Leaving aside any personal feeling, there is a difference between "having dance training" and "training as a dancer".

The former could apply to anything from a couple of ballet lessons to several years one-to-one tuition in several disciplines. Fern "had dance training" for the Christmas Special. Didn't give her any advantage.

The latter indicates that you trained for a fair amount of time to actually be a dancer. You had lessons, showed ability and put time and effort into developing that skill in order to use it later.

Whether or not Denise intended that to be the way her quote came across, she did (if we're to believe the article) utter those immortal words and, as a result, people are judging her on them. Five words. Said years ago. If she doesn't win she may well regret them. She may well be regretting them already.

"Not only is she a wonderful actress but she is also highly trained in dance, specializing in Aerobics, Ballet, Bass-Baritone, Cabaret Singing, Choreography, Contemporary, Jazz and Tap. In her spare time she enjoys painting, swimming and skiing. She is a girl with endless talents."

This is from Kara's IMDb biography http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0865652/bio

Sounds like she's had far more dance training than Denise yet IIRC no one called Kara a professional when she was on SCD.

We've seen in the past that shockingness of dance doesn't always equate to bottom two-ness. They're more likely to get the sympathy vote especially Victoria who is thought brave if she just turns up. If she flies on a bike it may well be worth a ten in the judges eyes.

Also, I thought we'd established that it isn't solely Denise's prior dance experience that stands against her, it's whether she's got on your pip or not both now and over the past twenty years. Kara didn't and hadn't and that made all the difference. Also, imo, James is a handicap.

Some people are judging her on them. Other people have a life...

One way or another she won't win.
She's just not as popular as some of the others. 2 principal reasons.
A)perceived prior advantage and B)the Essex-girl spiel winds some people up

I started off as against her for A) but B) is now beginning to wear pretty thin so she's definitely not one I'd vote for. And polls seem to show I'm not alone. Time will tell but I wouldn't waste my money betting on Denise. ;o)

Additionally Matt Baker and Zoe Salmon entered a "proper"dance competition whilst they were on Blue Peter,Matt was very good even then (Zoe wasn"t I recall) and it was years ago!!! (Sorry if this was ever referred to when Matt was on strictly) I think its a case of if your face fits as always!!

I think Denise is the best dancer-
On musical theatre you don't do ballroom or Latin

I think she deserves to win - I like her and don't get the negative against her?

And Lisa can dance too-

No, she's not. She's got the same level of dance training as 2 previous winners (Jill & Kara) and many other previous contestants.


I'm not contradicting her. What I am saying though is that 'trained as a dancer' doesn't mean 'trained as a ballroom and Latin American dancer', which Denise hasn't done. She's as much a trained dancer as Kimberley, Jill Halfpenny, Lisa Snowdon, Kelly Brook, Kara Tointon... all stage school and/or dance school pupils, none trained directly in ballroom and Latin American.

What exactly makes Denise a pro that didn't make the rest of them a pro?

Bass baritone? What does she do, Paul Robeson impressions?

They didn't star in a West end musical before entering SCD

Kimberley did, so I'm afraid that's not an argument that singles Denise out as a pro over and above other dancers to have appeared on Strictly.

And not all West End musicals require dance proficiency, so I'd personally place much more stock on those who have been dance school trained - like Jill Halfpenny.

She won't win, fortunately.

She is too marmite a character to win.