Favourite showdances of previous years

Tom and Camilla - in my eyes this is one of the best or the best showdances ever on strictly (although I haven't seen all the series). The reason i loved it is because I thought Camilla picked the perfect song, perfect costumes and choreographed a dance with a strong theme, and great choreography that 100% highlighted Tom's strengths.

Special mention - Alesha and Matt - I liked this dance cos I thought the dance had some really strong dance content combined with great lifts and was really powerful. Also felt that Alesha danced for her life in that dance and that's what I want to see in a showdance

Least Favourite showdances

- Erin and Colin - need i say more. how she got to the actual final without someone telling her it was a lame idea amazes me!

- Brendan and Lisa - saw the joke vid on youtube about thsi dance and it made me giggle lots. I'm all for people trying something different but this was hideous. Really did look like Brendan was just dragging her around the floor. She was so talented in the ballroom too, should have done some classy american smooth themed routine or something.

- Vincent and Rachel - for me this was just an example of bad choreography wasting dance talent. felt like after a series of great choreography Vincent had run out of steam or ideas. However, Rachel wasn't in my ideas a great performer in her dances, so I always felt Tom would sell his showdance more.

This year's Showdances!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First off, must say I am sooooooooooooooooo excited. Think this could be an amazing year for showdances. Do we get to see all three like we did with Lisa, Rachel and Tom. Can't remember what happened last year???

Anyway, there is talent in abundance this year so keeping my fingers crossed for great dances

Pamela/James - Expectations/Hopes

I expect a showdance a bit like their quickstep in the semis lots of fun and lots of face pulling. Really brave lifts too cos Pam is a brave cookie. Think James has been quite safe with his choreograph (in contrast to Aliona) so will be interesting to see if he choreographs a safe showdance.

Tis great to know though that Pam is not afraid of anything after that charleston!!

Matt/Aliona - Expectations/Hopes

Well if this season is anything to go on Aliona will def do something unexpected and likely untraditional and contemporary. Which personally i think might work in her favour in the showdance. Will surely feature acrobatics and lots of lifts. Not at all sure what dance styles she will choreograph into the routine maybe some salsa moves??

I hope that Aliona choreographs to Matt's strengths and highlights him in the dance rather than herself as this has been her major weakness this year in my eyes. Matt is a fabulous dancer and needs to be shown off!! My biggest hope is that they do something fun rather than intense as i much prefer them having fun like in their charleston or salsa.

Kara/Artem - Expectations/hopes

I expect something special because I think Artem's choreography has been continually great this season. I hope to see a combination of great difficult dance technique combined with unusual moments that stand out. I think there will be a number of rather impressive lifts as i think the american smooth and salsa proved that they can pull them off and that Kara is a brave cookie and trusts Artem implicitly. My concerns are that they will be so difficult that something goes wrong in the dance rather than in the dress rehearsal like in the american smooth.

Hopes - well they are my fav couple so i hope to see something spectacular that represents Kara's incredible talents.

So what does everyone else think????????

My favourite ever was Alesha and Matt's, that was my favourite dance of hers. I loved the blend of the two Tangos and Paso Doble - as Craig said, she was dancing for her life.

I hope Kara and Artem do something completely different - I really hate the stereotypical mix of Cha Cha, Salsa (insert any other upbeat Latin dance).

Best

By an absolute mile, Tom and Camilla's. It stands out for being original and unusual. It suited Tom perfectly.

Worst

Hated Ricky's!

My favourite was Alesha and Matt's. It was hybrid of so many styles that somehow came together into a very natural, complete whole.

Tom and Camilla's was technically great but I hated the acting element in it. That creeping down the stairs at the start was real a turn off for me!

Showdances are total marmite I reckon, and there have been very few I've liked.

Hated:
Ricky and Natalie's - never rated him as a dancer anyway
Rachel and Vincent's - didn't choreograph to Rachel's strengths and I don't understand why
Lisa and Brendan's - AAAAARGH!
Tom and Camilla's - just didn't get it I guess
Mark and Karen's - her manic face and the hand-clapping... cringe.


