1. Not sure if its Kevin's choreography or bad music, but his tango didn't feel like a tango in the same way Frankie's didn't. Too skippy (and all the 'Mimi' stuff was annoying.)
2. I really hope they leave the references to everyone's day jobs alone after this week.
3. Some good dancers, who were slightly annoying personality-wise. I hope I'll like more of tomorrow's group.
4. Carol is like Rachel Riley in 20 years and even more so when she dances.
5. Anthony much better than I expected but I'm not sure how he is going to maintain a frame with that shoulder.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that the pro dancers don't choose the music they have to choreograph with, so in that case I would imagine they have to create something which kind of "fits" with the music they are given.

That song has 1960s stamped all over it, so is there any point in trying to ignore that fact when choreographing it?

- the start of the show was too manic
- I'd be pleased never to see a standing ovation ever again -soooo annoying
- Anita has potential,not feeling the Gleb love though
- Carol cant dance but is completely adorable
- We actually saw a training video

it's back

Don't always agree with your opinions on here, but +1 in this instance xD

But the 60s and that has no place in a tango, even if you was given the song, the rest of the dance that was not tango was not fitting with a tango.

Sorry. I don't know what you mean.

In most cases you'd be correct, but Kevin has had SO MANY 50s/60s inspired routines in just 3 series that it simply can't be without his request, same with Brendan and 80s music. The pros don't have complete say, but they have some control (well, favoured pros do), and in Kevin's case it shows to his detriment.

Not to say he's not a fab dancer; strip away the 50s/60s schtick, and he's produced some cracking choreo (Susannah's Tango, Waltz, and Paso Doble, Frankie's Tango, Rumba (shh...), and Argentine Tango)... it's just he has a habit of drowning things in 50s/60s styling where it just doesn't work (Frankie's Charleston, Kellie's Tango).

Well, you must have some insight that I don't have. I always understood it to be the case that the pro dancers were just given a piece of music considered to be rhythmically appropriate to the dance specified ... and then they just constructed a dance around it. I mean, in some cases it would be ludicrous NOT to theme the dance around the song.

I try not to get too bogged down in it and just try to appreciate the dance itself.

Incidentally, am I the only one who, when hearing a random song played on the radio, imagines it being turned into a Strictly dance performance?

The first step is admitting it.

1) I am really loving Oti and agree that she and Anthony were slightly undermarked (when you take the skewed Strictly marking system into account - because, in real terms, they were ALL overmarked!)

2) Helen is adorable and makes a lovely dance partnership with Alijaz. I hope they do well.

3) I actually found Daniel and Kristina's dance the most enjoyable of the night. I'm not a dancer, so I can't comment on the technical aspects, but he seemed to be in time, and he sold it with a really professional air. Not bad for a complete beginner. I find it amusing how laid back he always seems to be too!

4) The vocals on some of those songs...

5) Carol really wasn't very good, but she looked great, and she looks like she's having the time of her life and doesn't care!

As a full-time resident of the Strictly Games Forum, I do this with every single song I hear, anywhere (it's an addiction).

And I don't mean to come across as having some kind of insider info; I have literally none. I'm just inferring, so I could be totally wrong and Kevin's 50s/60s binge is just the producers typecasting him musically. I'd just be surprised if it continued so long without him complaining if it wasn't ok with him.

(As an aside, in terms of anachronistic dances:

80s - Tango, Paso, Jive.
70s - Cha-Cha-Cha, Salsa, Samba
60s - Jive, Quickstep

Based on my experience of what works for a decade themed dance. ).

1. Anthony was undermarked
2. Carol deserved her score but a little unfair considering Judy Murray scored 17 last year for a cha cha which was even worse!
3. Anita was the surprise of the night
4. Inconsistent judge marking again! Len and Bruno scored Daniel and Anita the same score!
5. Overall a good opener and already creating more excitement than last year

Ok, so take the tango, a sultry dance from Argentina, a real mood piece of a dance in it's true form.

Fifties rock and roll bopping dancing has no place in such a dance, it makes zero sense and doesn't fit in with a tango whatsoever.

