I think Abbey and Ben are constantly over marked apart from tonight, I think it was fair where everyone placed.
Sophies AT was undermarked
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I really like Sophie and wanted to be blown away by the routine but I was left feeling a bit deflated, it was IMO disjointed.
I thought it was a bit flat - not enough ochos and ganchos and she spent far too much time in the air.
Sorry, but while I thought Sophie's Charleston was brilliant I think she's gone steadily downhill since (until the AT) while most of the others have improved., Ashley, Patrick and Abbey have all done what the judges told them, Sophie's core is still flabby - and she looks like she's just going through the motions on the dance floor.
Sorry, but while I thought Sophie's Charleston was brilliant I think she's gone steadily downhill since (until the AT) while most of the others have improved., Ashley, Patrick and Abbey have all done what the judges told them, Sophie's core is still flabby - and she looks like she's just going through the motions on the dance floor.
When you are dealing with two sticks of limp celery for legs the best thing to do is pick them up and wave them around...which Brendan had the sense to do.
I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
Another dancer who does this to his partner is Anton, we see time after time him pushing pulling and manipulating his dancers around the floor, I don't think he can communicate to his partners what is required and so manipulates them about.
Oddly enough both of these are from first series, expectations of what celebs could achieve were probably different the and the 2 of them have not changed.
At the beginning of the series there was talk of Fiona having a lot of potential.
I feel both pro have squandered their celebs potential and I would love to see what they would be able to achieve with even 1 weeks teaching with one of the newer pros who have very different expectations of their celebs.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
Another dancer who does this to his partner is Anton, we see time after time him pushing pulling and manipulating his dancers around the floor, I don't think he can communicate to his partners what is required and so manipulates them about.
Oddly enough both of these are from first series, expectations of what celebs could achieve were probably different the and the 2 of them have not changed.
At the beginning of the series there was talk of Fiona having a lot of potential.
I feel both pro have squandered their celebs potential and I would love to see what they would be able to achieve with even 1 weeks teaching with one of the newer pros who have very different expectations of their celebs.
Originally Posted by coppertop1:
“I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
s.”
“I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
s.”
That was very noticable in training .Brendan seems to have no concept how to engage his partner and let them enjoy it .
Originally Posted by coppertop1:
“I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
Another dancer who does this to his partner is Anton, we see time after time him pushing pulling and manipulating his dancers around the floor, I don't think he can communicate to his partners what is required and so manipulates them about.
Oddly enough both of these are from first series, expectations of what celebs could achieve were probably different the and the 2 of them have not changed.
At the beginning of the series there was talk of Fiona having a lot of potential.
I feel both pro have squandered their celebs potential and I would love to see what they would be able to achieve with even 1 weeks teaching with one of the newer pros who have very different expectations of their celebs.”
“I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
Another dancer who does this to his partner is Anton, we see time after time him pushing pulling and manipulating his dancers around the floor, I don't think he can communicate to his partners what is required and so manipulates them about.
Oddly enough both of these are from first series, expectations of what celebs could achieve were probably different the and the 2 of them have not changed.
At the beginning of the series there was talk of Fiona having a lot of potential.
I feel both pro have squandered their celebs potential and I would love to see what they would be able to achieve with even 1 weeks teaching with one of the newer pros who have very different expectations of their celebs.”
Ohh controversial but actually I have been thinking along similar lines myself and not just this series. There is something about Brendan and his partners - they all end up with the same faults. I hadn't considered it in relation to Anton because hitherto he hasn't had the sort of partners that had potential. But worth thinking about.
I like Sophie and Brendan and I quite liked this AT but it didn't really wow me. I felt the 'oomph' was missing somehow .
Yes it was when compared to other dancers. And the crititism of her last night was harsh. Every judge had a good-go. Were they getting back at Brenden for his comments last week? If so the crititism should be levelled at him and not Sophie.
Originally Posted by duckylucky:
“That was very noticable in training .Brendan seems to have no concept how to engage his partner and let them enjoy it .”
“That was very noticable in training .Brendan seems to have no concept how to engage his partner and let them enjoy it .”
I agree with this and the previous few posts above it.
I think it's physical, he's not teaching her how to follow, just using her as a prop. There is no way she can enjoy it without being given some responsibility
As for the comparison with Anton, hadn't occurred to me but now it's been pointed out, yes! Neither of them trusts their celeb partners at all, they just do it all themselves, whilst giving their ladies excessive verbal praise.
