Originally Posted by Jan2555*GG*:
“ A dancing couple is a package and for some viewers that package has to be right or it doesnt work for them.”
Wot she said.
Of course the quality of the dancing is a very valid (and exciting!) basis for comparison between partnerships, but the personality (and mix of personalities) is an unavoidable component for me. By 'personality' I don't mean 'loud' or 'jolly', either. But if other crucial ingredients are missing at the start, the lack of personality inevitably affects performance, chemistry -- hey, and also the teaching!
By the same token, the right combination of personalities can bring about understanding, sustainable energy, camaraderie and a host of other intangibles that fuel the dance (even if the technical edge needs extra work). I am not saying that Natalie and Ricky don't get on (how would I know?) -- just that whatever they share as a partnership has not been delivered to me effectively, and I say that as someone who has enjoyed some of their dances (especially the Foxtrot and the Paso).
I'll be the first to admit, I started off thinking Ricky was a little D-U-double-L, but as the show has gone on I have really get the sense that he has a real (albeit quiet) sense of humour and a genuine sensitivity to others, and I have grown to quite like him as the show goes on.
I don't dislike Natalie and I respect her talent, determination and sense of adventure on the dance floor. But I don't feel that I know anything about her after... how many weeks? Quite a few. Why is that? Is it down to the editing on ITT? Is it down to work schedules and time constraints? Why do I feel like this didn't affect other couples to the same degree? Why does Natalie seem to be lacking something for me? I can only think that she seems to have a disconnect somewhere between the dance steps and the camera (for me, anyway) -- I want to see more than talent, moves, etc. I want to see someone making a connection with the world beyond the camera, and not just for the sake of garnering votes. Because that's where my favourite partnerships (and dances) begin, and where they are sustained. And this is, after all, a television show and not just "a dancing competition, dahhhlings".
And yes, if I am being honest, I want to see a bit more of the person, and not just the dancer. As others have rightly pointed out, Strictly celebrates its pros as much as its celebs, and ITT makes a big effort to bring out the people behind the dancing with everything from the dance machine challenge to the way their homes look. Personally speaking, I really do enjoy getting to know the pro dancers just as much as the celebs through the Strictly journey and have been pleasantly surprised more than once. Given the scope of the show (and ITT!) it is a real shame (for me) that Natalie gives me the shrugs. I can see that she wants to win, and that she believes Ricky could win. But is that enough? Personally speaking, I don't think so.
For the record, I don't believe that all pros should be loud, jolly, filled with bravado, etc, etc. I like quieter pros such as Matthew and Flavia, and enjoy a strong work ethic and determination to succeed (Erin is one of my favourite pros).
I guess I just wish I knew Natalie a bit better. She has had a real chance to stamp her mark over this particular series. I don't dislike her, either. I just find her a bit ?? Again, for the record, I think she is a very talented girl and I don't mind that she may be quieter than other pros. I do think it is interesting to contemplate how she would have fared with someone of -- shall we say? -- less ability, and how Ricky would have fared with someone who has more of a tangible understanding of the world beyond the dance floor.
My favourite relationships on Strictly include at least one shy/quiet partner, and this can work if a quiet or measured pro is matched with a more astute or charismatic celeb who understands the camera better. Love it or hate it, the people who can really work the camera and -- paradoxically, maybe? -- the people who can really reveal themselves in front of the camera have already got a head start in winning the show.
There are no rules about what creates true chemistry, of course, and the chemistry is that intangible thing that makes certain dances so memorable and exciting to watch. But (at the risk of sounding trite) it is the partnership that make those great dances magical, and make me want to watch them again and again.
Sorry for the speech! I have just eaten a lot of jalapeno peppers and am feeling very passionate.
Sugartingles x