Which contestants have been good at Latin? Most seem to prefer ballroom and the Latin dances are usually pretty sub-standard. Louisa and Jill stand out for me. Alesha wasn't too bad at Latin; I do think she was overmarked on just about every dance she did, but she still wasn't bad. Some dances (like Gethin's Jive and Austin's Paso) were all style and no substance to me.

Mark's Latin was much better his Ballroom, albeit he had a couple of dodgy Latin dances as well.

Although he wasn't that great John Barnes was much better at latin, he loathed ballroom, his salsa is my favourite ever dance on Strictly.

Tom's latin was pretty good, Matt DiA's was good, except his samba.

Jill and Louisa stick out a mile for the girls, although Alesha, Rachel did decent latin they didn't have the spark of Jill or Louisa.

I don't think anyone has been good at ALL the Latin dances - everyone has struggled with at least one of them - usually the rumba for the blokes, the jive for the taller ones, and any of the fast ones for the larger/ older ones...

Mark has probably been the best bloke - followed at a distance by Colin and Tom with an honourable mention to Austin.

Jill, Alesha and Louisa are the best girls by a long way, followed by Denise and Zoe B - they did pretty well at Latin for tall girls

Jill was good at every Latin dance.

Zoe did a pretty respectable samba which none of the other contestants seem to have managed.

By Zoe (above) I should have said Zoe Ball not Zoe Lucker (or whatever her name was!)

IMO Jill is by faaaaaaar the best at all the latin dances.

Alesha and Rachel were also very good.

Out of the men, I'd say Mark was the best and Tom and Austin weren't bad either.

I think Denise did a very good Samba too - these are the 2 that I always remember.

The Samba is rarely danced well. The judges have been giving out ridiculously high scores for many of the dances over the last few years, but I'd say the average score for that dance is quite low.

It's a pity that so few people take to the latin dances. Are latin dances harder or is it just that British people get embarrassed easily? The American celebs seem to be much better at latin.

I don't think the latin dances are harder. But I do think the embarrassment factor is higher if you are not any good. A bad latin dance looks awful (especially the samba) and is easy to spot. A bad ballroom doesn't look so cringeworthy and people might not even notice if the topline doesn't look too bad.

John Barnes' salsa is the salsa-est salsa on Strictly. Really liked it. The others are often too flashy.

C
http://frankieandcloverstrictly.blogspot.com/

Emma Bunton wasn't bad...

I remember her Samba, i really enjoyed that and her Paso.

I like good Latin. Prefer it when they remember to throw in a few dance steps amongst all that ass wriggling and twirly whirly stuff. Much better when they dance as a couple too rather than the "Me" strut. Mind you, I'm old-fashioned.

Latin dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnjK8B-eiHA

As the ballroom dances are danced in hold perhaps they are easier for beginners as the professionals can direct the celebs around the floor more easily. Quite a lot of the Latin dances have large elements of dancing apart and this leaves celebs more exposed.

I'd say Matt DA is the best male latin dancer...his Salsa being my favourite latin dance EVER on Strictly.

His Jive was also excellent given it was only his second dance.

Not entirely sure I'd call that Latin!

Oh, it is. The gymnastic excercises of the ballroom today just make it look like it isn't. I think Rio is Latin enough to prove the point.

The Series is always better when there are good latin dances.

The best girls to me were Jill (who I don't think had a 'bad' dance), Alesha, Louisa, Emma and Zoe (Esp her samba to age of Aquarius)

and Matt DiAngelo was the best of the males followed by Austin and Tom.

I agree and we were missing that last year.

I did enjoy a lot of Jade's though - such a shame we didn't get to see more.

I agree - ok the best - Lousia (rhumba excepted), Alesha, Jill (from what I've seen)

When it comes to the men - Ramps is a standout, Matt DA, Tom and Austin were ok too.

With latin I think you have to have the right personality to just go for it - most of the good latin dancers tend to fairly extroverted people.

For me the best female latin dancer was Jill, I don't think she did one bad latin dance.
loved Louisa who I think wasn't given enough credit for her latin.
I also think Alesha, zoe ball, Emma Bunton and Denise Lewis produed some fab latin routines.

For the men I would have to say Ramps stands out as the best latin dancer although Matt DA is a close second.

I forgot Jade, yes i really enjoyed her Cha cha and Samba.


I agree with your second paragraph.

I would agree with the personality thing as well to an extent, and I suspect that's where the problem lies with Latin routines that are both technically good and memorable. Obviously there are exceptions where some people who are quiet off the dancefloor, explode when they're on it and vice versa, but I do think the performance side of ballroom is far less demanding so it's easier for technically strong dancers with quiet personalities to do well in it. To do a really good and memorable Latin dance, the performance needs to be as strong as the technique- if the performance is lacking it's seen as dull, if the technique is lacking it's just funny.