I don't think he was quite that bad! Matt was good yes but i personally found his arm placements the worst bit, somebody else described them perfectly, they said it was like he was doing a karate chop, and it was. Something very easy to sort out though. Imo Jimi's arms were better, i remember hearing Flavia work on them in the vt.

Anyway i didn't have a problem with Jareds arms, i just found the routine abit slow. At the beginning he did a nice move with his head just after he threw his glasses and i thought oooh here we go this should be good, but sadly it didn't get any better. I really hope he does better next week otherwise he'll get crucified on here!

I've used this as a reason to watch the routine again and i can see what you mean, but it looks like it wasn't supposed to be the proper out stretch of arm like they do in the Cha cha, but just a light lift above the head. Sorry if you realise that and still think it was bad

I quite like the song used, the singer did well with it.

Lots of interesting replies.

Does anyne know Jared's stats in Latin dance compared to say Darren or Ian's? That would be telling I think.

He is 22 isn't he? Worth bearing in mind D&L were about 25 when they started SCD? I think!

Also they'd been coaching uni students for a few years before that, alongside competing. I'm not sure of the exact dates but they were teaching Sheffield Universities Dancesport Team up to about 2003 (I joined in 2004 ). I don't know how much teaching experience Jared has, particularly of the sort that involves taking a beginner and giving them an entertaining routine that they can perform on stage in 3 or 4 weeks time.

For the minute I'm giving Jared the benefit of the doubt because he wouldn't have been hired if he as as bad as some people on here seem to be assuming. It's clear though that he hasn't reached the standard in Latin that some of our departed pros did- we'd definitely have been told by now if he was a World Champion. To suggest he's still a beginner is going a bit far for me though!

Aw! That's a shame!
I'm sure he is a competent dancer, however, he has claerly been hired to try to attract teenagers to SCD - On the whole, this ain't gonna happen whilst X factor's on the other side.

Bit of a waste of time really.

I'm no Jared fan but I would defend him over accusations of gimmicks that are being flung his way.

It's pretty obvious that all the pro's have been given a brief to include some kind of gimmicks in their performances, and if that can extend to the music, even better.

Hence we had Countryfile's Matt with binoculars studying Aliona in her wellies as they danced to 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. :yawn: Magician Paul Daniels doing a conjuring trick before dancing to 'Could It Be Magic'. :yawn: And Goldie dressed in a ... gold shirt. :yawn:

Moira Ross clearly thinks the more cheese, the better. So while I'd agree that Jared - and, indeed, all of the newbies - have some way to go on the dancefloor, they are clearly being hampered by the most dumbed-down instructions from on high ...

Yeah, I was very surprised that Len had nothing to say about all that -he looks like he isn't bothered much anymore -by anything.

When I found out that the audience had been "encouraged" to give standing ovations to everyone, I realised that Len had probably been "encouraged" not to object to "faffing about".

Don't forget Shilton The Goalie wearing a cross-of-St-George bow tie and then Erin dressed up as a football. Amazed he didn't pick her up, toss her in the air and then boot her the length of the studio.

AND Gavin with the Welsh rugby feathers on his jacket pocket. I'm sure there were even more examples of such 'subtle' imagery, if I could be bothered to look.

Puerile and tragic.

It's only for the very clever amongst us to pick up on, you see.

Just wait for next week's 'inspired' music choices -Goldfinger, It's a kind of magic...I could go on but it would depress me how many I might get right.

I'm even less impressed if it wasn't supposed to be the proper cha cha step tbh! It should have been, there was no reason for that not to be a proper cha cha step and no reason for it to have been anything else. The previous step was basic cha cha, so it's reasonable to assume that was supposed to be a cha cha step of some sort! I wasn't impressed by his lines in general, or by Tina's leg movement. And they both looked like their heels were too high!

Yeah, I noticed his heels really obviously. Maybe the trousers drew the eye downwards or something...
I gather the arm bit was a New York that he didn't seem to do?

Yep, that's what I think anyway. His arm was bent and didn't seem properly placed at all!

The problem is, if he doesn't know the technique, Tina stands no chance of going far.

It isn't as bad in Anton's case as he usually has contestants who make him look like a Latin lovegod but Tina has potential.

He should maybe ask Ian/Darren, someone for some tips.

I'm really unsure to be honest but what they did didn't look like a New York. Tinas arm flew over her head but Jareds didn't so god knows

Too tired today to think about anything really :sleep:

The only info I can find states that he was;

World Swing Champion
United States Swing Champion
United States Youth Latin Ballroom Champion
AAU National Dancesport Champion.

I have no idea at what age or in which years these took place or the accuracy of the bio.

He used to partner Lacey Schwimmer (DWTS) and was coached by Buddy Schwimmer.

The strength of SCD was that the pros grew to be stars in their own right-but there were a few too many new or even nearly new faces in the ranks this time for my liking.
I agree about Tina-its obviously a nervous new thing for him but he looked as lost as she did. Doesnt bode well for her which is a shame. He wont want judges criticism again but that just makes his job harder and if he's nervous she has no chance.