1) Anthony Ogogo is taking part in this years SCD whilst trying to recover from a shoulder injury - although he has potential he looks ridiculous dancing with one arm. He should pull out. SCD is not the place to be if you are recovering from a sporting injury. Jade Johnson a long jumper had a career ending knee injury whilst on SCD back in 2009.
2) Liked Kelly Bright - has potential but way too loud in the interview. She needs to control herself.
3) Liked Helen George.
4) Liked Anita Rani - started off awkwardly but then suddenly all this energy appeared.
5) O'Donnell looked spaced out & wanting to be somewhere else.
5b) Carol - bless her - all over the place.

I almost screamed with delight when her Cha-Cha-Cha got going; I thought her a dark horse in a "score some 5s and 6s week 1, then improve" way, so when she started on the floor I almost dropped my wine. Very frustrated for her with her mistake just before the end, though (starts 1:21 on the YouTube video) - without it, could've been a 30/31.

Love Kellie, but I wish she had a different partner.
Anita was a nice surprise...but that hair.
Daniel...bless
Craig managed to embarrass DD.
Over all a good start to the series

It wasn't 1950s though.

If anything it was themed to the 1960s... but the whole point I was trying to make is that "You really got me" by the Kinks does not have the feel of a classic tango anyway. It may have a rhythm which facilitates the pace of the tango but it just doesn't seem to work for the more usual/classic interpretation of it. I think that piece of music would have been completely incongruous if themed as a classic tango.

My guess is that this is why he didn't choreograph it in that way and their costumes obviously did not reflect the classical tango styles of South America either - and instead reflected the era that the song came from.

In summary, I think he probably just did what he felt he could with what he had been given.

Well 60s, a typo sorry.

It just didn't fit together with the tango portion of the dance. It was awful.
The music shouldn't have been selected in the first place, but then the choreography was jarring from tango to whatever that was with it. Not a well thought out tango.

That's my criticism of most of his 50s/60s routines; they just jar.

1-Poor Oti . They will be eliminated soon. And he got the dreaded 2nd slot

2-Yesssssssss Anita !!!

3- They are saving the best for last tomorrow.

4-poor Kristina

5-I MISS THIS SHOW......SO HAPPY IT'S BACK !!!!!

Loved alijaz and helen waltz. He.choreographs amazing waltzes and she was stunning
Find Kevin annoying and dont rate his choreography
Loved chemistry between Anthony and Oti. Worry its a bit too strong considering at least he is unavailable
Loved Anita but annoyed that Glib was not more supportive after she made a mistake
Carol was cringe, I couldnt watch!

1. So happy Strictly is back, Tess looked great and Claudia was her usual hilarious self
2. Loved Anita & Gleb, liked her go for it attitude, she could do well!
3. Is Daniel made of plastic?
4. Bye bye Pasha but great to see you hanging from a thunderbolt
5. Can't wait to see Peter dance tomorrow

1 Kellie had strange, tight, ugly facial expressions, especially at the start - needs to work on that

2 I wanted Gleb to look at Anita and engage with her more during their entire dance – and I think she would have benefitted from more support – she seemed a bit shaky despite loads of potential - and it made him look like a showboater.

3 I didn't think Carol was too bad – better than Judy or Gregg's cha chas last year for sure

4 I thought Daniel's waltz was sweet and liked him a lot better than I expected – I hope I'm right in that he seemed to be a good mover and his Latin will be ok – wonder why Kristina didn't lower his frame – oh well, maybe she tried – would have been even better then

5 I was shocked by the Gleb's wife intro – we never were officially introduced to Trent's or Tristan's (or Brendan's or anybody's?) – wonder if it's to help push his "brand" because he's a bit taciturn, not that I'm sure that makes sense, but maybe it helps the audience relate to him a little better? Should have brought out his 4 year old daughter if so... Or maybe they're thinking of putting her on the show next year? (she's also a pro) Well, I give up, but it was weird.

Daniels footwork was good tho

I don't really understand what people are on about...Carol scored 16 for a Cha-cha that was far superior to Gregg, Tim and Judy last year (all who scored higher) and to Vanessa Feltz' Cha-cha (who scored 19 somehow) and Fern and Jerry in 2012 (all who scored higher).

I think Craig and Bruno were very harsh if you look back at these opening dances from years past. I was totally expecting 18 or 19 of 40, but never a 2 - and a total of 16. That's a joke. She actually did dance a fair bit and showed rhythm - albeit did fluff a few moments.

I know it isn't much of an improvement really, and she still definitely was the weakest of the night, but anyhow, thoughts?