sight of that for some reason.

Perhaps because Alesha isn't really qualified to offer advice.

I adored Rachel, but I don't expect to only like celebrities that resemble her.

I take everyone as individuals.

I appreciated Rachel's subtlety.

I also appreciate Chris' more excuberant style.

(And yes, facial expressions can help bring a dance to life. You dance as much with your face as you do your feet).

And did Rachel win? Thought not.

That was exactly the reason Len booted out Jason in Series 1

- Unnecessary 1
-Unnecessary 2
- Unnecessary 3

Ali's sappy grin certainly isn't selling it.

However Ricky was able to battle his 'natural disability' this week so is that fair to say?

I'd say what Ricky improved on is better than closing your mouth or giving a Latin a bit more fire.

I'm not sure what point you're making?

I commend Ricky's performances tonight and agree that he improved more than anybody this week.

Doesn't mean I necessarily enjoy him as much as I do Chris though whom I love open-mouth an' all

I think that Chris should've improved on the mouth because a person giving him scores gave him pointers. As for Ricky's disability - well its like forcing yourself to walk in a different way (like I walk with my feet facing forward but my mum with her feet outwards), so I think that took more effort than a simple shutting your mouth. Really it was worth with Natalie (the mouth thing) and I don't know why Alesha didn't tell her off for that.

I agree that Chris was very enjoyable this week too. The waltz was gorgeous!

I've got to be honest, I adored Natalie C and did find her open mouth off-putting but I genuinely don't notice it as much with Chris. He does look a bit 'strained' sometimes but it doesn't distract me from his performance.

Maybe it's just a subjective thing.

Is that meant to be contrary to anything I've said? Because if so, I don't see how.

'Selling it' for a lot of the public probably equates in an upbeat dance to 'looking like you're enjoying it' ... or in a romantic dance 'looking like you're the only two people in the world' or some other such predictable, but nevertheless, heartfelt for them emotional reaction to what they're watching. It's an entirely subjective thing that's pointless to get rattled about, like a movie that to one person might be cheesy tat and to another person emotional tear-jerker.

It's the same thing as the argument about whether Strictly is a dancing contest or an entertainment show, when actually it's deliberately a whole bunch of things to different people ... and their view of who they prefer in any season and the reasons why for a lot of people can easily change from year to year. They might like someone who can pull off spectacular technical routines one year and someone who can't do as many moves but they just get some indefinable joy from watching most another year.

I doubt most people look at it like they were a gymnastics judge marking who did the harder technical routine to a better level of performance or perfection. The show for most is about celebs learning to dance and finding some sort of joy in it. Plenty of very good technical dancers have managed to win the show by mastering both technique and a connection to the majority of people watching. So they 'sold it' just fine, without there being some sort of audience prejudice against 'good' dancing ... and the suggested argument that the public only support supposed 'panto gurning idiots'.

For most people who they support any year probably comes down to something as subjectively simple as 'that dance really made me smile' or 'jump up and cheer' or ... 'something other than go meh'. Could be great technique and presence that does one year, could be something technically simpler but somehow more moving to them another.

I too loved Nat, but I cannot deny that open mouth reminded me of a piss hole in the snow.

Still miss her.

I've just been replying to a post of yours elsewhere - how spooky!

But you should be able to see that wide-mouthed gurning isn't necessary and that dances can be better without it. Which would take you part way towards agreeing with me.


Well, no, you don't dance as much with your face as you do with your feet. Still, I would of course agree that some facial expressions can help bring a dance to life. I just don't think that grossly exaggerated "dance faces" and ham acting do that.

Sorry I meant 'worse' !!
I'm beginning to sound like Vincent

hmmm - guess you should address Bette and 'our song.'

I know what you're getting at and I agree to an extent.

If I could alter one thing about Chris' dancing, it would be his facial expressions.

But having said that, given the choice, I'd rather him the way he is than devoid of any facial expression at all which is the other extreme and something that celebrities can be guilty of also.

It took a while for Rachel to display emotion on her face and really connect with the audience through her eyes if I remember correctly, but she got there eventually. Maybe Chris will go the other way and tone things down next time.

Also, I'd like to point out that if you watch the pros, their facial expressions are often quite exaggerated. Karen has often been accused of 'gurning' on here but it didn't do her career any harm.