I find her personality in the dances quite cold and passionless. She can dance the routine but the performance is lacking. If she performed then I think she could be a front runner.
I think she was in the right place. For me, there was some intricate leg work missing and their bodies were too far apart - there was no leaning into each other and she didn't put her head in his shoulder to dance (IYKWIM. not very technical description!). However, Brendan is the blame for that as much as Sophie. I seem to remember that his first ever AT was the yr he danced with Lisa snowdon and they learnt it together, so it's all new to him too.
I think the judges got the scores spot on for this dance but if you compare it to her others then yes it should of had higher marks but then those dances I think were marked too highly.
I think the judges are all over the place this series especially Craig who I usually agree with. I mean last night he gave Ben a 4 the same as Mark but Ben was a lot better. Another week they scored Abbey really highly but I thought it was nowhere near as good as their marks.
I think the judges are all over the place this series especially Craig who I usually agree with. I mean last night he gave Ben a 4 the same as Mark but Ben was a lot better. Another week they scored Abbey really highly but I thought it was nowhere near as good as their marks.
Originally Posted by coppertop1:
“I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
Another dancer who does this to his partner is Anton, we see time after time him pushing pulling and manipulating his dancers around the floor, I don't think he can communicate to his partners what is required and so manipulates them about.
Oddly enough both of these are from first series, expectations of what celebs could achieve were probably different the and the 2 of them have not changed.
At the beginning of the series there was talk of Fiona having a lot of potential.
I feel both pro have squandered their celebs potential and I would love to see what they would be able to achieve with even 1 weeks teaching with one of the newer pros who have very different expectations of their celebs.”
“I don't think it is Sphies core that is the problem but her balance, Brendan pulls her about from lift to lift and she is only on the floor for long enough to just get her balance when she is off again getting lifted.
Jo Wood suffered like this , Victoria Pendleton suffered like this and we know Victorias core had a so of steel.
The common denominator here is Brendan, that training last week showed how he is dancing for himself and viewing his partner as a prop to be moved about, look at Sophie's face in that, she hasn't a clue what she is supposed to be doing, Brendan hasn't articulated it to her.
I feel that Brandan has squandered Sophie's potential, she has to know what is expected from her, he can't just push, pull and place her about.
She needs to be told what is required and given a chance to get her own balance so that she can feel the floor and dance with balance.
Another dancer who does this to his partner is Anton, we see time after time him pushing pulling and manipulating his dancers around the floor, I don't think he can communicate to his partners what is required and so manipulates them about.
Oddly enough both of these are from first series, expectations of what celebs could achieve were probably different the and the 2 of them have not changed.
At the beginning of the series there was talk of Fiona having a lot of potential.
I feel both pro have squandered their celebs potential and I would love to see what they would be able to achieve with even 1 weeks teaching with one of the newer pros who have very different expectations of their celebs.”
Originally Posted by duckylucky:
“That was very noticable in training .Brendan seems to have no concept how to engage his partner and let them enjoy it .”
“That was very noticable in training .Brendan seems to have no concept how to engage his partner and let them enjoy it .”
Originally Posted by An Thropologist:
“Ohh controversial but actually I have been thinking along similar lines myself and not just this series. There is something about Brendan and his partners - they all end up with the same faults. I hadn't considered it in relation to Anton because hitherto he hasn't had the sort of partners that had potential. But worth thinking about.”
“Ohh controversial but actually I have been thinking along similar lines myself and not just this series. There is something about Brendan and his partners - they all end up with the same faults. I hadn't considered it in relation to Anton because hitherto he hasn't had the sort of partners that had potential. But worth thinking about.”
Originally Posted by DiamondBetty:
“I agree with this and the previous few posts above it.
I think it's physical, he's not teaching her how to follow, just using her as a prop. There is no way she can enjoy it without being given some responsibility
As for the comparison with Anton, hadn't occurred to me but now it's been pointed out, yes! Neither of them trusts their celeb partners at all, they just do it all themselves, whilst giving their ladies excessive verbal praise.”
“I agree with this and the previous few posts above it.
