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Sophie's swan song |
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#1 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 828
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Sophie's swan song
Surely it is evident by now that Sophie's charleston is the only dance she will excel at.........
I do think it is time Brendon had another win,but his partner, could not execute ballroom and her samba was lacking depth and energy tonight. Freestyle (which is what Charleston really is) appears to be all that she excels in....... |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 16,125
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Oooch. That's a tad harsh. I was totally underwhelmed by her samba. It seems one man's lack lustre is another man's cool. But give the girl a chance - its only week 3 and I think she is doing OK.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 28,896
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The Samba was better than I hoped it would be (when it was announced earlier in the week that that's the dance Sophie would be doing) but not quite as good as the training clips suggested. Somewhere in between.
I think the issue was more to do with style of presentation and mood than the content and execution. Maybe someone with relevant dance knowledge can confirm or refute that. I thought Sophie managed to make the more laid back approach work (but I accept I'm in the minority and that this approach probably won't work with a Cha Cha or Salsa!). However the steps, timing, musicality, balance (apart from the ending) all seemed fine to me unless I missed things that others saw. Could have had a more pronounced Samba bounce maybe? Overall I was quite happy with what I saw. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,967
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Doesn't swansong mean the final thing that you do? The Charleston wasn't the final dance that she danced.
She said throughout the week that she was struggling with the Samba, which is notoriously the most difficult dance and a tall and lean body shape is known for not being the ideal shape for a latin dance. Despite this, she still got great scores and great comments, particularly for the content and especially for week three. Ballroom is obviously going to be better suited to her and she could end up creating some particularly special moments. I think she is going to keep getting better and better in the latin and may even become a master of that too. We shouldn't penalise her just because she had a fantastic dance one week, and a slightly less fantastic dance the next week. It is only week three after all. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,263
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Quote:
The Samba was better than I hoped it would be (when it was announced earlier in the week that that's the dance Sophie would be doing) but not quite as good as the training clips suggested. Somewhere in between.
I think the issue was more to do with style of presentation and mood than the content and execution. Maybe someone with relevant dance knowledge can confirm or refute that. I thought Sophie managed to make the more laid back approach work (but I accept I'm in the minority and that this approach probably won't work with a Cha Cha or Salsa!). However the steps, timing, musicality, balance (apart from the ending) all seemed fine to me unless I missed things that others saw. Could have had a more pronounced Samba bounce maybe? |
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#6 |
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 960
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She might be like Cherie Lunghi, who was graceful and classy in the ballroom but struggled in the latin.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DOTS are evil!
Posts: 32,338
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Not a massive a Sophie fan, the mood of every dance is the same, cool and quirky, but way to write a girl off.
![]() ![]() ![]() I have no doubt that she will make at least the semis, almost certainly the final and I wouldn't be surprised if she won. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 16,125
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Quote:
The Samba was better than I hoped it would be (when it was announced earlier in the week that that's the dance Sophie would be doing) but not quite as good as the training clips suggested. Somewhere in between.
I think the issue was more to do with style of presentation and mood than the content and execution. Maybe someone with relevant dance knowledge can confirm or refute that. I thought Sophie managed to make the more laid back approach work (but I accept I'm in the minority and that this approach probably won't work with a Cha Cha or Salsa!). However the steps, timing, musicality, balance (apart from the ending) all seemed fine to me unless I missed things that others saw. Could have had a more pronounced Samba bounce maybe? When the pros use a characterisation which is different to the one that belongs with the dance style it is usually to masque piss poor dancing. But Sophie isn't bad so there is no need to disguise her dancing with such distractions. For me the mood/style are integral to the dance and if you mess with this element, the essence of the dance goes for a burton too. One could dance a waltz in the style of an excited terrier or a pantomime horse but that's not what a waltz is supposed to be like. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,736
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It was hard to judge because the Charleston was so amazing. The relative messes things around. I watched Rachel and thought she'd improved. I watched Sophie and thought she'd slipped. But which actually was the best?
Plus samba is more difficult... I think Rachel's personal mini-breakthrough was in getting more the spirit of the dance (still with errors). Sophie got into the feel of it in parts but not all the way through. Her training videos had made me hope for more. But it's way too early to say Charleston is her only dance. I imagine a fantastic Quickstep, a very clean-looking jive... It's very early in the comp to say she's reached her limit. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,736
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Quote:
Well I am no samba expert but do dance all the other Latin American styles in some shape or form and in my opinion cool and laid back is at odds with the style of the dance.
