There are obviously a few contenders for this spots (ie the people who have had lots of dance training!) but whose technique in Strictly history do you think has been closest to that of a pro?

For me, Kara had the best general technique of all contestants. Her rumba (where technique is left completely exposed!) looked like a professional showcase.

Second would probably be Rachel Stevens, who I think is underrated as a contestant. She had such sharp, precise movements for dancers like the rumba, AT and Cha Cha.

Natalie Gumede was obviously great too, but I was seriously thrown by her Charleston. It looked sloppy and somewhat off-time.

Most likely Rachel Stevens ...even though I found her completely emotionless; not a favorite of mine but I rate her technique really high.

Kara as well...she was a great technician but very relatable as well. Kind of hard to achieve in this show. My favorite during her season.

I found Natalie's technique overrated during her season. ..she didn't live up to her expectations imo. I like Artem but imo he didn't get the BEST out of her.

In order
1-Abbey Clancy 2-Alesha Dixon 3- Chelsee Healey. ....my all time favorite female contestants who were not necessarily great technicians but were extremely relatable

Totally agree about Abbey and Alesha! Abbey really did grow as a dancer, and I think surprised people that she wasn't just an air headed, conceited WAG. Also loved Alesha, who had amazing Latin rhythm, even if, as you say, her technique wasn't *the* best (still much better than most though). Didn't warm as much to Chelsee for some reason, she just wasn't as memorable.

I loved Alesha Dixon

Jill - everyone remembers the jive, but her other stuff was pretty good as well. Particularly remember the Paso.

I loved Natalie but she (and Artem) was so hampered by the back injury and problems. I think if she had been fully fit and mobile we'd have seen some different choreography.

To balance things up for the men - Colin Jackson.
Huge surprise to be able to watch a male celeb rhumba without the need to hide behind a cushion.

How could I forget Jill, she was indeed amazing. Remember her Cha Cha being technically very strong, just a shame there was a shameless illegal lift thrown in!

Colin Jackson was brilliant. He may have won if it wasn't for that odd show dance (remember the dummies?). His American Smooth is still one of my favourite dances. Abbey Clancy was a beautiful dancer but my favourite of all the female dancers was Jill Halfpenny, not just for the jive but she was a great all-rounder.

My choice would be Julian Clary.

How could I have forgotten! Or the young actor who played Spencer Moon in EastEnders, Chris Parker. So bad.

Having just watched his Rumba and Quickstep on YouTube, Colin Jackson did a fabulous job with those dances. If the worst Craig can say is 'You need to point your feet a bit more in the box step' about the quickstep you know its good.

I had to check out Colin too, that rumba was beautiful!

Btw, thanks to everyone for replying and for voting in the poll, it's nice to hear your views.

I think if her father hadn't been ill and she hadn't been so stressed, Kelly Brook would've had an average score higher than Alesha, and maybe even Natalie...

You could be right! For me, her jive was even better than Jill's, and obviously that's saying something!

It's a great poll, about the actual DANCING! ☺

Good point. I felt so sorry for her.

Even though this is a recurring topic in this forum, this is a great thread .

I voted for Natalie Gunmede - imo no one could touch her though I would also put Rachel Stevens and Ricky Whittle as close runners up. In fact I still cannot fathom how Ricky was beaten to the glitter ball by Christ Hollins. Surely the worst winner ever.

Sorry, but I voted for Chris Ignazio!

Another vote for Natalie from me, although I didn't vote for her when she was on the show. She was head and shoulders above any other celeb we've seen. Rachel, Colin and Jill are probably next (didn't vote for Rachel or Colin either at the time).

Alesha is still my favourite, but I wouldn't say her techniques were even in the top 5. However, we've seen an increase in celebs with more previous dance experience on the show since Alesha's day.

I think it's fairly well established that Darren would have won that year regardless. He was so far ahead in the voting he could have done the dummy dance and still won. Don't forget the phone lines were open all week in those days - and on the top 3 leaderboard, Zoe was top and he bottom - yet he still went through to the final meaning he had to be leading the public vote even before the show dance.

Another 'other' here - and another Colin Jackson fan - he was the better dancer in the final 2 but Darren Gough was just so far ahead in the voting that it wouldn't have made any difference Dummy dance or no Dummy dance. Erin's idea was to showcase what a complete dancer Colin was and that he didn't need her guiding him but sadly it completely misfired. Still think his QS, AS and Rumba are some of the best dances ever on Strictly. You never know, if Erin had gone down the Camilla/Tom Chambers route with the showdance it might have made a difference to the outcome, but probably not.

Another other and Colin Jackson here too.

And another other!

I tried to watch series 1 and 2, but was driven away by Brucie. Tried again the second week of series 3, just in time to see Colin Jackson's quickstep. I couldn't believe how good he was. I regularly watch his quickstep, AS and rumba on YouTube and enjoy them all over again.

For me Jill Halfpenny had the best technique but she's not my favourite. I also have to put in a vote for Colin Jackson in terms of actual dance capability over and above anything else.

His rumba remains my all time favourite version of that dance and as I cannot stand rumba he's doing well

Otherwise, Alesha is probably my all time favourite contestant and my all time favourite routine is Ian Waite and Zoe Ball's Tango to America.

Oh; which I never knew until now; at the time I was a 14 year old who had stopped ballroom dancing 2 years before. I just loved what I was watching!

Darren wrote about it in his autobiography (he wanted to set the record straight) and CRH has also confirmed it in the past too. I can still remember going so quiet and thinking "What the..."

It will always be one of those Strictly Myths though!