Loved:
Chris and Ola's - especially the mashed potatoes bit
Matt and Flavia's - made me realise that he was actually a good dancer, and I liked Flavia's attempts to do something a bit more contemporary
Zoe and Ian's - slightly off the wall in a good way, and loved when Ian fell over at the end

I don't know what styles to expect this year, but based on each pros choreography during the series, I expect to:
Love Kara and Artem's
Cringe at Pamela and James'
Just not get Matt and Aliona's

I'm afraid the Americans beat us hands down in show dances. I'm at work, so I can't post links to You Tube, but if you search for these two you will see what I think are brilliant and original showdances

Drew Lachey Cheryl Burke Series 2

Apolo Anton Ohno Julianne Hough Series 4

See echad's post above for my likes and dislikes (apart from Tom and Camilla's, which I did enjoy). Although even with the ones I like, I can't help feeling they're a letdown in some way. Showdances are weird like that

I expect to enjoy Matt and Aliona's showdance the most - everything Aliona's choreographed so far has been like a step on the way to the most amazing dance mishmash ever! It might be what wins it for him as it was for Tom.

I don't really see how Kara will top what she's done already, so it'll be great as always, but perhaps not that different. Pamela's will probably be a floaty number, which goes against everything I think a showdance should be, or a tap-based thing like her QS to play to her strengths - and I do feel the tap thing's a bit hackneyed.

My favourite and least favourite show dance is the same one - Brendan and Lisa. We'll never see the like again...

I'm not a huge fan of the show dances really and with all the spectacular antics and acrobatics we've already had this year I don't think they'll feel as special as they should or could. I'm more interested in seeing how the favourite dances compare to the first time round.

Pretty much agree with that.

I hope the show dances are fun filled. Pamela really should not do lifts she looks ungainly. Matt & Kara will just go for it - hope they don't go too arty in the showdance.

Liked - Tom & Camilla
Chris & Ola
Mark & Karen (actually can't really remember it, but was so obsessed by Mark, I would have voted had he "dad danced"

Dislike - Ricky & Natalie
Brendan & Lisa
any showdance that is all lifts and acrobatics

Looking forward to Saturday

I loved Zoe & Ian's and liked Tom & Camilla's mainly because they were more about the music/atmosphere/dancing/relationship then all the ones full of lifts & acrobatics though I quite liked Chris & Ola's as in their case the lifts went against the expectations of what he would be capable of lift wise.

In general the showdances rarely deliver the impact we see from the regular dances.

I pray that Aliona has seen bacofoil and doesn't go down that route, although the joke version on Youtube is one of my favourite things. I loved Matt's Charleston, Cha Cha and Samba so I hope she choreographs a dance with a bit of wit and charm and not one with a bacofoil level of intensity.

My favourite showdances are Tom & Camilla's and Chris & Ola's. Both very fun, full of energy and a joy to watch

Least favourites are Colin & Erin's (have seen it on YT) and Lisa & Brendan's horror show!


I expect Artem to think outside the box like he did with the American Smooth, I don't want to see a safe showdance from them!

Aliona will probably go contemporary, which I'm in the minority it seems in liking! I hope we get a cross between the fun of their cha cha and samba and the lyricism of the American Smooth.

I hope James takes choreography help from Ola, as she did a great job last year. I'm hoping for some fab lifts along the lines of the ones he does with her in their showdance rumbas, and I think a cheeky dance along the lines of their Charleston and Quickstep would suit Pamela.

Best - It's got to be Tom and Camilla's. I was actually squealing with glee throughout the majority of the dance.

Special mention to - Matt and Flavia's. I thought it was miles better than Alesha's (even though I was rooting for her). Also Ricky and Natalie's for the No Arms Lift.

Worst - *laughs* The Bacofoil Dance of Doom. I cannot think of one good thing about this dance....except for the DS You Tube video that was created from the Lisa's Showdance? Thread. (Which was the reason I joined DS in the first place!)

Special Mention to Chris and Ola. I knew he had won once Ola started screaming MASHED POTATOES through his legs.

Hopes

Pamela & James - I want Bacofoil Meets Cougar Meets Pole Dancer Meets Nipple Tassels Meets Crowd Surfing Madness from these two. Do NOT disappoint me Jamela!