I think it's physical, he's not teaching her how to follow, just using her as a prop. There is no way she can enjoy it without being given some responsibility
As for the comparison with Anton, hadn't occurred to me but now it's been pointed out, yes! Neither of them trusts their celeb partners at all, they just do it all themselves, whilst giving their ladies excessive verbal praise.”
I cannot disagree with any of the above points.
Originally Posted by DiamondDoll:
“I cannot disagree with any of the above points.”
“I cannot disagree with any of the above points.”
Nor me.
Such a shame Sophie was not with Ian. Who I feel might have actually taught her to dance and love doing so.
I thought they were in the right place on the board. Sophie didn't actually do too much
I get the impression that Brendan looses interest about half way through the competition if his partner is not as good as he would like or struggling. He makes up for third with impassioned please to the world about how hard they are working, but for me it's a smoke screen. I think Brendan only does Strictly now to promote his own show
I get the impression that Brendan looses interest about half way through the competition if his partner is not as good as he would like or struggling. He makes up for third with impassioned please to the world about how hard they are working, but for me it's a smoke screen. I think Brendan only does Strictly now to promote his own show
Originally Posted by Monaogg:
“Nor me.
Such a shame Sophie was not with Ian. Who I feel might have actually taught her to dance and love doing so.”
“Nor me.
Such a shame Sophie was not with Ian. Who I feel might have actually taught her to dance and love doing so.”
I think Ian Waite could have done wonders with her, and she would have been far more comfortable with him as a partner.
I think Sophie has been extremley unlucky with Brendan. It is such a shame!
I thought Sophie's AT was awful. I'm so disappointed. One of my favourite dances and one of my favourite celebs. The routine reminded me of 'Brenda's' efforts at the AT and show dance with Lisa Snowdon. Last night's AT was all about positioning and using Sophie's legs with little else. No engagement, no passion, little footwork and zero sensuality. 
Time for 'Brenda' to retire.
Time for 'Brenda' to retire.
Originally Posted by *Venetia*:
“I didn't really like it much. Too many lifts which didn't look very attractive and not many of the distinctive between the legs flicks (forgotten the name of the steps). Infact it reminded me a bit of the bacofoil dance.”
“I didn't really like it much. Too many lifts which didn't look very attractive and not many of the distinctive between the legs flicks (forgotten the name of the steps). Infact it reminded me a bit of the bacofoil dance.”
Originally Posted by Monaogg:
“Missed that wonderfully sensual sliding of the foot across the floor from both of them.
All I kept thinking was hooves
”
“Missed that wonderfully sensual sliding of the foot across the floor from both of them.
All I kept thinking was hooves
”
Originally Posted by Poppysinbloom:
“I thought Sophie's AT was awful. I'm so disappointed. One of my favourite dances and one of my favourite celebs. The routine reminded me of 'Brenda's' efforts at the AT and show dance with Lisa Snowdon. Last night's AT was all about positioning and using Sophie's legs with little else. No engagement, no passion, little footwork and zero sensuality.
Time for 'Brenda' to retire.”
“I thought Sophie's AT was awful. I'm so disappointed. One of my favourite dances and one of my favourite celebs. The routine reminded me of 'Brenda's' efforts at the AT and show dance with Lisa Snowdon. Last night's AT was all about positioning and using Sophie's legs with little else. No engagement, no passion, little footwork and zero sensuality.
Time for 'Brenda' to retire.”
I'm glad I wasn't the only one to get Bacofoil flashbacks! Sorry, OP, I know this started out as a positive thread about Sophie's AT, but I was bitterly disappointed with it. I'm a fan, honestly, and had high hopes that Sophie could deliver a smouldering performance in this coolest of dances. But I agree with others that Brendan let her down. I don't know whether he got help with the choreography (they maintain the pretence that it's all the pros' own work, but I simply don't believe it) but it had 'Brendan me fecit' stamped all over it...
Originally Posted by Judge Dread:
“Thought the judges were very harsh on Sophie. Not Charleston standard, but it was a very good AT.”
“Thought the judges were very harsh on Sophie. Not Charleston standard, but it was a very good AT.”
It was to Argentine Tango what Quorn is to a Steak and kidney in a pie.
Quorn can make a delicious pie but its not a good example of steak and kidney. This may have been a pleasing performance but it really wasn't a good Argentine Tango. It lacked the characteristics that make AT what it is.
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