The point I was trying to make with my opening post - which seems to have been overlooked by the posters who have been arguing that all previous dance training should be declared in the Launch Show (how does that help viewers who don't see the Launch Show?) - is that greater transparency in that area could only be achieved effectively if an expert provided an analysis quantifying the advantage the celeb has by virtue of that training.
Take last year for example. All the focus was upon the advantage Natalie had. I don't recall anybody pointing out the monumental advantage Abbey had, which (although we didn't know it at the time) meant she already had the Glitterball in the bag before she walked into the Training Room.
Jake would undoubtedly have won this year had more of his EE fans bothered to pick up the phone.
Harry Judd was another example of a celeb who had such a monumental advantage when he first walked into the Training Room that he already had the Glitterball in the bag.
Yet none of the above had anywhere near the dance training of the top three girls this year.
How meaningful was Caroline's prior training? Her first Latin - the Cha Cha Cha - demonstrated flawed footwork despite three weeks of training. Her first slow Ballroom - the Waltz - demonstrated flawed footwork and poor frame, and landed her in the Dance-off.
Yet Jake sailed through to the Quarter Final because his performance skills substantially outweighed the flaws in his technique.
There was less focus upon Caroline's prior training for the simple reason that people could see it hadn't given her anywhere near the head start Pixie and Frankie had. There was no mention of the head start Jake had (other than an early acting course).
Complete transparency on prior dance training would only make sense if there was complete transparency on everything with the potential to give a celeb an advantage - which would have to include inherent advantages such as the flair for gymnastics as a kid one assumes Caroline must have had.
Where do you draw the line?
Take last year for example. All the focus was upon the advantage Natalie had. I don't recall anybody pointing out the monumental advantage Abbey had, which (although we didn't know it at the time) meant she already had the Glitterball in the bag before she walked into the Training Room.
Jake would undoubtedly have won this year had more of his EE fans bothered to pick up the phone.
Harry Judd was another example of a celeb who had such a monumental advantage when he first walked into the Training Room that he already had the Glitterball in the bag.
Yet none of the above had anywhere near the dance training of the top three girls this year.
How meaningful was Caroline's prior training? Her first Latin - the Cha Cha Cha - demonstrated flawed footwork despite three weeks of training. Her first slow Ballroom - the Waltz - demonstrated flawed footwork and poor frame, and landed her in the Dance-off.
Yet Jake sailed through to the Quarter Final because his performance skills substantially outweighed the flaws in his technique.
There was less focus upon Caroline's prior training for the simple reason that people could see it hadn't given her anywhere near the head start Pixie and Frankie had. There was no mention of the head start Jake had (other than an early acting course).
Complete transparency on prior dance training would only make sense if there was complete transparency on everything with the potential to give a celeb an advantage - which would have to include inherent advantages such as the flair for gymnastics as a kid one assumes Caroline must have had.
Where do you draw the line?
