Picking this up from the current Lisa thread, where milotic12 compares Lisa and Louis, the former good at performance, the latter at technique, and identifies what each could work on to improve: Lisa on technique, Louis on performance. They just swap. I know it's subjective but what are key strengths and areas for improvement for each of the contestants?

Eg

Colin is good at... Presence, being tall and sexy and holding your attention with his gaze
But he could work on... Some mystery Len-related doodah

See, I don't know really what these strengths and weaknesses are but would love to hear different opinions.

Be nice! Or niceish.

I'll start off as the topic is in my honor I jest...

Again these are my opinions, doesn't mean its the gospel truth! As always I shall try and find some positives and negatives with each pairing to make it fair!

Colin Salmon
Is good at.... partnering, the guys a beast when it comes to lifting!

Could work on.... selling the dances. He needs to start giving a bit more welly otherwise I can see him being overlooked and ending up in the bottom two again and again.

Dani Harmer
Is good at.... Presentation. Her arms in particular are so expressive, comforting to know she can work it in both the ballroom and Latin. Reminds me of Chelsee (in a good way)

Could work on...Control. When she dances I'm still a little worried she's going to topple over. This will come with confidence and more training.

Denise Van Outen

Is good at... the technical aspects. She's a beauty to watch and is miles ahead of the others in dance technique and ability.

Could work on... Confidence. I still think she's holding back, she's not quite explosive enough to really make people want to pick up the phone. She's just good, people expect more and that's her challenge week on week.

Fern Britton

Is good at... Maintaining a smile throughout. And that's no mean feat in dancing. She never shows the strain through her face and as such you feel comfortable watching her

Could work on.... being more exciting! She really does, I think she's most in danger going into next week, her performances are often forgettable. I do put this slightly down to Artem who I believe could make her do a lot more in terms of dance content.


Again...only my opinions. Dont hate me!

I'm surprised you say that 'confidence' is what Denise needs to develop. But I suppose the confidence that comes from knowing what to do is different from the confidence that would let her throw herself into the performance like a bird into the air or a frog in a puddle, or whatever the simile should be.

Someone (one of the judges, Bruno, I think) said to Sid that he could see in his face all the time he was dancing the tension of remembering what to do, or maybe by the fear of failure. Is Denise, at a much higher level, being held back by the same kind of tension???

You've hit the nail on the head. I know from personal experience that when your expected to do well the fear of failure can cripple you. I think Denise's performance lack a certain feeling of 'abandon' you get with Lisa. I'm not saying she needs to forget the technique but if she let go a little more the technique would come through seeing as she's already got the foundations of a good technique.

It's sad to see she's suffering from this. My dance career actually ended up giving me a nervous breakdown for the same reasons, I was terrified of failure (I'm fine now). Her reaction after her marvelous foxtrot last week was something I'm all too familiar with, the poor woman was trembling like a leaf despite giving a good performance! As I've said before she's got the most to lose...