Thank you for this, that clarifies something for me. Would you say that both Natalie and Scott and Pamela and James achieved this immaculate timing on the beat? (I'm not very good with even spotting timing problems?).

Sorry guys I won't be contributing to this thread, but I'm interested in some of the technical aspects of dancing, and it's great to get some expert knowledge from different people.

Thanks to StrictlyRed who bumped the thread for me.

I think it will make me queasy.

The devil in me would love to let loose two Cubans doing the real thing and cause absolute havoc!

Any rumba lovers here?

Ironically, my position would be the opposite


I think it's difficult to give definitive "best teacher" comments like that, especially for AT.

For beginners, I'd personally recommend Paul and Michiko of The Crypt, and Charles of Thames Valley Tango. But it's quite subjective.

VL, there's a few good listings of teachers out there. But a lot of the time, I'm afraid it'll simply boil down to finding one you think works for you. The old "kiss a lot of frogs" approach I'm afraid...


*Coug*Danny*Cough...

No, neither of them did, but at least Scott and Nat danced as a pair and were tuned into each other. The routine was very LA which allowed them to be freer in the way they danced. Scott's pretty good though.

Pamela's balance was off and she doesn't spot, so her finish was ragged and a bit sloppy. However I wouldn't expect that kind of precision from her at this stage. You only achieve that when the steps and the beat are so ingrained in your head you don't even have to think about it. Like this! Colombian salsa - the fast version! But you can see how tight and focused they are. The timing is everything.

Wow, wow, wow. I didn't know it was possible to move like that.

Thanks for that, I always think it must be quite difficult to watch Strictly if you know all this stuff, and the dances just don't live up to your expectations.

I assume the timing also depends on how musical you are?

I'll stick with my view on the Argentine teachers - sorry DJ! I have tried them all You want to learn tango that is not a variation of ballroom. That's all I can say.

Cough *Frederico* cough!

Also, the Brits can take the tango far too seriously (it becomes an obsession with them) and sometimes miss the whole point of it. They turn into a science and not a dance

Could I just say thank you so much for posting this - I really enjoyed it.

many thanks

Amazing aren't they?

Yes, I do find SCD exasperating sometimes, but I also love to see people find a talent they didn't know they had and grow in confidence. I felt the same about the people I've taught over the years. When they 'got it' I was thrilled, and so proud of them

I despise bad choreography and it pains me to watch it! I also hate really camp ballroom and what I call 'all eyes'n'teeth' dancing. Fussy cow that I am!

Yes, you do need to be able to hear music and feel the drum/bass beat. Especially with salsa and Arg.Tango.

I can understand that.


What is your stance on all the props this year then? Obviously not having any dance experience myself, I don't know that much about what good or bad choreography is in terms of technical merits.



I would find that quite difficult I must admit. I wish I could dance salsa.

I hate props lach doch mal!

Scarves, umbrella and canes are fine. Anything else is just covering up a lack of imagination!

If you hate props, then what do classify scarves, umbrellas and canes as?

I agree, I must admit it's one of the few things this year I really hate. More time spent dancing and less time spent fuffing around, please.

I sound like Len.

Can't stand the man - silly old fa**- but he's right on that subject!

You're welcome. So glad you liked it

DJ Thanks for posting that. I did look for it online but couldn't find it. I'll have a scan through since I'm quite interested in what it covers, even though I doubt if I'll take the exam route for AT, partly because of the reservations expressed on here. I'm assuming that ISTD syllabus would be similar although they also have a pre-bronze. Presumably that would map to something like DVIDA Bronze 1


I love the rumba but not the way it is danced on Strictly. I prefer to see it performed straightforwardly as a dance, rather than watch the attempts at 'telling a story'. It is also one of those dances where I would definitely like to see some 'required elements' included in order to avoid too much of the posy stuff.

I guess the reference to cuban means that you don't like ballroom rumba at all?