Matt & Aliona - I expect a polished and professional gymnastics display interspersed with a contemporary interpretation of the struggles of The War Against Terrorism. Perhaps Matt will come as George W Bush and choke on a Pretzel for the big finish whislt backflipping into Craig's lap?

Nah. It'll be good. But I doubt it will like the Crazy Fire you need in a showdance.

Kara & Artem - if they dont have wild animalistic monkey sex on the dance floor I will be VERY unhappy!

Nah. It'll be outstanding. If it isnt, I will be writing an official complaint and will constantly create Artem is not just rubbish he is a **** threads.

Hahahaha!! Brilliant

Favourite dances would have to be Mark & Karen's, Tom & Camilla's and Darren and Lilia's

Worst dance is a toss up between Brendan & Lisa's and Colin and Erin's - need I say more

I am looking forward to seeing how many acrobatic moves Aliona can put into her and Matt's showdance and whether Artem & Kara will try to compete or go a different style

Most of them have been a let down, apart from the Tom & Camilla's which was bloody fantastic.

Therefore I'm not expecting much this year.

Don't like showdances much. It's all about who can do the most/best lifts more than anything else. I liked Mark and Karen's and Tom and Camilla's but that's all. Mind you, I usually record the final and fast forward them anyway so probably not the best one to comment!

I'd like to see three great dances, without too many lifts and an actual purpose to the dance. Other than that, I don't mind which style they choose, but obviously more showy will bring in the votes.

Potentially my favourite post ever!!!!

Best - Tom and Camilla. Has any celeb ever done so much to redeem themselves in the eyes of so many with a single dance?

Worst - Has to be the bacofoil fiasco. Brendan simply attempted the impossible without the equipment or the ingredients like someone attempting to cook a banquet for 20 on a camping stove with half a pound of sausages and a turnip.

Hopes for the weekend?

Pamela and James: Just produce something that doesn't make me want to hide behind the sofa please. Fortunately I don't think it'll count (mind you, I thought that about L&B's calamity).

Matt and Aliona: Could be fab, could be another tram crash. Really hope it's the former.

Kara and Artem: Alesha, Rachel - both superb female celebs yet neither showdance quite hit the heights I was hoping for. Hope Kara makes it third time lucky - if anyone can do that she and Artem can.

Original for SCD, but heavily reminiscent of Torvill & Dean's "Mack & Mabel" and "Barnum on Ice" in my view.

Belting routine though, and roused me from my post Austin sulk to vote for him!

Favourite - I love Tom and Camilla's, one of my favourite songs, totally suited Tom, every time Camilla choreographed to a musical theatre number magic happened.

I also like Matt Dawson's really underrated, Lillia did a great job with him.

Least favourite - Bacofoil goes without saying really! Not keen on Rachel Steven's or Ricky Whittle's mostly because they felt like a bit of a waste.

I rather liked Austin and Erin's re-hashed Jive from the 2008 final, but I am and will always be biased in this respect!

Fave - Tom and Camilla
2nd Fave - Lisa and Brendan

Neither are likely to be surpassed in entertainment value imo, but I have hopes that Kara might just give me something to cheer about this weekend

Best ever.....

Tom & Camilla's - it was just SO different from everything else we had seen was choreographed to show off his skills and strengths perfectly and IMHO was the best showdance EVER!!

Aleaha and Matt she was dancing for her life - and it all worked.......

*... and I KNOW I'm going to be flamed - but I really appreciated what Erin was trying to do with Colin, and I liked the dance - but that wasn't the time or the place - but it didn't matter anyway as Darren had already won!*

Hated...

Brendan and Lisa's monstrosity..... Brendan ain't no Bryan and Lisa was way too tall for most of those moves - and as for the outfit....... words fail me....

Ricky and Natalie's I hate those gymnastic/ strong man displays and you would think Natalie would have learnt from Brendan & Lisa's horror the year before.....

This years...

Can't wait.....

I have a feeling that James and Pamela will try for the comedy angle a la Chris and Ola or go for a Fred & Ginger routine

Matt & Aliona will be (hopefully) making the most of his dance ability rather than his gymnastics..... and Kara and Artem will go for a rumba style romantic one....