Many times recently I have read comments from SCD viewers calling for Louis to win as he is, in some minds, the only non-performance and non-dance trained contestant left.

Personally, I am baffled that anyone could make such a naïve statement. As a professional gymnast he is trained to a world class standard in a physical performance that is inextricably related to dancing.

He has perfected the minute details which give the dance performance finesse - turnout, placement, lines.

He may not be specifically trained to dance latin and ballroom, but he does already have an enormous advantage in terms of understanding performance technique - much moreso than any other contestant who has previously learnt choreographed routines in a pop band, for example. Whilst he may have been lacking in the 'personality' aspect so far (which as usual results in the tiresome 'acting coach' episode), he has been no further behind any contestants that also have no previous acting experience.

I have no problem with the guy whatsoever, but anyone that seriously thinks that he is the inexperienced underdog is woefully mistaken - surely someone else realises this too?!

I realise it too.

Louis arrived with different but equally advantageous experience and skills.

Thank you! From the many comments I've heard lately, you'd think he'd come straight from a building site or something.

Yes, I've thought this on many occasions when people have gone on about other contestants' dance background. But I've been too lazy to lift my typing fingers! Well done you, Coma-White!

And he has another HUGE assett - his fitness, strength and ability to just keep working when tired, bruised, hurt ..... like a ballet dancer for instance.

Don't get me wrong. I think he's great and if he won (my preference - just - over Dani or Kim) I'll be delighted. Because he has had to learn performance and acting and I think he's really doing well on this. He's also had to manage his ADHD (or rather Flav has!!)

Louis is pomelhorse specialist and he also do parallel bars someimes to comply with team qualification skill both apparatus only uses arms/hands strength... tho he had floor exercise training as basic this doesn't equate to dancing skill. I think Louis' only advantage are his precision and spatial awareness... male gymnast doesnt smile while performing they are focus to perfect their routines for less deduction... so in my opinion Louis is more inspiring among the other contestants left that's why I'll keep voting for him.

Ps. Forgive my grammar I'm not natural english born.

I think there are crossed wires about what "performance" means - you're talking about lines & extension which of course he has more awareness of than anyone with a non dance background, but I think when most people have been talking about performance, they mean the acting, selling the dance, connecting with the audience. That's not something that you'd ever think about in gymnastics - Beth Tweddle was on 5live last week saying that in fact it would be dangerous for a gymnast to think about that kind of thing, as if you aren't completely focused on your technique you risk serious injury.


I feel like I've typed this a million times, but whilst women's gymnastics or rhythmic gmnastics does have close links with dance, the men's side really doesn't. It's all about strength moves & training against your own bodyweight.

Who is saying that? Everyone knows what Louis has done before this. He's used his gymnastics in his routines and Flavia's said she's done that because she thinks that's what people want to see. But he has had to learn a completely different type of performance for Strictly.

I'm not voting for him because anyone else's experience bothers me. I'm voting for him because he's done my favourite dances.

When people say Louis doesn't have a performance background they mean he doesn't have a background that helps with getting into character and performing the acting side of the dance.

When they say he hasn't had dance training, it harder to know.
He has copied some Michael Jackson moves since he was a kid.
He might well have had some ballet training for his gymnastics, but the male gymnasts just do tumbling and balance, so I dont see why he would need much more than ballet exercises.

He hasn't had 'performance' in the 'showbiz' way, but he performs nonetheless. And that crosses over. Gymnasts are out to impress with their beauty and power and elegance and skill.

What Louis DOESN'T have, is hugely outweighed by what he does have.

He still needs to use his HEART though, in dance. And that is up to HIM, I'm afraid, he's got everything else.

So they're all ringers?

Great, maybe we can stop talking about it now (someone tell Denise).

Yay! Yet another 'Louis is a poo-face' thread. I can open a bottle of wine now

Thanks OP!

Denise fan by any chance?

Louis did arrive with a lot of advantages - fitness, flexibility, spacial awareness, used to learning routines in 3 dimensions, balance.

They are just not the advantages the OP was mentioning.

Sorry, it's Friday, and I'm a bit pissed, forgive.

Yes, it's early, but went out with colleagues after the damned 'Christmas fair'.

Nothing to forgive!

Good on you! Discussions are better when there is a bit of lightness in them.

I think serafimo is right - in gymnastics there is no 'performance' in the male gymnasts heads - just technical perfection. That's what they get marked on - and difficulty rating of the routine.

There is the pressure of doing it in front of a crowd, so there will be some of the same competition experience transferred to SCD.

In terms of the celebs putting their heart into a routine, I think if they love the music and routine then they can - if they dont, they have to act it.

Louis sems to love some types of music and dancing but most of what SCD does doesn't seem to be something he has been aware of or liked, so I would put him into the having to act it category.

I wasn't surprised that Louis didn't get into character for the VW to Puppy Love. I think his pointing to his smile at the end said it all.

I've seen none of his supporters describe him as such.

Certainly no dance experience, but most definitely possessed of a number of advantages. We'll very happily describe them for you - they're the reason we love to watch him dance.

An underdog? Never.

His lines look odd and his hands are terrible.

Yes, he definitely started the series with a lot of advantages.

Exactly, he has significant advantages, but swinging around on a pommel horse doesn't exactly prepare you for jazz hands and selling a routine.

The only underdog is Lisa.

Wasn't he a street dancer?

Louis used to break dance with Ashton of JLS.

Ashton is JLS's best dancer and a judge on Got to Dance

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...uis-Smith.html

No, he wasn't.

At school, I'm presuming since he's already talked about his ridiculously long days when he had to go to school and then go to the gym straight afterwards for training. Unless he got no sleep at all, I'm presuming there's not a lot of time left in there for dance lessons.

You sure he didn't give even a little skip on the way to school...hmmmm?