Not to take anything away from Aliona, given where Jay is starting from, every single pro would be able to bring out great dance content.

The jive was undoubtedly amazing - bit early for a "10" Bruno but well done to both all the same. But let's not disguise the fact that the producers are clearly favouring this couple very much - Jay was a creditable enough dancer before Strictly, there's the Aliona first two-time winner angle and they are getting far and away the best song choices - I mean, I can't imagine Jay will ever get the ilk of "I'm Sexy And I Know It" or "Keep on Running".

Unfortunately Aliona upset Len a few years ago by saying something like not listening to the judges. I think it was in jest but Len has taken it out on her ever since.

Len may still hold the grudge with Aliona, but he did not penalise Jay for that yet. And Aliona learned who the alpha dog is.

The funny thing is that she is one of the few pros that actually delivers full of content, traditional routines once that the celebrity has grasped the technical stuff. I still cringe at some of her dances of the past, but with Harry produced some of the most traditional and elegant routines of the last few years.

I am pretty sure Lens knows that, and somehow acknowledges it with scores (but not in the comments).

I like this pairing and absolutely loved their jive, but I really do hope there isn't a backlash due to unreasonable weight of expectation- nobody could keep up that level of choreography or skill each week. Or worse- watch them do a week-2-Jake-salsa-and-steady-decline thereafter. Or especially a where-the-hell-did-Sophie's-charleston-come-from? moment. I don't think they will, but I'm resigned to the inevitable "disappointed" posts on DS.

Me too. I am a huge fan of both of them, but i dont have expectations that they will be able to match the brilliance of their jive again with another dance.

(and I still hate jives.)

That was in Aliona's first series. She since been winner and runner up so I don't think it has any relevance anymore.

While I'm sure any pro would produce great dances with Jay, I'm not sure they would have produced that blockbuster Jive like Aliona did.

I know Pulp Fiction inside out, had to write an essay on it when I was at uni, must have watched it at least 50 times No one could ever match Thurman and Travolta! I don't think they did nail the characterisation but still a great dance,however, not the best dance ever!!! #hyperbole

Love him or hate him - Tom Chambers/Camilla Dallerup Showdance - End Of.

Absolutely not the case at all. Teaching techniques, ways of choreographing etc can all result in utterly different outcomes. Just having a talent doesn't automatically mean you best know how to present it.
Would Jay have produced an accomplished Jive with a different teacher? Possibly. He had Aliona for his other two dances and while they were both technically good, neither of them gave the wow factor of the Jive.
Music, costume, choreography, styling, talent all combine to create the whole package.

I agree. It was my first series of Strictly, and nothing can beat that one.

In my opinion of course.

Ola wouldn't have for a start!

Aliona cant win, can she? If she produces weak content routines for less capable is all her fault. If she is overly creative, its all her wackiness. If her celeb dances well and produce a great dance, its all down to others.

I am sure that Jay and Aliona would have made a much better job with "I'm Sexy And I Know It" than Iwan.

But you have just taken everything away from her

I'm sure Anton couldn't have choreographed that routine for a Jive ... never in a million years

She might have still been testing his abilities and did not want to push too much. Also waltz and cha cha cha are not very spectacular dances compared to jive.

But he has been given My Generation for a quickstep. Aliona will have to be inventive for that one, very odd choice for a quickstep

Tom Chambers - before he went onto Strictly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cXw3fv8Fcg

I love Aliona, by far my favourite female professional.

I'd love to know what she said to Jay when they were with Claudia and she covered her mouth lol!

But moreso I'd like to say that she suits her hair black, it really does accentuate her features.

Jay and Aliona all the way for me!

Thanks for that, it's a really lovely sequence. I knew he was a keen dancer before he was on the series, but I can't remember if I'd seen that before. He looks so natural there, whereas in my memory on Strictly he was always pulling weird faces as he danced. But then I was rooting for Austin and it does affect how you see the others, sadly.

Oh, I know he was a ringer, a proper one (ie, hidden) but still as a dance it was perfect. Good use of his previous knowledge, which also applies to Louis Smith, but in Tom's case was more impressive as a dance.

Actually, it was in the earlier stages of her series with Harry Judd (owing to a Waltz with faffing at the start, if I remember correctly). They had to endure several further low scores from Len before finally ending up winners.

It has a nice quick beat going through, I think it can work and if they leave any stuttering in she can use it for a breather or some nice idiosyncrasy

They got tons of stick over their "Psycho Killer' Halloween Tango (IIRC) due to excessive theatrical faffing, but it WAS Halloween (and the first time I really thought I saw any real fire in Harry, possibly due to a song he knew and could relate to, possibly due to the freedom to let loose that Halloween outfits give - the one redeeming feature of this particular theme week, imo).

Aliona did faffing with Matt because he rarely had time to learn the whole dance due to work commitments, or at least, that's the rumour. I don't doubt that they would have won that year if he had more time to learn.