After watching dancers both celebs and professionals hopping around with alarming regularity - what is going on?

What input do the dancers have? - are they allowed to point out they are doing quite energetic movements where over -long bits of cloth may hinder them and may actually be dangerous?

This costume designer does not seem to be taking the actual dance steps into account.

I thought that too, until on ITT last week, the costume designer was talking us through the stages of making the costumes. She said she designs them, they make the basic costume (to fit the mannequins) then towards the end of the week the couples have a chat with her to let her know what needs changing. Sometimes her designs never make it to the dance floor at all because of the pro & celeb input when they see it for the first time. So really, I think it's up to the pro to figure out if a costume is going to be at risk from a high-kick or lift. So I gather, anyway.

On a similar note, I didn't like Sophie's dress one bit. I thought she looked frumpy in it, compared to other dresses she's worn. I'm probably going to be shot down for saying that though.

I don't know what your definition of frumpy is but that is not how I would catergorise a dress which at one point in her dance, had her leg bared to the hip.

Oh I know, that did look nice, you're right, but there just seemed to be too much over-net, especially with that gathering at the neck. Maybe that would have worked for me without the full fitted sleeves? Or a shorter front? Or more sleeve detail? I'm not a designer or clothes person, so I can't identify how I'd improve it. I did feel it didn't flatter her figure. Believe me, I adore Sophie - she's funny, smart, really natural and great with Brendan. When I saw the dress on ITT the other night I was hoping it'd be changed quite significantly, or that it would look better on her than on the mannequin.

Probably a more usual/clingy rumba dress would have been better in order to show off her movement better.

I thought she danced really well and was surprised at the judges' comments.