Is it me or is this a dying art, its getting more like gymnastics every week

no, its not just you

proper ballroom dancing and teaching on strictly is a dying art - sadly

There's always Anton

Its certainly not a dying art outside of Strictly. They just select the wrong professionals for the show.

Sadly as far as SCD is concerned dancing seems to have given way to crowd pleasing acrobatics. If it wasn't for Len banging on about foot work and how everything eminates from what is going on at floor level we wouldn't know that this even existed.

I am not a purest by any stretch. I dance AT and salsa both of which are quite unregulated (not quite the word I mean but will do) but I don't see the point of using the premise of foxtrot, paso, rumba and then ignoring what those styles are. If you are not going to stay true to such styles, you could just as easily fashion a show based on show dances of no particular style against a themed backdrop .

I think the ballroom standard has lowered with the addition of some of the BTF professionals who do not have a traditional ballroom/latin background.

There are plenty of pros out there who do have the right credentials - just a pity the powers that be don't use them (even on BTF there are dancers with the right background so maybe they will start using them)

And yet they got rid of Iveta.

She had all the credentials and had produced some good dances. Plus she was a bit zany, and I like them to be different characters.

no, its not and yes the do - sadly

too much Burn The Floor and not enough ballroom

A friend of mine is quite a prominent judge is USA and has had a really busy schedule lately and Iveta has been judging with him at them all - that coupled with quite a few things going on at her Manhattan Studio have a feeling it may have been Iveta's choice not to return

To be honest, I completely understand Iveta. I think she knew that the likelihood of getting a contender was pretty slim. So, it makes sense for her to concentrate on her proper business since I dont think they get paid that well on Strictly to warrant abandoning her long term bread and butter.

And on topic, aside from Natalie, Anton and Alijaz who are specialists in ballroom, who else is good in ballroom?
Brendan, although a latin specialist, I think is better at ballroom than latin.
Aliona is a ten dance specialist, isnt she?
Kevin?
Gleb?

bendymixer will certainly be able to correct me here, but I know that Kevin has had a thorough grounding in Ballroom. He used to dance with Jo right through Juniors and Juveniles at the highest level.
Glebs ballroom has not impressed me at all.

BIB I think you are right, though I think his choreography is beautiful and striking not sure if technically that good, but I am no expert. I am here for his looks.

Regarding kevin, that is what I thought, but then he is a BTF alumni and seems to prefer latin dances (Jive and Paso?).

Re Kevin, as an adult he decided to specialise in latin, - Jo in ballroom of course - but as said, danced at the highest (International) level in both ballroom and latin prior to that, so will be very knowledgeable.

Kevin may be BTF but had a full competitive background from the age of 5 winning ballrooma and latin at the highest levels with Joanne - which included Junior Ballroom titles , it was only at 16/17 he specialised in Latin and Jo ballroom

You missed Jo off your ballroom list and she is leagues ahead of all of them in Ballroom

Yes, but she is not partner up this year, that is why i left her out.

I have no idea of his background but from what I have seen of Gleb's technique so far I would say his ballroom is worse than Anton's Latin! That footwork in Saturday's waltz was grim. People are swayed by the novelty of his contemporary choreography which is dramatic and interesting, but it's his technical deficiency (and therefore Anita's) which is resulting in their lower marks in my opinion, but the judges need to be more explicit than they are being - Len must have noticed his lack of heel leads.

I think Kristina is quite good at both Latin and ballroom! She produces good choreography that showcases her partner well! I think she's underrated and deserves more credit then she gets! The only judge ive noticed that applauded her was Craig and Alesha!

I think givinani (however you spell it ) has produced some decent ballroom I thought the quickstep and tango were good! Not keen on his Latin but there's still time for him to showcase his Latin ability!

Gleb is brilliant!

And brilliant on ITT yesterday I thought. I am not sure why that should surprise me but it did.

Aljaz is a ballroom expert but his celebrities always seem to have gapping issues

I think you are right. I am easily distracted by beauty.

I always wondered that. I guess they are intimidated that if they get too close rumours will start?

To me the biggest "if" of the night was "Had Anita danced that routine to a better technical level it would probably have been the dance of the series". Everything was complimentary and matched, the song, the theme, the choreography - I loved that bit where she "pulls" him from the floor back to life - but the judges weren't wrong on the fact that she needed a bit more finesse and technique to execute that.

Len gave Giovanni a bollocking for the lack of content on his Rumba for Georgia, so here's hoping he'll call out Gleb at some point (without the rudeness, please)

yes she is

Lol but seriously gapping is one of first things you teach them in the ballroom I think. Abbey had it at the beginning ( who can forget her infamous blackpool QS ?) but towards the quater finals ( with her Viennese Waltz ) this problem was eliminated, so maybe it's something he gradually works on I can see that Helen STILL has that issue.
Btw Brendan is the best male ballroom pro imo. Anton's ballroom is overrated.