And me Dilly. I used the same expression as you. (Louis letting her down). I am sure that Flavia is telling him that he has to smile & perform the dance & he isn't doing it. People say he's 'shy' he's got ADHD he is used to a disciplined sport. Well everyone has to do things well outside their comfort zone when they come on Strictly & Louis is no different he needs to buckle down & do it.

I'm sorry but it just wasn't an American Smooth at all. It was as Len (I think) said just a quickstep with lifts.

As I've said on another thread, there is no such thing as an American Smooth Quickstep. It doesn't exist. And it doesn't exist because as much as anything else IT DOESN'T WORK.

I'm sure Flavia knows this, and even if it wasn't her choice she should have put her foot down and insisted on an alternative rhythm. By not doing so, she let both Louis & herself down.

What I don't understand is that the judges aren't commenting on it at all- Craig is pernickity about thumbs, Darcey about 'tacky' tricks, Len about it not being a 'proper ______'...

I'm not sure I buy the 'he's obviously embarrassed by the whole thing, and doesn't want to show himself up in front of his mates/ruin his cool image' because why the hell would he have agreed to go on in the first place??

I just think he needs bringing out of his shell- Flavia's tried the gentle coaxing, maybe it's time to just drag him out kicking and screaming?? If he doesn't do it soon, he'll be gone.

But everyone is improving in different areas and at different speeds. Other celebs need to improve in lots of areas too but perhaps it's unfortunate that Louis's weakness is so visible - whereas other celeb's weaknesses are unbent knees, flat feet or needing to be shoved around by their partner. So, I'd say that Louis isn't exceptional or not trying it's just that we see his face and others can mask their weaknesses more easily.

Nobody is mentioning that the QS part of the routine was highly similar to the one choreographed by Vincent for Rachel a few years back and danced to the same song; it was the blatant (or perhaps not since no one has mentioned it!) lifting of that with a few gymnastic moves tagged on the end which surprised me!

I can't remember Vincent & Rachel's routine, to be honest, but I'll certainly not argue - and what the gymnastic moves have to do with AS or quickstep is beyond me - looked quite odd.

Oh don't get me wrong as I have too I just think that if he could look like he was enjoying being part of it all that they would be more enjoyable for everyone in general to watch. They are far and away my favourite couple but if I was looking for something that I would love added to their routines, then it would be a nice smile from Loius

I don't even mean that he is 'letting her down' tbh.... I just think this is something that their routines would benefit a lot from.

Personally I have loved all of their dances anyway, but I'm trying to see things from the point of view of the general public, and think this is what they could see as lacking.

From the look on flavias face, I presumed that she hadn't had full control over the content. It really wouldn't suprise me if the producers just told her to shoehorn in some gymnastics. I also think the song wasn't right for wembley at all!! It wouldn't suprise me again if she had absolutely no say in the song.. Which would explain why a quickstep was chosen instead of something else.

I understand that many celebrities have to come out of their comfort zones in order to perform well on Strictly Come Dancing. However, for somebody who has ADHD, it is much much much harder. Louis won't be smiling as much through the routine because he has to focus that bit harder so that he doesn't forget or get distracted. My little sister suffers from ADHD in her dance shows, she is always told by her teacher to smile and perform the dance but people don't realise that as much as they want to, they struggle to.

Exactly. Just think people on here aren't understanding that.

Certainly don't think Flavia let Louis down - but it wasn't an American Smooth IMO and I would be interested to know if the song choice and gymnastics were Flavia's choice or the producers'. If it was the choice of the producers then that simply isn't fair - Michael V gets the big show stopper, vote winning number and Flavia gets something she can't posibly make into a "traditional" AS if that was what she had wanted. So she went a bit off piste which just didn't work (IMO). Also possibly required to put in gymnastics.

It would be interesting to know the truth - but guess we never will!

Neither one of them looked either comfortable or happy last night and althought they're my favourite couple, I thought it was their worst night. I don't for a second think that Flavia let Louis down but I did'nt like the choreography and the tricks last night.

Was it equally fair that Louis got to perform an iconic dance from a film that's like catnip to the show's key audience, and Michael had to strip around a fake cafe in naff cricket whites?

I do wonder whether Louis had some input into the change of song and choreography on the podium. Maybe Flavia needed to include something modern to retain his interest, she did the arm ripple and the 'Torvill and Dean' move then sort of left him to his own devices.

