Originally Posted by Spin turn:
“Tend to agree. Generally speaking her samba wasn't bad at all I thought. Lots of content and reasonably well executed. It would be easy to pick holes in the technique, but then it is early days. Maybe the mood wasn't exactly carnival/party dance. I.e. She could have let go more, but I think that's asking for quite a lot at this stage.
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".”
Originally Posted by Spin turn:
“The running promenades need quite a lot of energy just to keep timing and get into a reasonable position (although they're also complicated by confusing footwork, which I guess matters less on Strictly). So I think it is a bit unfair to say she was dragged around. No she didn't excel,but it's her first latin. Getting samba as a first latin is a pretty tough deal.
Actually I was more disappointed by her ballroom last week which was very soft and pretty, but which needed work on posture/hold, although to be fair, other aspects of the technique were quite good (hence its smoothness, which you don't get if the technique is poor).”
Interesting, thanks Spin
Originally Posted by An Thropologist:
“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.”


Fair points Anth!