Hannah & Tristan Quickstep to S’Wonderful (Shirley Bassey): 8+9+9+9 = 35/40
Len: It’s all in the song title, Hannah, that was nothing short of wonderful! What I liked most about it is that it managed to capture that particular feel, you know the one I mean, that black and white movie feel, but that doesn’t mean that the proper content of the choreography was compromised either. All the steps were there, at full speed, really – it really was as if you were skipping over hot coals and doing so with ease. If you’d told me it was week four after that then I’d have replied telling you to shut up, close the door and call me Mary. How there can be dancing as good as this in just week four, it blows my mind. More of this from everybody, please!
Sarah-Jane & Aljaz Viennese Waltz to Ave Maria (Beyoncé): 7+8+8+8 = 31/40
Bruno: Oh, my love, you looked the spit of a majestic swan spreading its wings right there, and once you got into Ballroom hold you were like a graceful bird taking flight. And compared to the other swans in frocks that I’ve seen, you’re by far the most beautiful. It was quite the emotional performance, actually, I just know that I’d be crying if not for the fact that my face is welded into place, my dear. I think you could go even further with the difficulty of the steps next time, but baring in mind that the Viennese Waltz has its restrictions, I won’t dwell on that too much. All I really know is that this was another fabulous dance from the fabulous pairing that you are.
James & Kristina Charleston to Right Said Fred (Bernard Cribbins): 3+5+5+5 = 18/40
Darcey: Well, erm… hello, James! Hi. Yes. Well, I have to be frank with you here and say that to be honest, I’m not going to mince my words here, yeah, it wasn’t exactly the fastest of Charlestons that I’ve ever seen. That of course doesn’t mean that it wasn’t watchable, because the large majority of it was, but I think you spent a little too much time fiddling with that piano prop and not enough dancing. I don’t know, it looked as if Kristina had choreographed a lot of steps, but you didn’t seem to be dancing many of them, James. Perhaps it was nerves? I don’t know. But the Charleston’s a tough dance, I suppose. I’d like to see some more dancing next time, though, if there is a next time.
Dan & Gordana Foxtrot to Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra): 8+8+9+8 = 33/40
Len: You can’t go wrong with a bit of Ol’ Blue Eyes, can you? Of course not. That Foxtrot was like smooth butter over a hot, soft crumpet, and it was ten times tastier, oh yes! We saw just a snippet of how good you can be in the Ballroom dances in week one, Dan, and so I had high expectations for this. And you know what, I was one hundred percent right to! You led Gordana there as well as any professional could, and trust me, that’s high praise right there. There were was a huge variety of steps chucked in there for good measure, heel leads and all, which for week four is nothing but impressive. Listen - move over Fred Astaire, move over Gene Kelly – Dan Smith’s in town!
Suzi & Keo Salsa to Make Luv (Room 5 & Oliver Cheatham): 6+6+7+6 = 25/40
Craig: It did feel a little yummy-mummy-in-a-WeightWatchers-advert for my tastes, I have to be honest, Suzi. That constant grin of yours could have been lifted from a 1970s horror film. Thankfully, the dancing itself wasn’t quite so horrific – I mean, the dance had its fair share of boo boos, naturally, but I did like the level of energy and verve that you had. It’s a fine line between seeming like you’re having fun and seeming like you’re having a nervous breakdown, and you were just about on the right side of that line for me. Although yes, the lifts definitely need work if you’re going to do another number based around them. The nation doesn’t need to see
that at teatime, darling.
Adil & Janette Viennese Waltz to Always and Forever (Luther Vandross): 5+6+6+6 = 23/40
Bruno: Adil, my love, what were your shoulders doing there? They were so high up that for a second I thought they were trying to make an escape effort from your body. Lower them, lower them! I can see Len’s point about there needing to have been more in hold, as well, but I guess that isn’t your strong point… as we just saw… anyway, at least you tried to tell a story, you know. That story wasn’t the smoothest of them all, in fact that you could say that it was a bumpy ride in more ways than one, but at least you attempted to get that across. As far as I’m concerned, the emotional aspect of it worked more in your favour than the actual dancing did. Well, there’s always time, my dear.
Monica & Anton Rumba to Barcelona (Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé): 2+5+5+6 = 18/40
Craig: Illegal lifts will not be tolerated under any circumstances, darling. Somebody has to be to enforce the rules, and if those rules are broken on a regular basis as they were during this dance, then the rulebook states that you must be punished for doing so. It isn’t my fault that there are rules, nor is it my fault that you just completely disobeyed them, Anton. In fact, Monica may as well have been on wires, she was off the floor that much during the routine. The whole thing was just odd, too, I didn’t really ‘get’ the melodramatic music, nor the costumes, or that bizarre Roman theming – I highly doubt the Colosseum was full of Rumba-ing couples. I haven’t even mentioned the fact that it had absolutely nothing to do with Spain…
Alvin & Iveta Foxtrot to How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (Marvin Gaye): 6+7+7+7 = 27/40
Darcey: Oh, you do look so, so sweet, my Alvin! Cute as a button, yes. I love that little peppermint-striped suit and hat of yours, what an ensemble, really. And don’t worry, that most certainly didn’t take away from your dancing! Okay, it wasn’t up there with the likes of Dan, or Chris, or Ben, but what it was was a charming surprise of a Foxtrot that was both acted out and danced out to the best of your ability. We’ve seen really entertaining and out-there dances from you previously, so yeah, this was very different for me to see but it was a pleasant difference, you know? And I thought I’d miss that loud, proud Alvin, but I actually think I’m preferring this side of you that bit more!
