I am looking forward to this as per my tweet to the SCD Band


The music Bajofondo's Montserrat is one of the few SCD tunes I have on my phone.

Here is an image from the BBC Blog http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/

http://static.bbc.co.uk/programmeima...s/p01nd9jd.jpg

I am pretty new at AT but must say I don't recognise that knee in the groin pose.

Also the follower gaze is supposed to be transfixed on the centre of the leader's chest to pick up the lead. [Ok this is choreographed so not relevant but they should make an effort to be realistic]

And the leader should look in the direction of and pre-signal the follower's next move.

But as I said I am still a novice and will be for sometime. Perhaps The House's AT experts can opine.

Looking forward to it though.

Here are some AT steps

Argentine Tango 50 steps. Basic to Advanced steps / Figures.
http://youtu.be/SQDByeCCZxw

Dancing the Argentine Tango : Modern Argentine Tango Steps
http://youtu.be/02bSM1Lqvu8

They have had two fantastic teachers helping them this week so I have high hopes it will be pretty good and with traditional music!

This is the dance Im most looking forward to seeing

I can't wait to see this. It's going to be epic!

Interesting. Who were they?

Not quite "traditional" tango music but appropriate tango music. At many milongas people will complain if such modern music is played. At one place in London they have separate rooms for traditional and modern.

It better be good... have been waiting for even a half decent AT the whole of Strictly this year!! After that faffy Paso please don't disappoint me Artem !!

I'm hoping it will be worth a 10. It looked very good on ITT.

Its the same at our milongas. If we play nuevo or electronica the seasoned tangueros get all huffy. But the traditional music puts off the younger crowd from pursuing the style. I fear if the old guard insist on sticking exclusively to the traditional music there won't be a AT scene in future. I am often the youngest at our milongas and as chicken's go I am well into summer.;-

Personally I don't much mind what era a piece of music comes from or whether it is traditional, modern or slightly off-piste. I just want to feel something. I am listening to Dusty Springfield on BBC4. I am not familiar with her work but am really enjoying some of these songs and some make me want to dance AT. Perhaps if I knew how to do more dance styles I wouldn't feel tangoish.

One in particular had me on my feet tangoing with my breakfast bar (a reliable and solid partner if rather lacking in fluidity and expression!) I am relying on Henry reading this and identifying the track. It's a ballad containing the line - We will talk to the trees and worship the wind. Unorthodox maybe but the song made me feel and when I feel I want to dance. Isn't that the point?

'If you go away'

It is a gorgeous song.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wyCVxPEPx5Y&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DwyCVxPEPx5Y

For me the best dance performance of the night.

What a shame, it just wasn't it was very soulless!

A bit like certain trollish posters then.

Thanks Dusty's song

http://youtu.be/wyCVxPEPx5Y

is derived from

Jacques Brel "Ne me quitte pas" (live)
http://youtu.be/aNkydsPK6ww

Sting also did it
http://youtu.be/nxmYDWVK50g

Celine Dion doing it
http://youtu.be/yg-EXjsKJpg

I was looking forward to their AT so much but this failed to wow me . I'm afraid for me this partnership does not work, which is such a shame for Natalie's sake. I'm sure she would really have blossomed with a pro like Ian.

Have to agree with Craig, Natalie is too overpowering a character for Artem and it felt like she was leading in that dance.

Natalie and artem were fantastic dancing the Argentine tango

Artem is the professional here. If he is not man enough to handle her then whose fault is that? Natalie was just giving her best. As I mentioned above I thought it was a beautiful and stunning performance. But we can't always agree can we - although at least two judges agreed with me.

I have to say though this week has been Natalies strongest week for some time - as in previous weeks, I have found the Natalie - Artem performances, although more or less "faultless" - lacking in verve & energy.

Thank you Dancing Bear - isn't it just. I really wanted to dance to it.

Here it is for dissection

Natalie Gumede and Atem Argentine Tango to 'Montserrat' Strictly Come Dancing 2013 BBC One

http://youtu.be/DwgBcUoX1U8

She keeps looking at his face! I tell followers off for doing that. Her frame is very loose. Left arm isn't locked on. Yes she isn't even pretending to follow a lead - but it is choreographed so inevitable.

I was more impressed at the time with the Ricky Whittle AT - but then I had never danced an AT at the time.

But this was very enjoyable - but given high hopes and knowledge of a song on my phone, disappointing.

Thanks for the link Henry. I wanted to see it again before I commented. I was quite impressed with the foot work because at last thank the Lord both of them appeared to be closing the steps. But I did agree with the over control of the free leg comment. Its something I find really troublesome to do - particularly in say a volcada. Its getting that balance between enough control to keep the shape and sharpness yet still allowing the leg to fly under its own weight and gravity that I find hard to do.

Damnation - this type of comment I can't respond to because it lies outside my expertise. I thought it looked stunning etc but I don't know the rules of American Tango.

I wonder if the show could be slightly modified - because although I will watch a series from time to time - it seems to me not very informative regards the technical aspects of each dance.

For example I also watch MasterChef from time to time - and I do find that to be informative.

There was no sign of a lead into the ganchos or boleos (choreographed of course but please pretend). Great travelling ochos. Both Artem and Natalie were very vertical rather than leaning into each other. Ricky and Natalie had Volcadas IIRC.

Strictly Come Dancing : Semi Final: Ricky Whittle's Argentine Tango
http://youtu.be/cbkLEtLJ5To

In the "good old days" when SCD first started, there used to be little videos of some of the steps and moves you'd expect to see in each of the dances and an explanation of the terms for them. Sadly gone the way of the actual proper VT training footage with the introduction of stupid bloody theme weeks and props.

How to Do the Volcada | Argentine Tango
http://youtu.be/76-r6RiGufQ

How to Do the Hook aka the Gancho | Argentine Tango
http://youtu.be/zB_3pDRI-FU

How to Do a Boleo | Argentine Tango
http://youtu.be/xOYbtIQ2tSA

How to Do the Front Ocho | Argentine Tango
http://youtu.be/y_87AEw7sXs

It must seem strange for those who know about the technical issues of each dance to share a forum with those who don't. I can only judge on overall "artistic" impression and performance - but I have no technical knowledge on the matter so my overall contributions to these threads are limited.

I have to go away and do a bit of studying I fear