Wonder if that's why he was so uncomfortable going towards the judges and seemed to take some comfort from Craig complimenting the choreography (whereas Flavia didn't react tbh).

Quite probably not - but at least you could choreograph a half decent cha cha to Hot Stuff (the problem with this dance was the dancer!!)- I got a Woman was a tall order for an AS IMO. If, however, Flavia chose the music herself, my argument has no validity. I would just like to know how the song choice was decided.

I was surprised at how clumsy the routine seemed to be, there really wan't much specific AS in it, it just looked like a standard Quickstep with a few exrtras thrown in. The breakdancing was awkward and unnecessary and Louis didn't do his best with the whole thing. Very disappointing.

I didn't like the dance at all. Yes, I'm a Fred & Ginge traditionalist when it comes to the AS, but I don't mind a bit of innovation (I'm probably the only person in the country who liked Matt & Aliona's NEWWYYYOOORK! routine, and they weren't my favourites). It was just... odd. Doesn't matter how good Louis's footwork might have been, or how well he can do those pommel horse flares, the music, mood and choreography were all... odd.

Whether we should 'blame' Flavia or not, I don't know - it's impossible to know how much input the producers have - but in the great scheme of things, it will do Louis no harm to know what it's like to be flailing around near the bottom of the leader-board. I suspect he is still one of the most popular contestants when it comes to public voting, so I don't think he was in any danger. Frankly, even if he was in the bottom two, it's hard to see the judges saving anybody else at his expense.

the flamingo dancer...

i didnt like it, the music didnt work, the gymnastics just looked out of place and I have to agree with Len - it was a QS with lifts but I certainly dont think Flavia let Louis down

it was just a combination of things that didnt work out but in all honesty does it actually matter?

That was last week - they are through to this week and they are doing a paso

Onwards and upwards I say

Well said Olive They are on a new dance in a new week and hopefully this will be a better one for them

I blame that damn venue! I hate it, it is way too big and i didn't really enjoy any of the routines!
I am in the minority here but i actually like Louis' face when he dances. Loved it in the Waltz

I'm not overly keen on the American Smooth so i probably wouldn't have enjoyed it whatever Flavia put into the routine.
But i did feel sorry for little Flavia when she didn't hear her name called during the results. Standing there being left until near the end is obviously quite scary.


Anyway did i read that they have Paso next? Excellent, one of my fave dances and one that i think Louis will be very good at.

I have to admit I really hope that there is an explanation of producer interference or something because I really hated the choreography, I can't really use any other word than dreadful. I love Flavia, and she's choreographed some wonderful American Smooths in the past, but that was not an American Smooth and wasn't even a good Quickstep. I hated the breakdancing/pommel horse impression and I really don't need reminded that Louis is a gymnast. I'd love to be reminded that he's learning to dance ballroom really well to be honest, but that didn't happen.



Flavia doesn't need help with the AS, she's done plenty of them before.


No, she can choreograph and teach what she likes. If Louis isn't willing to do standard ballroom moves then she needs to put her foot down - he's there to learn ballroom dance, not lyrical and breakdancing, and not just to do gymnastics he can already do. If he's refusing to learn, then he's letting her down, but I don't think that's the case so I think what he is/isn't willing to do has nothing to do with it.


I have to agree with this. It's not the first time this year Flavia and Louis have ended up doing something other than the dance they were supposed to do, and if it keeps happening I'll get increasingly irritated. I really don't understand why the pros don't seem capable of saying it's simply impossible to do a dance to particular music - it's a simple fact of rhythm that not all songs work for all dances!

It's not fair when some contestants don't actually dance all dances properly because they have to shoehorn it into particular music. Louis isn't the only one who's done this, but it's not acceptable from anyone in my mind.


No you're not

Me too, my heart went out to her and I realised then how nervous she was. I don't always get what she is thinking as she sometimes across a bit aloof to me (and yes that is probably as much about me as it is her). But Flavia clearly was fearful of being in the bottom 2 and I did feel sorry that she had not even heard their names.

As far as the subject of the thread is concerned, well she did not let Louis down. Yes the dance had too many bad ideas in it and did not work, but I still think the best is yet to come from Flavia and Louis, whereas other couples have already peaked, imo!

I felt sorry for her too, she did seem rather nervous.