( I've taken up your suggestion re: AT lessons. Will pm you later this week to let you know how it went. )

meeeeeeee! Just want to say thank you so much for all the conversations on here - as a beginner/intermediate I'm not best qualified to give advice but love reading all the posts - really helpful, thank you.

my own loves are the rumba and AT, but, as I think you said, Sofakat, not on Strictly! Other great love is foxtrot. Any comments gratefully received here!

We all have our paths. My view is that Argentines are better for privates than for group classes; they know what to do, but are better at showing you than at communicating it - partially because it's natural to them.


Oh, God, I'd forgotten him....


I think there's a middle ground, yes,

Thanks for the link Sofakat - that was amazing! At times it looked like speeded up film

I know nothing whatever about the technical stuff, but pop onto this thread sometimes to read and learn. I have a really noddy question (sorry if it annoys all the experts on here ...)

The woman in that couple seemed to be wearing flat shoes, or maybe no shoes (couldn't tell at that speed!)

I've often thought, watching Strictly, that sometimes flat shoes would be better for a particular dance (on the women) but it seems almost standard that for almost every dance they wear heels. Surely this must affect how you dance though? I know from wearing both heels and flats regularly that even though I'm used to both, I walk differently according to what I'm wearing, so surely it must affect their posture as they dance? (Even allowing for the fact that they're obviously used to heels.)

So do heels help or hinder certain dances?

Thanks in advance!

Dancing cake, I think some people argue that heels help you put your weight forward for latin. I've also read that a thin heel makes it easier to do heel turns in the foxtrot (less circumference to negotiate), but at the moment all it does for me is make me lose balance and fall over. Need to find my centre of balance.

Thanks for that clip, Sofakat. Now that's what I call salsa! That's a more advanced version of what I used to see in France. And I agree about following and imitating being a great way to learn, incidentally. I went to a ball last year thrown by a dancesport society and realised about halfway through the night that I feel more comfortable dancing salsa than any of the other dances, even though I've a lot more experience in ballroom and Latin.

I have a similar way of thinking about props, I have to admit. For me the difference is that scarves, umbrellas and canes can easily be integrated into dance steps without detracting from the routine. They can be used to extend lines and accentuate poses. Props like binoculars, back packs, magic boxes, books etc tend to pause the routine and generally just act as a distraction. Choreographers have to be much cleverer to really integrate things like that into the routine.

Thanks, Vivacious Lady. I know it's not exactly a technical question, bit it is something I often wonder about when watching Strictly.

(Mind you, Widdie does seem to be wearing lower heels than everybody else, but then she's a law unto herself!)

Cubans and the Colombians dance in flats. The heels come out when they dress up for a night out.

All my Cuban teachers (pro dancers in a national company) taught in trainers, but I have always done ballroom and Latin in heels so I brought them with me.

Trainers are the worst! I hate 'em for dancing

I like heels. They're more comfortable for me because I have a very high arch in my feet (ballet training possibly). I extend better in heels and find turns so much easier in them. They feel right

Suggestion for you:

Try practising turns on your own, in a diagonal line across the room, using the corner as your 'spot'. Pull up your core and keep your head high. Use your arms to sweep you through the circle. In ballet your arms would be in third position with hands curved inwards. Go up on the balls of your feet as you turn, and then come down again.

Just get used to the feeling of turning and repeating the movement so that it feels right. You'll soon work out when your body feels in balance. if you learn to spot your body will follow your head and you won't get dizzy. Good luck!

Darn, wish I could show you! It's so much easier that way

Yes, actually I feel the same as you. I prefer the way rumba is danced in Spanish and Latin clubs - a social rumba so to speak. The posing in the ballroom version is so boring.

Cuban rumba is impossible! I was joking It's very much an African dance and best done by Afro-Cubans who can move their bodies in ways I can't even begin to imitate!

Dying to hear about the AT lessons!

Thanks, I'll have a go at the centre of balance exercises. I'm used to getting dizzy now (learning VW) although I do need to learn to spot in the latin AT lesson is on Monday and so not long to go.