Boris & Natalie Salsa to Caught Up (Usher): 5+6+6+6 = 23/40
Len: Boris, Boris, Boris. The Salsa is not a dance that come naturally to us blokey blokes. You know? And you’re tall, and you’re a sportsman, that’s like a triple whammy when it comes to the Salsa. It’s the tall, sporty bloke’s arch enemy. And I understood that from this dance, you know, you struggled at times, but there were also parts that I saw potential, yeah. Those hips were working, ooh yes indeed – a few squirts of oil here and there, and they’ll be slinkier than a toy going down the stairs. Plus, aside from the bit where you almost dropped Natalie on her noggin there, the lifts weren’t half impressive. You’re quite the strongman, aren’t you? Ooh la la.
Jessica & Trent Charleston to Don’t Bring Lulu (Bobby Short): 9+9+9+9 = 36/40
Bruno: Don’t bring Lulu? I’m glad that we brought Jessica, I tell you! Queen of the flappers, elegant yet naughty, fine yet frivolous, and oh so teasing. You can swivel for England and you’d still not be out of breath at the end of it! So many lifts, so many flips, so many tricks, it was like a whole Cirque du Soleil show of a Charleston, really. All we needed was Trent riding in on an elephant and it’s sorted. Actually, I hear you’ll have the Tango next week, I’m sure we can stick an elephant in there somewhere. Anyway, I’m going off track, but my point is that this was one brilliant Charleston, danced in perfect synchronicity and leaving me begging for more! And you know me, I like to get my way…
Ben & Anya Viennese Waltz to February Song (Josh Groban): 7+8+8+8 = 31/40
Craig: Not bad in the slightest, darling, I must say. The beginning was just a tad cheesy, sort of like a Disney film crossed with a commercial for dating website, oddly, but when you got into the nitty gritty – to borrow from Len’s lexicon if I may – something really quite special began to take shape. A nice range of steps performed rather well, other than a reverse turn which could have gone a little dodgy in the corner. Your frame was slightly stiff in places, so you need to try and work on making that looser for whenever you next have a Ballroom routine, but otherwise it was light, it travelled well across the dancefloor, you’ve improved your hand placement significantly from your Tango and all in all, I think you did well.
Chris & Katya Samba to Aserejé (Las Ketchup): 6+8+7+7 = 28/40
Bruno: Oh, Chris, you old charmer, you. I’m sure you could make a dance to My Old Man’s a Dustman sexy. What’s that, Paso Doble next week? It’s the perfect opportunity, what are the chances? All right, it looked an eeney weeny bit as if Katya was dancing slightly more than you were, but that’s just what stems naturally from the comparison of the two of you being in shadow position. I can’t help it! Well, I could if I had been concentrating ever so slightly to the right, which I’ve the feeling is where Darcey was looking, if you catch my drift… ahem. Moving on, you know, Craig might not like it, but he’s Craig so his opinions don’t particularly count for much. You’re continuing in the right direction, Chris, by which I mean you’re wearing fewer clothes each week. Dancing’s alright, too.
Kirsty & Brendan Quickstep to Modern Love (David Bowie): 8+8+8+8 = 32/40
Darcey: Wow, Kirsty, you’re as fast as a bliddy lightning bolt, aren’t you? I need a sit down, and I only watched it, never mind danced it. Good thing I’ve been sat down for the whole show, isn’t it? I really enjoyed that Quickstep, I’ve got to say – it was chock full of superb content from beginning to the very end, your hold never faltered, not even once, you were on time with Brendan and with the music throughout. I don’t know how you do it, but you’re certainly putting in a case for this not being a one-horse race this year, Kirsty. Well, just think about it – there’s you, there’s Chris, and Dan, and Hannah, and Sarah-Jane, and Jessica, and Ben, and so many others… oh my!
Week 4: Recap Video
Leaderboard
Quote:
“1. Jessica & Trent: 36
2. Hannah & Tristan: 35
3. Dan & Gordana: 33
4. Kirsty & Brendan: 32
= 5. Sarah-Jane & Aljaz: 31
= 5. Ben & Anya: 31
7. Chris & Katya: 28
8. Alvin & Iveta: 27
9. Suzi & Keo: 25
= 10. Adil & Janette: 23
= 10. Boris & Natalie: 23
= 12. James & Kristina: 18
= 12. Monica & Anton: 18”
”
) Sad to see Ann go. 