Whether you agree or disagree with what they're saying, this week 1 critique from the judges against the new pro (and buddy of Aljaz from BTF) on DWTS Australia is awkward viewing - ouch!

http://youtu.be/u0MUaf46pVw

I know his win of SYTYCD Australia was to tour with Burn The Floor, but his experience in ballroom and latin at that point was virtually nil, and from the looks of it these days, still barely above nil.

the guy has not got a clue of what a foxtrot is - he should not be on the show

Wasn't Robbie associated with our show last year? I'm sure he was touted as a new pro when we knew we were getting 8 women (and before Kevin was on the scene).

I'd no idea he was dancing on the Aussie version.

dont see how he could have been touted when they turned down dancers like Keo who went to DWTS and Kevin was on the scene the year previous when Karen started and did some of the group dances - the guy is poor there are many dancers on BTF who were latin and ballroom competitors and way beyond this guys capabilities

I'm not sure he was ever associated with Strictly apart from being Janette's former dance partner during Burn The Floor and Jason Gilkison being something of a champion for him. But he's far too small and nothing more than an amateur in terms of Latin and Ballroom. He's very much a contemporary/jazz dancer and not much more.

Meh, they picked Jared Murillo over Tristan back in 2010 (thank goodness they got a chance to rectify that later on) so I wouldn't account for taste on their part!

Keo was indeed turned down (and we need a taller male pro, I reckon) but I'm hopeful he and Emma Slater will eventually wind up on Strictly.

mmm dont know about Emma she was offered SCD but elected for DWTS one of my dancers was her pro partner on BTF

Her situation has changed since she made that decision, though.

She's in her third straight season of being landed with a duffer and she's recently split up with her boyfriend. I'm not saying she will join (I think Keo is much likelier) but there's more chance now than there was 12 months ago.

Ah this makes sense now, I saw Aljaz's tweets about this but I didn't know the background. The BTF team seem to be a pretty close-knit bunch.

ooo shall ask my contacts

They seem to all get along. I did a quick search to see where I got the Robbie thing from and he was with the pros as they trained last year- I guess it was a case of crossed wires on my part

yes they do seem to be close knit my ex pupil spent couple weeks with janette and aljaz last year - he danced at blackpool with them all then went back to BTF

Good Lord, I thought that the OP was exaggerating until I clicked on the video .

Wait...I was screaming during this dance ; Why are they doing lifts ? where is the hold ? What kind of song is that for a foxtrot ? where is the slow gliding across the floor ? That dance was unrecognizable ? Looked like a showdance

Poor bloke. But its the show's fault for hiring dancers with no expertise in Ballroom or Latin !!!;


Oh dear, I was cringing during that

This reminds me of the judges Lecture 2 weeks ago to Allison Holker (Brilliant dancer ) on her cha cha.....the chacha was virtually non-existent in her dance because guess what ? She is an Outstanding Contemporary dancer but a Latin/Ballroom dancer she is NOT.

Amen! Great a dancer as Allison is, why on earth is she in a teaching capacity for ballroom when she admits her knowledge in that area is extremely limited?

Same with Robbie. He holds his hands up (literally) at one point during his mauling and says he needs extra coaching to bring him up to scratch. No wonder they were dead last in the scoring.

I saw Aljaz and Janette tweeting about this but I hadn't seen the actual dance. I felt sorry for the guy but I thought the judges were right in the essence of what they were saying and really the problem lies in the producers picking a non-ballroom person for the show. I thought Torah danced at least as well as Robin.

The judges were just way too harsh to that pro
WHY Humiliate him like that on National Tv ? ....... So rude !!! ......I was cringing during those comments.....

Like I said, the fault here lies with the show for the most part IMO not the pro. They are SO MANY qualified professionals dancers who would love to do DWTS, SCD, or DWTS Australia ......................... but who do TPTB hire ???

SMH.

I couldn't actually get to the end of the DwtSAus clip - it was too painful. Len took Allison to task on the US show in less brutal - but still embarrassing - fashion. It was impossible not to agree with him, but you have to feel sympathy on some level for both Robbie and Allison. They will have auditioned and been interviewed and briefed. They must have discussed their strengths and weaknesses with the producers, and in Allison's case it sounds like they brought her in with a brief to 'change it up' . How come the judges weren't briefed, too? I don't feel it's right to set them up for that kind of humiliation (or to let the celebs down so badly).

From what I've seen of DWTS the ballroom trained pros attempts to dance contemporary are just as cringey in the other direction. That whole show's just becoming a mess. Thank God all the dances are about 15 seconds long.

How could the producers let that situation arise in the first place?

I agree with what the judges said and wish our judges were as honest, but they should never have been put in that position.

Does DWTS in Australia have a reputation for sensationalism?

Robbie and Alison (as amazing as she is as a contemporary dancer) are not qualified to be on dwts. This video was so awkward to watch but the judge was right to criticise & in what he says bit went too far, i too like buddy wish our judges were more honest cant remember the last time Len spoke about technique but maybe not brutal as this. it is the producers fault tho they should hired unqualified dancers.

Saying that dwts Australia doesn't care about lifts I seen past routine and they make dwts usa look traditional & strict. As for Alijaz he is sticking up for his mate but he knows if he even try that on SCD the fans and judges would not be impressed at all to say the least.

At least his bio on the official website is honest in acknowledging his experience in various dance styles, exempting 'latin' and 'ballroom'... for a 'ballroom' and 'latin' dance show...

https://au.tv.yahoo.com/dancing-with...-robbie/#page1

Allison's blog is the same funny enough I expect professional teachers who are supposed to be teaching ballroom & Latin that they at least should be trained in ballroom/Latin dances.

At least that clip makes us appreciate our Strictly a little more: our pro dancers, our judges, and our costumes. I'd vote for that contestant though!

I thought Todd was excessively OTT "Do you know what a Foxtrot is" is just cruel! Yes, ask for more content- but when Len does it, he doesn't labour the point, he makes his point, bluntly, and moves on. This was borderline bullying, however correct it is!