Originally Posted by Pink Knight:
“There's been quite a few celebs who have done a good or great Charleston and been ordinary at a lot of the other dances.
Her whole persona suited this dance.”
True, but I think that's why she's finally become interesting. Was the Charleston just a case of perfect mesh of dance and contestant? Will her Latin be awkward or surprisingly good? Will she sufficiently improve her ballroom? In short, is she a contender? Suddenly people are asking questions and talking about her. She has our attention. Whereas with Natalie (my favourite so far) we sort of know.
When the line-up was announced I had Sophie in my head as somebody I might like. I'm quite drawn to an Icy, coolly detached persona. I think tracing back to when, as a teenager I went through a 1970's Bowery/CBGB's music scene phase and girl crushed on the young Debbie Harry (even though she's way before my time!) But Debbie Harry always seemed very knowing. Beneath the detached veneer, under the artifice there seemed to be an intelligence, a sense of irony. I haven't really detected anything beneath the surface in Sophie so far, but I'd like to. It may be there, it may just take time to come through. Or it might be there but will never be apparent on Strictly. Alternatively, it might not be there at all. We shall see.
In week One I lost interest in her. She's stunning to look at but was a bit meh. I also felt people were overstating her dancing elegance. Yes, she looks very elegant as a
woman but as a
dancer I found her ballroom a little awkward compared to, say Abbey's. Now
she was elegant.
Sophie has won me back with her Charleston but I have no idea if it will last. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Brendan. His cool, jazzy, authentic Charleston choreography impressed me. I've always felt he's best suited to brassy, bolshy women. Iwasn't sure if he'd "get" Sophie or if they'd be in tune. This weeks samba will be the acid test, but so far so good.