Just caught Gleb and Anita before I went out tonight and I agree. Also agree regarding Janette.

Regarding bums I think I have noticed it in some latin dancers (for ballroom dancers it should never stick out - Kristina's does a bit). However it definitely isn't a requirement for success. Here are current champions Riccardo and Yulia dancing rumba (he's wearing horrible outfit) and jive He's very very short and so his backside may be a bit ...er...rounded. Never noticed Michael Malitowski's bum either when he and Joanna were champs
.www.youtube.com/watch?v=46MMysfhhW0
Www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RZ2g8Kw198

Hi bendymixer. Nice to see you here commenting on the samba. Having seen the dance in total it just about worked and I recognised enough samba steps to see how Kevin worked them into the routine. Clever choreography on his part. Kellie danced the routine very well. In fact it looked flawless to me.

On a slightly different matter: Could someone shed light on the step that Anton put into the rumba that had Len smiling? I forget what it is called and I watched the rumba back to see if I could spot anything unusual but, alas, my untrained eye could not.

It was an Aida ( not 100% sure on spelling)

Just wanted to add that Gleb looked less polished in his dance than usual and it's disappointing if SCD have recruited another pro who, like Janette, does not know ballroom in its entirety. I didn't like their QS particularly but I could see that Anita, as someone much smaller then Gleb, was doing well to maintain her body contact and frame.

Why, hello there. Do you know where it was in their routine?

Agree with all of this; Kevin has just shot up in my estimation. I, like many others I think, find him a bit irritating, but he produced choreography and a performance that overcame absolutely dire music choice (surely not his own?) to deliver, as you say, a very entertaining dance. I was struck by how well the steps they did matched the 'music'. And Kellie is a bit of a trooper isn't she? She just buckles down and delivers whatever is required, on top of a full time day job.
I wonder how many of the other male pro's could have delivered the goods in those circumstances - not too many I'm thinking.

As for costumes - words fail me! They just got off cuts it looked like last night! When you compare the very glamorous dress Katie was given last night (in which she looked terrific btw,) it does seem quite unfair.

I think Kellie is doing amazingly well, especially when you think she has a full day job as well. She delivers each week. Kevin is very versatile and can turn his hand to any dance style on this show. He has excellent teaching and partnering skills, a very likeable person, and I really don't know why he comes in for so much flak.

So it is an aida and I believe there is an incomplete one in Katie and Anton's rumba at the 00:33 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmeR9EeWpKs. I say incomplete because, according to a YouTube training video, they did not walk back for three steps and after the cuban rock they did not make solo spot turns. Anyone in the know please advise or correct.

I was just about to reply to you...beat me to it. Yes it is at the 30/31 sec mark or thereabouts. When I was taught this many years ago, I was taught with the 3 steps but someone else will have to advise if what Anton did was incomplete or not. My personal thought was that it was not a proper Aida, but we'll see what the Latin experts say. The Aida though, will only be the walks backwards, anything else cuban rocks or spot turns afterwards will be additional choreography.

Glad to know I spotted where it occurred!

On the move today and didn't watch last night. If no one responds remind me and I'll check the technique book, but it is common not to do steps exactly as described and often alternative endings are suggested. But I can check for you.

Why on earth did Len get excited about an Aida?

Because you know how Len likes his basics Ann

Thanks Ann_Dancer. I think Len likes when traditional moves that have fallen out of common use are introduced in SCD routines. To be fair to Len I'm gad that someone on the panel speaks for having traditional steps in dances because so many of the pros deconstruct them now. Also, when you do catch up, I don't think Len looked very well last night. His eyes looked rheumy. Perhaps he's got some delayed pain or discomfort from his knee op.

Yeah, I guess so!

I hadn't seen Friday's ITT until well after the show last night - and after I'd posted here. I was very surprised to see the VT showing Anton helping Gleb out with a particular step where he couldn't get onto the correct foot! I was surprised that he didn't know, and they actually showed it.

Hi all, back with another question!

What is the step at 34 secs into K&K's samba called? http://youtu.be/5aseZU0lweE

Thanks in advance

Hi Nina, if I'm looking at the right part, they look like Samba rolls. You can do these in shadow also.

Thanks Jennifer, think I'm used to them being in shadow position.

Thought they may have been Argentine Crosses, are these similar, or am I way off?

Thanks

Will have to wait for one of our Latin experts to help out here, I'm afraid I am not familiar with Argentine Crosses, so cannot help. Kaycee , Bendymixer or Ann will drop by at some point, I'm sure to answer.

It's not so much the size of their bums but rather their posture. As not all of the pros do it, I'm guessing it's wrong (or they're right and the others are wrong). It just looks a bit weird and awkward.

Yes, it was incomplete -

The Aida is actually the 3 walks backwards: the couple in a side by side position, ending turning very slightly outwards. It is usually followed by 3 rocks in place, and a spot turn, but, though seldom used, the 3 rocks can be omitted. Hope that makes sense?

While ballroom dancers should have their weight slightly forward, it is emphasised that the backside must be tucked under at all times. (Have a try - It's very easy to do - until you start to move!!!) The majority of ballroom steps for male dancers lead with the heel, (heel drag for the lady), and their feet should brush softly across the floor. [Jennifer - as a ballroom expert, if you disagree, please correct!]

Latin dancers have their weight further forward and dance using the ball of the foot, with a lot of pressure going into the floor. This alters the posture completely, and makes the backside look larger than a ballroom dancers.

So you are right about the different postures, but neither of those postures are wrong; just different for the 2 different styles of dance.! And the fact is, someone who has specialised for years as a Latin dancer, is unlikely to be able to develop a ballroom posture at the drop of a hat - oh that it was that easy!

Absolutely. The demo vid I watched had only one rock but demonstrated everything else you described. It's a nice sequence. Thanks for clarifying that.

Your welcome, Maggie. It is a nice sequence, and when danced properly with proper technique and feeling, it can be lovely to both watch and dance.

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