Ben & Anya Charleston to Talk to the Animals (Doctor Dolittle): 7+8+8+7 = 30/40
Len: What a way to open this movie week spectacular, Ben, that’s for sure! I can’t speak pelicanese or whatever it was, but I ain’t half bad at speaking English, and so in English I’ll tell you that I thought it was fun, it was frivolous, I loved the whole Victorian theme of it, everything. You came close to getting unstuck when you got out of one of your lifts, there, but we can just sweep that under the carpet for a bit. Like I said, it was fun, it entertained me and it entertained the audience, and even though you were dancing to Doctor Dolittle, I can just tell that you’ve been doing a lot of hard work in that training room Ben!
Jessica & Trent Rumba to You Only Live Twice (You Only Live Twice): 7+8+8+8 = 31/40
Bruno: The name’s Raine, Jessica Raine, license to Rumba and Rumba you did! That was absolutely beautiful, my love, and it had so much shaping, so much ‘60s glamour and sensuality to it that at times I didn’t know whether I was watching you or Twiggy. The oriental theme that you used was a very unique and intriguing one for this type of dance, I have to say, and though that really interested me, I still often enjoy my Rumbas when they’re of the down-and-dirty variety. But, but, I won’t take that away from either of you, because it was another lovely routine and it was exquisitely-danced. Be proud, I tell you, be proud!
Ann & Kevin Tango to Poor Unfortunate Souls (The Little Mermaid): 2+5+5+5 = 17/40
Craig: Poor unfortunate Kevin is who we should be directing our thoughts towards here, darling. Him, or my poor unfortunate eyes. I’m afraid it was lumpier than morning porridge, and for the very few bars that you were actually in Ballroom hold instead of… doing whatever wicked-mermaid-queen-type things you were doing with your tentacles, Ann, everything that you’d learnt posture-wise went straight out the window so-to-speak. You had issues with shaping and general bodily movement back in the Waltz, and it’s safe to say that it didn’t teach you anything. In fact, you’ve probably stagnated, darling. If that’s how they dance under the sea, I think I’d rather stay part of this world, thank you very much.
Boris & Natalie Foxtrot to Maybe This Time (Cabaret): 6+7+8+7 = 28/40
Darcey: Oh, Boris, where did that come from? You really have come on leaps and bounds in your dancing since week one and if we needed proof of that fact, then there it is. You really are a smooth gentleman on that floor, and you commanded Natalie with ease. And we even managed to see a bit of your acting side coming out there, didn’t we? One small piece of advice I’d give you, though, just to get your Ballroom technique even better, is to pop your chin up a little. That’s it. That way, you’ll create that perfect arch shape throughout the rest of your body, and it’ll be beautiful. Not that you’re not beautiful. Not like that, you naughty lot!
Sarah-Jane & Aljaz Jive to We Belong Together (Toy Story 3): 6+7+7+7 = 27/40
Len: Well, it was lighter than a soufflé, crispier than a pancake and tastier than a nice plate of fish and chips, oh yes! I’ve got food on my mind, you see. I don’t know if there was any food in Toy Story, I’m not the fellow to ask. Personally, I would have taken out the faffing around with the toy boxes at the start, but that’s just my own taste because I’m a traditionalist and I don’t think that the boxes really added much. Anyway, I can’t grumble any more than that, as much as I’d like to, because you really went for this Sarah-Jane, I can tell. Like I said, lovely and light, more kicks and flicks than an FA Cup match – just don’t run wild on those boxes again.
Alvin & Iveta Quickstep to We’re in the Money (Gold Diggers of 1933): 6+6+6+6 = 24/40
Bruno: And I said your Cha-Cha was camp… Alvin, this was like a whole Broadway show in the space of 90 seconds, and trust me, I was along for the ride! Some of the technique was questionable to say the least, and it got a bit hoppy especially towards the end, but that smile of yours is so endearing. Well, endearing mixed with ‘botox overload’. It’s a good look, it suits you. What I’d like to see you do next is something perhaps more subdued, because the dances we’ve seen you do so far have been fun, fun, funnity fun with an extra dollop of fun and funny fries on the side. Can Alvin Hall do serious? A Paso Doble, that’s what I want to see. Don’t you go letting me down now.
Dan & Gordana Rumba to Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (Arthur): 5+7+7+7 = 26/40
Craig: That disappointed me, sadly, darling. The Rumba is supposed to be either romantic or raunchy, and this was neither. Instead, it just left me feeling cold. I’m perfectly aware that you’re a musician, not an actor, but you have to at least try to put a bit of emotion into these dances. It’s all well and good simply repeating the steps as you remember them, but without something behind the mask, it really is nothing more than that sequence of steps. The dance itself was okay, nothing more – your arms could have been a lot more expressive, your hips were about as active as a fish in a deep freezer… I couldn’t spot any footwork errors, though. Every cloud, I guess.
Monica & Anton Tango to (The Legend Of) Miss Baltimore Crabs (Hairspray): 5+5+5+5 = 20/40
Darcey: You certainly focussed on the dramatics side of the performance, here, I see – I felt quite threatened by your facial expression at a number of points, there, Monica. I suppose I should commend on that, yeah. Thankfully, you managed to keep it together again, so it’s looking more and more as if that first week was just an unlucky one-off. That said, I have to admit that some of it seemed like Anton was pushing you around, so I don’t know what was going on there, whether you’d had a temporary concentration lapse, or what. So there’s still a long way to go in making your dancing look more natural, Monica. If you can appear more natural, people will connect with you more, yeah?
