Every year there seems to be an increasing about of time in the routines dedicated to 'not dancing', but last week's dances took the p*ss more than ever.

I'm sick to the back teeth of these pointless 'intro's' to the dance like Jeremy's and Carol's, and in the words of Old Pa Goodman, all the 'faffing' about. It seems the professionals are having some kind of competition to see who can get the least actual 'dancing' in their performance!

Don't get me started on the props and certain professionals making their routines all about them to try (and fail) to cover up technical sh*tness.

I'm sorry for the rant - but why isn't there more 'dancing'?

I'm feeling the same way. Strictly is feeling more like DWTS in regards to the actual dancing...most feeling like freestyles or contemporary routines, with a lot of fluff and an absence of technique and characterisation.

I found it annoying too that Peter's Cha Cha was supposedly the best dance of the night, but it didn't even look like a Cha Cha.

The faffing has reached new heights (or depths) with both Carol and Jeremy doing a verbal intro.
It's not Strictly Come Monologueing!

I miss dances like this - no faffing, perfectly choreographed and brilliantly danced!

Yes, a proper jive. Although not a fan of Darren Bennett, I also really liked the jive he did with Jill.

But generally it is thought that those who can dance will, those who can't will just mess around or faff abarrrrrt!)

why doesn't anyone dance to Matchbox Twenty

sadly I think it is just the way the show has gone, to be fair do not lay it at the feet of the pros who have the music and theme given to them - the music choices give little or no regard to the dance being danced anymore - such a great shame.

I have no problem if a pro tries to divert judges and viewers eye from their celebs faults but hate it when they are left out to dry (like carol) out of hold and out of their comfort zone

my other bugbear is when one couple can get decent music and appropriate costume and another doing same dance in same show can get odd outfits inappropriate music (particularly paso) makes it so unfair imo

Agreed! The favouritism given to last year's winners was shocking - Ms Flack won by wafting about with zero ballroom in her final routines!

I like Pasha, but when it comes to choreography he's a sucker for making it all about him!

I think the production team have gone too far in an effort to make SCD interesting. The excessive themeing and costume makes the dancing far too peripheral

Watching that video, it struck me that there was an absence of all the naff lighting effects we're getting now, you could actually concentrate on the performance.

I thought it worth starting a thread on it.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2109067

Yes, I miss those days, one I just loved was Denise and Ian in the quickstep too.

I remember Len said Colins split leap in the QS wasn't needed and now look what we have, I am waiting for a phone box with Anton his week!

I am sure you will be very cosy in there together. Mind where he puts the handset.

It didn't look like a cha cha cha at all. On first viewing I was fooled because of Janette but watching it back and focusing on what Peter was doing, little cha cha cha or hip movement.

Neither Jeremy or Carol's speaking bits actually counted as part of the routine.

I agree with the bib, but then I would say that thanks for posting, it's great to see this dance again

I seriously agree with this.

And the dancing isn't and shouldn't be peripheral, it's CENTRAL, and it grieves me terribly when this is compromised.

In the first week I can forgive some silly intros as they give the TV audience a reminder of what the celebs actually do. After the first week though they should be consigned to be dustbin, especially the talking intros.

oh come on be fair - i'm sure, well i think, i saw a new york in there somewhere .... maybe ..... i could be wrong

i wish they would stop all the faffing about - i want to see dancing

another bugbear of mine is the training vts, i want to see training not visits to the zoo (maybe not the zoo, but you know what i mean)

I really didn't get the Ms Flack love last year. I couldn't agree more about her zero ballroom; she just couldn't do it and the judges should have pointed this out more instead of letting her get away with it. And most of the time she just looked a mess - hair & costumes.

Pasha? As I've said elsewhere, a great dancer, but has no idea who to choreograph for a weaker, less abled partner. Oh Carol!

Dani's memorial phone box was already used last weekend