We've had discussions about traditional music - i.e Susanna's Paso compared to Abbey's Paso - being largely viewed as favourable, but what I'd like to see is one week when all the routines have to be danced as 'proper' dances.

No props, no "faffing" about, just proper steps, and, for example, the ballroom dances should be danced in hold the whole time, with none of the American Smooth elements they all use and the Latin should stop including jazz hands and disco, etc etc etc.

But then they'd have to change the name from Strictly Come Dancing to Precisely Come Dancing.

I suspect the producers believe that the GBP want to watch faffing around, leaps, lifts and jazz hands more than dancing. They may well be right I fear.

Maybe we could sell it to the producers as International Standard theme week!

They should change the name to Strictly Come Faffing About, because that's what's happening. They could do a theme week with everything as it should be, music and choreography and see if it's popular or not.

Good idea

I don't mind a bit of out of hold in a ballroom dance, but the majority of the dance should really be in hold.

They just turn into nothing dances otherwise, it's been particularly picked up on re Artem & Natalie's Quickstep & VW this series, but the majority of the other pros are guilty of it, too.

Regarding the Latin, Monkseal's nailed it by calling them all Salsambcha. Why can't alleged Latin specialists choreograph them as recognisable individual dances? A few have managed over the years now and then, but not many.

Oh, and for Chrissakes, no more Disco Latin.

I'm quite happy with the old 10 seconds messing about out of hold at the start of a dance to set the scene and the fancy finish too.

But as a non-dancer, after watching from the very first episode yonks ago, I have learned a little bit about each dance and want to be able to recognise the dance the couple are supposed to be doing. And then I want to see the judges taking into account the rules of each dance when they give their scores.

I'm like all kinds of music being used, but it does have to be a fit for the dance.

the first few series of Strictly were just that - no props, no faffing, just dance - its only since the DWTS producer jetted over and became the Strictly producer (I think thats what happened) that the props, faffing, jazz hands etc were allowed

I didn't know that,but it could explain a LOT.

I think I am right (someone please correct me if I am wrong) Im pretty sure that is what happened two or three series ago.......

I agree with a lot of points made. I would always prefer to see recognisable choreo for each dance, danced to strict tempo music. I would prefer to see Ballroom in hold for the entire dance, with perhaps a couple of bars messing about at the start and finish.Other than that, all Ballroom dances should be danced in hold, with the only exception being American Smooth. Some of the dances are almost unrecognisable, 2 that spring to mind are both Artems..VW and QS. Too much side by side dancing, could have been showdances rather than what they were supposed to be.

That explains a lot if correct. I've often thought that SCD is morphing into DWTS.