I wasn't impressed with any of them. 2 of them looked quite clumsy to me. The Russian was about the best.
But, do any of them actually have any experience of teaching ballroom and latin dancing? I would be surprised if they have.

I miss Ian

Sorry! I just had to get that out of my system

Me too I want him to be my GBF - gay best friend. My idea of heaven. Funny, witty and a blast to dance with.

Boo hoo!

robin has shed loads of cheorography as he had to learn all ten male parts of burn the floor as he was the swing member if anyone was ill and taught ali and brian their parts in the show

Of course they were not chosen for their teaching abilities. They were chosen to display bare chests and muscles. Just two annoying posers. The BBC sidelined 4 of the best teachers in Matt,Ian, Darren and Lilia.

I felt a bit sad as I watched the new boys last night. I am sure they are lovely and I will grow to like them but they didn't have a scrap of the class and grace of Ian and Matt

They are going to have to do some good stuff to win me round.

I thought jared seemed to be not as competent of a dancer than the others perhaps because of his lack of experience compared to the rest. But we won't know for sure until 1ts Oct!

All very hot and incredible, exciting, dramatic dancers. Great that most of them have worked in theatre too, it shows! I wodner if the producers are expecting romance to blossom between Tina and Jared.... or if they just put them together cos they're young..?

^ I agree with that, they both are very graceful. I think these guys looked like they'd be excellent at the Latin, they will have to win me over in ballroom, not a fan of that young looking chap at all, looks like he should be doing homework somewhere.

Artem has taught ballroom dancing. He is/was on staff at studios in LA teaching Latin. There is an interview on YT where he talks about working with a couple in the US who are in amateur division and they are getting good results. How he will do with his celebrity remains to be seen but to assume he has never taught is a little unfair.

Jared also has taught at the school in Utah he graduated from.

Well having read some comments here, on one of the appreciation thread (no guesses which) and the BBC Blog from the same source as the appreciation thread, I feel extremely sorry for Jared. He is a 22 year old guy who applied for and was given a job on Strictly. The lines he said last night about being 'The new American boy' were a. written for him and b. completely true and would have been true even if Brian Fortuna had still been on the show because Jared is both new and American. I would like to point out that the said Brian Fortuna was only in Strictly for 2 series so can hardly be regarded in the same light as Matthew or Lilia who were indeed Strictly royalty both having won the trophy. I doubt very much that Brian would be happy about some of the nasty comments. Brian has gone its sad for those that were fans of his but it doesnt mean that its the fault of Jared and he doesnt deserve nastiness.

I agree with this...

So do I!

At least Darren, Lilia and Matt got to win the series before being sidelined.

I don't mind having the new guys, but I wish there's some way we could have them *and* Ian as well.

Very much liked Robin and Artem. I think Robin and Kristina will be a better partnership than she had with Brian, was very impressed with them in the new guys' dance. Artem and Katya are a decent pairing as well, she seemed to be having more fun with him than she did dancing with Brendan last year. (On that note, not sold on Brendan and Natalie - Ian was perfect for her! )

Not convinced at all about Jared, I don't hold anything to do with the 'American boy' line against him, haven't been in the aforementioned appreciation thread and I think if they are insulting him because of that then it's childish and frankly out of line. But I didn't think he gelled at all with Aliona, he looked considerably out of his depth both dancing with her (she was fabulous, but she dances better with Matt) and in the line-up with the other pro guys waiting to meet their partners. Tina on paper is a potential contender, but with Jared I doubt she'll make the final - he doesn't have the experience or the fanbase I don't think, and nothing I've seen so far has got me excited about his dancing the way Robin and Artem have. Thought his cape work in the paso was particularly exposed - weak in comparison to the other two.

The old dancers were better imo. Personality wise as well.

I really like Ian. It was a shame that Jade has to go out because they were a cute couple.

Agree about Atem's dancing - lovely to watch (as is he) but could find those perfect knashers a bit off-putting. Robin was overdoing it but then they as probably think that as new dancers they have something to prove - not sure how the ex-con look will go down in a waltz. and can see Patsy giving him a swipe if he keeps up the lustful looks. However, they both outdanced Jared who looked out of place and a poor replacement for Brian Fortuna.

Thought the same about the pro-dancing but watched them all again this morning (sad, I know) and they look better second time around.

Matthew too.

It wasn't right seeing Ian & Darren dance with new pros.

I agree with what you say, he isnt really tall enough for Aliona, I am hoping his performance will improve once the first show nerves have faded.......I just think its wrong to be really nasty about him because he is seen to have replaced Brian .....in my view being short he has replaced Darren and its Artem or Robin who have 'replaced' Brian. Brian would certainly not have been paired with Tina O'Brien that would have been Darren.

I totally agree Jan

I think Jared is gorgeous.

Was he dancing?

Great. The perv thread.

I really agree with some here that BBC's trying to 'sex up' this series of SCD.

But I am so GLAD Flavia (and to some extend Ola) is not relegated to the dance troupe and still partnered with celebs. Though I don't think Ola would be that well-liked this year because of PD.

Missing my Brian......But,, from the physical evidence all are very HOT!!, but I will need to see them being interview by Claudia before I make my mind up regarding their personality.

How can you possibly tell already?

They were interviewed all of 2 minutes.

I quite like Artem.

I'd like to give Jared the benefit of a couple of weeks before I make up my mind about him. Being very young, he may need time to settle down and acquire confidence. He probably has the right background for the job that he has to do.

Robin just isn't the kind of dancer that appeals to me, but I can see why other people might like him.

I'm not convinced about the changes (or the new pro dancer group). I think Matthew in particular is a huge loss but it's done now and so time to move on.