Karen seems nice. I'm not looking forward to Len's rant though.

The rant might come week 1 though if his first dance is the waltz...

Although how you can got from doing a lift to the basic closed change" instruction I dont know!

Nah, he'll leave it for a few weeks to build up a head of steam as everyone else starts doing them too!

Not good form to bully the new girl on her first day in the job!

Not impressed with the few brief clips of Karen's idea of a waltz. I hope this is not how the waltzs are going to go in future SCD.

Stay in hold and NO lifts.

It seems a shame for Karen in her first year (like Pasha in his) that she's away from the main crowd travelling off to Dublin (or Manchester for Pasha). Mind, Dublin is a fair city and better than London, IMO, as far as places go. But it might have been a friendlier time to be closer to the rest of them.

I was very ready to be prejudiced against Nicky on account of the boyband, the success, the palaver around Westlife, but he's a charmer. He seems an ordinary good guy in the best sense.

He's also Bertie Ahern's son-in-law.

oh dear, lifts in week 1 *shakes head*

I'm not sure, but I think in the spinning lift we see her feet stay on the ground - or at least are meant to stay on the ground but he hasn't perfected it yet. If so, it's not classed as a lift.

yes, I saw the spinning lift but I also saw a lift that her feet definately came off the ground and were meant to

"AHM A BALLROOM BOI!"

Although he might try

"NAH, URR THE NEW GURRL N THAT SO I WORNBESA HARSH"

This isn't a 'Training Video' but it is all of them in moving mode at an early stage of their 'J' so I'm dragging it from the Non App thread where Alli F had stowed it and putting it here for all to enjoy (or otherwise):

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-...e-scenes-video

Tis Alli-F's discovery and all credit goes to her.

Nicky and Karen look good but yes oh dear about the lifts....now we are all asking if she is gonna be told about no lifts but can i ask are lifts actually allowed in the Waltz in the first place?

Because if not then she should already know

as far as I am aware - no - lifts are only allowed in the American Smooth, Salsa and Showdance

EDIT having said that, I think an Amercian style waltz is different to an English style waltz (although I am no dance expert so I might be wrong) and I believe an American style waltz allows lifts......... Karen is American...... I dunno tho, I could be totally wrong, I probably am

If this is a week 1 waltz then the AS will be arial and please no showdance; the poor guy will be practcing on Lois pommel

You're also allowed lifts in the Argentine Tango and Charleston - the other dances that aren't International Ballroom or Latin Standard.

I knew I had missed some thank you!

Putting the Llfts aside, Karen seems nice - and Nicky's cuter than I initially gave him credit for

I like all the couples so far. Even Richard Arnold isn't bothering me (yet). He was so nice about Erin is trying really hard.

No doubt I'll be disliking almost everybody by the second half of the series!

Watching the Radio times clip I thought Colin was moving very well
Karen got a lift in there as well(among others) She cannot help herself half dancer half bird,
Ravon blood

I think in America and Canada the Waltz is danced with a more open style, so they don't need to be in closed position (if that's the right term ), but I don't think lifts are allowed. In DwtS, they (naturally) dance the ballroom dances in American Smooth style (not the Strictly dance), but they don't have lifts (though they seem to be relaxed about that later in the comp, just to confuse matters).

I'd be surprised if Karen doesn't know that Strictly supposedly follows the International style - isn't her boyfriend/dance partner British? (Mind you, I suppose they've come through SYTYCD and BTF which seem to use a showdance/anything goes style! )

Nicky and Karen seem to be working to get along well and both seem to be very likeable.

In Fern's training video her dancing looks impressive. The eye-contact stare looked a bit un-nerving though.

Eek! Why doesn't someone just tweet Karen or Nicky warning them about the no lift policy? Put twitter to use.

Good to see that all of these pairs so far seem really competent and working well together.

People have been tweeting and telling her

Maybe Karen is going to take the risk and hope that, it being her first dance, the judges will warn her but not deduct any points this time. I am sure she has read the strictly rule book.

Anton has just tweeted:

Anton Du Beke ‏@TheAntonDuBeke
It's great to be doing some 'real' dance steps finally. Jerry is doing so well. She has got some great pins on her! Perfect for the Foxtrot!

Interesting!

Maybe we'll see a different side to Anton this year.

Anton is writing a column about Strictly for the Radio Times this year. In his first missive this issue he says of their first dance "it'll be more of a strutting, posing cha cha cha". Make of that what you will.