When the pros use a characterisation which is different to the one that belongs with the dance style it is usually to masque piss poor dancing. But Sophie isn't bad so there is no need to disguise her dancing with such distractions. For me the mood/style are integral to the dance and if you mess with this element, the essence of the dance goes for a burton too. One could dance a waltz in the style of an excited terrier or a pantomime horse but that's not what a waltz is supposed to be like. ![]() very funny What did you think about Louis's samba last year? (Was that a samba, the cool cool dance that started by the bar?) |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 455
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She was terrible tonight. It's a shame that the BBC are so desperate for the show to be at least slightly competitive that they will have the judges treat the public like idiots. I particularly liked their spin job on her "performance" trying to sell it as a cool and relaxed style. Erm no, she offered nothing, no fun, no effort. Brendan dragged her limp, lifeless body around like a corpse, in between her clumsy flat footed and out of time steps. For me, you could even argue that Dave was better tonight. At least he entertained (or at least tried).
I have nothing against her but when you combine a weak cast with a dance like the charleston (where even the likes of chris hollins and nicky byrne can impress) then there's always the danger of talking yourself into a corner with short sighted praise. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 16,125
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Quote:
She was terrible tonight. It's a shame that the BBC are so desperate for the show to be at least slightly competitive that they will have the judges treat the public like idiots. I particularly liked their spin job on her "performance" trying to sell it as a cool and relaxed style. Erm no, she offered nothing, no fun, no effort. Brendan dragged her limp, lifeless body around like a corpse, in between her clumsy flat footed and out of time steps. For me, you could even argue that Dave was better tonight. At least he entertained (or at least tried).
I have nothing against her but when you combine a weak cast with a dance like the charleston (where even the likes of chris hollins and nicky byrne can impress) then there's always the danger of talking yourself into a corner with short sighted praise. However I might be jumping to conclusions because I have marvelled in the past that so many of Brendan's partners have this issue and it has crossed my mind whether it Is something he does or doesn't do that is the common factor. Maybe he can't bring himself to have the pelvic floor conversation - Nah that can't be it. ![]() You know Monkey - I can't for the life of me remember Louis' samba now. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,736
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Quote:
I think this might be where she lost the spirit of samba. I wouldn't go so far as describing her as a corpse but have a vague recollection she didn't engage her core. (Translation -floppy from rib cage to hip).
However I might be jumping to conclusions because I have marvelled in the past that so many of Brendan's partners have this issue and it has crossed my mind whether it Is something he does or doesn't do that is the common factor. Maybe he can't bring himself to have the pelvic floor conversation - Nah that can't be it. ![]() You know Monkey - I can't for the life of me remember Louis' samba now. But maybe it is possible to go against the usual emotional tenor of a dance???
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,161
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Quote:
She was terrible tonight. It's a shame that the BBC are so desperate for the show to be at least slightly competitive that they will have the judges treat the public like idiots. I particularly liked their spin job on her "performance" trying to sell it as a cool and relaxed style. Erm no, she offered nothing, no fun, no effort. Brendan dragged her limp, lifeless body around like a corpse, in between her clumsy flat footed and out of time steps. For me, you could even argue that Dave was better tonight. At least he entertained (or at least tried).
I have nothing against her but when you combine a weak cast with a dance like the charleston (where even the likes of chris hollins and nicky byrne can impress) then there's always the danger of talking yourself into a corner with short sighted praise. Dave bless his heRt tried but stomped about a lot , it is fine if you don't like Sophie's style but it is foolish to now acknowledge the huge technical ability that she has that Dave could never bring in a million years. It is also fine if you don't like her why not just say that rather than spout rubbish about Dave being better. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,268
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She danced well this week, just not quite the same standard as last week. I think she will be there for a while yet but there's something about her I just can't warm to. A touch of the Denise Van Outens maybe?
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#16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,161
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I don't think so, no banter with her, she is just a quiet person, not everyone is "on " or bubbly all the time
I like her as she loves her husband and kids, she knows who she is and is working hard to produce unique dances , choreographed really well by Brendan. If you want OTT happy smiley on persona you are not going to get that with Sophie. If you appreciate fun and quirky , with cool and different then that's what you have with Sophie, I get more of a Holly persona from her, but better in that she is not a lazy moo. I love them both. |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 132
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We always see a lot of celebs struggling with the "mood" of the dance. Dances such as the samba, salsa, cha-cha, rhumba take them way out of their comfort zone - looking sexy, or sensual in front of millions of people is something a lot of people would struggle with if they're not overtly this type of person, especially towards the beginning of the show. Sophie has perfected this "too cool for school" image and I think it's going to be hard for her to break free from it. I reckon she's going to get technically sounder - she certainly can dance but she'll need to match her personality to her technique.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,841
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Give her a chance, it's only week 3. At least she has the opportunity to grow and is not the finished article like Natalie.
