I really loved Anita's paso but was surprised none of the judges mentioned the choreographed lift in the routine. I thought Craig would definitely be harping on about it lol.

I felt the routine needed a bit more content. The music definitely helped her heaps though. But overall, it was a great performance. Her arms were lovely, as Darcey mentioned.

I may be in minority but I really think that tonight she wasn't undermarked FOR ONCE. She was slightly overmarked by 1 or 2 points.That routine was more about Gleb than her.
And yes there was a lift and she wasn't docked any points for it while some of the judges (looking at you Len and Craig ) have done it in the past.

With that being said, it was a great routine and I enjoyed it

Unlike most other people on this forum, I don't think that she was undermarked this week.


She was thrown on the floor and picked up again quite a few times and quite a few of those were awkward.

I didn't notice a lift to tell the truth. I just felt it began well then went into stomp mode. I did enjoy it but was shocked when it ended as they hadnt really done alot!

I disagree about it being Gleb central. As much as I love him I actually mistook him for one of the backing dancers at first tonight! I thought Anita finally had her time to shine and she totally deserved it.

There was a very ungainly bit where we nearly saw her knickers. The judges appeared not to see it.

I noticed the lift, but as no one commented, I thought I had seen it wrong. But I have rewatched and it's definitely a choreographed lift (her legs are bend in a way that they looks choreographed, impossible for the feet to touch the floor).

They put on a show like they always do. Great combo of music, dance, wardrobe, and wow choreography like they always do. But she didn't do much proper content. Her flamenco shaping and arms I liked, but the few seconds on hold of paso were very untidy.

Yes I noticed the lift but wondered whether a free pass had been given for illegal lifts this week due to the need to stage the dances more due to the larger dance floor (Georgia also had an illegal lift)).

I am a fan of Anitas but thought this was more style over substance. It had patches of Austen Healy's paso about it. Stomping and lots of impressive arms movements, but not much actual paso action below the waist. I thought it was a great performance, but overmarked imo,

I agree with your comments regarding Anita. But Georgia was dancing an American Smooth, so her lifts were legal.

I thought Anita did a great dance, excellent performance full of feeling and passion. The only thing it lacked for me was enough true Paso. But at Blackpool it sometimes seems that its the 'show' that counts.

It was incredible and was so satisfying to see her efforts rewarded with not just 9's but a 10.

Well done Anita.

I felt similarly, like it was all a really big intro, and no actual main dance.

I've wound and rewound that over 150 times and can't see it properly.

I was intrigued by the way that she seemed to stay in character for a time after going over to Tess at the end. I could not decide whether it was intentional or just took her some time to revert to normal.

Yes, I loved that they kept the characterisation going a little bit. I think Tess was a bit taken back

i thought he told her to 'hold it, hold it' or something like that ie to maintain the mood /feel of the dance.

i don't like gleb, he increasingly comes across as a bit of a vain bully to be honest.

the dance was great theatre but not a great paso, imo.

bib wow primer, we agree on something!

It was a great overall performance in which everything came together for a baby wow factor. Most of the dances were overmarked last night so I'm not going to hold that against her

I am not a big fan of Cleb. I didn't really enjoy their paso last night...it was all a bit too frantic for me. I do like Anita but she must be very bruised from the way Gleb seem to throw her about...

I guess they forget the rules with lifts and things in Blackpool week.

What really annoyed me, and I like Anita, is that there was little to no paso in that dance, it just wasn't there at all, yet it wasn't mentioned and it was marked so highly. Especially how Len has had a go at someone like Natalie or Austin for content, this had much, much less.

It was a bit annoying, while it was a good performance, for me it would have been an 8.

I didn't see a lift apart from the introduction to the dance where she was in the crucifix position. That didn't detract from the Paso Doble or change the essence of the dance. I'm sure the judges spotted the lift but probably thought that since it's SCD and not world championships; they'd allow a lift as long as it's in the 'faffing about' portion and not in the main dance.

I was once told that there's very little 'content' in the Paso beyond the marching steps. Paso Doble is posturing and the shaping. Anita & Gleb's routine had full of Paso Doble steps plus loads of shapings and posturings. You can repeat an apel & separation 25 times or dance it entirely doing shapes and postures with some basic marching and it would still be a Paso Doble.

I think you missed the lift. It was right in the middle of the dance when Gleb was spinning her around and her legs were bent. It definitely seemed choreographed because she could easily having straightened her legs to touch the ground but she intentionally kept them bent. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/SiLu-lGvrXw?t=1m17s

Anyway I don't want to harp on about it.

.......or her knickers

Agree. I thought the routine was choreographed in such a way that it completely showcased Anita, I don't think Gleb was central at all. I didn't even notice him I was so focused on Anita. I am not an Anita fan by any stretch but I applauded the routine last night, it was very enjoyable to watch

I agree that this was mostly Gleb. I really wasn't keen on it as it was far too dramatic for my liking.