After just one dance, her first dance? The one that she royally screwed up?

With the language and phrases that you use, anyone would think that she has danced 5 times and cried all 5 times.

Actually, no. I have watched her documentary, read half her book, listened to interviews and then watched her on the night they announced all the pairings. You can look at somebody, see the way they move, clock their body language, and more or less pick up whether they will be able to dance or not AND whether they are liking the experience. I am not talking about whether those with rhythmn will go on to be great dancers, I am talking about a certain woodeness, an unnatural stance, etc. that are the giveaways. Try it.

Wow, I wonder if others are in awe of your abilities. Apart from which you are talking about things other than temperament there.

Further to that, unless you are a trained (sports) psychologist with many, many years of experience (which I doubt), I really do wonder whether you are any other FM here can confidently deduce that Victoria is temperamentally not suited to SCD (in the same way I suppose that she was temperamentally not suited to top-level cycling - she was forever crying there wasn't she).

Never mind, we will have to accept that neither is likely to accept the other's views.

I like her honesty.

Len and Bruno were very bad Lions and Craig hasn't even got his claws out yet.

The judges were very kind to her - I think she is stronger than people give her credit for, she wouldn't be an Olympic champion if she wasn't mentally strong. It is only one dance, if Saturday goes OK, things will look very different.

Why so horrid? I'm just expressing a point of view about what I see - is that not okay?

Hardly 'kind',

Bruno,

“Your butt stuck out like a hanging basket,” Bruno Tonioli (no Ashes victories) admonishes him. “And your face! You look like Shane Warne after the makeover!”

Len,

“You were like the first time you rode a bike without stabilisers.”

The first two comments were made to Michael Vaughan not Victoria. And they were all witty and not nasty. This is entertainment and celebrities have all watched the programme and know the format before they pick up their cheques.

I've seen becky in tears too after disappointing races - she has her emtional side too though maybe not to the same extent. Whilst Frankie Boyle's jokes about her were nasty she probably shouldn't have complained about it & even she now admits that was probably an OTT reaction.

Seems to me you only see the bad/negative in Victoria.

Indeed some did but fortunately she proved them wrong which I why I find her such an interesting person. Am sure a better dance this Saturday will see her confidence soar.

Just calling it how I see it.

Which is precisely what I was doing but not in an offensive manner. We've got weeks of fun ahead, can we not have great debate but not be personally nasty?

BAD?
NEGATIVE?

What on earth are you talking about? I've expressed a view that SCD is not the right show for her and that dancing is probably not going to be her natural forte. Oh, and I've done it on a debating board!

And there's that aggressive posting style again

Now that's interesting., Read the posts I was responding to. I honestly don't get it. Yes, I post pithy stuff but isn't that what a debating board is about? What it should never be about, and this is what I'm complaining about, is attacking the poster. I make it a point to debate the subject, in this case SCD, and in return get my personal self slagged off. Is this what you consider to be fine on a debating board?

I do too.

I have been a little disappointed with Victoria, but hopefully next week they will get a waltz which is more Brendan's strength and he has more control over her. She might be like Cherie Lunghi - beautiful ballroom but latin not so good.

i cant really warm to her but i did feel sorry for on fri night I hope she overcomes her issues.

I remember Cherie also having problems remembering the steps and kept stopping and writing them down in a notebook so she could practice at home. It worked for her and she and James produced some beautiful dances, until the latin of course as you say. I really hope Victoria gets over her nerves and manages to perform well on Saturday so it will give her some confidence.

I didn't make a personal attack on you but really just trying to point out that you seem to think that Victoria's emotional/vulnerable side (which you clearly don't like like based on your posts) is the only side to her. If that was all there is to her then she wouldn't have won 2 Olympic golds.

Actually Cherie was getting to grips with the latin, especially the rumba. Her cha-cha wasn't that bad, helped by her acting ability.

Cherie Lunghi - The Rumba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7k3TAvEGXo

Cherie Lunghi - The Cha-Cha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTnVJiAS80

(Yes, I know this thread is not supposed to be about Cherie Lunghi, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to mention my favourite celebrity in any year)

Cherie was my favourite as well. I still prefer her rumba to any other I have seen - very stylish but not raunchy. She was then the same age as Jerry is now but what a difference in attitude.

As for Victoria, she looks much better in training this week being in hold. I still think she has the potential to do well if she conquers her nerves.

She has the best ballroom dancer of all the pros for a partner. I think this week will be make or break time for her.

I think Victoria will be much better this week.