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 584
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How, after three dances can you say that she will only be good in the Charleston. There are so many dances she hasn't tried yet. Her samba did seem a little safe and lacking in energy, but it had content. And I thought her waltz was really great. She is one of about 3 people that I look forward to what she's going to do each week.
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Strictly Central
Posts: 9,589
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Thought Sophie's samba was a bit underwhelming. Didn't like the costume (and I saw it very up close). The body isolation was the best bit (and she looked happy and relaxed up to this bit). After that she seemed a bit tense - it didnt look very natural - she is obviously not a Latin party girl.
She obviously rehearsed right up to going live - as she and Brendan were practicing samba rolls and running promenades in the marquee right next to the studio as I popped to the loo as Tess was doing some pre-records just before going live. |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,299
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How on earth can the Charleston have been her swan song when she's still in the competition?
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 239
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Quote:
She was terrible tonight. It's a shame that the BBC are so desperate for the show to be at least slightly competitive that they will have the judges treat the public like idiots. I particularly liked their spin job on her "performance" trying to sell it as a cool and relaxed style. Erm no, she offered nothing, no fun, no effort. Brendan dragged her limp, lifeless body around like a corpse, in between her clumsy flat footed and out of time steps. For me, you could even argue that Dave was better tonight. At least he entertained (or at least tried).
I have nothing against her but when you combine a weak cast with a dance like the charleston (where even the likes of chris hollins and nicky byrne can impress) then there's always the danger of talking yourself into a corner with short sighted praise. SCD is so much better when people evolve and grow with the odd set back on the way. Starting off as Natalie has done looking as though she could easily stand in for one of the pro dancers if one was suddenly taken ill makes for dull, dull, dull television. I'm loving this series so far. |
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#23 |
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Guest
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,390
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Quote:
The Samba was better than I hoped it would be (when it was announced earlier in the week that that's the dance Sophie would be doing) but not quite as good as the training clips suggested. Somewhere in between.
I think the issue was more to do with style of presentation and mood than the content and execution. Maybe someone with relevant dance knowledge can confirm or refute that. I thought Sophie managed to make the more laid back approach work (but I accept I'm in the minority and that this approach probably won't work with a Cha Cha or Salsa!). However the steps, timing, musicality, balance (apart from the ending) all seemed fine to me unless I missed things that others saw. Could have had a more pronounced Samba bounce maybe? Overall I was quite happy with what I saw. Cha cha is a sharper, flirty dance, but very slinky (sort of oily) hip, leg movements. The common issue with Strictly cha chas is the lack of floor contact, which for the basic movements and much of the more advanced should be contnuous and very "into the floor". |
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,035
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Quote:
She was terrible tonight. It's a shame that the BBC are so desperate for the show to be at least slightly competitive that they will have the judges treat the public like idiots. I particularly liked their spin job on her "performance" trying to sell it as a cool and relaxed style. Erm no, she offered nothing, no fun, no effort. Brendan dragged her limp, lifeless body around like a corpse, in between her clumsy flat footed and out of time steps. For me, you could even argue that Dave was better tonight. At least he entertained (or at least tried).
I have nothing against her but when you combine a weak cast with a dance like the charleston (where even the likes of chris hollins and nicky byrne can impress) then there's always the danger of talking yourself into a corner with short sighted praise. To then say I have nothing against her but... You obviously do, I remember Chris Charleston as overrated and full of silly moves, nickys I don't even remember, sophies was classic and in another week would have been all tens |
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#25 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,035
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As a member of the GBP who knows nothing about the technical aspects of dancing - I am stunned by fabulist's comment ! I am not a particular Sophie supporter and appreciate that Sophie!s samba was not traditional, but IMO she did brilliantly for the 3rd week of an amateur dance competition. She took it seriously, tried to do what she was taught, put her own spin on it and added to the general overall entertainment of the programme. Maybe it wasn't as knockout as the Charleston, but that!s all to the good as far as I am concerned.
SCD is so much better when people evolve and grow with the odd set back on the way. Starting off as Natalie has done looking as though she could easily stand in for one of the pro dancers if one was suddenly taken ill makes for dull, dull, dull television. I'm loving this series so far. |
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But maybe it is possible to go against the usual emotional tenor of a dance???