Pretty much spot on, Nina.

Ann_Dancer and kaycee, thanks ever so much for your comments on Georgia's samba. I thought it was a cracking dance and given the comment on the level of samba content, it was a cracking dance. I think Giovanni is a very good addition to SCD and maybe Len's criticism re-his rumba has woken him up. (Though I disliked the way Len spoke to Giovanni.)

I think Giovanni is a great addition too, Maggie.

I agree with what you say about Helen, Nina. Also on a costume note, I do like to see the woman's back in rumba. That chiffony thing was not helpful.

I dont think it did them any favours either.

That said, the way the stage and lighting were set up, her outfit looked a bit out of place. Had the setting been a more dimly-lit, bedroom scene then it would probably have worked better.

Dear ballroom specialists - here is GG's samba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJA6_iVSj0o - what are the steps/moves at 00:37 and 1:27? I loved those.

I think 1:27 are repeating cruzado locks (I think I said samba locks earlier on but they're different). They are usually done with cruzado walks but not here. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I honestly don't know what they're doing at 00:37 just before the stationary samba walks at 00:41. Oh just a sec Giovanni is doing the some voltas and so Georgia may have gone wrong.

Yeah, just replayed. I think they're some not very good voltas from Georgia. May be wrong.

Oh no! I liked what Georgia was doing at 00:37 but it'a wrong! On reply with what you'd said Ann I could see that Georgia was moving differently to Giovanni. Thanks for the info re cruzado locks, not heard of them before.

How good was Jo and Gio's dance to Seel

When will people learn that television is for entertainment, not instruction? Those who want to learn ballroom dancing should go to a dance school.

I just come to this thread

A much more gracious response than I could muster.

It is for entertainment but why shouldn't we learn from it as well? I would love to do ballroom dancing but there isn't a school near me that does it (believe me, I've looked!) and I don't watch strictly to try and learn who to do ballroom, but because I enjoy it, however things I see on the program sometimes pique my curiosity because I am trying to learn the theory of ballroom and latin, even if I can't do it in practice and I'm lucky enough that there are wonderful people on this thread who can answer my questions and help further my learning about dancing (and other peoples questions make me think too!)

Loved it! Good to see some high quality dancing. Jo's singing was good too.



I hope you're all paying attention and taking notes. I've suggested to Jennifer/kaycee/bendymixer that they set a test at the end of the series. Got to take this 'instruction' seriously.

Great response, my thoughts exactly.

The Judges Vocus 100 percent on the celebs and right to do so but on here we could be critical of the professional flaws
For instance Kevin's dire left arm position (horizontal) during any spin movement

Any medallists would be told how to correct such flawed action

A few of us have broached this subject before...perhaps not on this thread, but I and others regularly spot bad technique from some of the Professionals. These are usually the Latin specialists that may have had little or no grounding in ballroom at all prior to SCD.

had to share this video on perfect rumba walks )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSA5JV6lUR8

This is just fabulous - strangely enough I was watching this same clip only days ago. I have also seen one of Shirley Ballas teaching rumba walks, with a close up of her feet and legs, demonstrating the left and right turn....I can but dream.

love Shirley Ballas sad to say I remember her in junior days dancing all girls she was then Shirley Rich - feel so old sometimes

I love watching Shirley Ballas, classy lady, of course there is Gaynor and a few others I really enjoy watching. Dancing evolves over the years and styles change, inevitable, I suppose. Years back when I did dance Latin, Shirley taught at the same studio where I had lessons and often she was there teaching a very tiny Mark and Julianne.

Shirley Ballas sat on my knee once ; It was at one of the christmas party nights at the dance school where i learnt to dance, & the principal of the school had booked her & Corky to perform a demonstration dance that night.

I was sitting at the edge of the dance floor, & for some reason (i forget now) she came & sat on my knee & put her arm round me. I was grinning like a cheshire cat for the rest of the night after that .

Shallow i know .

P.S. This is a true story

Sorry, posted in error, having a senior moment

I so agree . That's my pet hate . Considering how picky the judges are I think it's unfair to put contestants in costumes that hide the lines they struggle in training to get right .
Kellie's blinkin' flippin' harry potter outfit was a disgrace . You cannot judge the nitty gritty of routines if the person you are meant to critique is swathed in fabric, no matter how diaphanous it is . It hides , or distracts , and in some cases causes them problems .

WOW ! That is amazing . Such constant yet controlled continuous undulating motion . I can't imagine any strictly contestant getting to that level .