Natalie
Abbey
Sophie
Patrick
Ashley
Susannah
Mark
Ben

Um no, I don't pretend to forget Natalie's name. Surely you have read enough posts of mine to know that?

Yes but thats just a play on words, you see her as irrelevant to the show because you see her as a pro and cannot even be bothered to rate her alongside the others.
Ah well, its just a show afterall.

Looking at the lists it does strike me that we do have a very interchangeable middle pack this year. If you take out Natalie and Tony and Dave at either end of the spectrum, the celebs have all been relatively decent - not that they've all done well, but even if you look at someone like Fiona who showed decent potential early on, it does seem like this was a pretty open year.

It makes you wonder how the celebs in that middle pack who have under-performed would have faired with different pro partners or how the ones who are over-performing would have faired with someone else too.

The middle bunch of celebs tend to move up and down and infront or behind each other depending on the dances sometimes. What is certain though of the now remaing bunch is that Natalie is top (imo) and Ben is bottom (imo). Those two people's positions are the most clean cut for me, on technicality level at least. I woud say Natalie is the best overall in general too, and even say Ben is generally the worst overall (as his performances for me are as awkard and restricted as his dancing) but peforance seems to be more something that people can see at different extremes, whereas if someone can't actually do the steps the opinion is more universal.

1. Natalie
2. Abbey
3. Patrick
4. Susanna
5. Ashley
6. Sophie
7. Mark
8. Ben

Although I accept we haven't seen what Mark can really do due to his injury. He could barely get up the stairs last night

1st - Natalie (Obviously. Anyone can see she has the most talent)
2nd - Abbey
3rd - Ashley
4th - Susanna
5th - Sophie
6th - Patrick
7th - Ben
8th - Mark

Play on words?

Old Lady said I persistently forgot Natalie's name which is a load of old tripe.

Not my problem if you fell for it.

1. Natalie
2. Ashley
3. Abbey
4. Patrick
5. Susanna
6. Sophie
7. Mark
8. Ben

I think 2-4 (even #5 sometimes) are all really close within dance ability and can change week to week.

A little round-up.

Ignoring Natalie, because if she wasn't the highest rated there would be something very wrong, the order of ability between the competitors is perceived as:

Ashley (most 2nd place votes with 7)
Abbey (Just behind him with 6)
Patrick (all over the place lol. 5 placed him right behind Natalie, but 5 also thought he was trailing in 6th or 7th place on the ability table)
Susanna (best she could do was 4 votes for 3rd best)
Sophie (only 2 for 3rd best)
Mark (9 placed him second to last)
Ben (14 people placed him in last place!)

Natalie
Patrick/Susanna - Patrick is inconsistent, but when he dances well, he is the better of the two.
Abbey
Ashley
Sophie
Mark
Ben

Natalie
Abbey
Ashley
Patrick
Susanna
Sophie
Mark
Ben

Hmmm, well its fine if you yourself find Natalie irrelevant as thats your perogative, but to try and make her so in regard to all those of us who posted in this thread is rather bad mannered. Natalie is also a contender despite your wish to airbrush her out.

My order list for dance ability (and I'm not a dancer, so I may miss some of the finer points such as the complexity of steps that each contestant attempts) is:

1) Natalie
2) Patrick
3) Sophie/Abbey/Susanna (I honestly couldn't split them)
6) Ashley
7) Mark
8) Ben

I'd like to see Sophie or Abbey win though - because I like what they bring to the dance in terms of personality.

1. Natalie
2. Abbey
3. Patrick
4. Sophie
5. Ashley
6. Susanna
7. Ben
8. Mark

Indeed dancing ability is a lot more than ability to perform particular steps or poses. There's also musicality, emotional content, vivacity, acting ability, and physical agility. Natalie wouldn't top my list on any of those so far - her back problem doesn't help on the last and her music choices and choregraphy haven't helped on many dances.

The net result is that anyone of 6 people can (and have) produce the best dance - with the right choregraphy - in any given week. who wins may depend on who does what when, and who connects with the audience doing it.

Natalie (obvious)
Ashley (ignored)
Abbey (Graceful)
Patrick (great timing)
Susanna ( good footwork)
Sophie ( Enjoyable)
Mark (Enjoyable)

We had no idea you knew him that well Betty.

This thread isn't about who is a contender

Everyone knows Natalie is the most competent - naturally so after 16 years continuous training. I thought it would be interesting to show who we perceived to have the most and least ability of the rest of the pack.

If you look at the 'top' spot in my post that you quoted, I quite clearly stated Ashley was considered SECOND. Ergo, no one was airbrushed out, I was just giving the others a chance to come out from under Natalie's shadow.

Overnights - Abbey edges slightly into second place as nagel's rating of Ashley drops him to 3rd overall in the ability stakes. No change for the others.

Abbey
Ashley
Patrick
Susanna
Sophie
Mark

Interesting that in the majority Abbey is in the top 3 ..mmmmmm

1-Natalie
2-Abbey
3-Ashley
4-Patrick
5-Susanna
6-Sophie
7-Mark

She is by far the best dancer after Natalie imo then Ashley comes a close second. She should make the finale for being so consistent and producing good routines (& quite challenging) but her only downfall comes down to Votes; Im sure she picked quite a few support since her B2 appearance but we still dont know how her voting looks.

This week with the salsa is going to be a real test to her voting fanbase imo. There is hope for her (for the finals ) if she manages to avoid the B2 this week.

1. Natalie
2.Susannah
3.Ashley
4.Abbey
5.Patrick
6.Sophie
7.Mark

it remains churlish and smacks of sour grapes. She is as worthy a contestant as the others

Natalie
Abbey
Susanna (apart from cha cha!!!!)
Patrick
Ashley
Sophie
Mark