Kirsty & Brendan Jive to Danger Zone (Top Gun): 6+6+7+6 = 25/40
Bruno: Very dangerous indeed, Kirsty, yes! It was an '80s marathon, a rip-roaring Jive that didn’t once stop for breath, and I’m not exactly sure whether the last part of that sentence worked to your advantage or not. You’ll agree with me when I say that you’re not as young as you once were, nor am I, and doing that many steps can really take it out of you. I saw a bit of huffing and puffing going at the end there, don’t tell me otherwise! Still, despite that last twenty seconds or so getting a bit messy once you began to tire out, it was again a fun dance and… well, congratulations on not collapsing halfway through. You just might want to consider including a bed prop next time. A bit of forward thinking goes a long way.
Adil & Janette Charleston to Prince Ali (Aladdin): 6+6+6+6 = 24/40
Craig: I actually rather enjoyed that, darling. This song allows for a lot of character acting and lots of playfulness, and you used that opportunity and took it to church. You needed a lot more swivel through the feet and there were a number of occasions on which you went out of time with Janette, which may be something that you want to look at if you do survive tonight, but it’s clear that this kind of goofy role was made for you, Adil – your forte, if you will – and as bouncing back from being in the dance-off goes, I can’t think of much else that you could have done. Well, you could have swivelled more through the feet, of course…
Suzi & Keo Foxtrot to Tomorrow (Annie): 7+7+7+7 = 28/40
Len: Ah, Annie. What a musical. Although you don’t look too much like a ginger young orphan, Suzi, that isn’t to say that this was one top-notch Foxtrot. You seemed a lot more comfortable in hold than you did in the Tango, which, you know, is great to see, and it’s just a marker of your improvement in this competition. There was some tricky footwork in there, too, and it was performed with little difficulty. I did spot some small amounts of gapping now and again, I’m afraid – oi, oi, don’t boo the messenger, if you prick me, do I not bleed? Yes, I do, thank you very much – but even with that, it was a sweet little dance from a sweet little girl.
James & Kristina Quickstep to Spider-Man Theme (Spider-Man 2): 2+5+6+5 = 18/40
Bruno: Got ourselves into a bit of a sticky situation there, did we, James? I don’t think any superhero could have saved you from the potential disaster that we saw there… no, no, don’t get me wrong, there were a few saving graces… granted, not many, but you managed to build up a good speed by the end of it. You really do need to work on your upper body, my love, because at times it looked like you were doing the ‘I’m a little teapot’ dance. Being both short and stout is no excuse! Like I say, you’re a long way from Spider-Man, and I think you’ll have to settle for a lessor superhero for now (try Matter-Eater Lad), but at least you gave this more effort than last week. That’s something.
Hannah & Tristan Rumba to Pure Shores (The Beach): 8+7+8+9 = 32/40
Darcey: Another really great dance from you, Hannah, as expected, I cannot knock your ability one bit. There’s just one small thing, and that’s that I think I’d have liked to have seen this look ever so slightly less rehearsed, if you know what I mean. Do you? Well, yeah, I think you can tell that you’ve been dancing it a lot and have been putting in the hours to make it seem polished, and my word was it polished, but I would have perhaps liked to have seen something more rough-around-the-edges from you, something a touch more dangerous. This was a great Rumba, but I want danger! You know, Adil wore a fez, that’s dangerous. Something like that.
Chris & Katya Foxtrot to A Wink and a Smile (Sleepless in Seattle): 8+8+8+8 = 32/40
Len: What a treat, woo hoo, oh boy, oh boy! Style with a smile, class with a bit of brass, what more could possibly want? I couldn’t ask for much else, that’s for certain. This was a remarkable improvement on last week, and in fact the week before too, my lad. It’s like you’re a whole new person, what’s Katya been doing to you? Your hold was the strongest I’ve seen tonight, not one blunder in the footwork, it replicated the feel of old Hollywood down to a tee – I don’t know how it’s happened, but somehow you’ve blossomed into one heck of a Ballroom boy! I always knew you rugby players had it in you. Now, more of this and less of that taking your shirt off lark in the Latin. Good boy.
Week 3 (Silver Screen Week): Recap Video
Leaderboard
Quote:
“= 1. Hannah & Tristan: 32
= 1. Chris & Katya: 32
3. Jessica & Trent: 31
4. Ben & Anya: 30
= 5. Boris & Natalie: 28
= 5. Suzi & Keo: 28
7. Sarah-Jane & Aljaz: 27
8. Dan & Gordana: 26
9. Kirsty & Brendan: 25
= 10. Alvin & Iveta: 24
= 10. Adil & Janette: 24
12. Monica & Anton: 20
13. James & Kristina: 18
14. Ann & Kevin: 17”
I'm sure your view of him may change a little when you see his song for next week. Possibly. Perhaps. Probably not. It's worth a try...
Thank god for the Foxtrot! Also loving Hannah, Dan and Jessica. And James, although maybe not for all the right reasons. 