I'm interested about frames for the girls.

As I have said in past threads I have done some ballroom for a few years, but not from a youngster (that was other dancing).

When I was taught in a bit more depth my teacher made me work on my topline and positioning by not holding hands with my partner and trying to hold the position myself to know what you should be feeling when you are in frame and try to dance like that.
Would it not help if the pros did this to teach the celebs?

I feel like they are not teaching them the way they were in the past, I remember Erin being really concerned about the technical aspects of dancing, it seems somewhat lost.

I think you are quite right in what you say, but to be fair, when someone goes to lessons they can learn one or two aspects of technique, and then go home and spend the rest of the week practising to their hearts content. The celebs have less than a week to learn a whole routine from scratch.

Especially now, when it no longer seems enough to produce a nice technically correct dance each week, now they have to have the WOW factor, and maybe cope with props and silliness as well.

Having said that, by this stage of the competition, they should certainly have mastered a reasonably good hold - and I think most of them have, with the exception of Jake and Caroline.

Naterlie. (always dubious of that spelling) teaches dance technique for starters before moving on to the more show aspects
The top frame can be taught in different ways but once learnt you are able to feel for correctness plus the occasional look in the mirror
Habits are essential but creeping false habits a danger and is one of the reasons competitive couples retain at least one coach/teacher to spot the creating little no no's

Exactly right. Overall they do a marvellous job and really not enough praise is given to the Pro for getting them to the standard they are. If you notice that if it is a "good" dance, then the celeb is given all the praise but if its a dance that does not suit the celeb or a "bad" dance for whatever reason, its mostly the "fault" of the Pro...."bad choreo etc...... All the Pro can do is give the information, they can't wave a magic wand.

Yes, agree. Essential to learn correct technique first, the foundations of good dancing. Work on the topline is a continual work in progress, and most do not know ( non dancers) how physically demanding it is - to do properly. When I first was taught a "competitive frame", I felt my arms were coming out of their sockets, every single muscle in my arms and back were stretched and lifted like nothing I'd known or done before.

ooo one of the members on the main forum I post on has just won world 10 dance in italy (WDC)

Who is that Bendy ?

ian and Victoria Lawrence

Thats such good news, what an achievement !

*coming out of lurkerdom of this thread* That's excellent news! Amazing for the pair of them!

*slinks away*

I don't know her but know of her she is a friend of someone else on the forum so why she is a member but certainly an achievement in Italy as well

Why lurk Fiercely ? Please come contribute

Hello! New person here, I joined the forum to say thank you for this thread. I'm not a dancer at all, and it's been fascinating to read. I've learnt a lot and I really appreciate your thoughts and descriptions (I finally understand the difference between a standing spin and a fleckerl!).

I know Strictly's an entertainment show, but I wish we got a bit of this from the judges.

So thank you, and I hope everyone's doing well with their dancing.

Hi Sam, glad you enjoy reading our contributions. Many posts are made by Amateur dancers and professionals, so you can be assured that what is in this thread are opinions of course, but very informed opinions. Its a breath of fresh air for me to read of a non dancer that enjoys reading and learning.

I take it that was the Senior 10-Dance event?

Oh good for them. Really like Ian and Victoria, and admire them for continuing to dance in the Under 35 Amateur events when they could have taken an easier ride into the Seniors? t

To say nothing of the neck strain as well!

What a lovely post! Thank you Sam.

To be fair to the judges, I don't think they have time to explain about technique on the show, but maybe they could spend a bit more time on ITT. The BBC are never very interested in 'real' dancing, so they probably think that for someone to explain on tv about the differences of technique would bore their non-dancing viewers. In my opinion, the rather under-estimate their viewers.

But feel free to ask whatever you want to know. A lot of us are experienced dancers and only too pleased to answer questions. Or feel free to send a pm.

You're not wrong there....stretch and then some more...

think it was Kaycee just saw mention of it on my timeline last night - yes agree Ian and Victoria likeable couple and have been around competing for years.

some nice posts on here about the thread in which you and Jennifer do a great job at answering questions, my bro reads it occassionally (he isnt a member) and enjoys it

all the lady pros moaning about their backs and necks this week on fb and twitter apparently pro routine has a lot of back bends in it

Yes I saw some of those comments. You certainly have to be extremely fit and flexible to dance to a higher level, so physically demanding.

Thank you, Bendy, that's kind of you to say, but you should include yourself, as you have a well of information as well, and I always enjoy your posts.

I second that...very good information provided and always very interesting posts.

Hello again! Thank you Jennifer_F and kaycee for the lovely replies, and to all of you for sharing your experience and opinions.

For any dancers here who don't mind my questions (please do let me know if I'm asking too many/getting tedious), did you start out learning both ballroom and Latin, then go on to choose which one you wanted to specialise in?

I started out mainly dancing Latin, which I felt I was better at, at the time. I did a little Ballroom but found it actually quite hard going. I competed with my partner in both disciplines doing separate Ballroom and Latin competitions, and also 10 dance competitions when you are judged over all 10 dances.
When our partnership ended, I then partnered someone who was more of a ballroom specialist, cut a long story short, we decided to specialise in ballroom as he was not a latin dancer, consequently we then had more time to focus on the 5 ballroom dances .
It paid off for us, as our money goes just on ballroom lessons and we don't have to split our practice time between the two.

Please ask as many questions as you like, this is why this thread was started. Are you thinking of taking dance lessons?