I'm not a dancer, nor an expert, but my recollections of seeing the AT danced by couples with a solitary accordionist or fiddle player in a Buenos Aries park bears little resemblance to what we often see on SCD.

I seem to remember the brou ha ha when the AT was introduced on SCD as being the real thing. It's all very well incorporating the moves, but pros and celebrities frequently fail to bring that elemental thing to the dance.

As an exercise in technique, this AT may have been at times, and I emphasise at times, very skilful, but otherwise, for me, it missed the mark by a mile.

And sadly, so do most of them, even Vincent and Flavia.

No offence intended Bendy. It was probably a mistake to mention names because inevitably I wouldn't remember all of the people who talk reliably about dancing. It was simply that a newish poster asked so I tried to steer them to the more reliable sources.

Next year I am thinking I might see if I can start a dance appreciation thread so there is somewhere to talk about dance objectively and share our knowledge with each other without upsetting fans. It seems that any analysis of dances is taken by some as an attempt to rubbish their favourite contestant.

This song was written by Jacques Brel, the English version was written by Rod McKuen. I met Brel's daughter in LA and we discussed this song how different it was in McKuen's translation, she said her father hated this version, the feeling it conveyed was all wrong, McKuen completely missed the point, it was never meant to be a love song, but a song of a man's weakness and obsession. If you watch this, it has a translation of each line and you can see how much is differs from the McKuen version in meaning and intent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zgNye6HTE

have pmd you

Agree. Never thought you were a pretender Bendy! . Obviously your experience as a teacher is greater than that of us students. There are some other names also not mentioned in the previous posts. Maybe we should do a roll call!

The Dance Teachers area always used to be one of the most informative places on the old BBC forum.

There is definitely a very clear difference between a SCD AT and a genuine AT. Atmosphere and location play a part in the dance. The SCD studio is too impersonal and lacks the feeling of a dance venue where the intimacy of the AT works well. So we end up with ATs that are "all mouth & no trousers" so to speak.

i am not one of that 'coterie' and that would be clear to you if either you looked at my posting history, and/or if you weren't functioning on auto pilot defence mode where all that matters is that natalie is defended.

Well I'm sure those who did attend did so for altruistic reasons - perish the thought that they prospered from their attendance by attracting more votes.

Incidentally I wonder why the SCD producers showed only Sophie at the party - with no sign of Patrick, Susannah or Abbey.

Or my preferred expression
All teeth and b***ocks.

i also wondered that, perhaps something to do with the way sophie has resolutely declined to have her own children included into the show VTs etc.

People are very quick to make judgments on the actions of others without any knowledge, just their prejudices.

Natalie may have had very good reason not to be at number 10 and even if it was political, so what.

So, apparently, she doesn't care enough for children's charities, would another charity have made it more acceptable to be absent? How do we know that privately she isn't a big contributor to charities, children's or not?

Is she a bad role model? Can't we just leave her alone to do what she does? Act and dance.

They were shown in the photo outside number 10

I said that I cannot gainsay your statement that some of Natalie's dances in the past have been your favourite, and I have neither the time or inclination to trawl through your posting history.

As for me being on auto pilot, yeah you're right….if any beastly person makes a horrid comment about the fragrant Natalie, I am compelled by the supernatural powers of her hair, to post in her defence.


I'm not quite sure if you're quoting me because you're berating me?. I actually agree with you.

I don't care why Natalie chose not to to Downing St. and was responding to the poster who was critical of Natalie for making " an imaginary political point by snubbing terminally ill children and their families."

Because it was her VT

Not berating you at all. I think you were spot on.

Hi, I just want to say thank you for all the helpful responses I had to my earlier comments and take the blame for any faux pas (what's the plural of faux pas?) that may or may not have been committed in all the kindly replies.


By the way this comment (below) really intrigued me and hasn't been picked up by our more knowledgeable posters. It seems to go to the heart of dance with its links to local custom and meaning ...

I never have been a fan of the AT, Artem and Natalie's dance did nothing to change my mind.

A very good post. People are so quick to judge.

Opps sorry for my last post to you BB .

And thank you.

Loved the AT. Truly memorable, best dance of the night for me.

Me too. Infact I always like Natalie.

Exactly the same as those who "swarm" to the Susanna, Abbey and Sophie threads and do the same thing in those then. There are, as always, a minority of posters who feel compelled to put forth their dislike for X Y or Z celebrity no matter what or where they are being discussed.


To be fair, Vincent & Flavia are Argentine Tango Showdance Champions, so their performances aren't "genuine" AT but the showy version of the dance.


I wish you good luck, we used to have a number of Dance Teachers who posted regularly on the old BBC Message Boards who then moved across here to DS and, from memory, not a single one of them still posts because of the vitriolic bile which was often levelled at them for daring to criticise a performance by whichever celebrity was flavour of the month.

A Natalie & Artem fan here, who if you check my posts is not gushing or unable to critique their performances or partnership.

Something supporters of any couple might consider before making sweeping statements.

Good for you. However, it remains a fact that a minority of posters of whatever celebrity seem compelled to post in threads about the others and express their dislike of X Y or Z irrespective of what the thread is about.

so you admit that you actually had no knowledge of my postings before you decided to accuse me of being one of a group of poeple who you perceive as doing nothing except attack natalie.


well you did go on to attack someone who was actually agreeing with you.