She's like a stuck record It wasn't 6 years of ballroom and latin training but she glosses over that bit of course. If she prefers the poorer dancers then good for her. Anyone can see the amazing change in ability and posture that Aliona has brought to Jay already - he didn't have that in week one for the cha-cha and he's learning just like everyone else.

Thanks.

And I feel bad now for what I said about Anita. I DON'T think Anita is a ringer/trained dancer. I think she's a brilliant beginner. I was just questioning whether it would be reported or not.

(I get a bit touchy as someone on the Strictly board says Jay has 'just qualified' from 10 years training and it makes me .)

The bottom line is that I wish the show would be very upfront about everyone's experience in the launch show and then this wouldn't be all rumour and twisting things. I've no argument with people who mind about it, I just don't myself. The programme makers don't say anything, I feel, because they like the fuss.

Don't worry, I understand feeling defensive about certain things.

I myself am ambivalent towards Jay. On the one side, he's an excellent performer and can deliver technique that we haven't really seen before on Strictly. On the other side, I find it frustrating that people like Anita (who may or may not have had training at some point), with real raw talent may be overshadowed by someone who has spent a decent amount of time training in dance - and would possibly be under her level if they'd had the same amount of dance experience.

But yes, many get slightly carried away on just how much training Jay has received.

Can I ask why is it just Jay and maybe Helen getting the ringer there are about 5 that have some form of dance experience.

We dont actually know how much dance experience they have had in the past.

Talking about Jay if he was that good before he entered SCD then why was he one of the worst in the group dance. I think some people are over analysing how much dance experience he has had. Also his bandmates in the Wanted said he wasnt that good and are surprised to see how well he is doing now on SCD.

Not only do I think Jay has natural dance ability I give a lot of credit Aliona she is a great teacher.

I guess it's a lot easier to point the finger at those who have qualifications incorporating some form of dance rather than just experience.

I suppose it's sort of difficult to quantify what advantage people like Peter or Jamelia (who have done choreography on stage) versus people who you can say had x years training at x school. It's not really fair, I'd agree, but I suppose that's just how it goes

Having said that, I'm not sure how Kellie has got through relatively unscathed.

Me too.

Not that this is entirely in my benefit, but, while not as much as Jay or Helen, or maybe even Georgia, Peter, or Kellie, people do seem to gloss over the fact that Katie has some (SOME, not 50 years ) dance training, with an actual qualification (from RDA).

I couldn't care less (as if I hadn't made my adoration for Katie evident over the past 2 months), but it does strike me that some people, both in the media and on DS, have selective hearing.

He did attend 2 different Dance Schools to be fair from what I have read.

Yep, but others have done ballet for years too. Different disciplines. You just get sick and tired of explaining to people. Jay's learning new stuff from scratch like everyone else.

I dont care re training etc but jays dance experience is more than you state and the course he did is very much dance based

One was every Thursday night as a teenager for about 3 years, I believe. My son did that and he could barely street dance to I Predict a Riot by the Kaiser Chiefs. But at least he can put on and remove a SnapBack with panache.

What on earth has your son got to do with it

Yes I thought that but she did not put his name
Doesn't bother me what training he has had....
He did not train in ballroom or Latin 😉😏😐

Well said Hannah 😀

Don't be so rude!!

Lighten up people. This is actually funny.

Oh, it's he who shall not be named now Such is the level of ridiculousness.
Others aren't being criticized. Why? Because Jay is the one that has people worried.

Well I hope, after all this shouting it from the rooftops .. and with the diligent work all those concerned have put in .. telling their friends/family/neighbours/work colleagues/passers by etc etc .. that when Jay is crowned the winner .. we don't get the usual cries of 'that's because no one knew he was a trained dancer.'

No!! It's because no one bar you CARES!!

I think your logics is a bit suspect Heatherbell! He might have been to dancing school for three years on one day a week (as I did and so did my daughter), and then three years at and dance and DRAMA academy but he didn't do six complete years dance training. Have you been reading the red tops?

If it wasn't for ringers there'd be very little to argue about. We need more of them, I reckon.

Yes, 'tis true: Katie is ballet trained. It was mentioned in the Mail last week.

Who is this aimed at?

Im telling you, Mark Cavendish is the way to go if we're going to have a ringah, have a proper teenage ballroom dancing champion ringah.

Last weeks show had a big yawning gap in the middle as they'd lumped so many uninspiring dances together. I've never been so glad to see Helen in all my life!

I thought it was 3 year musical theatre?

I thought he was Carlos Acosta's understudy...