Why not . I think it would be great to compare two trad Pasos in the same week but you could have two different trad music choices .
We could have the tune Kevin used and Ashley and Ola could have El Gato Montes with both in authenic paso costumes, not in a ridiculous cowboy outfit, which makes a mockery of the dance .
El Gato Montes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt1bOQ20V3M

I love to listen to her in interviews. Its the accent - Polish meets East End costermonger circa 1910.

I don't see why not, that's exactly what they used to do when the show first started and they would normally only have two different dances each week. It still got great viewer figures and good critical reviews but, for whatever inexplicable reason, the BBC decided it needed to "youth it up" and started with all the stupid VTs and themes etc.


We've known for ages that the pros don't choose the music, I think originally the pros submitted a few pieces of music and then the producers chose which one they could use, then it changed to the pros being given a few different pieces to chose from.

What Ola actually said in response to a question from Zoe, was that she was a little bit annoyed at Craig's comment about the theme because they were asked to do a cowboy theme and she did the best she could with that. But even knowing this I don't have a problem with what Craig said because it was his opinion. The point for me is her comments were part of her response to Zoe asking if she would have liked a few more marks (what a stupid question), so Ola may not have mentioned her lack of choice otherwise. What I'm trying to say (and making a hash of it) is the pros would normally not even think of mentioning the producers' instructions one way or the other and it was only Zoe's questioning that caused Ola to mention it tonight.

Personally I think she did a great job, so I voted for them. I don't remember Ola ever choreographing a 'bad' routine, it all being down to the performance of her celeb at the end of the day i.e. their skill level. She doesn't take lots of risks with her choreography, but her routines do usually contain the correct technical content, which is more than I can say about all of the pros.

I also voted for Susanna & Kevin because I liked their Paso too, but I didn't think it was A_MAZ_ING or anything , just good. It reminded me of Austin's which is still my all time favourite.



I think bits of information have been coming out for the last few years, but this series we're looking out for it a bit more because of some of the choices have been so ridiculous we quite simply can't believe they came from the pros. After all these years we sort of have an idea of what a lot of the pros' styles are, so we can't believe they are responsible for a lot of what we're seeing this series.

I was thinking about this earlier tonight and suspect some of the pros will just say no outright if they really don't like an idea (Brendan), some will play along because it is just part of the entertainment (Anton), some will be willing to have a go (Ola), some will say yes and then just do what they ever they feel the music is telling them to do (Artem) and some might think as newbies they must do what they are told in case they blow their chances of being asked back (Karen). I think the days are gone when each pro gave the producers a list with several suggestions for each dance. It's my impression the pro meets the producer and gets given their music and any specific instructions like a theme - any discussion is limited to what can be done with their allocation.

Edit: PS Didn't mean to write an essay!

Well articulated and well said . I agree

Poor Aljaz get stuck with another Florence and the machine song for a paso this week while Kevin had a good traditional paso song last week.

And Natalie and Artem with a rihanna song for a tango

I like modern songs for some dances but imo dances like the paso and the tango in particular are so much better ( or have much more of an impact ) when a traditional song is used.

Don't agree hun, I think Rihanna songs work well for a tango. Louis' Disturbia tango on Halloween last year was brilliant. Artem & Natalie's Rihanna song is very staccato too so should work ok.

I guess it's just individual preferences then because I usually prefer when those dances have a traditional music.
Both should be great routines tomorrow though .

Crumbs that shows how out of touch I am. I thought Disturbia was a song by Jordan's former husband - Peter thingy with the pecs

Ha! I noticed that. She must have a very good music ear. And she has adopted Estuary grammar as well to fit in

A good music ear is very valuable

You have to start wondering whether this is why Aliona and Katya (and others????) fell out of grace with the producers.

Maybe they weren't prepared to meekly toe the line?

Exactly - I have posted elsewhere that this year there seems to be some ruthless coincidences..

Deborah tweets she is safe after the Saturday show - out the next week.

Karen has widely reported blazing row with Ola during group dance rehearsals - eliminated the following week.

Anton - talks over Tess during her pieces to camera on the live show, (she has to shut him up live on air) - eliminated same week.


This stuff happens every year, but I do not recall a series where the transgressors were out the next week, or same week.

It illustrates the extent to which Strictly is fixed (plausible deniability of course). I'm grateful to Ola for providing the clearest evidence yet. Given the way in which the producers appear to have treated Aliona, I wonder how Ola will fare.

So does that mean we should expect Ola out this week?

It would not be a surprise to me - if you got Ashley v Abbey or Natalie in the DDO, then Ashley's a goner.

Mark is the only "sympathy" contestant left so may do well in public vote (like Lisa Riley / Widdy etc)

This means in the next weeks it will only be "good" dancers in DDO, so the judges can knock out whom they want.

Producers clearly want a female winner, so final 4 to me look like any 3 from Natalie, Abbey, Susanna, Sophie.
Plus one token male, who is clearly going to be Patrick (he is in a BBC show, Ashley is not)

The Jordans might be well advised to have alternative plans for next year.

I thought she handled it really tactfully (and I didn't mind the cowboy idea personally) but it makes you wonder which of the other themes were producer-inspired this year.

My money's on the Rachel/Pasha Bonnie and Clyde routine for one.

So quite fun to work out which theme for each couple has been dreamed up by the producers:

Ra-ra Rasputin for in a Kremlin themed Cha for Natalie and Artem?
Kevin and Susanna's Indiana Jones Jungle samba obviously
Sophie's lobster around the dustbins jive?
Abbey's Merseyside tribute jive pretty obviously (even in producer's pick she gets a vaguely appropriate one!)
Mark's Bond Mash-up?

Yet the overall effect is genuinely charming, I think.

I think most of the Halloween routines are picked for them. Probably most the dances in any themed week (and even non-themed) week as well.

Tony Jacklin's sparkly Pringle Charleston.
Deborah's table push.
Julien's table top tango

I think the list is endless

If only Ola knew what Craig revealed later on Monday on ITT she could use a whip instead of a cape and Craig would be salivating But seriously, even without that knowledge she could use something more theme fitting and not try to force the classic things on it.

You forgot the awful Spaceman outfit.

I think this one's a given - Artem's grimace through gritted teeth was rather telling.

i also read that Fiona thought she would be in the DO due to the dreadful Blur song that she and Anton pasoed to

somehow I don't think that song would have been Anton's choice

Disturbia (written by Chris Brown) had a sizzling beat
Nartem's tango song (written by a different team) is more a trance/rave song so may not work as well