I thought she was North African/Moroccan heritage ... nevermind.

Ah, sorry. I thought she looks exotic, so I assumed.

eta: from Wiki: (Laila) Rouass was born in Stepney, London to a Moroccan father and Indian mother.

We were both right then. OR half right if we want to be pedantic.

I checked wiki too . Not often peeps can claim to both be right.

*shakes hands*

She was never going to triumph in the samba with Willie Thorne or Peter Schmeichel, but with the right partner, Erin was capable of devising and performing good Latin routines - several for Colin Jackson, including a fine rumba; Austin's Paso and jive; and of course the Erin Island routine with Richard Arnold transcends any criticism.

Though that Paso wasn't a real Paso, it was so dramatic it pulled a wool even over Craig's eyes and they blagged a ten from him!

That's the mark of a good pro with good choreo skills.... ... the year everyone was panting for bacofoil and that tiny girl who partnered Vinnie ...

A good pro who really tried every thing despite her own obvious weakness to present her celeb in the best possible light. Ten for effort, though I HATED that paso.

This is all because the show has been from the start heavily biassed towards latin dancing. I assume this was because latin dancing is the nearest to stage dancing, which is the only style that television people - and most of the public - understand. Some of the male dancers are no better at ballroom than Anton is at latin, but no-one seems to notice that. Brendan of course is the best at both styles - a true 10-dance man.

The very first series was more ballroom based than Latin based, as far as I remember. But, yes, the focus has gone more to the Latin now. I wonder if it's because most of the pro dancers are Latin specialists that the focus has changed.

EDIT: Yes, some of the pros are no better at ballroom than Anton is at Latin but the difference is that they don't actually vocalise their distaste for ballroom, which Anton has done for Latin on more than one occasion.

But Brendan wasn't really that good with ballroom in the beginning which was the point!!! This was a clear example of what dedication a pro could do to improve himself. He had ten years and he utilised these years to perfect his ballroom choreography and dancing skills. Even Len (or one other judge in the panel) at one point said Brendan improved on his ballroom through the series. He and Anton are the two surviving ORIGINAL pros in this show, and where's Anton now? He remained obstinately stucked in his Latino Crapville and remained a mayor of that town for ten years!

Who was it that said latin is the illegitemate child of proffesional dancing?

Somebody who was p*ssed off they couldn't dance Latin, I assume

Noam Chomsky?

Yes, Brendan isn't actually a ten dancer, he's a Latin specialist, and Natalie Lowe is a ballroom specialist. However, despite being a ballroom specialist, Natalie's Latin is very good and Brendan's ballroom has improved over the years of Strictly, meaning that they were able to partner each other beautifully in the pro dances.

I've never heard of her.

True

Him, Terry, him.

Yes, as I have said elsewhere, I have always suspected that Brendan gets some of his choreography from studying the Hiltons' videos, or even going to Marcus for lessons (after dark of course!). As for Anton, I feel that it isn't obstinacy but lack of ability which is his problem. Even dancing ballroom he has a stiff, slick style, which I don't enjoy watching at all. Brendan is far more expressive in his movement.

He is so bad at Latin dances, its embarrassing for someone who is a pro smh.

Ah, the lovable troll, he actualised this apparent impossiblity, innit?

And Terry's reply

Respectfully I have to disagree when it comes to his ballroom. His posture I thought was immaculate, from the years I've watched Strictly, not that I know anything about ballroom dancing...

Brendan, the reason why I warmed to him (didn't like him in the beginning), was that I saw the improvement since series 4 (didn't watch SCD prior to that). His ballroom posture now is like Anton but his choreography is very organic and smooth (agree Brendan is quite expressive in his ballroom routines), and his pro demo with Natalie was a delight! Much as we joked about Lisa Snowdon turkey fiasco with Brendan, his ballroom choreography produced when paired with Lisa was a revelation.

Oh edy, it pains me to disagree with you of all people, but Antons dancing talents are very wide ranging.

I agree; I remember watching an interview of him and Erin where he said that he particularly didn't care about Latin dances but I think that he should at least try to be good at it. Cmon how long has it been in the show ? And he is STILL not good at it !!!!??!! . SMFH .