Is that the grumpy old has been who's the only one qualified to actually judge Latin/ballroom ?

It was more American Smooth than VW so didn't deserves 10s IMO.

I really enjoyed it but it was a Smooth not a VW. A VW should be repetitive (if that's what you mean about being in hold and maintaining rotation) - that's how you demonstrate the technique required. If the judges are going to criticize others (Iveta) for not doing the allocated discipline, then the same rules should apply to Artem. He gets away with murder week after week and there's a lot less excuse for him than others who don't have partners up to learning proper choreography.

Totally agree! I am baffled by the judges sometimes

agree - they were out of hold most of the time and didn't deserve any 10s

I love a proper VW, they are mesmerising and utterly beautiful

Beautifully danced by Natalie, but not a VW. It was an AS VW. So I don't think it could have had a perfect score. Unlike some people, I think it is correct that the celeb is penalised for the pro's choreography. If you dance disallowed steps in a pro am comp you get disqualified and so docking a mark is actually quite lenient.

it was a lovely dance, beautifully executed. i have noticed that although the judges comment briefly sometimes on adherence to style, they are less likely to deduct marks than they used to be a few years ago, so on performance they deserved their place at the top of the leaderboard, including some (but not all) 10s

although i have to say the dance i actually enjoyed the most was patrick's.

Don't remember a single one but still remember Artem & Holly's amazing lamppost VW.

I don't tend to remember dances though, my mind wipes at the end of every series.

Artistic, yes, but not nearly enough Viennese Waltzing (I mean, there was barely ANY at all). Ergo not worthy of a 10 (but probably deserved to be top of the leaderboard given what all the other dances were like).

Natalie Lowe & Scott Maslen showed, on Halloween night, that a proper Viennese Waltz, whilst repetitive, needn't be boring. It can be utterly spellbinding. Artem had to rely on all the extra stuff to create the same magic. I don't think he's quite the master choreographer he's made out to be sometimes.

me too. for the dances and the contestants. its probably for the best. imaging carrying most of that lot around in your memory for ever...

I agree!

10's were more than generous considering that they did NOT dance a Viennese Waltz. American Smooth maybe but Viennese waltz - No Way.
Therefore 10's should not have been given nor 9's as they were supposed to judge and mark a Viennese Waltz not anything else.

I would add to this that it still shouldn't have been a 10 even if it had been a VW AS - there were no lifts so it was lacking in content for an AS.

erm, yep, that's basically what I said!! Not sure why you are quoting me when we are practically saying the same thing

BIB Er......it wasn't a VW AS

Also the pro VW done in Blackpool a few series ago, utterly spellbinding

It was a beautiful dance, but, his VW with Kara was simply sublime. My favourite ever dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMMS6AG5_e0

Well, it certainly wasn't a VW as there was hardly any VW in it.

I was commenting as others have that it had the character of a VW based AS rather than a VW and hence not deserving of a 10 as a VW but I would go further and say it wouldn't be worthy of a 10 as a VW AS either.

Certainly wasn't a Viennese waltz beautifully danced but not worth 10's. She is by far the best dancer but if I am being honest I don't enjoy watching her dances, yes she gets the steps right and yes she uses her acting skills to characterise them but there is just something missing for me

I thought it was beautiful and beautifully danced.

I do think some of the pros, especially with the VW get a bit ansty about the viewers potentially finding it boring hence all the 'faffing about'. We've seen in the past that they've put lifts in where they're not meant to be and it seems like a calculated risk to lose a few judges marks in hope of getting the audience on side and being more memorable.

That was no were near a v waltz... Total farce it got 10s even artem questioned by len knew it!!

totally agree sid did I just say that

This wasn't a Viennese waltz. No matter how beautiful (I tend to disagree on that anyway), about 60 -70 % was out of hold. There wasn't the rotation or much of the waltzing going around at all. It was more like a show dance, minus the lifts. Not happy.

I'm a huge fan of Natalie and Artem, and did enjoy their dance, but it was missing the 'wow' factor that Kara and Artem had.

I think it deserved to top the leaderboard, with at least the first 10 of the current series, but I'd hoped for more.

Anyone else notice how 'careful' Artem is around Natalie? I hope that's a good sign for him and Kara (who looked really good in the audience tonight).