This was from the bios on the BBC Strictly website Normally in the first paragraph they put things like age, nationality, height, specialism. Kristina's has her down as a Latin and Mambo specialist, whilst Aliona's has Ten Dance plus highly skilled in Salsa/Jazz/Hip-Hop.

I'm one of those who liked Strictly as it was up to series 6 when there was an emphasis on sticking to the character of the standard ballroom and latin dances.

In a move to keep viewing figures high the show has moved away from that to a much looser definition of what the dances should be and the figures have tended to support that change.

So when I couldn't find a history of Karen having a background in the dances she will be expected to teach, it makes me wonder if the new producers are going to move even further from the original style of the show.

Nothing against Karen, as I'm sure she is a very good dancer in the dances in which she specialises and may be able to adapt and do what the producers want very well. She may also be very popular.

I'm so pleased Vincent and Flavia are still involved. Though they're half pint sized, to me they stand head and shoulders above the rest . I hope they both get decent partners this year to show what they can do.

I'm very much the same as you - and think along the same lines - but there is something about Karen Hauer - she has incredible stage presence and chemistry - and she dances Latin as it is SUPPOSED to be danced -- particularly, she has a truly beautiful precision in the rumba. I have never seen her dance ballroom but am just hoping that she can dance it and teach it beautifully - am really rooting for her because she's the first dancer since Matthew and Nicole Cutler who has made me feel really excited about watching her. I've seen her many many times in BTF - am so hoping the ballroom matches up too.

I do agree with you though that the producers ARE going further and further away from what it originally was - and that the public like it. I'm really interested to see how she projects on TV because her stage presence is incredible.

If she's as good as you say in Latin - I'd guess that she wouldn't have too much of a problem with the ballroom and if they pair her with Pasha as I suspect they will she'll probably pick up a lot from him too. I'm not a dancer myself but I've heard ballroom is easier to learn than Latin - in that tango video I posted earlier she seemed very good - although I'm probably not the best judge of that! Of course she'll have to teach and choreograph it too but perhaps they'll give her some help if she's a novice in that area.

Not forgetting that the main part of the show is supposed to be about teaching novices how to dance, I thought Katya was an excellent teacher where someone like Aliona is a poor teacher.

Karen said yesterday on twitter that she is excited to see Artem, Pasha and Robin who were in Burn The Floor with her and that she does not know who she will be partnered with yet. It's obviously going to be one of these three.

I think it'll be between Artem and Pasha - Robin has been established with Kristina for two series now - they're well suited and look good together. I think the producers should leave Artem with Aliona because they're well suited too - so I personally hope it's Pasha she's partnered with.

Interesting little interview with Karen Hauer in the Grimsby Telegraph where she says she and her dance partner Kevin

'sent videos of ourselves dancing in to the Strictly producers and were really shocked when we heard back.'

'They interviewed us over Skype because we were away touring with Burn The Floor.'

'They explained that they only have one space for a new professional this season and that's for a female.'

But wouldnt she be too tall for Pasha

Pasha is like 5:10 right? and it seems like she is 5:8 without heels, how tall will she be with heels

She is 5 5 not 5 8 so she could dance with any of the male pros except Vincent and possibly Brendan.

It says on Karen's biography that she's 5ft 5 - I'm not saying that is accurate by the way just what I read on the link I posted earlier on in the thread - Pasha danced and fitted well with Katya and she is 5ft 6, so if the height stated in her biography is accurate I can't see that there should be a problem with her dancing with Pasha. On the photo in the sun she does look quite tall but that's because it's mainly her legs that are on display and dancers often look taller than they are.......in the videos I saw on youtube she does look around 5ft 5.

Ah ok thanks. I was just saying that because on the pic that I saw she looked so tall.

I also thought she looked taller on the promo pic but I think 5 5 must be roughly accurate because she has danced with Artem in BTF and Artem is not a particularly tall guy. In fact I think him and Pasha are roughly the same height.

I suppose watch her first then judge. But, was it really necessary for Katya to go for this sacrifice of new blood.