I don't mind a bit of wafting (although Harrys straight no faff VW is my favourite) esp as that is Jays strength and always looks so lovely.

But yeah we can't judge a 90 sec routine on 10 secs of waft.

im expecting it to have a lot of twirling.

Oh I do think she is very clever. She can choreograph a dance that show non of his weaknesses. I always enjoy his dances, but sometimes come away thinking was that an actual "insert dance". His tango was like that for me, lots of tango content, but not the stuff in hold. Looked like a tango, but at the same time wasn't. She is a genius.

Plus pivots, he does love a pivot.

Shame Georgia has VW rather than waltz, because the last thing I'd need if I I not feeling well is a load of spinning.

as that's one of his other strengths - and also a quite important bit of the VW - I'm expecting that too

I vaguely remember someone one year, no idea who or when, who had flu doing the VW. they had to go off and throw up after and then come back to the judges. the joy of live TV!!

Actually, I think it's more or less evens. The waltz and the foxtrot had loads of wafting, but the quickstep and the tango were a lot in hold (or no less than other couples). The American smooth allows for lifts and breaks of hold and even Len congratulated Aliona on the routine.

Yes I'd agree. The AS was very unwafty and very unrulebreaky for an AS. Tango likewise and the QS would have been all in hold.

I think the Waltz was a "get him used to BR" dance and the Foxtrot the song was dire and V difficult to do a straight FT when it was screaming out to be a Rumba/contempowaft.

Letitia Dean?

It was Letitia Dean.

Did you know that she turned 40 during her run?

That could well be the reason. I also think that hip hop would suit her and the way she dances. She's slightly tomboyish, despite being so beautiful, and her body is exactly the right shape for hip hop. She was fine dancing in her own in that AT too - better than she was in hold.

I guess I'd prefer to see reggaeton because it's more authentic to salsa.

I can't stand reggaeton, the lyrics are 😡🤔👊🏻😡☹️

What is reggaeton please? And what is the connection with salsa?

That's a latin street dance and music. Very "young" music with lots of moves that can be viewed as lascivious. The only connection it has with Salsa is that it is latin like merengue or bachata.

It's a type of music/dance in latinoamerica (mostly central/Caribbean).
It's mix of Latin Caribbean styles.
The lyrics are very disturbing though! Very chauvinist.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggaeton

And that salsa dancing people will mix it up with some proper salsa.

Not when you dance cross-body or NY; but if you dance Cuban, then, yes; you dance it as shines n some occasions.

I do too. It all seems half baked, she has pretty hands and does what she does with her face..but the rest of her body seems totally forgotten as if all the energy has gone into those two aspects and for me it's become samey, her core and legs are weak and I don't appreciate 30 seconds flaffing around before a dance starts, too much smoke and mirrors, I can't get sold on the hands and face alone and I find it difficult to believe that she can not improve somewhat....maybe she will tonight.

No, they really are not - and my view comes from my fairly lengthy experience in dance. Anita is the weakest, Kellie the least 'finished', Jay the most versatile and charismatic and Katie very elegant. All have flaws - which is to be expected - but Anita is the weakest in terms of technique, interpretation and expression.

And P.S. no one hates her.

You must also appreciate that this is the Non-Appreciation thread and, as such we are able to disagree and discuss whatever we think without being attacked for those views.

Not allowing others their opinions or constantly telling them they are wrong, is not in the spirit of this thread.

Happy to post our rules NAT for you if it will makes things clearer? They have been the same for 5 years - ever since this thread began.

Yes, my mistake. I always think of salsa as Cuban salsa.

And my "will" should have said "may"

You say it so well!

Not wild about it either. When I was out in Cuba studying dance I came across it a lot. My young teachers (professional dancers with a national dance company) played it all the time.

Not only could I not get my body to do it, I loathed the lyrics, but the Cubans love it and they can dance it brilliantly. it is normal for them to add it to their salsa.

I detest Cross-Body and NY and LA style I am sorry to say. So far removed from both Cali salsa and Cuban, which are - a far as I am concerned - the two original and most authentic salsa styles.

Cross-Body is like a ballroom, pimped up version of salsa with no soul and a lot of very flashy and rather naff armography (another word I hate)

I think Anita is one of the best at interpretation and expression...

Only if the dance is full on (& even then it's not to my taste), subtlety like in a VW or rumba is really not her forte

See marinamau's post. She has posted the best explanations.