Kara and Artem's blistering performance 2 years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2bNrgEl_g8
(starts 2.51)

Artem's best work. *Applauds*

You're right hun, it doesn't have to be hip grinding to be moving. But they did have the advantage of being in love. But then I can name a bunch of rumbas that were better than Sophie's, Natalie's was at least.

But off the top of my head

Cherie
Rachel
Kara
Natalie
Colin Jackson
Matt d'Angelo
Matt Baker

were all better.

You know, I think the rumba only works if the couple can convince us totally that they are in love.

(whether genuine or not)

Fantastic performance.
Santana's "Samba Pa Ti" helped a lot.



But, you just can't get away from Bruce's irritating voice, can you?

lol, you'll be dreaming about him

Rachel, Cherie and Colin are clear standouts from that list.

It seems to me that all the dances are erring far to much towards show dance story telling and less about the technical aspects. It's getting harder to tell what they are supposed to be and without the announcer we'd be struggling to know -at least in our house

Kara was that years Natalie... Did not deserve to win... Hate this dance

Brendan won more rumba pro competitions than artem too

Nice rumba but it doesn't HAVE to be done that way. I prefer the more romantic kind than 'smut'. I still find Artem's 'sexy/romantic' face slightly scary!?

Why does there only have to be one way to approach or interpret a dance?

I adored Kara's Rhumba (though preferred Rachel's) and whilst Sophie's didn't quite reach their standard I liked what she and Brendan did with the dance. It was sensitive and captivating in its own way. Copying Kara's wouldn't have suited them.

Look we all know that the showdance is Brendan's speciality. Anyone got the link ?

Lol

The couple don't have to look as if they are in love. Below are two rumbas with very basic steps performed by top professionals.

Mind you it helps if the man looks like Sergey (in second clip)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgwyi...80B04B69D816CF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn1f5K3Jy1U

Seconded!!

Steamy!!

I wouldn't have called Artem and Natalies VW a VW but many loved it despite lack a content.

Blistering? more a slow passionate simmer....and it was 3 years ago.

Cherie and James's one is my favourite closely followed by Rachel's and Vincent's.

I thought their VW was enchanting but my issue with it was there weren't enough of the turns and reverse turns so it was more of a content than style issue. I thought Sophie and Brendan's Rhumba looked like it had plenty of Rhumba going on but created a slightly different mood to what we normally get.

Brendan has choreographed the best rumbas i have seen on strictly, so he certainly knows how to do a rumba. He choreographed tonight's rumba to suit Sophie. Raunchy may suit certain people, but not Sophie. And so he did a good job suiting it to her.

I thought Kara was brilliant but she did make a few mistakes in some of her dances. There were a few stumbles in that that weren't picked up on.

and it's only one way to do a rumba... there are plenty of ways

Absolutely.

Nicole Cuter tweeted the following tonight:

"Completely agree with @BrendanCole #historyofrumba is so much more than is typically portrayed by most who don't know!Well said B"

I'm sorry but I think the best rumbas I've seen on Strictly were choreographed by of all people, James. His and Cherie's rumba set the bar IMO. I can't remember on of Brendan's rumbas to be truthful. He was right about one thing, a rumba doesn't have to be raunchy but it helps if you don't get frostbite watching one.

I don't remember one of James' rumbas so I guess we're trying to prove the same point, right?