I know the Quick Step is a quick dance and you have to be fleet of foot but is it me, or this year do some of the Q S dances seem to comprise merely trotting? A bit like kiddies in play school pretending to be 'horsey horsey'

I certainly think that Mark's had too much trotting. It became rather repetitive without sufficient variation in choreography. I put that down to Mark not being capable of doing other choreography (because that is the impression that it gives from an independent judicial standpoint) but others have put it down to Karen not having choreographed well enough.

I'm not bothered about Mark one way or the other - although he seems nice enough - but Karen hardy did say she was impressed by a lengthy and difficult footwork sequence in the dance so he is capable of it. Sadly I think the fact that it started with the trotting section and it went on for soooo long was a mistake on Karens part. She should have saved it for later when he may have been tiring and split it up more.
Trotting isn't particularly impressive to watch (imo) but I realise for amateurs it's a good filler between the more difficult parts but should be used more sparingly than Karen did - especially with someone young and fit.

So many bad quicksteps on the show begin with the celebrity doing a great big circle around the floor, probably because it's the easiest thing to remember. IIRC Ben's last year was the same.

Trotting?

Why not?

I said a while back that the BBC with their "improvements," were turning this into more like a "dog and pony show."

haha that explains it !!!

And then you remember this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNkExUcCKg8

I always feel that 'trotting' should only be used as a turning step, so that by each 4th trot a full turn of 360degrees should be made, while also travelling down the room. Just to trot down the room in a straight line is lazy choreography.

To be fair to Mark though there were some intricate steps in his routine. However, even though Charleston type steps do come into quickstep, in Mark's case there was far too much Charleston and not enough real quickstep. [Just my opinion!]

Thank you for posting that the lovely Ian Waite - great music good attire and a great routine - problem with some of the pros on the show is they could not produe a routine like that hence the lazy fillers

Well I enjoyed Mark & Karen II's routine - trotting and all - and I voted for them. ♞

A great quickstep. That was when Strictly produced proper dances instead of the continuous "showdance" they do now.

I take your point about some of the current pros being unable to produce a routine like that, but to be honest, it has always been that way. However, those who were 'unable' were mostly "big enough" to call in outside teachers to help with choreography. Yes, I do know that is a fact - I've helped out myself. No, I'm not going to say who with, it wouldn't be etiquette!

Brilliant.

And this one as well https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hqHr6oOaksE
Four nines in week 2!