Really enjoyed DiamondBetty's Charleston thread with all the links and analyses, and she got a good balance -- I think -- in discussing the contestants' dances and the best of the real world Charlestons. An Attic subforum for dance and dance music would be a great addition

I agree, Betty's thread was brilliant, informative without being judgey or preaching on what "should" be done.

Agree with all of these (although not sure about hip hop bendymixer - joke )

When people make dismissive comments about a celeb's dancing it is very difficult to respond because often the poster is saying they don't like a celeb but making it sound like a vague technical criticism and the same comment often just gets reiterated if you do respond. But sometimes there are good discussions hidden away in the forum. The "Kevin danced foxtrot on the balls of his feet" (which he didn't ) prompted a fascinating good humoured discussion about choreography and how you can avoid common but certain awkward steps (heel turns, heel leads) but still turn in a valid foxtrot routine. Opinions expressed were a mix of technical (there is defined footwork to be used) and subjective (to what extent should choreography be used to avoid certain signature steps?). A similar technical discussion could be had on any of the celebs' routines. A trained eye would help with those discussions (e.g. I couldn't work out what Abbey's AS foxtrot steps were meant to be or whether she was doing them correctly) and we all have knowledge gaps. e.g my Paso and VW knowledge is weak and I don't know off syllabus (and some syllabus) ballroom and as for salsa and charleston, my knowledge is zero! My AT learning has been mainly around improvisation with less focus on technique and has come to a halt for the moment. So I would value other opinions.

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Yes that's it DavidJames - used to enjoy reading their posts

I enjoyed her thread too. The links and ensuing discussion were fascinating.

The AT thread's been lovely too.

not having a clue about Charleston stuff enjoyed that thread too

haha Spinturn know Len through freesytle and hip hop not particularly ballroom and latin

Len does hip hop?

Betty's Charleston threads have been a revelation to me. Hitherto I didn't take it seriously as a dance. I had thought it was just some horsing around done by the idle rich in the 1920's. I didn't understand why a craze of the well heeled in a time of greater social inequality was being revived - as I saw it.

Betty's posts in particular the bits about the evolution and history have made me see it quite differently. This year I have enjoyed Charleston much more than in previous years. this might be coincidence or it might be because I am looking at it differently thanks to the context Betty has generously provided.

Thanks Betty you are a Diamond.

well his school does and he runs freestyle and hip hop comps mainly his son now but met Len in early days of ADFP (Assoc Dance
Freestyle Professionals)

Then you need to make your point clearer.

As others have said on here, it would be awfully nice if each person and each dance were accorded the same courtesy as your preferred ballroom , why on earth shoud Lens school not teach hip hop ? The dance world evolves as do dances .

Please could you get your quote markers in the right place. I object to being misquoted above.

I meant that you are anonymous to me as I am to you and so I do not require you to provide a reference for anyone, thankyou, How bizarre!

Whilst I've seen a number of disparaging references to "the ballroom crowd" I haven't said anything impolite about any other dance style or aficionados. Quite the opposite. If I have done so, then please let me know specifically where. Such personal attacks are totally uncalled for and quite unpleasant!

I was joking with Bendy about hip hop. I couldn't imagine Len dancing it but if you can......

In fact one of my favourite film dance scenes ever is the open credits of "Do the Right Thing". That is hip hop, I think? I don't pretend to be knowledgeable about the dance style.

I thought it was Craig who was doing the hip hop this season. Badam tish.

I thought the Charleston was a bit of revived silliness designed to generate 10s in SCD and dead elsewhere and have ignored it on SCD. I am sorry I somehow missed Betty's enlightening thread.

That would be a great idea. I have felt for years the need for a forum for those who really are interested in ballroom dancing and have gone to public ballrooms, dance schools or competitions. I did all three of those from the 1950s to the 1990s,including 5 years in America (San Francisco). I watch Strictly Come Dancing with mixed feelings - I am happy to see any kind of ballroom dancing on television, but I am aware that it gives a totally distorted view of the subject. It is organised by people who only understand stage dancing and present a stage-ified version of ballroom. This is why the show is heavily biassed toward the latin dances as they are the most similar to stage style. I like the ballroom (or to use the correct term, "standard") dances best but I appreciate good dancing in both styles.

I am a bit doubtful about having a complete ban on mentioning names of celebs or pros. After all they are all that we can see and such a ban would mean that the forum would have no connection with Strictly Come Dancing and there would be no reason to call it Strictly Dance Talk.

In case somebody goes looking for the "Natalie and Artem AT" thread I have had it renamed "Argentine Tango Talk" to more closely reflect the discussion.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1920506

Same thread? I'd missed the fact that this had turned into a general AT discussion. Thankyou.

Same thread yes, just with a more accurate title now.

I too think it would be impossible to discuss without mentioning their names.

However a few fms are totally dismissive of some of the pros whatever they do and regularly make fun of them <which is their prerogative > and that sort of thing should maybe kept out of a thread which is purely to discuss dance and not celeb or pros personally imo.

If it were an appreciation thread, it might be easier to maintain a more balanced and objective discussion, without unnecessary defensive or offensive posts etc. I too would like to read such a thread. I find all the technical posts quite fascinating.

Just catching up on this thread and the board in full. Though not a professional (just a keen novice dancer), I used to post on the old BBC dance teachers discussion thread and I know a couple of dance teachers who posted on there used to post on here too. Both of them left after being hounded out/constantly attacked for daring to share their opinion based on their knowedge of teaching/dancing. I don't know whether that would be the same now. There seem to be a good number of very balanced posters who aren't rabidly defending one particular celebrity or will not take any criticism of their idol.

However I think it is nice/good to have an area where we can discuss the more technical sides of the dance. It might even become a 'helpdesk' where people can get help with figures they are struggling with. It might be better to start a new thread rather than dredge up the old thread though. That way we start with a clean slate so to speak.

BIB: And they're still "moaning" about it to me on Facebook some three years later Neither of them are watching SCD this year and I don't think they were that bothered last year either.

I did apologise on a later post that I should have worded the initial post a little clearer. Of course the celebs and Pro's will need to be mentioned and referred to, so that we can refer to a dance, analyse the choreography, critique the technique applied etc. I would hope that such a thread would only attract dance fans and technique of any style of dance can be discussed and questions asked and answered.

So where's the thread Jennifer? . Go for it!

Or is this it? (in which case we should start chatting about dance rather than chatting about chatting...... )

Brilliant idea especially about the "helpdesk".
I am appalled to read that a couple of dance teachers were hounded off the dance teachers thread, after sharing their knowledge of dance.