Is it Sophie they 'have it in for'?

Or is this all about winding up Brendan so he flips into rant and rave mode?

Without James, there's nobody to stand up to the judges - hence the provocation of Brendan?

And unfortunately, Sophie gave them the ammunition. No hip action - and her face slipping into awkward smiles. She has to sell the dance.

It's frustrating given how terrific her Charleston was - no wonder Brendan is narked - but he needs to send her to acting classes if he wants results.

There could have been more hip action, but I didn't mind her smiling, it wasn't all the way through, and I'd rather that than "sex-face", which, to use a word deployed by others in a different context, I often consider "gurning".

The judges never seem to like any of the Rumbas. Maybe they should all do one and show the celebs how its done. Darcy and Len, Craig and Bruno!

Personally, I wish they'd just drop the damn thing altogether. I loathe it. I know this is just my opinion, though.

I like Sophie (I like all the contestants this year, as I have in previous years) and I didn't really enjoy Saturday as I didn't feel many of them put in a good 'performance' (with the possible exception of Ashley and Ola, but even that one wasn't up to the usual standard).

I know exactly what everyone means about the 'performance' side of Sophie's dance. It was very erratic and it spoiled it for me (even more so because I don't like the rumba in the first place, of course. Although there was one performed earlier this series which I did enjoy, despite myself, and I can't remember who it was, now!).

I do find her very 'reserved' as a dancer, which is such a shame as I really want her to do well and I loved her Charleston, which was joyful and full of performance. But she hasn't moved on from that, it seems.

As for the judges' marking, they were critical with everyone this week and marked everyone down (well, aside from Mark and Ben, whose scores I felt were a little higher than they deserved or than they would have given in previous years). I blame Blackpool, personally, because everone was giddy there, including Len, Bruno, Darcy and even Craig!

Did love the opening number of the results show, by the way, with Craig and Bruno weilding wooden spoons etc!

yeap I'd say its time for the judges to demonstrate what they want.

yes, Brendan was right, you only have to look at rumbas danced by James and Ola or Darren and Lilia to see the softer, romantic rumba - James and Cheries rumba springs to mind also

if anyone has every been to the large competitions (Blackpool etc) the rumba is (to my mind) danced as Sophie and Brendan danced it - I havent ever seen a (for want of a better word) sexed up rumba in a competition

thanks for info olivej

IIRC they didn't think much of James & Denise's rumba due to hip action hiding behind a multitude of layers but scored it very highly (38) none the less, because she sold it.

And I'm please to see Craig explain himself better on ITT and pretty much confirm that. It isn't that the connection is never there, it's that it isn't being maintained. Part of which may be her reluctance or perhaps inability to "give" herself completely to the dance.
Last edited by RachelBlackburn : 25-11-2013 at 20:38

I think she is reluctant because she can't.

Sorry, I don't know what IIRC means

If I recall correctly/If I recollect correctly.

This. ^^

thank you - I learn something new every day!

A lack of 'connection' won't be solved by acting classes.

It's not an emotion to be tapped into or faked, it's a physical state between two dance partners and Sophie will only learn it if she is actually taught to dance rather than taught a choreographed routine.

That's a really good point. It reminds me of an ITT segment that showed Sophie being utterly bewildered by Brendan teaching her a routine by showing her a bit and saying 'ta-di-da' or something along those lines. I know those segments are edited to within an inch of their lives, but it was telling that it showed communication issues in the training room.

Edit: Ah, found it - from 4.50ish - Sophie on ITT

Hate to suggest it, but is it Brendan's training method that is at fault here?

Can you teach that though,? I mean expressing the connection feeling through body movement.Or is it an innate gift?

It's not a gift, it's a dance technique! Connection is two 'frames' responding to one another. If you and I were in the same room I'd get you to hold your hands up, palms facing me, I'd place my palms to yours (like a mime artist demonstrating an invisible window) and we'd both lean in ever so slightly, just until we were giving an equal amount of pressure, so neither of us would move away and neither of us fall forward, our hands in remaing equally between us.

That feeling should remain whatever happens next, the physical hand hold can change but the equality of pressure creates a balance. Keep that balance and two people move as one, 'connection'.

Sometimes you meet someone and dance with them and your connection is super natural and as you don't need to work at it it becomes much easier to smile at each other, play with the music and interact (looks like 'chemistry' in judge speak) sometimes you really have to work at a connection and it's harder to layer the other stuff on top. It's worth the effort in the long run!

I don't think Brendan is making the effort.

I can't watch that right now but I will!

I suspect Brendan is at least partly at fault. Doing and teaching aren't the same skill and many dancers teach only as retirement plan or out of financial neccessity, not all are innately suited to teaching, luckily some are and some work at it. Others just coast on an old reputation.

I've never been taught by Brendan though, not met a student of his, so of course, we can only speculate!
,

Am so annoyed Brendan more than any pro starts with basics instead of eye catching tricks, he does full routines in hold and with the correct footwork and always has don't this Alcan only be done with the correct techniques which he starts with

It reminds me of Masterchef. You want to cook something simple? Please, do, but it must be beyond perfect. Brendan went for a technical rumba without simulating copulation on the dancefloor and the judges could not get outraged and picked on everything missing or wrong instead.

And ITT Zoe agreed

Zoe says that every dance was great. She's scripted to say that absolutely everything about the show is amazing. Never will a couple appear on ITT and she says 'Didn't think much of that thing you did on Saturday. Are you going to try to be less rubbish this week?'

Actually, that's just not true. The more you keep a celeb lady in tight hold, the easier it is to fake it.

That's why the judges tell pretty much every single lady celeb that they are better in hold.

Have you got anything I can see re: teaching methods? I'd love to see for myself how Brendan teaches basics.

As you are the resident Brendan expert, can you tell me what exercises he uses to teach grounding, weight change, posture, frame and connection? And basic footwork? The only thing I've ever noticed is the way he pushes on Sophie's head to make her lean back (why doesn't he teach starting that movement by pulling up in the core?)

Is this the same Zoe that said to Julian how we would all miss him?